Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-01-25

toned diseases We're the cause Cd 6S3 per
cent. of the total deaths of the year. the
remaining 81 deaths being distributed
among 80 causes.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
Burlington has been very fortunate in
not having severe epidemic OF COM
municable disease. The so-called minor
"children 5 diseases" measles and Whoop-
ing cough, ragged in the spring and summer
and were responsible for - deaths. III IN
fantile paralysis had caused the same
number of deaths the people OF the city
would have been very much excited and
would have demanded all kinds of pre-
caution. With measles and whoopng
/ cough, however many parents expose
/ their children to the contagon so that the
/ children are deprived of the opportunity
to grow old. Diphtheria also has gwen n
| great deal Of trouble in the past year.
there being II frank cases reported and =
carrier cases, the disease causing three
deaths. In this disease medical inspection
OF schools has proved of great service be
lcausc at least two possible outbreaks were
prevented hy the prompt and efficient
measures taken by the medical inspector
There were six cases of acute arterio po-
iomyelits reported during october, with
no deaths There were three cases of
scarlet fever and five cases Of TYPHOID
fever reported, with one death from the
latter. All cases of typhoid fever were
contracted outside Of the city.
The table showing communicable dis
ease in the city for five years past shows
a decided decrease in typhoid of from q
to > and diphthcria, from n' to q; ana
an increase in measles from eight in l9l'
to a. i'm 1915. WhoopinS cough from ~
IN 1913 to 161 in 1916.
HOUSING CONDITIONS.
More than Two years aso a committee
of pubic-sqir.tcd citizens had survey
made Of the housing conditions Of this
city. rhr work was well done and ths
ground Thoroughly covered by an expert
= The recommendations made at that time
are ST iii GOOD and burlington to-day badly
needs a housing law. II is obvious thai
. the health Of the city cannot be greatly
!, improved unless some adequate means ar.
r provided FOR improving housing condi
I tons. Within nc past year several single
. apartment houses have been converted
= into multiple dwellings, resulting in darl
= rooms and overcroWding. Children car
not thrive in dark. dirty, unventilatec
rooms, and ii is in such places that a gooc
n many do live.
> MILK SUPPLY
The health officer, Il part of whose du
l,
- samples of milk each month. In his re
- port he says that Burlington's milk sup
ply is far from satisfactory, as the typhoi,
/, epidemics of 1914 and 1913 have demon
=, strated. The fear of a milk borne cpl
a demic IL always a real one and constan
=, supervision Of the milk is always DE
:, mandcd Milk to be safe should be pas
"A teurized. During the dairy inspection
:. number of cows were found that were no
III tuherCun tested. according to the reEu
A. latons Of the city ordinance, This situa
/, ton was greatly improved during tn
ar summer and very little milk now come
,d into the city from INFESTED herds. TIL
greatest fault in Burlngton's milk suppl
is dirt which is really inexcusable, as
W requires no extra equipment or eXpenS
re only a little more care to keep the mil
AZ clean.
III a table giving the results OF IN
r samples taken since August 1871
at shows 1913 samples taken, So of whic
er were clean, the percentage of clea
Of samples being So Pasteurization
H. the milk is advocated but until pasteu
o. l2ation comes the inspector urges tn;
o. Hurlinpton pass an ordlnace gradir
of milk, after pasteurization. grading b.
of ing best
or In speaking of food inspection Il
", health officer urges supervision
Nv stores, bakeries, restaurants. and 9th
ng establishments whore foods are pr
NJ pared and sold
ed Too much praise cannot be given Il
20, water department for its efficient trea
I'M mcnt of the lake water at the citrate
he plant. iiurlington's water supply
Of under constant supervision, the wat
nd DEPARTING testing the water sever
times "a day after it leaves the hlt