HEALTH OF TOWNS.

PHYSICIANS' REPORTS.

In order to present, from year to year, a connected history of the comparative prevalence of zymotic and other important diseases, and especially of epidemics, it has seemed necessary that there should be given an account of the diseases occurring in the different towns during each year, that is, as to amount of general sickness, the kinds, relative number compared with other years, general severity, season of occurrence, and locality of special prevalence; and also other facts in relation to the sanitary sentiment of the communities, and suspected sources of ill health.

Therefore, as in previous years, the plan of soliciting from the regular medical correspondents of the Board, and other physicians, a report at the commencement of each year, covering, in a general way, the whole of the preceding year, in relation to the amount of sickness of all kinds, the prevalence of particular diseases, and the sanitary conditions and movements in their respective localities, has been continued, and the circular presented on the following page sent

therefor:

OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.

PROVIDENCE, Jan. 1, 1890.

The Secretary of the State Board of Health desires to obtain from respectable physicians, actively engaged in the practice of their profession, in every section of the State, an Annual Report covering the whole twelve months preceding the above date.

The following questions will indicate the information sought, and the general plan of such report; but correspondents need not be confined to precise replies to the questions presented, all the freedom being allowable of such modifications and additions as the circumstances or peculiarities of each locality may seem to warrant.

These annual reports are desired for the purpose of presenting the status of the public health, and the sanitary conditions and sentiment existing in the different sections of the State, during the year 1889, in the Twelfth Annual Report of the State Board of Health.

They should be returned to the Secretary of the Board by the second week in February.

Any additional postage stamps needed to cover postage on more extended consideration of the topics suggested, or any other topic having relation to the public health, will be immediately refunded on the receipt of papers.

QUESTIONS.

1. Name of physician.

2. Name of town and circuit.

3. Taking sickness of all kinds, has there been more or less than usual in your circuit the past year? How much?

4. Which of the following zymotic diseases have prevailed in your circuit during the past year? Please state when sporadic and when epidemic, whether mild, average or severe, and in what months they occurred, and in what localities.

Also, please state what degree of prevalence, whether large, average or small, and if above average, in what months was the large occurrence of the following named diseases. State degree of prevalence, and time of occurrence, under the headings following:

k. Brain, Inflammation and Congestion of.

1. Bronchitis, Acute.

Degree of

PREVALENCE.

MONTHS.

m. Meningitis, Cerebro Spinal, Sporadic.

1. Pneumonia.

0. Rheumatism.

p. Stomach, Acute Diseases of.

6. What diseases, not classed as zymotics, have had unusually large prevalence during the past year?

7.

What diseases have been attended with unusual fatality?

8. Have any circumstances occurred within your observation or knowledge that seemed to indicate that Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, or Typhoid Fever had been taken or communicated from one person to another? A full history of known facts, in detail, should be given. Such history need not be confined to any particular year. State on separate sheet.

9. Has there been, in your opinion, any advance in public sentiment, or views of individuals, in your circuit, in regard to the importance of sanitary surroundings, or any increased interest in means of preventing diseases? State what reasons for belief.

Very respectfully,

CHAS. H. FISHER,

Sec. of State Board of Health.

The following extract from the Public Statutes, in relation to the duties of town and local boards of health, and practicing physicians, was also appended:

PUBLIC STATUTES, CHAPTER 83.

SEC. 6. The secretary of the said board shall make inquiry, from time to time, of the clerks of town and local boards of health, and PRACTICING PHYSICIANS, in relation to the prevalence of any disease, or knowledge of any known or generally believed source of disease, or causes of general ill health, and also in relation to the proceedings of the said boards of health, in respect to acts for the promotion and protection of the public health, and also in relation to diseases among domestic animals in their several towns and localities respectively,