The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-06
DISEASES OF
 CHILDHOOD
Diphtheria Twice as Fatal as Measles, Scarlet Fever or Whooping Cough.

Washington, Feb 6.-D1phtherla ana croup caused 11,521 deaths in the cen Sus bureaus death registration area for 1910, the death rate being 21.4 per 100000 population. Although this rate represents an increase over the rate for the preceding year, which was 20-4 it is lower than that for any previous year since the beginning of the annual reports and much less than the annual average for the 10-year period from 1906 to 1909, 27.3. It is understood that, by the term ''diph theria and croup'' only the single disease, diphtheria, is meant, and that fatal cases of "croup' should be properly reported as diph- theria.
 Diphtheria continues to be the most fatal epidemic disease of chi dhood, causing about twice as many deaths whooping cough, but by the general and timely use of antitoxin it can be prevented in large measure and un doubtedly can in time be abolished as cause of death
 Scarlet Fever.
 Scarlet fever, like measles, caused a greater number of deaths in 1910 than in 1909. The number of deaths 6,255. reg;st cred in 1910 exceeded the number reported for any previous year reports in 1900. This was probably due in large measure to the increased popu ation of the registration area. for the death rate in 1910, 11.6 per
 
 was only slightly higher than for 1909. 11.4 and was lower than 11.s for 1908. The average for the 10 years from 1900 to 1909 was 10.6.
 In 1910 only three registration states showed death rates from scarlet fever in excess of 15 per 100,000-Ptah, 28.8, New York, 18.1 and Montana, 16-1. Death rates from this disease were population or over: Buffa'o, N; Y, 52.6; Lowell, Mass, 41.2; St. Paul, Minn-. BOP; St. Louis, Mo, f7.1; Kan sas City, Mo, 23.2; Milwaukee, Wis, 22.3; Pittsburgh, Pa, 22-2; Rochester, N. Y., 21.4 and New York Ci'y, 20. Of these cities, Milwaukee, Buffalo and St. Pau had likewise high rates in the preceding year, respectively 55.6, 40.4
 As in the case of measles the nor tality from scarlet fever shows more or less regular variations from veal to year. so that by special precautions before the time when the disease reg ularly appears more effectual re- striction of its spread may be accom- case.
 WhoOping Cough.
 Nearly as many deaths from whoop ing cough, 6,146, were registered as from measles, 6,59S and scar ct fever, (, ,255. As in the case of measles, whcoping cough for the year 1910 was marked by a considerable increase in mortality, the dtaeh rate for 1910 being 11.4 per 100000 population as compared with 9.6 for the preceding year It is probable that a large proportion of the deaths indirectly resulting from whooping cough are aSstgned to other causes, chiefly 'broncho- pneumonia. Whooping cough was returned as the cause of more deaths than measles Or scarlet fever during the 1O-year period 1900 to 1909, the rates being, respective ly, 11.3, 9.9 and 10.6 per 100000 popu a. tion. Notwit hsta nding the greater
 
 from the other diseases named, much less effort is made for the proven ion and restriction of the former than Of either measles or scarlet fever.
 Among the registration states those showing higher mortality from whoop ing coueh than the average for 1910 are Maryland, PA; Utah, IT; North Carolina, only municipalities of L. 900 or over, I'll; and New Jersey, 16.6 High rates are shown in the following large cities: Richmond, Va, scr; Bridgeport, Conn.,, 26.S; Detroit. Mich, 2S; Worcester, Mass, 21-s, and Oakland, Cal, and Philadelphia, Pa. each 20.5.
 Measles was returned as the cadse of 6,5oS deaths in the registra ion area during 1910, much larger mum her than in the preceding year, 4.860. The death rate for 1910 was 12.9 per 100. coo population, which is higher than for any year since 1900 when it was
 
 Rhode Island and North Carolina, mu- nicipalities of 1000 population or over in 1900, had the highest death rates 32.6 and 27.1 respectively. Hi~h dea tn rates were shown for the following registration cities of 100000 popula ion or over: Pittsburgh. Pa. SS;1; Provi- dence, R. l., 31.9; Kansas City, Mo, 2S.4; Lowell, Mass, 28.1; A'hany N. Y. 23.9; Columbus. Ohio. s3.6; Buffalo, N. Y, 221 and Richmond, Va, 211
 Although the total mortality from measles is not so great as to make the disease appear especially form'd- able, it is probably true that many deaths assigned to other causes are due to the unfortunate consequences of this disease. For example, a con siderable proportion of the deaths from pneumonia, especia Iy those attributed to oncho-pneumonia, are in reality the result of measles, and it has long been a matter of popular belief that tuberculosis results frequently from measles, although, of course, the for mer is a separate infection. In view of the frequency of eases in which measles is followed by some more ser ious disease. it is very important that efforts should be made to check the hi