The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-11
WOULD BAR The
UNFIT FROM THE
MARRIAGE TIES
Bridgeport's Health Officer Re-
comments Radical Leg
islatiOn

ed on the very radical one now exist
ing in the State Of Washington,
Health officer e. A. Mcclellan, NJ. D.,
read his annual report to the Board
of Health last evening.
DR.. Mcclellan believes that a great
step may be taken tow ards safeguard
ing the health of the human race, by
legislating against the marriage of the
physically and mentally unfit.
His report shows that the number OF
births during the last year was prac-
tically double the number Of deaths.
DR.. Mcclellan recommends several i'm
portant ord nances for the safeguard
ing of public health in Bridgeport. His
message in full is as follows:
I herewith submit the following as
the report of the health officer for
the year ending Dec. 81, 1910:
Number of births for year, 1895
Number of deaths, 1862
Natural increase in popula-
ton, 1864
1911. los, 900
Death rate per thousand, 14.3
This estimated increase in the pop
ulation must be considered conServa-
tive when we note the increase in the
birth and death rates for the year.
Comparing these figures with those
of the previous year, the number OF
s67. The number Of deaths in 1910
was 133 larger. The natural Increase
by births in 1910 was 254 larger than
in 1909.
In reference to contagious diseases,
the figures for 1910 in comparison
with those of 1909 are as follows:
Diphtheria and Group. (1910) 1874
cases, 81 deaths; G9o9) 173 cases. IA
deaths.
Scarlet fever. (1s10) 424 cases, 10
deaths; l1sos) 2s6 cases; 1e deaths.
tuberculosis, (191O) 203 deaths;
(1909) 165 deaths.
Deaths of children under five years
Of age numbered 492.
For the previous year. AIS.
The largest mortality from all
causes was in March, 154, and the
smallest number in November, Ill.
The next largest number was in July,
81 children under five years being in
the death list for that month.
pneumonia caused the deaths of
1872 persons, the disease being quite
year.
Scarlet Fever.
With the beginning sof the year,
scarlet fever in Bridgeport began to
assume formidable proportions and in
February the board instituted radical
clans We're employed and all the school
children were inspected and the
schools closed for a period Of one
week. During this period the school
buildings were thoroughly cleaned by
board of education and fumigated by
employees of the board of health. In
addition to these, the theatres, the
public library and all picture show
buildings were also fumigated.
The school children were re-exaIn-
ined before admission to school and
the disease in the city which up to
ing. began to decline Very few cases
occurred among school children for
the remainder of the year. Two neces-
stiles of the situation were empha-
sized by the scarlet fever epidemic:
the need of an isolation hospital and
of regular medical school inspection.
Isolation Hospital.
A new furnace was installed which
is giving satisfaction in heating. A
new linoleum and painting of some of
the rooms has descended the inattrac-
tiveness of the place. To repeat what
Bridgeport requires 2 suitably de-
signed. well built isolation hospital.
1t is a city with a large population in
boarding houses, young men and
women employed in the stores and
factories without permanent homes.
Suitable accommodations for this class
of persons when they fall i'll of COM
diseases must be made. The
general hospital will not receive them.
Forty lone persons were cared for at
this place during the year.
Ordinances.
A milk ordinance was passed under
the powers conferred on the board by
the last legislature.
A meat ordinace before the ordi-
nance committee of the common
r>4t1 u. Il
report. It Is needed as an amend
ment to the present ordinance, which
was found faulty in some respects.
I would suggest for the considera-
ton of this board, an ordinance con-
trolling the dumping of papers and
other wastes on private property.
~ Tuberculosis.
There were from all causes of the
disease. 203 deaths reported in Bridge
port during the year. This is a larger
number than was reported for the
previous year. This disease is too
by any hastily constructed method of
attack. Only intelligent persistent
effort that takes into account all the
factors concerned can hope to bring
a successful issue.
Tuberculosis is not transmitted by
birth, but deficient resisting power
may be transmitted. Then there is in
the individual affected with the dis
ease, an ever present center of in
lection In the home, and we are no
doubt acting wisely in providing sani-
forums to which persons afflicted
with the disc Sc may be removed
The visiting nurses are doing valu-
able work just at this point in seeking
out such persons and urging their re-
mova1 to the county sanitorium, or
this being impracticable, instructing
in the methods for preventing the
spread of the disease. The nurses also
in many cases assist in procuring suit
able food.
The coming years will probably
bring the prohibition of the marriage
of persons having tuberculosis. They
will bring an Improvement in the gen
eral conditions of living. Shorter hours
of labor, better housing, less crowd
ing, better food, less anxiety and
fuller knowledge of life, and with
these, an end of the reign of the
great White Plague" which for the
total mortality.
School Inspection.
There was never a time when the
bers of the human race was as much
in evider 'e as it is to-day.
The struggle for existence with it's
survival only of the fttest and the
devil take the hindmost' is phi
losophy which scarcely satisfies the
fraternal sympathies of this new CEN
fury. In the industrial world, we are
coming more and more to feel that
men should have more equal opportu-
nifty for securing the aims of life.
This same humanitarian impulse is