The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-27
Health Officer

Health Officer
 of figures the reader may see addi- | tional evidence that science plus | | popular education can achieve tre- mendous results in human health. l l Trace the course of that dreaded | disease, typhoid fever, and witness | the success which crowns the ef- | l forts of medical science. The fig | ures show that the disease can be vigorously controlled and practically stamped out by proper measures in which the public must do it's part by cooperation. In 1915 an epidemic struck the city and 25 h in 1917 Waterbury was struck and the toll reached 21. But since that time the health authorities have kept the total deaths from typhoid fever down to minimum. For certain years no death was record ed. Two important factors entering into this reduction in the typhoid fever death rate are. of course, an ample supply of pure drinking water and protection of food sup plies from contamination. The health officials have always claim ed that this city would be without a single typhoid fever case if Wa terburians did not go travelling and if people from other cities refrain ed from visiting here.
 Waterbury is also fortunate with regard to diseases such as malarial fever. The draining of marshes sev- eral years ago, so that mosquitoes were greatly feSSened, was respon- sible for the disappearance of malarial germs, according to the health officials.
 1883 HEALTHY The year 1893 was record year statewide insofar as health was concerned The death rates from
 diseases which only few years ago reaped a drastic harvest among | citizens of the Nutmeg state have been cut to the lowest levels i'll history. Less than two persons in | 100 900 of population died from typhoid fever and diphtheria in 1898 in Connecticut. The death rates for measles, whooping cough, scarlet fever and other diseases of | childhood, were also a record low. WEALTH OF FACTS The number of deaths from any | particular disease or cause is | shown on the table of figures. One ] may also glean the sex and color | of the victim. The total number of | births and of the deaths under one | year are shown from 1910 to the | end of last year. The general death rate and the infant mortality rates are also given for the same period. Mathematicians will discover that there were 27,466 deaths compared to 52,375 births since 1910. They will learn that 14,935 males died as well as 12,531 females.
 SELF DESTRUCTION
 Grim Reaper was aided by 263 individuals when they committed suicide during the past "A years. Some selected gun, some gas, others trip across the River StyX via drowning, etc. Nine men and one woman destroyed their lives last year. One man and one woman selected poison as the "easiest way out" Gas claimed another, l hanging one, drowning one, gun. two, and the other suicide jumped to his death.
 Deaths from alcoholism are shown on the table of figures and many who argue prohibition pro and con get a wealth of material for their debates. Away back in
 1910, when liquor was legal and plentiful and reasonably priced, as well as of recognized quality, there were IA deaths from alcoholism.
 Now pursue the figures for the ensuing years and 'be enlightened. Don't fail to observe that six died last year from alcoholism. If you wish to ascertain the number of deaths resultant from
 accidents in any particular year consult the chart. Or if you are in tcrested in the number of homi- cides follow the same course. Space does not permit the enumeration of deaths month by month or to
 reveal the particular age of the
 deceased but anyone desirous of obtaining this information can call or visit the health office where such statistics are available. l Close to 1,500 persons met acci- dental death during the past two score and four years-1 ,490 to be
 exact. One hundred and ninety four departed via the alcoholic route, while IA persons succumbed 10 diseases classified as ''un- known" ..,- !. GRIM HEATERS SCYTHE Pneumonia was responsible for more deaths since 1910 than any other disease accounting for 2,962. l Of this total 1,5S6 died of lobar pneumonia and 1,S76 of bronchial lpneumonia. The medical profes- | sion seems to be encountering | i.It s1t tRl rsJft batting this particular malady, | Tuberculosis caused 1,96S deaths in the past .24 years, 1,6l7 dying of
 pulmonary tuberculosis and S51 of the same disease in. other forms. | l Chronic nephritis was next with 1,797 victims. Next In line were cerebral homorrhage, 1.74S and cancer, l.715.
 . CHANGE IN METHOD | .Waterburians following the tig- | ures on the chart closely will un-, dpubtedly feel mystified in tracing | s;atistics concerning arterio sciero- | sis and endocarditis when they on. counter an alarming total for | ig32 and te3S compared to previous yeurs. II will he motel | that the totals for the former maj. l ady Jumped sky.high to DO and | then lower to 70 tho past year
 while records of. i5i and 80 were chaiked against the latter disease,
 Tho readers should romnIn calm.
 however. for here is the solution
 undop Q newly adopted method Of | classification tho health authorities
 now list additional diseases under
 these hendIngg,
 NEW nieCOilDk
 For tio first time iD Rt ieasi 24
 years moro females died thnD males lahi year. The first thOughi | one entorlRlnn is "wnr dieting re- spOnsihle7" Ilui thus fnr thero has
 been no indiapuinhle evidence lhet