HEALTH OF TOWNS. The usual annual report on the health of the individual towns of Connecticut is continued. These reports are not wholly based upon the mortality, but rather upon the character and amount of sickness which has prevailed in them respectively during the past year. The information is obtained entirely from the sanitary correspondents of the Board. The method is to request one physician residing and practicing in each town, to respond from such knowledge of the facts as he may possess, to a series of questions submitted to him. The Board desires to express its appreciation of the valuable services of those members of the medical profession who have contributed so cheerfully to this part of the Report, and without whose aid the necessary information for it could not have been obtained. It is to be regretted that some towns have not responded. The series of questions proposed are essentially the same from year to year, although there were a few additional enquiries in the last, relating to water supply, drainage, sewerage, etc. The following is a copy of the circular: CONNECTICUT STATE BOARD OF NEW HAVEN, CONN., Nov. 1st, 1888. Dear Doctor:-The law which created the State Board of Health requires it to make annually to the Governor a report "of the Sanitary Condition of the State." The information upon which such a report should be made can only be obtained from the members of the medical profession in their respective towns, whose professional duties make them, above all others, conversant with the sanitary condition of their own localities. In behalf of the State Board I desire to offer most cordial thanks for the valuable and gratuitous services the profession have heretofore rendered in that way, and again to appeal to you for a renewal of them. For several years past the Annual Report to the Governor has inIcluded a section entitled "The Health of Towns" which has now become an important feature of the Report, and grows in interest and value as it proceeds. The desire and purpose is to include a brief report from every town in the State, which will, as time goes on, form a continuous history of its clinical and sanitary condition. The significance and value of such annual reports from towns, however brief, if reliable and continuously maintained, must be appreciated by all students of Sanitary Science. In order to systematize more readily the information received from the correspondents in the different towns, and to insure some method in reporting it, I submit some questions, which are broad enough in their scope to include all that any correspondent may desire to communicate, and yet to admit of brief reply where a longer one does not seem necessary. Negative information is often as valuable as positive. The absence of disease is a matter as much deserving of record as its prevalence. Bear in mind that it is the "Sanitary Condition of the State" during the past year that we wish to learn about and put on record. May I depend upon you for the desired information respecting your town? If you cannot respond will you kindly refer me to some one who will? Please answer on the enclosed sheets, although I beg you will not be limited to them if you have more to communicate. Your answers will be published in the Annual Report, over your name. As the time when the Annual Report must be presented to the Governor is fixed by law, not later than December 1st, I beg you will respond so that I may receive your answer by November 15th. I am very truly yours, C. A. LINDSLEY, M.D., Secretary State Board of Health. QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE TOWN OF 1. Diseases specially prevalent? Reasons for prevalence. Are the causes removable? Please state additional particulars of interest. 2. Rare or strange diseases? 3. More or less Typhoid Fever than in former years? Typhoid Fever most prevalent in months of? Is disinfection of Excreta of Typhoid patients always insisted upon by the physicians in your vicinity? 4. Small Pox or Varioloid. How many cases? Circumstances of its origin? spread? 5. Is Vaccination a condition of admission to Public Schools? 6. Extent and prevailing type of Scarlet Fever? Proportion of deaths to total number of cases? Is isolation and disinfection always practiced with Scarlet Fever patients? 7. Extent and prevailing type of Measles? Restrictive precautions? 8. Diphtheria. Extent and type? Proportion of deaths? Are isolation and disinfection practiced? Can you give any facts relating to its beginning and mode of spreading? General sanitary condition of houses infected with Diphtheria? 9. Have malarial diseases prevailed more than in 1887 or less? If at all, what is their general character? 10. What is the water supply? 