The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-01
TYPHOID fever At A Low
ERB IN STATE DURING 1874
Work and Education Improving the
Health Conditions in Pennsylvania,
According to Statement Issued by
Commissioner Samuel G. Dixon


There have been $4,000 fewer cases
of communicable diseases in Pennsyl-
vania during the year 1914 than dur
ing the previous year, according to the
statement issued to-day by DIR. Samuel
G. Dixon, Commissioner of Health. In
summarizing the work of his depart
ment for the past year he said:
"The people of the Commonwealth
have cause to be thankful for the gen.
eral freedom from disease during the
paas 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 water ways and the protection of
our public water SUPPLIES may be told
tersely by the comparison of figures of
the morbidity and mortality from ty-
phoid fever in Pennsylvania in 1906
and 1914.
In the former year there was "a
All eases of typhoid fever reported in
this State and S.971 deaths from the
same cause. In 1914 only 1000 eases
were reported up to November 81 and
but ISL deaths. This means that there
was u decrease of over 10 per cent. in
typhoid fever in the Commonwealth.
Considered from its economic
standpoint this means saving of sew
eral millions of dollars annually, to say
nothing of the sorrow and suffering
which has been eliminated. If there
were no other results this achievement
3 a ~ ,..t,x
/ ties of the State and local authorities
and their expenditures for public health
work. There are however numerous
ether gratifying evidences.
/ The general death iate for Penn
/ syivania during 1914 will be 14.1 per
] thousand inhabitants which in State
with the great urban population ana
/ the vast number of manufacturing and
naming communities is evidence of gen
/ eral health conditions which while not
ideal are a decided Improvement over
! those of few years ago.
tuberculosis. which is the greatest
/ foe to life. has been steadily declining
as result of the active campaign
which has been waged by the Common
wealth and supplemented by various
! 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 INDECENT 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 sana-
toriam treatment. The system OF free
! dispensarieS which has been establish
ed brings this aid within the reach of
! every one of our eight million two hun.
, dred thousand people.
/ Gamer alone of ali the various re-
portable diseases has shown a slight
out steady increase during the past few
/ wears. Up 20 the present time the
medical profession has been unable to
cope with this foe exceN through early
surgical aid to those afflicted. How
ever. many of our scientific men are de.
| vot t.ng Their energies 10 the investiga-
| tion of this disease ami we hope rEat
| within comparatively few years some
I more potent aid may be forthcoming as
Il result of their exhaustive inves,iga-
! tions.
| "The activities of the State has
stimulated every sinew in the general
pa6l,e health agencies in the Common
wealth. The educational work which
/ has been e:rriei on since the establish
ment of uais department has borne ex-
cellopl, fruits. The lo>al boards of health,
the press, the pkilauthropic agencies and
most important of all the general pub
lie has understood. appreciated aud co.
operated in the work of betteriug con
t1,ions. TAe time is rapidly any roach
ing when every individual will not ouly
act as his own sanitary poll eman but
WI familiarize himself with those prin-
cipies OF personal hygiene and right liv-
ing w'hi9h will serve more than all else
to increase the span of human life and
ill to the 5r.m the cup of individual
happiness.