Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-06-17
Health Officers Report.


To the Mayor and Aldermen:
The month Of May was one OF little
sickness in Rocky Ford. There wsre
few cases Of measles. lingering from the
widespread epidemic of the earlier spring
Two cases of scarlet fever
brought over from April. each made
perfect recovery and no other cases have
resulted from these. This disease well
illustrates the efficiency Of proper quar-
antine measures. Scarlet fever is a
rather difficult disease in which to quar-
antine. as the germs which cause It are
long lived. and will adhere to and be
carried by Intermediary objects such
as toys. clothing. cats and dogs. flies.
etc. Yet people have become trained to
willing and perfect submission to quar-
antins against It. Nsighbors will quickly
and properly report any violation OF the
regulations. Result. scarlet fever Is
rapidly becoming = rare disease. II the
citizens would cooperate IS heartily for
the enforcement of quarantine against
measles. it would quickly become much
more rare than scarlet fever. for It IS
m, ch more easily controlled. In the past
two years there have been fourdsaths from
measles in Rocky Ford and vicinity and
one from scarlet fever. Those four lives
might have been saved by efficient quar-
antine.
One more case Of typhoid fever dsvsl-
oped early in May. None have been re-
ported since. and ss this one Is now con-
valssesnt. we can say that Rocky Ford
is clear Of typhoid fever. As usual. I
found the eistsrn infected At the home Of
this young man. While not every in
feeted eistern has caused case Of
typhoid fever. yet It must Be said that at
the home Of every case Of typhoid fever
that has developed thus far. have
found the family drinking water from a
e:stern carrying disease germs, The
warning sent out in our circular three
weeks ago should bs psrsistsntly needed.
Every family using water from = eistsrn
for drinking should boil that water.
I have continued. and am continuing.
the analysis Of our drinking water. The
water directly from the city pipes has in
variably been free from infection. even
when taken from the end Of . pips line.
where there is little water used. So also
has the Fowler water been invariably
returned free when taken from the pipes.
But with monotonous regularity fully
four fifths Of the eistsrns. whether filed
with city water. Fowler water or New
dale water. are found to contain baeilli.
Notwithstanding the fact that the city
water is now free from germs. have
found one place Of possible infection. and
this must at once be corrected. This 10
at the sump. The building over the
sump must Be closed as tightly a. pos
sibls. A few openings can Be left for
ventilation. but these small openings must
be screened so that even wasps cannot
get in. The ven,ilating holes should be
placed where As little dust as possible
can blow in. | earnestly recommend,
too. that the old well or water hole beside
the sump be Immediately filed. It is a
source Of danger in more than one way
When was there found a small boy Of
about six half way across the beam
spanning the well.
have tried to keep the city clean. Have
sent out but one peremptory notice dur
ing the month. There are more places.
perhaps. that should b ordered. and most
Of these are Of those men or corporations
who have several COWS and horses to
keep-men and corporations able to
afford the expense Of keeping clean: and
| believe in most Of these cases It Is be-
cause they do not appreciate the i'm
portanee Of cleanliness. have been
trying to show to these the vast i'm.
portanee Of having manure promptly re-
moved from town.
Thus far we have three cases Of
typhoid. all traced to infection from eis-
tern water. Three cases Of this disease
in April and May usually means thirty or
more cases in August and September.
Why? Because Of the increased number
Of flies in the latter months. This
illustrates the intsraetion Of causes, and
the dovetailing Of sanitary measurss-no
one sufficient by itself. each depending
upon the other-all necessary for perfect
sanitation. L. p. BARBOUR.
Health Officer.
We save you at least 10 per cent or.
,nd -. f~,-. n:u. d.