The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-02-11
Annual Report of State Health
Department Shows Conditions
Existing in the State
MANY DIE FROM CONSUMPTION
State Health officer Shows That Econo-
mic Losses to State From Raw
ages of the White Plague"
are Unusually Large

During the year just closed, 26,778
deaths of people residing in the state
were reported to the State Health De-
partment. This total does not include
1,489 still births, and gives an annual
death rate for the entire state of lis
per thousand estimated population.
Using the method adopted and recon-
mended by the federal census bureau,
the estimated population of Wisconsin
for the year 1908 is 2,328,000.
The most important cause Of death
in point of actual numbers and also
considering the age grouping of the in
dividuals who died from such disease,
is pulmonary tuberculosis. Just 2,411
deaths we're reported from this disease
during the twelve months ending De-
cember 3lst, 1908. Figures show that
practically all the deaths from this
disease, were among persons from eigh-
teen to forty-fve years of age. Exact
ly per cent of the total deaths result
ed from tuberculosis. Among every
eleven people who died during the
year, one died from tuberculosis This
rate does not include still born child
rem, or those who died before birth.
The economic loss TO the state of
Wisconsin each year of people in the
prime of life who sacrifice themselves
to the ravages of this disease cannot be
accurately estimated, for the reason
that it has been found imposslb BILE as
yet, to fix upon a standard in deter
mining the value of human life. 1t
has been estimated that in slavery days
a healty negro in the prime Of life
was worth approximately $4,000. If
this value can be placed upon the lives
sacrificed to tuberculosis the economic
loss during the past year in Wisconsin
is $12,055, 900.
Exactly 1888 or Fl per cent of the
total deaths were among. persons under
one year of age. The number of
children born each year who live for at
least one year, is an index of the influ-
ence of home environment upon child
life. 1t is very evident that parents,
and others charged with the care of
young children should be better in
formed regarding the feeding and care
of infants. During the year, 974 child
rem under two years of age died from
diarrhoea and enteritis, largely as a
result of improper feeding and improp-
er food.
Important causes of death during the
year were as follows: Pulmonary tu-
berculosis, 1924; other tuberculosis,
3S7; typhoid fever, 1872; diphtheria,
1856; scarlet fever, -; measles, 10;
whooping cough, 1874; pneumonia,
1888; enteritis, under two years, 974;
meningitis, 625; influenza, 1872; puer-
peral septicaemia, 10Y; cancer, 1921 !;
violence, 1,438 and still births, 1,489.
Eight and seven tenths per cent of
the total deaths were from pneumonia,
and 5,3 per cent resulted from violence.
Among the deaths from violence the
following causes are important and in
teresting: Suicide, 263; homicide, 81;
railroad, 1872; street railway, 20; gun
shot, So; burns, %; drowning, 235; ex-
plosions, 8; falls, IL; poisoning, s;
lightning, 5; automobiles, 1; hydropho-
bia, 2; coal gas, 2; freezing, 6, and
cyclone, 2. Compared with preceding
years for which statistics are obtain
able, there has been an increase in the
number of deaths from suicide, homi
eide, and drowning.
The two deaths from hydrophobia re
corded during the year, are unusual
in this state. Statistics collected from
the various newspaper reports giving
the number of persons bitten by dogs
and other animals suspected of having
hydrophObia serve to emphasize the
Importance of having a place in the
state where preventative treatment ii
all suspicious cases can be had free Of
charge.
Under the present system of collect
ing the mortality statistics, the distri
button of deaths from any cause, b,
township, villages and cities in eacl
county is determined. Such system
is indispensable to efficient publi
health work and will result in practi
cally eradicating preventable disease
as soon as people can be educated t
the Importance and methods of preEen
tative treatment. i esg IA ars
The fact that 1856 young lives wer
sacrlhced as result Of diphtheria EN-
phasizes the Importance of early dag
nosis and prophylactic treatment Of al
onacnc nf c,,cn ;o,u Sora +hroo+ Tb
physicians generally speaking, us
anti-toxin quite freely, but in many il