ng green hides on his premises, was acquitted by a jury; one party, spilling night-soil on the street, was fined ten dollars and costs. 12. Yes, there was some veal condemned, 3 calves, being under 4 weeks, when slaughtered; there were also spoiled berries and other decayed vegetables condemned. 13. Yes; all milk is frequently examined by an analytical chemist. 14. Inspection commenced, not finished. 15. Can not tell; no child is admitted to school who has not been vaccinated within five years. 16. No. ZANESVILLE. H. T. SUTTON, M. D., H. O. 4. Nothing was done further than urging a number of private families to give up using well water and have hydrants put in. 5. Our present sewerage system has been extended, but not through the agency of the board. 6. Two houses, in which public business is transacted. 7. It is all right, so far as it goes, but is not extensive enough. 8. About a dozen cases of malignant diphtheria have been reported, of which four were 10. Privy-vaults, pig-pens, cow-pens, filth in streets and alleys, slaughter-houses, hide-houses, ash piles, and the garbage of the city is hauled out by garbage carts, under the direction of the board of health. 11. Yes, one; a man in the suburbs, for emptying his privy-vault into a gutter in front of his house, in which was a running stream of water. He at first plead not guilty, and date was set for trial. Before the date the man appeared and pleading guilty, paid his fine of $5.00 and costs. 12. No. 13. Not all. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Balance to the credit of the State Board of Health, November 1, 1888... ..$1,316 20 5,000 00 $6,316 20 General expenses of the Board for the year ending October 31, 1889: ABSTRACTS FROM ANNUAL REPORTS OF LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH OF THE FIVE LARGEST CITIES IN OHIO. CINCINNATI. DR. BYRON STANTON, Health Officer. GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to present the annual report of the Health Department for the year ending December 31, 1888. The statistical tables prepared by the Registrar of Vital Statistics, will show that there were reported during the year 5,994 deaths, 496 less than occurred in the preceding year, and 49 less than the average of the last five years. On an estimated population of 325,000, this shows a death rate of 18.44 per thousand of population—a decrease of 1.53 from the death rate of 1887. ZYMOTIC DISEASES. The most marked decline was in the class of zymotic diseases, there having been but 1,255 deaths in 1888, against 1,613 in 1887. As this is the class most influenced by sanitary conditions, and which most clearly indicates the healthfulness of a locality, the decline is a subject for congratulation. TYPHOID-FEVER is the disease in which there was the most marked decrease, there being but 203 deaths attributed to it, a decline of 200 from the preceding year. The unusual prevalence of the affection which marked the last three months of 1887 continued through the early months of 1888; the disease then gradually declined, the last nine months of the year showing about the usual mortality. The DIARRHEAL AFFECTIONS were the cause of 476 deaths, 7.94 per cent. of the total mortality. This is a decrease of 59 from 1887, but an increase of 35 over the average of the preceding five years. Cholera infantum was the cause of 166 deaths, against 214 in 1887. There were 141 deaths from diarrhoea, 27 from dysentery, and 127 from entero-colitis. DIPHTHERIA AND CROUP.-For the last year diphtheria has appeared less frequently as a cause of death than in any year since 1885. There were reported to the office 451 cases, of which 151 proved fatal. In 1887 the cases numbered 583, with a mortality of 181. There have, however, been 114 deaths from croup, an increase of 25 over 1887. Deaths from these diseases occurred in every ward, though the less sewered parts of the city seemed to suffer most. This may be regarded as additional evidence of the direct and immediate effect of sewerage in promoting public health. MEASLES was the cause of but 8 deaths, against 73 in 1887. reported was 186, a decline of 1,365 from the preceding year. The number of cases SCARLET-FEVER has decreased greatly in prevalence, judging from table No. 2 there having been but 190 cases reported, a decline of 251 cases from the preceding year, while the mortality has slightly increased; there being 21 deaths, against 19 in 1887. This would indicate that the disease has been characterized by greater severity. Of WHOOPING-COUGH 110 cases were reported, with 43 deaths; an increase of 9 deaths over 1887, and a decline of 111 cases reported. Of the decedents from this disease 16 were under one year of age, 15 in the second year, 10 between two and five years, and 2 between five and ten years. CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES. year. This class of diseases caused 1,176 deaths, a decline of three from the preceding CONSUMPTION caused 746 deaths, 71 less than in 1887. Of the decedents, 674 were whites and 72 colored; 406 were males and 340 females. Nine of the decedents were less than one year old, 5 were in the second year, 7 were between two and five years, 9 between five and ten, 14 between ten and fifteen, and 38 between fifteen and twenty years. This is about the usual rate of juvenile mortality to the total mortality from this disease. March was the most unpropitious month for consumptives, 84 having died in that