The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-15
Bismarck Held Fourth Place,
Being Surpassed Also BY
Grand Forks and Dickinson
- WhittemOre's Report
Contains Interesting Infor.
nation


Devils Lake had the lowest infant
mortality rate of any city in she
state during 1924, the annual re-
port Of State Health Director A. 4.
Whittemore, made to the state board
Of health, shows.
Grand Forks held second place and
Dickinson was third. The total death
rate ior l924 and the death rate BY
counties has not yet been completed,
DR.. Whittemore said.
= infant mortality rates per 100, 900
population for the leading cites
In the state follow: Devils Lake.
J7.2; Grand Forks. 40.4; Dickinson,
All; bismarck, 8U.7; Mandan, G2.5;
Williston, 78.a; Fargo, SO.7; James,
town, s2.h: Minot, 1925.
1902 Births In 1924
Commenting on the year 1924, the
period covered in his report, DIR.
WhittemOre said: There were l4,4O2
BIRTHS reported during 1924. Of these
1854 were male and I,O38 female. OF
the whole number 234 were illegiti-
mate. Hospital care was had in
LIES cases, l2,O40 were attended by
q physician and 2,362 had no trained
assistance. The general birth rate
based on federal population statistics
is PIP and based on the state GEN.
sus it is 22.4. In order to assure
uniformity and to assist in making
comparisons with other states this
department will use the federal es-
innate Of population in compiling
birth and mOrbidity rates.
fs,~l
in North Dakota. Of these 637 have
tuberculosis, 667 have trach0ma.
"rhe preliminary goiter survey is
tionnaires were sent out aud about
ted on spot map, the returns show
the Missouri river. All counties
are east Of the river and all above
waters of the state are being exam
incd ut the university for their TO-
dine content.
81 Automobile Deaths
AN analysis Of the deaths from
automobile accidents shows IL total
of - cases, 80 male and four female.
The contributor causes were intOxi-
cation, 25; speeding lS; inexpericnce
4; Disregard OF traffic rules, s.; age
and physical defects 2; ., railroad
crossing accidents q; mechanical de-
fects Of car 3. OF the "a deaths four
we're pedestrians, IL were passengers
and ~ were drivers Of the car. Two
were unclassified.
"A survey Of 25 tourist camps dis
closed the following: Open vault
toilets 26; flush bowls 3; water sup
piled from dug wells 10; city water
o: no water supply 4; number hav-
ing water examined &; caretakcr IL;
rubbage disposal 1G; municipal own
ership 2l: making charges &; policed
Is.
"On October 2Cth (l925) a typhoid
fever outbreak occurred at Devils
Lake, q cases being reported within
i few days Of each other. The first
six of these were employees Of the
Colonial Hotel, four were steady
bOarders and the others had had
meals there. The hotel was closed
and an investigation instituted. The
cause of the epidemic was decided
to be an unknown carrier of disease
germs employed temporarily in the
kitchen Of the hotel. Doctor Drew.
city health officer, rendered valuable
assistance. The water supply OF
Devils Lake is entirely from several
privately owned wells. The city
system is used only for fire protec-
tion as the water is SO salty it can
not be used.
"A survey of the proposed dam
across the Red River at Grand Forks
was made with the assistance of Joel
I. Connolley Of the U. 8. Public
Health Service: It was deemed safe
from public health point Of view."
Among recommendation for work
during the coming year made by
DR.. Whittemore and approved by the
board were: "That we make an in
tensive effort to reduce infant NOR
tality rates in several cities and
counties having rates that seem too
high; That the Indian situation be
referred to our representative in
Washington; that statement as TO
goiter preyention be made for the
| territory west Of the Missouri river
| in particular; that we discuss the
advisabilik of creating sentiment
for trachoma hospital and a hos
pital for crippled children"