New Britain herald., 1924-10-09
.PULLENS SURVEY
 . 0N SMALLPOX LOSS
Tells What It Meant Economi.
 cally as We'll as in Life

NcW Britaln sustained an econom- ic loss of $1e,0o0, loss of life val ued at $26,oQO and 32,5oO people who did not have smallpox were pos sible victims. there were during the smallpox epidemic 46 cases with from 1,500 to 2,000 contacts per per- son, the health department was faced with the need of closing schools and theaters and the city was just on the verge of a state quarantine and embargo, when vsc- cination was enforced in the city last spring, according to Dr. II. W. Pullen. superintendent of health.
 pr. Pullen spoke today at the meeting of the New Britain Rotary club at the Burritt hotel. His talk was on the problems of the health department. ..
 He said the best known activity of the department of health was the handling of communicable diseases, such as scarlet fever. measles, chick on pox, smallpos, typhoid fever and similar diseases He said in these cases the local board does not act alone but acts jointly with the state.
 He said the smallpox in New Brit ain last spring was said by some people not to be an epidemic. He said the disease was of the type of black smallpox, the most deadly seen fin Connecticut in 25 years and that so far as he knew only one physi- clan in the city had ever seen 1t be- fore.
 The vaccination clinic took care of s,750 people and that in the en- tire city there were S2,5o0 vaccinat- ed. Most of these, he said, were new vaccinations, showing that prac- tically that number of people were susceptible.
 Almost everyone who is exposed to smallpox and not vaccinated will contract it," he said. He said there were between 1,500 and 2,0oO con- tacts for each case, declaring that If it wasn't an epidemic, I'm glad 1t was not"
 He said the loss of life as figured on State Commissioner Stanley Os- borne's valuation of s5,0OO per per son.
 Stating that there still is danger of further outbreak he said the chances have been greatly reduced by vaccination.
 The unvaccinated person in the community, I don't care who he is, is a menace to others in the com- munity," he said.
 He made the statement that when the epidemic first began to show signs of being under control, the health board was on the verge of closing about 30 per cent of the in- dnstries, was up against the problem Of closing the schools and theaters and was faced with state quaran- tine or embargo.
 Cooperation By Press
 Speaking of the routine work of the health department he said the departments best agency for pub lie good is the cooperation 1t gets from the newspa pers, which he said was very satisfactory. We don't hold anything back. everything in the health department is free to newspapers and only things which in our mutual judgment are not wise to print are left out. The news- paper is our best medium of getting the cooperation of the public"
 He explained the operations of the tuberculosis clinic, and the work done by the tuberculosis nurses. He spoke of the nutrition classes opened in the schools last year and explain ed that the looking after the under nourlshed child by the health de- partment was simply an educational measure as the department does not provide medical attention.
 He said 30 per cent Of the chil- dren are in need of instruction in proper food and sleep. He explained the operation of the laboratory and the handling of throat cultures in dlphtheria suspects, tunctioning in this capacity for the day nursery and controlling carriers who migh1 themselves be immune to the dis. case.
 Dr. Pullen described how the wa ter supply, shows a lower bacteria analysis than any place in the coun- try With the exception Of one or two.
 No Water in Milk
 He explained the milk examination and meat and dairy inspections. and made the statement that For three years the health department has found no indication of water in the milk sold in the city"
 He explained the functions of the dental clinic and the duties of the milk inspector.
 Discussing the question of garbage removal he said the rubbish question now Is in the forefront. He said New Britain would have an average VI "V tOils pCl udy Ol TuDDlSn to De removed. Returning to the garbage question he said a new disposal sys- tenn, such as an incinerator is getting to be an almost immediate necessity.
 He spoke Of the complaints com ing in 10 the health department every day of people who have small in- cinerators in their back yard where they burn papers and other rubbish. He said many people complain that the smoke brings all sorts of diseases, although You don't catch disease from smoke" He said a large cen- tral incinerators would help get rid of these smaller burners and thus remove a nuisance.
 Speaking of the inspection Of backwards he said in The past year the health department has inspected i2.S3S back yards. He concluded by stating that all complaints are well comed at all times.