month. This is a departure from the rule in this city, December generally showing the greatest mortality. CANCER was the cause of 154 deaths, an increase of 17 over 1887, and the highest number reported since the organization of this office. As far back as our records go they show that there has been a pretty regular increase in the number of deaths from this disease, not only in the total number, but also in the relative number, the percentage to total mortality in 1888 being as high as 2.60. In 1887 it was 2.11 per cent.; in 1886, 2.01; in 1885, 1.55; in 1884, 1.73; in 1883, 1.94; in 1882, 1.61; in 1881, 1.68; in 1880, 2.02; in 1879, 1.66; in 1878, 1.32; in 1877, 1.80; in 1876, 1.33; in 1875, 1.45; in 1874, 1.24; in 1873, 1.08; in 1872, 1.29; in 1871, 1.00; in 1870, 0.80; in 1869, 1.02; in 1868, 0.65; in 1867, 1.01. In the last ten years the deaths from cancer have amounted to 1.89 per cent. of the total mortality, and in the ten preceding years to only 1.24 per cent. This would seem to confirm what has been claimed by many, that this disease is increasing in frequency beyond the incr ase of population. Whether such is a fact or not could only be determined by knowing the actual number living in each year. Of the decedents, 61 were males and 93 females; rather less than the usual excess of females. In table No. 17 are specified 56 deaths from cancer of the stomach, 28 from cancer of the uterus, 12 from cancer of the liver, 10 from cancer of the breast, etc. LOCAL DISEASES. The deaths from local diseases numbered 2,695, against 2,849 in 1887. PNEUMONIA caused 446 deaths-40 less than in the preceding year; this was 7.44 per cent. of the total mortality. A majority of the deaths occurred in the winter and spring months January showing 78 deaths, and February, March and April 47, 46, and 48 respectively. The disease rapidly decreased during the summer months, July showing but 15 deaths, and again became more prominent in December. BRONCHITIS, including 21 cases of the senile form, caused 267 deaths-24 more than in 1887. DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES. These caused 580 deaths, 278 males and 302 females; an increase of 12 over 1887. The diseases of this class peculiar to children caused 203 deaths, premature birth being the assigned cause in 133 cases, and disorders of nutrition in 57 cases. The diseases of this class peculiar to women caused 46 deaths, and those peculiar to old people 174. DEATHS FROM VIOLENCE. These numbered 285, an increase over 1887 of 14, and the largest mortality from this class ever reported in this city. The average for the last five years was 250.. Deaths from accidents and negligence numbered 224-34 more than the average for the preceding five years. Deaths from homicide numbered 9—just half of the average of the preceding five years. Deaths from suicide numbered 52, 19 more than in 1887 and ten more than the average of the preceding five years. Falls were the cause of death in 36 cases; railroad accidents and drowning each caused 34 deaths; burns and scalds, 29. Of the 9 homicidal deaths, 7 were by shooting and 2 by cutting. Shooting was the method chosen by 23 of the suicides, poison by 10, hanging by 8, cutting throat by 5, drowning by 4, jumping from window by 1, and suffocation by 1. MORTALITY AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF LIFE. The decedents under one year numbered 1,446, or 24.12 per cent. of the total mortality; between one and two years 391, or 6.52 per cent.; from two to five years 442, or 7.37 per cent.; from five to ten years 226, or 3.78 per cent. Forty-one and seventy-nine hundreths per cent. of the decedents were under ten years of age. In the first two years of life the deaths from diseases of the nervous system numbered 386, or 21.01 per cent. of the mortality of that period; the diarrhoeal diseases 375, or 20.41 per cent.; diseases of the respiratory organs, 288; convulsions, 205; inanition, 112. From two to five years there were 442 deaths; diphtheria causing 74, or 16.74 per cent. of the deaths of that period; croup, 71; pneumonia, 53; meningitis, 36; convulsions, 26. BIRTHS. The total number of births reported was 7,569, an increase in the number reported of 484 over 1887. Still, the returns are incomplete. The natural increase of population or the excess of births over deaths was 1,575, an increase in excess of 1887 of 960, but 224 less than the average of the preceding ten years. The number of white births was 7,436, of blacks 133. There were 3,862 male births and 3,667 females; in 40 cases the sex was not stated. The excess of male births over female was 195, or 105 male to each 100 female births, which is rather less than the usual preponderance of male births. There were 2,533 births reported by physicians and 5,036 by midwives; 60 were plural births and 247 illegitimate. STILL-BIRTHS. There were 420 still-births reported during the year, 16 less than in 1887. This is 5.59 per cent. of the living births. Of the still-births, 227 were males and 184 females; in 9 cases the sex was not stated. The ratio of male still-births to male live-births was as 1 to 17.01; of female still-births to female live-births as 1 to 19.92. The usual excess of male over female still-births was not maintained during the year. It will be seen that in 195 cases the births were premature, in 147 cases the full period of gestation had been reached, and in 78 cases the period is not stated. |