Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-31
GRIM REAPER IS
BEATEN DURING
Year BY BIRTHS
Stork Brings AS New Citizens to
City While Death Claims Total
Of ~ for Year Of 1918.
BY DR. Albert N. NUELLER
City Physician.

City Physician.
The local department Of health
can report the year 1919 as being
unusually favorable as regards the
community health, except for the
fact that the influenza-pneumonia
pandemic extended over . few
months in tho new year before It
finally disappeared; and . tempo
rary increase of smallpox in the
spring, the city has been remark
ably free from communicable dis
ease. This also applies to the,
present fall and winter. there beins
a minimum amount Of sickness OF
al, kinds, especially very little
pneumonia. This can be accounted
for partly by the excellent weatheE.
which has been uniformly cold. M
decided thAws or rain.
Deaths.
The total number of deaths for
the year was 344. making q death
rate of only lis per Thousand.
This is based on population OF
29,452 as estimated by U. S. census
bureau, and is very low compared
with an average Of IA per thou
sand, in other years. There was IN
increase in deaths the first four
months due to the nu-pneumoniA
epidemic. The average number qf
deaths per month then was SS.
while the present rate Is 20.
Contagious Diseases.
Influenza has been made a. re-
portable disease and II guaranteed.
with the home placarded f6 ave
days. Pneumonia il also NV r.
portable but only q privaJ foolAs
ton required. Smallpox fsofattic-
ally always present in OF neigh
boring state. subjecting q to the
danger of infection. Unit the pail
lie becomes vaccinated an revacci-
mated this unnecessary disease will.
occur here. It IL alwaysthoss who
neglect this precautionag measure
who contract it and soorsr! or later
such persons are possible smallpox
patients. For four months this
summer We had NO cars reportHl
and the detention hupital- WIS
closed. Every child before IL
reaches the school aes should be
vaccinated.
Our birth rate this rear IL Is per
thousand, with q total Of 433 re-
ported. This 10 also an encourag-
ing fact, but does not represent Ill
born to local parents for the res
son that many ESTIMATED at 1000
babies births take place in Daven-
port and Moline hospitals, when
cities receive the credit and in
creases their birth rate. 1t is TO- be
hoped that advantage will be taken
o. the maternity department Of the
new st. Anthony's hospital where
an entire floor accommodating 20
patients has been modernly and
scientifically equipped. 1t is Sec
ond to none in this community and
CAL give service that should make
it literally patronized.
Min Supply Good.
The city's milk supply from the
loource to the consumer is UNDER
constant observation. and is Of uni i.
form purity. The diaries are in
spected and found sanitary. Regls'
lar monthly milk tests are made
from dairyWen, restaurants and
hotels. Very few violations have
been found the past year.
|. Rock Islands water system with
its modern filtration plant and
COLONIZATION supplies a product Of
unQuestionabie purity. No water
born disease has developed locally
for Q number Of years. An .occa-
sfonal case of typhoid fever y
traceable to outside sources or .
contaminated cell. Where foudd
such wells have been ordered
closed. Typhoid fever is known
today to be spread by the cured
fever patient who harbors the
germs in the system and Innocent
ly gives the disease to Others.
Whole families have been infected
in this way by the so-called Ety.
phoid carrier" and the modern
:. problem is to. isolate and treat such
patients until they are free from
injecting others. \
L