Milford chronicle., 1938-03-25
TUBERCULOSIS SHOWS
DECREASE In STATE
[COniiuHed from First Psgel

! But the record of the period has a
dark side as well. for there appeared
rising death rates for the degenera-
/ tive diseases: Cancer deaths in
fereased In number so that for the
first time in any one year over 300
deaths were recorded; cancer is now
the second and most deadly disease,
so far as the white section of our
population is concerned" The death
rates from diabetes and diseases of
the heart also continued to increase.
The birth rates for the state con-
tinued to drop, and so few points
separate the birth and death rates
of the state that il is doubtful It,
without immigration. the population
can be expected to maintain the
rate Of gain Of former years. This
condition affects the health problems
of the state. as il Is bound before
many years to have far-reaching so
cial and economic effects"
Increases in the number OF cases
of communicable diseases, in all pOr-
tions of the state except Kent cOun-
ty. attained a total of 47S5 for the
period. This was largely due to there
being reported more cases of mea-
sles. mumps, venereal diseases and
Whooping cough. On the other hand,
scarlet fever was not so prevalent
and tuberculosis was not so freely
reported. The increase in reported
cases of venereal diseases probably
resulted from the increased amount
Of attention being given the venereal
disease control program"
The state again fortunately es-
capped from infantile paralysis or
pOliOmyelitis. of which there was but
one case reported. this case eventual
ly recovering.
To the increased facilities for hos
pitalizatiOn of the tuberculous is
largely accredited the drop in the
number of deaths from this disease
among the white sufferers. With the
opening of the new wing OF Brandy
wine SanatOrium in January. 1887,
thereby raising the bed capacity to
I65, 1--WE seem to be within measur-
able distance OF the time when there
can be evoked what many persons
believe TO be the final step for the
future safety of our citizens, namely.
the compulsory admission 10 the in
of all open cases of the
disease, where the home conditions
are sHch that transmission Of the dis |
ease to others can be reasonably |
feared"
by no means. however, have the |
needs of the cOlOred OF the state been |
so adequately met" DR.. Jost empha-
sizes. "EdgewOOd has little more |
than half the bed capacity that is
needed. The rate of loss among col
ored is nearly four times that of the
whites. In order to protect them
selves, the residents Of the state must
meet adequately the needs OF the col
pred. That is now the most pressing
need in the task OF tuberculosis con-
lrol."
Increased interest in birth regis
lration resulted in many persons
iaking advantage of the opportunity
,reated by legislation to register
un-recorded births. Every
sffort has been made to encourage
not yet registered TO COM
ply with the requirements and estab-
ish for themselves legal proof OF
heir births in the state.
Two hundred and fifty-four in
ants died in the state during the
'ear. OF these. three were non-resi-
lent. Only in two previous years
lave a smaller number of infants
lied However. since the number
4 births which occurred in the state
vas also under the usual figure. there
Fas not much improvement in the in
ant mortality rate. !,