The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1918-10-03
HEALTH CONDITIONS
in MISSISSIPPI
Parents. Warned Against the So
Called Diseases of Childhood.

The following data from the NOR
bidity report for the month Of August
Of the reportable cases Of disease,
should be Of interest to the general
public: Typhoid Fever LIZA cases,
Malaria 1912, Smallpox Al, Measles
161, Scarlet Fever 161, Whooping
Cough 1868, Diphtheria 105, Dysentery
(amoebic) 1893, Dysentery (bacillaryl
I557, Chickenpox 141, Pellegra TAO, Tu-
berculosis 46s, Meningitis (epidemic)
| /, Infantile Paralysis 2, Trachoma II,
Mumps 564
Just at this time with the approach
ing winter months during which time
! the children of the state will be con-
fined indoors attending school, it is OF
| the greatest Importance to realize the
danger attendant upon the so-called
diseases of childhood. Sometimes a
good mother says, 4 will be glad when
nv children have measles and get over
lit.n This mother, like many others,
fails to realize not only the danger at
tendant upon measles in many cases,
but, what is even worse, the grave
after-effects that often follows in its
path. During August, 1918, only l6l
cases Of measles were reported to the
Board of Health, while 406 cases were
reported for August, 1917 In the
year 1916 there were l,1Sl cases oi
measles reported from the state-ar-
large. In 1917, 49,442 cases. At may
be truthfully said that the year 1917
was the measles year" Tor Mlsslssip-
ri During 1917, the cases OF sick
ness and fatality from this so-called
child's disease, which, by the way
is preyentable,-wa appalling. Since
we have lust passed through this ex-
uerience. the year 1918 is before US
Let us profit by it. We do not want
| to reueat the measles record during
the coming year. The increase OF
IN. .661 cases Of measles in 1917, as
/, lcompared with the cases during 1910
breaks all records in the incidence o.
! measles during any pevlous ryea
This may be in part accounted Tor py
the fact that German measles, orol
lnarilv known as Roseola, became ss
conplicated with the orthodox type
( that 1t is likely this increase in th'
J number Of cases during 1917, was
augmented in this way. 1t also shows
} fine increased opportunity afforded fol
(, fine snread of any disease during wal
times as a result Of moving troops
and travel of the civil population.
With an increase in number Of case'
of disease. naturally the death rat'
also increases. So, during the yea
{. lI916. there were 13 deaths from nea
/, sles. n white and 6 colored,) and fol
. the year 1917 there were 546 death.
e from measles. An increase OF 55'
t deaths over the year 1916. Still, ,ther'
E are peoule who advocate that child
rem rem should have measles and ge
through with IT. And yets this IS nc
: the end of the measles story. Ever
{: one knows that pneumonia often 1oi
/, lows measles, and as result an IN
r. crease in the death rate from pnep
n monia i would be expected during tn
:, wear 1917. This was the case, 2
d there were only 1893 deaths Tor n
e wear 1916 and 1896 for the year "a, ~
: an increase Of 296 deaths: This U
5. crease m 10 the number Of deaths 1roK
'e nneurnonia was undoubtly In part du
l. e. the increase in the number OF case
is Of measles in the state. Them tupel
l. culosis at times follows measles,
we'll al chronic conditions ai1ecIn
d fbe ewes. ears, nose and throat, whlc
't permanently impair the general neal'
r of person