Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1918-01-29

ed. and I may say It is more due to
good luck than good management that
we have not at some time had severe
epidemic Of typhoid fever. All Of this
could be rcmedied by a proper search
ing Of the sources Of typhoid.
awe have in this city a very &C
tive tuberculosis society, but It is more
or less handicapped by the lack Of
proper means OF research work;
sputum examination and the like could
properly be made in a city laboratory
There are approximately thirty
cities Of the same size as Wilmington
in the United States. Every one OF
these cities has recognized the crying
necessity for city laboratory. Whining
ton alone still holds to the old system
Of letting matters drift and trusting In
God. There is no reason, either tlnan-
cial or otherwise. why this city should
not have as good a laboratory as any
other in its class / sincerely
trust that some effort will be made by
the Council to put aside enough funds
10 establish a laboratory for the COM
ing year
Executive Officers.
During the past year the executive
force has several times endeavored TO
have their salary increased 10 500. I
believe they should get this increase.
for they are now trying to live on a
salary that Is entirely inadequate.
Fly Campaign.
aDuring the month OF May a very
successful fly campaign was waged. A
number Of prizes were offered TO school
children for the greatest number OF
des brought In. This aroused consider
able enthusiasm, and when the cam
paign was over we had over 10000 flies
/ brought in by children alone Also the
/ ny traps distributed to the various
markets proved a very great success.
Smallpox.
During the past year we have had
not one case Of smallpox, as compared
with 81 in 1916 However, ] think the
following article by the United State:
Public Health on vaccination is Of con-
siderable value.
Scarlet Fever.
There were i06 cases OF scarlet fever
during 1917 with but three deaths, al
against 20 cases IN 1916. with ten deaths
Thus the death rate was decreased
per cent. during the past year. Fol-
some time It has been customary e
wait until desquamatiOn has ceased IT
scarlet fever before removing quaran
tine. This has for some time been re-
garded as a mistaken procedure b,
most Of the larger communities, as
medical science has practically deter
mined that the disease is Transmitted
by the nasal discharge, etc, and no
by the desduamation. Therefore ! rec
ommend some change in this regula
ton.
Diphtheria.
There were 50 cases OF diphtheri'
as compared with 20 In 1916 and 4.
deaths as compared with 10 in the pre-
vious year. Our quarantine has beer
the same as previous, viz: Allowin.
the wage Garner to work during The
period Of quarantine. / think tina
some better system OF quarantine
should be established. For instance
the removal Of such wage earners dur
ing the period OF quarantine. Her
again comes our plea for a Municipa
Hospital. for many Of these cases coul'
b be taken care OF in such a hospital a
r a very great saving TO the community
J Measles
During 1917 we had but 40 cases
, measles. a decrease Of i52 from las
year. This may be accounted for b
g the fact that in 1916 we had a sever
I epidemic, while IN 1917 only a fe'
@ sporadic cases existed.
/ Garbage Collection.
9 I'VE have been extremely fortunai
: during the past year in the matter {
] garbage collection. The Sanitary Con
- lpany furnished us excellent service an