Norwich bulletin., 1920-12-29
CASE OF DIPHTHERIA
 REPORTED FROM NORWICH

One case of diphtheria was reported from Norwich during the past week ac- cording 10 the weekly morbidity report is- sued by the state department of health. Diseases reported from towns in eastern Connecticut during the week were as fol lows;
 Diphtheria-East Lyme 1. New London 1, Norwich l. Waterford l, Coventry l. Ellington l. Wilmington ?. Plainfeld ,2, Putnam 2, Thompson l, Willimantic l.
 Scarlet Fever-New London 5, Andover 1, Stafford l. Sterling l, Wiliimantic 2.
 Measles-Groton 3. Lebanon l. Putnam
 whooping Cough-Jewett City 2/New London Ii, Old Lyme l. Willimantic ?.
 During the past week slight decreases have occurred in the pr~salence of most of the communicable diseases. The health officers and physicians in the state found 35 more diphtheria germ carriers, the cause of many of the perplexing diphthe- ria outbreaks.
 The so-called milder diseases. as chick enpox, humps and German measles. are epidemic in certain sections of the state. These cases should receive proper medical care to prevent the severe complica tions that at times follow these diseases, some of which can be prevented.
 The beginning of a new year is an op- portune moment to leave behind the | troubles of the old year Start anew profiting by the experience of the work
 during the past twelve months, avoid old mistakes, and begin afresh, using al 1 available knowledge, methods and means 1 for improving the public health. l Health boards were originally formed l for the prevention of disease the pri- mary plank in health boards existence
 and in this day of varied health aetivi 1 ties we should not overlook this. The prevention of disease depends ab l solutely on our Knowledge as to the ex | istence of disease; in other words tn,
 complete reporting of every case of dis
 ease is important and necessary. The l prevention of disease will fail unIes: cases are reported as in a like manne 1 a confiagration would spread unless tn, fireinen knew of each blaze and extin guished it.
 An editorial appearing in the Bostor
 Medical and Surgical Journal, dated De
 cenberl 23, 1920 bears on this point ant reads as follows:
 | The importance to the public and t, I the profession of reporting notifable dis eases seems to be unapprecia.ed by ; great many physicians and surgeons. Al 1 article published in a recent public healtl 1 report has called attention to the negli l gence of the profession. in this regars | and has discussed the reasons why re i ports should be made. It is fair to sS.
 that no disease has been placed on tn
 notifable list arbitrarily or by chance but each one has been added for som definite reason. The efficiency of publi
 health work is determined to consid
 erahle extent by the comple. eness of tn information contained in reports and sta
 tistics pertaining to preventable diseases A knowledge of the prevailing disease! l of the number of cases, of the rapidit of spread and of conditions favoring thei spread is the basis of public healt work, and is of inestimable value nc
 only to the immediate community bu , often to distric.s at considerable dis tance from the source of infection
 Where there is no local health depar
 Nent, state officials not infrequently al called to assist in the control of ou
 breaks of disease of which no cases ha,
 been reported-a lack of co-operatic ' which results in considerable delay } applying preventive measures; furthe more, the reporting of diseases from con t nunities in which there is no loc \ health department gives tangible eyidcp, : of the need of one. The reporting :, l 1 certain diseases is particularly neglec
 ed for various reasons influenza. for ii l stance, is often ignored On the grour f that health authorities can do nothii : about it; German measles, because uf :. mildness and supposed harrlIessnes . and venereal diseases, because they a n By some, considered to be private rla : ters. It is not to any health officer. q : rector, Of health department. eir1olo, S that the physician is primarily respons f ble in the reporting of disease, but s that great principle for which eve a board efsheaIth stands--The Prevents
 of Disease"