Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-01
HEALTH RECORD
HOLDS LIS OWN

continued from First page)
Gordon. pr. r. u. l;arcin. Dr. NJ. u.
Hoge, Jr., and James l.. Phillips. Lr.-
for the splendid service they perform
ell for Richmond FOR ten fun years. un-
selfshly and without compensation"
While the loss OF the cid Board of
Health was regretted by many. the
work OF the Health Department dur
ing the lasI six months of 1916 has
progressed most satisfactorily under
the Administrative Board. This board
has taken the position from the start
tiat the work Of the Heath Depart
mcnt has TO ke done by one especially
trained for the Job. They have there
fore given Or Levy the Sratcst DOS
sihl latitude. and the work has not
suffered.
UNUSUAL EPIDEMIC
Or fNF'ANTIiE PARALiS SIS
In July the attention Of the entire
country was aroused by reports OF
most unusual epidemic oi infautile
paralysis in. New York city. The rapid
spread of :hiS disease. its cXtraordi-
nary fatality. the serious condition so
often left, even after recovery from
the acute symptoms. all combined to
crate alarm everywhere. But the chief
factor in the fear which swept the
country was that little or nothing WAS
known OF tn. mems whereby this dis
ease spread.
The chief Health omcer promptly
reported the state oi affairs % the
Administrative Board and was en-
powered tc take such steps as he
this disease. An emergency appropria-
ton Of $4,000 was granted by the
city Council for this purpose.
During the summer and fall seven
teen cases OF iniantile par,ls sis We're
reported III Richmond. OF these. The
II
from the epidemic centers. These two
cases and one other lied. the rest re-
covered. lust how much good was ac-
cor1pliShd by the extraordinary meas
ures which were adopted and enforced
by the Health Department cannot be
stated, but il is fact that IN no single
instance WAS there reason TO suspect
that any Richmond case infected a
second child.
MORE TYPHOID THAN ~
ANY YEAR SINCE. 1000
During July and August Richmond
had more typhoid fever than in any
year since 1909.
While the source Of trouble WAS
recognized in connection with num-
her Of small groups Of cases there
remained many cases which could not
be satisfactorily explained. For this
reason, the people were advised to
take such precautions as would pro-
tect them. whatever the cause
On the advice Of the Health Depart
ment. thousands Of citizens took the
typhoid vaccination. The public was
advised TO boil all drinking water at
first, since. although the water could
not be definitely blamed. neither could
il he completely eXoncratcd In order
TO eliminate all further uncertainty in
regard to the water supply. the Admin
iStrative Board authorized the immc-
diate installation OF a more effective
a. oh "a,
the water.
with the assistance Of Richard
Mcsser, sanitary cGineer OF the state
Health Department, this was done
within two days. With The consent
OF the State Health Commissioners Or
T.. &. Williams. other officers Of his
department also rendered valuable as
Sistancc to the city in connection with
this typhoid furry.
HIGH DEATH RATE
FROM TYPHOID FEVER
~ a result of this outbreak. to-
sether with the high case fatality Of
the disease in the first three months
OF tho year -four deaths out OF six
cascs), there We're thirty-seren deaths
from typhoid fever during the year
equivalent TO a rate Of o3.G per 100000
inhabitants. This was The highest
death rate from typhoid fever since
1903. though prior TO that year the
rate had never been below 10, and
averaged IS
There was only ono death from ma
larial fever in Richmond during 1916.
The disease in this instance having
been contracted to tho south Of the
city. The dcccdent was a white man.
the first white death from malaria
since 1912. In the past four years
there have been only four deaths from
malaria altogether. while in former
years il WAS by no means uncommon
10 have over thirty deaths attributed
To this disease in year.
Diphtheria claimed only five vic
TINS during the year. giving a death
rate Of 81 per 100000 from this
discase--the lowest rate. with q single
exception. on record.
The year 1916 turned out TO he both
a measles year" and a "whoopinc-
cough year" There were forty deaths
from the former and forty-six from
the latter disease. As has been fire.
quentlS mentioned by health authorj-
ties. these two contagious diseases OF
infancy and childhood arc uncontroI-
able by any means as yet worked out
by sanitary science.