Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-31
GROWING
LESS IN THE STATE
Figures Compiled by State Com
missioner of Health Dixon
Show a Great Decrease

Pennsylvania had $4,000 fewer cases
of communicable disease during the
year 1914 than during the previous
year, according to the statement issued
to-day by DR.. Samuel q. Dixon, Com
missioner of Health.
In summarizing the work of his
department for the past year he said:
THE people of the Commonwealth
have cause to be thankful for the gem
eral freedom from disease during the
past year. Never in the history of the
State has it been so free from typhoid
fever as during 1914. The result of
nine years work for the publication
of our Waterways and the protection
of our public water supplies may be
told tersely by the comparison of fig
ures of the morbidity and mortality
from typhoid fever in PENNSYLVANIA in
1906 and 1914
''In the former year there were
24,471 cases of typhoid fever reported
in this State and 3,971 deaths from
the same cause. In 1914 only 1000
cases were reported up to November
81 and but 731 deaths. This means
that there was a decrease of over
20 per cent. in typhoid fever in the
Commonwealth.
Saving in Money
Considered from its economic
standpoint, this means a saving of
several millions of dollars annually.
to say nothing of the sorrow and suf-
fering which has been eliminated. If
there were no other results this
achievement alone would justify the
general activities of the State and
local authorities and their eXpendi-
lures for public health work. There
are, however. numerous other graft
flying evidences.
"The general death rate for Penn
sylvania during 1914 will be 14.1 per
1000 inhabitants, which in a State
with the great urban population and
the vast number of manufacturing and
mining communities is evidence of
general health conditions which. while
not ideal are decided improvement
over those of a few years ago.
Tuberculosis, which is the greatest
foe to life. has been steadily declining
as a result of the active campaign
which has been waged by the Com
monwealth and supplemented by vari-
Gus philanthropic agencies. The State
now maintains three great sanatoria.
one in the eastern. one in the central
and one in the western portion of the
State. for the free treatment of in
digent sufferers from this disease. The
capacity of these institutions is over
1000 beds, which are at the disposal
of those residents of Pennsylvania who
are in need of sanatorium treatment
The system of free dispensaries which
has been established brings this aid
within the reach of every one of our
eight million two hundred thousand
people.
Fighting Cancer
Cancer alone of all the various
reportable diseases has shown a slight
hut steady increase during the past
few years. Up to the present time the
medical profession has been unable to
cope with this foe except through early
surgical aid to those afflicted. How
ever. many of our scientific men are
devoting their energies to the investi-
cation of this disease and we hope
that within comparatively few yea RS
some more potent aid may be forth
coming as result of their exhaustive
1 Investigations.
The activities of the State have
stimulated every sinew in the general
public health agencies in the Com
monwealth. The educational work
which has been carried on since the
establishment of this department has
horne excellent fruit. The local boards
of health the press, the philanthropiC
agencies and, most important of all
the general public. has understood
appreciated and co-operated in the
work of bettering conditions. The
| time is rapidly approaching wher
every individual will not only act as
his own sanitary policeman, but viii
| familiarize himself with those princi-
ples of personal hygiene and right liv-
! ing which will serve more than all elss
to increase the span of human life ant
J fill to the brim the cup of individual
happiness"