The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-12-18

More than one-third OF
by diseases Of the circulatoi
second greatest number, and diseas.
es Of the respiratory system were
third.
The year brought reductions In
most types Of communicable disease,
though measles cases had 0 sharp
gain. The report cites reduction OF
pneumonia deaths, attributing the
drop 10 better laboratory facilities
and Increased use OF serum.
DR.. Godfrey recommends q broad
or program OF health education,
and suggests careful supervision Of
sanitation In public eating and
drinking places.
Or. 0odfreyis report was printed
In part Saturday. The remainder
follows:
In order TO effectively control
communicable diseases prompt and
complete reporting OF cases Is neces>
sary 50 that there may be an inves-
tigation Of sources, proper quaran.
tine or isolation established and In
structions given by the nurse to the
parent and contacts.
MEASLES
The increase In the total number
OF communicable diseases for this
year Is due TO the many cases OF
measles which were reported, the
number reaching near epidemic
proportions. This city, like many
others, experienced one OF the re-
curing cycles OF measles. The
cases were ell very mild and while
quiN prevalent among children OF
school age II was found unneces-
aaFy 10 close any school or school
room because the nurse could keep
q closer watch for symptoms while
the children were attending classes.
There was one fatality, the measles
condition being complicated by
pneumonia,
DIPHTHEREA
Undoubtedly the immunizatlon
program among preschool and
school children Ii responsible for
the substantial decrease In the
number OF cases OF diphtheria. Par
enS should protect their children
by taking advantage OF the depend.
able immunization procedures avail
able 10 prevent diphtherla. Every
child should receive this treatment
before " Ii O year old. We must 70.
tati the hold we now have and with
further activity entirely eliminate
this dangerous disease. There were
no deaths from diphtheria for this
fiscal year.
PNEUMONIA
,vhe improved laboratory facilities
ami the increased use OF serum
th1rapy has unqueStionably resulted
In Q favorable reduction In cases
and deaths from this disease, The
fact that Approximately 30 per cent
OF reported cases die, as shown In
the above statistics for this city,
proves that this disease Ii q serious
Infection yet individuals will not
cooperate 10 the extent OF building
up o body resistance 10 ward of
such attacks. Mental and physical
exhaustion, lack OF proper food and
clothing and neglect OF the COM
mon cold are oil factors conducive
10 this disease. II u urged that oil
suspected cases OF pneumonia be
given prompt attention by 0 physi.
clan 30 that the serum may be Of.
fectively administered,
SCARLET FEVER
A reduction 10 noted In the mum.
Der OF cases OF scarlet fever report.
cd for this fiscal year period. Prac.
tically oil were OF q mild type, very
often going unrecogniged. and N
this way acting as O source OF In.
lection. Such q condition causes
q fluctuation In the number OF cas-.
o. reported from year 10 year, tho
control OF which can be realized
only by the acceptance and use OF
an effective iTnmunizing agent.
There were no deaths from scarlet
fever. However, the complications
arising from this disease may have
serious results later In life.
TUBEWCULObhB
The number OF cases reported for
this year showed q slight increase
over last year. eeventy.eight cases
OF pulmonary tuberculosis and three
cases OF other forms OF tuberculosis
were reported for this year com.
pared with seventy.six cases OF pull.
monary and two cases OF other
forms being reported for last year.
In Waterbury the tuberculosis con.
troll program N carried on by the
Anti Tuberculosis League In n most
efficient manner. A diagnostic
clinic II maintained with 0 physi-
clan from Undercl.ff SanatoFium In
charge. Educational, preventive
and koiiow-ip work II done by the
Anti Tuberculosis League with bed
side nursing care being given by the
Visiting Nurses Association. ~
would seem that this branch Of pub