The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-27
or Waterbury was s.f'
 STEADY PROGRESS

Last year the Benei"i "o'h
 for Waterbury was 9.4.
 STEADY PROGRESS
 The most astonishing develop ment in the history of Waterpury Iuring the past twenty odd years is not seen in magnificent build ines. extraordinary growth in in- dustry. nor even in the vast 1nnu- once of educational agencies. These and other evidences of complex and highly organized civilization are of great Importance but all oi then together may be deemed of minor importance and signlh- canoe beside the momentous 1act revealed by the general death rate figures. .,
 Such a striking reduction in the death rate during the score anu more years could not nave peen possible without the Improvements that have been made in sanitation' the perfecting of better sewage sys. tems, and the safeguarding oi water supplies, food. clothing an" ali else used by the public; the m, sistence upola clean streets and well lighted and ventilated buildings; inc use of antitoxin in diphtheria; the isolation of patients suffering from contagious diseases, the quar- antinine of premises within which they are confined, and like meas ures.
 THOSE RESPONSIBLE
 For the victory over unnecessary death, credit must be given m a large measure to the local healtn department and the physicians, nurses, hospitals and other agen- cies' which have supported all ei- forts for preserving life and healtn'
 People used to believe tnat epi- denies were spread through the ar by miasma, as it was called; Nisnt air, especially, was regarded as deadly. and contact by means or books or articles of clothing was thought to transmit disease. con tact is certainly a means of spread ing contagious disease, but many diseases that were once found, con sjdered or regarded as contagious are no longer so considered, ana the air, according to health oni- cials, carries infection to only a limited extent.
 The infection of an ordinary cold or influenza, pneumonia, tubercu- losis and other affections or the respiratory passages can spread a short distance through the air when a person talks loudly, or "splutters," coughs or sneezes; but the infectious particles of moisture so sent out quickly settle to the ground or to the furniture or the walls, OF the clothing of persons near at hand. MAI.
 An important carrier of .infec- tion, according to physicians, Is the human hand. The person who washes his hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating avoids contaminating the food with microbes that have been collected, nnd SO avoids exposing both him- self and his table companions to the danger of Infection.
 INFLUENZA <
 Influenza caused many. many deaths in the past two decades, 775 of them In 1918, when the city was visited by an awful epidemic, Thin diaeaBo has, always been preR- ont in Waterbury t0 q certain ex' tont, deaths having oeeurred from tniliienza ohcI year running from two Co 7fB deaths. Influenza show. ad signs Of becoming epidemic ugnin the past year especially 0if' lrlr January md February but me0n D.terAd out, Histeon died iD WA s0rbury ef lhiA disease last Yeni Ionpafed lo eight ln isss and ~
 CANCER
 Tha deaths from eaneer reach about the gNn.n lpiAl sAeh tfAts nn' .n