The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-15
BIRTH RATE OF CITY
IS BELOW NORMAL
DIR. Cunningham Makes His
Report for Month of
November

Therefis no further danger from the
anthrax malady. a cage of which was
found a few days ago, according to the
monthly report of Citq Health Officer
Dr. r. NJ. Cunningham. DR.. Cunningham
states the community In which the dis
ease was found is inspected daily now.
The birth rate of the city is below
normal, states the health officer. The
birth rate for the month was 1888 per
thousand and the death rate was 1917
per thousand. The principal cause of
death was tuberculosis. The report in
part is as follows:
white mortality was 1926 per 1000:
black, 1887; total, 1o.77. The leading
cause of death, as usual, was tuebrcu
losis, of which there were 2s deaths.
and the next was violence. Occidental.
honicidal and otherwise) with 2s
deaths. This is the season of the year
in which there is a greater mortality
from lobar and broncho pneumonia, and
1t is especially advised that all people
over 90 years of age should be particu-
larry careful not to expose themselves
to cold and wet. as these are very pro-
nounced predisposing> causes to lober
pneumonia. During the month of No
vember there We're 20 deaths over so
year of age. The birth rate was, white.
11.ss; black, 17.44; total. 1873. The
birth rate in this city is undoubtedly
below the normal average. Among COM
municable diseases. there were AZ cases
of tuberculosis reported, which takes
the lead, and "a cases of diphtheria.
This is considerable reduction in the
number of cases of diphtheria for Oc-
tober. The examination of all school
children and the taking of cultures,
and quarantining of Carriers un-
doubleday accomplished much good.
There were two cases Of smallpox, both
white. Up to this time the smallpox in
cidence was much less than was ex-
pected and 1t is to be hoped, notwith-
standing the predictions of the health
officer heretofore, that there Will be
no pronounced epidemic this season.
There were only % cases of typhoid
fever reported, IL white and 10 black.
There was not a case on the South
Highland and only one on the South
side, and this was imported from Enon
Ridge. There were no cases on the
Northside and none at Ensley and Wy
lam. The largest number of cases were
at Enon Ridge and Graymont, of which
there were five. of all the cases of
typhoid fever, only two used dairy
sweet milk. The majority of cases Who
used milk and butter obtained these
from the private COW. There were 10
dry closets and 8 with sanitary con-
nections. There were not half the num-
Der of cases of typhoid fever in Mo-
yember that there were in Octoer.
There has been case of anthrax
reported. Cultures We're made from this
man, and also from the COW he skinned,
and anthrax bacilli were found. A
guinea pig was also inoculated with
an anthrax culture made from the man
who had the disease, and the pig
promptly died, and the poste mortem
showed all of the findings usually pre-
scented in deaths from anthrax. This is
an animal disease that may be commu-
ncated to man. The method of COM
munication Is from the hair and wool
of animals dead of anthrax and gem
orally involves the lungs and is taken
in during respiration. The second Is
| by incubation upon a sore or abra-
sion on the skin. A third by eating
infected meat. There seems to be
division of opinion of writers as to
whether milk causes the disease or not.
The anthrax bacilli is found in the milk
of COWS during the least stages of the
disease. The probability is, however,
that milk as medium of infection of
anthrax is negligible in importance.
The community in which this anthrax
occurred is visited daily and the cows
| inspected do not think there Is much
danger under the present conditions. 1t
has been arranged that any animal dy-
ing with the disease will be promptly
burned
| Health conditions in this city so
far as the acute infectious diseases are
concerned are good, and the mortality
rate among white people is entirely
/ satisfactory"