The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-01-12
DISEASES SHOW
MARKED DECLINE

r G II NJ o N ID, VA-Special-
That two OF Virginia's most dread
diseases claimed a similar toll i'm 1910
than In 1903 is the most cheering
note In statement OF Health Com
missioner Ennion @. Williams. read
yesterday to the State Board of Health
at It's annual meeting.
typhoid fever and consumption, ac-
cording to the Health Commissioner,
showed a marked decline during the
past year. and the warfare being
waged against them by the State and
|, local health authorities presages still
greater victories during the next year.
During the statistical year 1909 the
Department of Health estimated a.
sos cases of typhoid fever in the State
exclusive OF the cities which have or
ganized municipal health depart
ments. During the same period OF
1910 this number was reduced to H.
S43, or. u decline of 2.555. During
1909 the estimated number OF cases
Of consumption developing was 6,S16,
while in 1910 this number was re-
duced to $3.50. a decline OF 1,156.
What tho Report Means.
In speaking of these figures today,
an officer Of the Health Department
grew enthusiastic. lowing 10 the abb
sence OF a vital statistics law" he
said. 'it is not possible to tell pre-
ciSely how many cases of any given
disease occur in the State during any
given time, but the report filed with
the Health Department and the care
full estimates made from them leave
no doubt that there has been a great
and gratifying decline in typhoid
fever and consumption. Great as this
is. il is but an indication OF the pos
sibilities of preventive medicine.
There is no reason why, in time. these
dread diseases should not disappear.
with a gain to human happiness and
prosperity which is almost beyond
ones imagination"
In addition to receiving Commits
sioner williams report. the State
Board of Health transacted a large
volume Of routine business, re-elect-
ing the same officers and outlining
work for the future. There was a
genuine tone OF satisfaction manifest
ed throughout the proceedings, and
all the members Of the board express
ed their firm confidence that Virginia s
war against disease was yielding mag
nificent results.
Results at Catawba.
The statistical report from Catawba
shows that Of the forty-six cases dis
charged as cured or arrested during
the year 1910. there has been no re-
lapse. However, the report deplores
the tendency Of patients to leave be-
fore treatment is completed. They
improve rapidly and feel so well that
they insist upon returning to work.
against the advice OF the physicians.
Twenty-Five persons were discharged
as cured during the year. The re-
port regrets the difficulty in getting
hold Of patients in early stages of the
diseases OF the 161 cases treated
during the year. 131 were advanced
and only thirty incipient Admission
has been refused some whose condi-
ton was very bad.
The general percentage is given as
follows: Apparently cured, per
cent; disease arrested. 20 per cent. /:
improved, GO per cent; unimproved.
10 per cent; died . per cent.
From the meteorological depart
ment. by DR.. Meade Ferguson, il was
learned that ALSO examinations were
made during the year, an increase of
fifty per cent. during 1909.
A total Of 1S.31S.000 units OF anti
toxin was distributed in 1910. at {, re-
duced cost of hS1.S2 per 1000 units.
The estimated saving TO afflicted fam
il!es is $4,000. In this connection.
1910 was n bad year everywhere for
1iphtheria. ---,--
The bureau OF inspection. through
DR.. r. X. Flanagan, reported eighty
nine hotels examined in the last two
months.
In the Pasteur department forty
eight cases have been treated during
the year. No case Of rabies has de-
veloped.