The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-04-20
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Says Scarlet Fever May Break Out In
Outlying Districts Almost ANY
Time as Scattered Gases
Have Appeared.

The presence of measles in KenoshA
is charged to criminal carelessness by
DR.. j. j. McShane, health commission
er of Kenosha, in his fourth annual
report of the health department, which
is also his swan song as commissioner.
which was made to the common coun-
ell Monday night. In it he recon-
mended increased milk inspection
After noting the fact that there had
been but thirty-fve cases of measles
in the entire year, fourteen of which
were reported in March, Dr. McShane
said:
"Two-thirds of these cases can be
attributed to criminal carelessness.
| People went knowingly into homes out
side of our city where measles existed
and brought measles into Kenosha. -
At almost any time an outbreak of
communicable disease may be expected
in the Lamb or the Harmon schools,
just outside the city limits" was
warning which was contained in the
report.
The commissioner reported the fiscal
year just closed as having been free of
any epidemics of reportable diseases.
but he said that just at present a mum
Der of cases of scarlet fever exist in
Kenosha Heights at the extreme west
end of the city.
"Most of those children" says his
report, Gill with the disease, have been
attending the Harmon school. Neither
the Harmon nor the Lamb school, as
they are just outside the city limits
have medical supervision. Inasmuch
as eighty-fve per cent of the children
attending the Harmon school live with
in the city limits, also number from
the Lamb, the situation is difficult
to handle"
The commissioner cited an unpleas-
ant condition in the school district next
south of Kenosha where one school has
been closed and two other have few
pupils in attendance because Of measles
While typhoid fever has been raging
in Chicago and Milwaukee and in
other lake towns, Kenosha has been
practically free from the scourge in
the year past. But eighteen cases
were reported, or an average of one
and a half per month, and of these but
two resulted fatally But even this
was enc death in excess of the previous
year. But fourteen deaths have been
reported from tuberculosis, while there
were nineteen the year previous.
Diphtheria claimed but two deaths
with eighteen cases reported
DR.. McShane placed emphasis upon
the need of more milk inspection. He
admitted improvement in the milk
supply in the past twelve months, but
said more improvement would be made
if the health department. were given
an inspector who could supervise
diaries furnishing the Kenosha milk
supply, more thoroughly
His remarks upon infant welfare and
infant mortality in the city are ex-
ceedingly interesting and are quoted
in full as follows:
"During the past year there have
been sixty-four deaths of babies under
one year of age. This rate is lower
than in a great many cities, but still
not as low as it should be. There are
too many babies who die within the
first month of birth; too weak to live.
A survey is now being made in an eff
fort to discover the cause During the
months of June, July, August and Sep
TENDER a survey Of the babies born
during the year was made by women
CT various organizations, such as: The
Associated Charities, City Club, and
Catholic Women s club, and about 395
babies were visited. Sick babies were
reported to the health department and
we then visited the home and instruct
ed the mother how to care for
the infant.
During the year there were 252
deaths from all cases. A large percent
age of deaths occurred during the
months of December, January, Febru-
airy and March of this year, this was
due, in greater part, to severe mixed
infection, commonly known as grippe.
Up to December 1st of last year there
were eight less deaths than the cor
responding months, from April 1st to
December 1st, 1915. Figuring the pop
Ulation as given by the United States
census, 10000, we have a rate Of 50
per thousand.