Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-07-26
RECORDS SHOW
AN INCREASE
IN PNEUMONIA
Children's Diseases Responsible
For Large Percentage
Of Sickness
ASKED TO REPORT COM
MUNICABLE DISEASES

Three group diseases-the so-called
children's diseases, the venereal di-
seases and the respiratory diseases,
were responsible for over 81 per cent
of the total sickness from the catch
ing" diseases reported to the Mary
land State Department of Health dur
ing the first six months of the cur
rent year. The rest was scattered a.
mong the fifty or more diseases on
the reportable list.
DR.. r. H. Riley, Director of the De-
partment, summarized the six months
report as follows: From January /
to June 80, inclusive, of this year,
22,178 cases of communicable diseases
were reported to the Department;
1882, from Baltimore City and 1916
from the counties. During the same
period of 1889, there were 33,S21
cases reported to the Department;
20, from Baltimore City, and 1888,
from the counties. The measles cpl
demic of the winter of 1889 was re-
sponsible for last years high total.
"This years record shows marked
increases in whooping cough, influ-
enza and the pneumonias, and sub
stantial decreases in tuberculosis and
syphilis. The most spectacular drop
occurred in measles, of which LAG
cases were reported in comparison
with over $4,000 cases during the first
six months of 1889.
"Whooping cough was responsible
817 last year; and scarlet fever for
for 3,762 cases in comparison with
1,039 as compared with 913. Diph-
liberia dropped from 81 to 81 cases..
Other diseases to which children are
particularly susceptible, brought the
total for this group for the current
six months, up to 8,745 cases.
"There were over $500 cases of the
venereal diseases reported in COMPARE
son with over 5000 cases during the
corresponding period of last year, the
decline occurring particularly in sy-
philis, of which 4,817 cases were re-
ported in comparison with GAIT dur
ing the first six months of 1899.
"The respiratory diseases came
next with 6,223 cases reported this
year and $500 last year. Of the cur
rent total 1,244 cases were charged
to influenza, 1886 to tuberculosis and
3,643 to the pneumonias. The totals
for the corresponding period last year
were influenza, 1,104, tuberculosis, l.
521 and 2,635 of the pneumonias.
"There were "a cases of typhoid, II
of tularemia-rabbit fever; Is of
Rocky Mountain spotted fever-tick
bite fever; and 16 of undulant fever
which is usually contracted through
the use of unpasteurized milk from
infected cattle; in comparison with
81 of typhoid, 7 of tularemia, 20 of
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and
90 of undulent fever during the first
half of 1889.
"The total for the first six months
of 1910 also includes II cases of Vim
cents angina-trench mouth; of te-
tanus-lock jaw; 2 of pellagra; and
l Of malaria.
"Practicing physicians are asked to
report all cases of communicable di-
seases they attend or that are brought
to their attention, to the nearest coun-
ty or city health officer or to the
State Department of Health, in order
that the necessary measures of pre-
vention or control may be gotten I'M
der way promptly. The readiness
with which the physicians in Mary
land cooperate in forwarding these
reports is indicated in these records"