The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-06-14

Qeatn rate even below the inquire named.
This death rate is % lower than
the average set for Wisconsin and
within $40 as low as the lowest place
in the entire country. The figures for
the United States for that period give
an average death rate Of III per 1000
inhabitants. The highest death rate
is shown for Maine--14.3-th low
west for Idaho-7.8. The rate for
Wisconsin is 10.1.
Compares With Other Cities.
This death rate also compares fav-
orably with other cities of the nation.
A summary for sixtytwo of the larger
cities Of the country-all over 100000
inhabitants each-show a death rate
ranging from IA for Akron, the
lowest, to 1874 for Memphis, and 81
for Milwaukee.
In 1921 the death rate in Kenosha
was 1859, the slight increase this year
being blamed on the effects Of an
epidemic of pneumonia, which claimed
40 victims. With this exception the
record for 1922 shows a big decrease
over preceding years; in 1920 the death
rate was 10.1 and in 1919 it was 9.4.
The report also shows that the infant
mortality rate has also been curbed
in Kenosha. In 1922 this was kept to
65 for each 1000 births, which also
compares favorably with the provi-
sional average n per 1000 for the
nation as whole.
Stork Outstrips Death.
The storla more than kept pace with
death in the city. In 1922 there were
1907 births against $40 deaths; in 1921
there were 1921 births and 323 deaths.
The report carries with it an ac-
count Of the ravages made by various
communicable diseases in the city dur
ing the year. Of these diseases pneu-
monia took the heaviest death toll-49
persons-with tuberculosis second at
16, and diphtheria third with z. The
most prevalent epidemic was whooping
cough with a total of $50 cases and
2 deaths; German measles was next
in order with 235 cases, but no deaths,
and third came chicken-pox with 231
cases. The epidemic of smallpox
which has recently been prevalent in
/, the city will not be shown in the
report as it has all been within the
present year.
In commenting on the report DR..
Windesheim emphasized the fact that
the six cases of typhoid fever reported
had all originated outside of Kenosha
so that no blame for infection fell
upon the health department here.
Gives Causes for Decrease.
Director Windesheim ~gave several
reasons for the favorable result which
had been secured. One of these was
that parents had learned to cooperate
with the department in reporting cases
of communicable diseases to the de-
partment, thus making it possible to
stamp out the disease before it got too
strong hold on the city.
| High tribute was also paid to the
efficient work and vigilance of the
public health and school nurses who
during the year discovered 692 cases
of communicable diseases that prob
ably would not have been reported
otherwise and would thus have become
brooding places for other cases Of the
diseases in question. From January
LIST to August 31st during the year
there was staff Of three nurses, most
of them assigned for school work. On
September LIST, two more nurses were
added to the staff, giving four school
nurses and one visiting nurse. This
gives one nurse for each 220 to $500
school children; statistics show that, in
cities the size Of Kenosha there should
be one nurse for each 1000 to 1000
school children. DR.. Windesheim points
out from this that two additional
nurses are needed by the department.
Service League Aided Much.
The Kenosha Service league came in
for share of the glory of the work,
inasmuch as almost all of the infant
welfare work in the city is carried
on under its direction.
The general sanitary conditions of
the city were declared to be very fav-
orable. Cooperation on the part of
residents of the city to keep their own
premises clean has helped to make a
favorable report. Repeated inspections
of all places where food products and
beverages are sold and the strict en-
forcement of sanitary provisions for
such places has also aided in cutting
down ravages of sickness in the city.
City Manager Osborn expressed him
self as we'll pleased with the results
listed in the report declaring that it
showed that the health department
with the cooperation Of physicians,
civic organizations and Of the public
at large, was functioning properly.