The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-16
Issues Warning
Of Construction
Camps Dangers
Unsanitary Conditions Lead to
Water Supply Pollution
States Vital Statistics

Hartford, Aug. 16-Secretary Joseph
H. Townsend of the State Board of
Health, in the boards bulletin for
July, gives this warming on the sub
Ject of construction camps:
During the summer and fall there
are located at various places through
out the State a number of camps oc-
cupied by laborers who are engaged
In construction work on railroads,
State highways, water reservoirs or
other public works Unless these are
conducted in a thoroughly sanitary
manner, they may be a menace not
only to the health of the individuals
occupying them, but also to the in
habitants of the towns in which they
are located, and it is one of the duties
of the local health officer to see that
they are maintained with a proper re-
gard to hygiene and sanitation in ev-
cry particular. Section 1859 of the
General Statutes provides that every
agent of a firm or corporation, and
every person who shall maintain or
nave charge OF any structure used as
boarding house or place of abode
for laborers employed by them, shall
within seyenty-two hours after such
structure has been occupied for such
purpose, notify the health officer of
the town in which such structure is
located. Such health officer must
then within five days inspect the
premises and may make such orders
as he deems necessary, or may forbid
the use of the camp altogether.
Particular attention should be given
to those camps which are so located
as to be liable to pollute any public
water supply. IF there is danger of
this and another location is not prac-
ticable, all eXcreta from the occu-
pants of the camp should be deposit
ed in water-tight pals Or other re-
ceptacles and daily carried off the wa
tershed. When the water supply of a
neighboring town, not in the juris-
diction of the health officer where the
camp is located, is threatened, then
the health officer should notify the
health officer of the town or city US
ing the water. This is very important
at this time of the year when typhoid
fever may be prevalent and when we
are fearing an importation of cholera
from abroad
The mortality reports received
showed that there were 1923 deaths
in July, 451 more than in June, 112
less than in July, $780, and SO more
than the average number of deaths in
July for the five years preceding 1911.
The July deaths represented an an
nual rate of 1875 to 1000 population for
the cities and large towns, 1876 for
towns of less than 5000 inhabitants,
and 17.6 for the State. The chief
causes Of death were as follows: Diar-
rhea, 277, diseases of nervous system
157, heart disease 149. accidents and
violence LAP, consumption 112, pneu-
monia "a
Cases Of infectious diseases were
reported as follows: Smallpox 1 Say
brook, measles 234 plus, scarlet fever
"a, cerebro-spinal fever 8, infantile
paralysis 8, diphtheria and Group 81,
whooping cough g., typhoid fever 81,
consumption 125. The health officers
of 80 towns reported that they had
not been notified of any infectious dis
eases. The deaths from infectious dis
eases in July were $50, or Ill per cent.
of the total mortality.
There were 1.417 marriages in June
and 2,2S1 births in the same month
One pleasing feature, from Hart
ford standpoint, is the fact that the
Charter Oak City. had the second city
beaten to a fragile in June weddings,
there being 173 in this city and 1872
in Rrid1epOrt