The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-05-22
REDUCE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
Report Shows Large Amount Of Work
Completed i'll the Cleaning up of the
City and in Putting Vital Statistics
on a New and Better Basis.

Commissioner Of Public Health DR..
John j. McShane has fled with the city
council and the board Of health his first
annual report. 1t is decidedly interest
ing as it shows the great amount OF
work done by the health department.
during the year just closed. The report
follows.
10 the Honorable Mayor, Common
Council and Members Of the Board
Of Health of the City of Kenosha,
Wisconsin.
Gentlemen:-
herewith submit my report for the
period from July LIST, 1912 to March
3lst, 1913, as follows, viz
/ staged work July LIST, 1912, and
found duties so numerous confronting
me that organization and systemiza-
tion were difficult, but with the assis-
tance of the Board Of Health and the
cooperation Of the city officials, de-
partment which has accomplished much
has been formed.
During the first part of the year,
1912 there was an epidemic of scarlet
fever and cases were carried over dur
ing the summer, this was due to the
parents refusing to call doctor on
account of the quarantine regulations,
AID again mild cases not being recog
nized some of the misfortnnas fol
lowing scarlet fever are Inevitable,
once the disease has been contracted
we cannot help regretting that the
mild and ambulatory cases remain in
many instances undiagnosed, and alto
gether overlooked.
We take this opportunity of again
emphasizing the urgent need of hos
pital for the reception of these cases.
disqualification means the removal of
the focus of infection from where it
is hardest to control, to place where
it can be rendered free from menace
and also placing the patient in an en-
vironment best suited for the carry
ing out proper treatment, should So
quale supervene, At the present time
there are three cases in the city.
During the past year we have had
but few eases of diphtheria; the NOR
tality rate is too high considering
what has been accomplished in some of
our larger cities by the scientific ad-
ministration of antitoxin.
During the past year there have
been some few cases of typhoid fever,
but some not being reported to me, l
am unable to say the exact number of
typhoid eases. The cases reported this
spring can be traced to use of lake
water with one or two exceptions a
number of meteorological tests of the
water have been made and nearly
every sample examined was polluted
Last summer water survey was
made lasting six weeks; samples were
collected three times week. one day
from intake, to three miles, next trip
from three to seven miles, and in a
great many of the samples B. Coli were
found showing sewerage contamina-
ton. There is great need of filter
and hypochlorite plant. For the time
being q hypochlorite plant could be in
stalled at small cost, which would
help greatly to cut down the bacterial
contents in the water. This has been
done in many lake cities. Waukegan
has by the use Of hypochlorite cut the
typhoid rate to point where it COM
pares favorably with the cities where
the typhoid rate is low.
Tuberculosis.
This disease still ranks first as one
of the causes of death. Among the
communicable diseases the last months
there were fifteen deaths from tuber-
culosis in this city. During The year a
number of eases were sent to Wales
who received sanatorium treatment.
Last fall an appropriation was made
by the county board 70 build much
needed sanotorium in our county. Be
ing unable to purchase the site that
was picked for the location Of this
sanatorium, action in the matter was
Indefinitely postponed.
From the number of deaths alone,
it can be readily seen how much in
need we are of place to treat our
tubercular patients. There are many
cases in Kenosha awaiting call to go
to Wales. When cases that are in an