11. Sewage disposal? 12. What of the drainage? 13. In general, what is the sanitary condition? Good? Bad? or indifferent? ABSTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS RECEIVED IN ANSWER TO THE ABOVE INQUIRIES. These reports are arranged by counties, and the towns are in alphabetical order HARTFORD COUNTY. AVON-R. W. E. ALCOTT, M.D. Diseases specially prevalent-None. Typhoid Fever-Less than in former years. Most prevalent in September and October. Disinfection of excreta of typhoid patients always insisted upon by the physicians. Small Pox or Varioloid-None. Vaccination not a condition of admission to public schools. Scarlet Fever-None. Isolation and disinfection always practiced with scarlet fever patients as far as possible. Measles-Extent and prevailing type of, slight. No restrictive precautions. Diphtheria-None of any extent. Are isolation and disinfection practiced? Yes. Malarial Diseases-Have prevailed less than in 1887. Tertian most common. Water Supply-Mostly from wells. General Sanitary Condition-Good. BERLIN-R. E. ENSIGN, M.D. Diseases specially prevalent-Pneumonia claimed the most victims the past year. The only reason for its prevalence is that the weather has been damp and changeable. Typhoid Fever-None. Small Pox or Varioloid-None. I don't think vaccination is a condition of admission to public schools. Scarlet Fever-None. Is isolation and disinfection always practiced with scarlet fever patients? I always recommend it, but in many cases it seems an impossibility. Measles-Very limited, no deaths. No restrictive precautions. Diphtheria-Very mild, if any. No deaths reported. Are isolation and disinfection practiced? Yes. Malarial Diseases-Prevailed less than in 1887. What has been their general character? Easily manageable. Water Supply-From wells, springs and cisterns. Sewage Disposal-Upon the ground, but as the houses are such distances from each other no trouble seems to arise. Drainage-The cellars are generally well drained. General Sanitary Condition-I think, fairly good; it is only a few years since so much attention has been paid to sanitary science that doubtless it might be improved, but I can see that people are more interested than formerly, and in many instances improve their premises without any jog from the health officer. BLOOMFIELD-HENRY GRAY, M.D. Diseases specially prevalent-None. Typhoid Fever-Less than in former years. Most prevalent in months of September and October. Small Pox or Varioloid—None. Vaccination is not a condition of admission to public schools. Scarlet Fever--None. Isolation and disinfection are always practiced with scarlet fever patients. Measles-None. Diphtheria-Extent and type, slight and mild, no deaths. Isolation and disinfection are practiced. Malarial Diseases-Have prevailed less than in 1887. Water Supply-From wells. Sewage Disposal-By ordinary drains. Drainage-Defective. Suggestions have often been made by the Board of Health. General Sanitary Condition-Indifferent, yet the town is generally healthy. BRISTOL-H. E. WAY, M.D. Diseases specially prevalent-None. Typhoid Fever-Less than in former years. Most prevalent in month of October and November, perhaps later. Is disinfection of excreta of typhoid patients always insisted upon by the physicians in your vicinity? I think it is not generally; by myself it is. Small Pox or Varioloid-None. Vaccination not a condition of admission to public schools. Scarlet Fever-Limited and mild. Proportion of deaths to total number of cases? Cannot answer. Is isolation and disinfection always practiced with scarlet fever patients? I think it is. Measles-Quite limited in extent, generally mild. Restrictive precautions? Isolation. Diphtheria-But few cases, one or two fatal, generally mild. Isolation and disinfection are practiced. Can you give any facts relating to its beginning and mode of spreading? Isolation and disinfection was thoroughly practiced as is usual among us. I can't say as to the sanitary condition of the houses. or house in which the first case occurred. In one instance, of a tenement block, six or eight families, there were a number of cases of sore throats, I think likely, of diphtheritic character, taking their rise from a filthy cesspool-as all cesspools are—which was immediately made better. Malarial Diseases-Have prevailed less than in 1887. What is their general character? Neuralgic. Water Supply-Reservoir, about 200 feet elevation. General Sanitary Condition-Good. EAST HARTFORD-EVERETT J. MCKNIGHT, M.D. Diseases specially prevalent-None. Health of the town better than for several years past. Until October 1st, 1888, no report of contagious diseases was required from the attending physician. Consequently all the questions cannot be accurately answered. |