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South Newmarket — A. H. VArney, m. d.

Typhoid Fever. Nine cases, one fatal: two cases in town, mild; two in Kensington, mild; five cases in Exeter, one fatal. The five cases in Exeter occurred in one family. The cause is known to have been polluted well-water, a sample of which was sent to the State Board of Health, and pronounced to be horribly polluted, as the following analysis by Prof. E. R. Angell shows:

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Microscopic examination: Many infusoria and bacteria. Much disintegrated and suspicious looking matter. This water is horribly polluted. On investigating the premises I found a stoned well eleven feet deep, with four feet of water, and a chain pump. The well was situated about twenty feet from two sink-drains, twenty-two feet from the privy, and eighteen feet from the hog-pen. Soil, sandy loam, about eight inches deep; sub-soil, yellow sand. I consider polluted drinking-water the most common source of typhoid fever.

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Diphtheria. None observed. From my past experience believe that foul gases, a cold, individual predisposition, and personal contagion the most common causes of the disease.

Strafford-N. C. TWOMBLY, M. d.

Typhoid Fever. - One case. Without doubt this case was caused by filth. There was a cesspool under the very door of the house, the stench from which penetrated the building every day. In the cellar I found decayed meat and vegetables of all kinds. The stench was fearful, and I firmly believe that this unsanitary condition was the cause of the fever. It was a very severe form of typhoid, but the patient recovered. experience I believe that with good sanitary conditions, typhoid fever would greatly diminish.

From my

Diphtheria. None during the year 1888. I believe that cesspools, polluted water, sink-drains, and all filth, are prominent factors in producing the germ of diphtheria. I notice on some farms, particularly around the house, old rotten wood, old shoes, and all manner of rubbish that has been collecting for years, breeding bugs, and making the place generally filthy. This condition, in my opinion, not only produces disease in the human family, but disease in corn, wheat, potatoes, and, in fact, about every kind of produce raised on the farm. These very men will complain when their crops are not good, when they are themselves to blame. They are also responsible for many diseases under which they suffer.

Sunapee E. C. FISHER, M. D.

Typhoid Fever.

in New London.

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Three cases, none fatal; two in town, one Was not able to determine the cause, although

I think the water was contaminated. Have observed that typhoid fever is more liable to occur under unsanitary conditions, but have often found cases where the sanitary conditions seemed good. Diphtheria. None observed. Think unsanitary conditions cause many cases of diphtheria.

Suncook-J. R. KIMBALL, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. - Have had only two or three mild cases. Made no examination of the drinking-water. Without doubt filth of every kind is a factor in typhoid fever; but I think the real cause of the disease is yet to be found, and may be within

the system.

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Suncook-GEORGE H. LARABEE, M. d.

Typhoid Fever. - None observed during the year. I do not believe in unsanitary conditions; still there is quite a chance for argument as to their relation to typhoid fever.

Diphtheria. None observed, although have had several cases of severe tonsilitis. Have no doubt that unsanitary conditions tend to spread the disease.

Surry-W. H. PORTER, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. None observed during the year. If perfect sanitary conditions could be secured for all, it is my opinion that typhoid fever and also its twin scourge, diphtheria, would become nearly extinct.

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Diphtheria. None. Believe that unsanitary conditions are the most potent cause of diphtheria.

Tilton C. R. GOULD, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. - Eight cases, none fatal; one in Franklin, three in Northfield, and four in town. Drinking-water was probably polluted in all cases. Believe that unsanitary conditions and typhoid fever stand in the relation of cause and effect. Diphtheria. One case, recovered. Regarding the relation of unsanitary conditions to the disease, would say that "unsanitary" is a very broad term. Do not think filth alone will cause diphtheria.

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Tuftonborough-T. AVANS HALEY, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. - None observed during the year 1888. From past experience with the disease am of the opinion that in most cases unsanitary conditions cause the disease.

Diphtheria. None, although have had several cases of follicular tonsilitis. During the more than twenty years of my practice in town, have had very few cases of true diphtheria. Believe that unsanitary conditions bear a very close relation to the disease.

Wakefield-JOHN E. SCRUTON, M. D.

Typhoid Fever.

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- Eight cases, one fatal: four cases in town, one having contracted the disease in Conway; one case in Middleton, contracted in Bartlett; two cases in Milton, one of them contracted in Farmington.

Diphtheria. None observed.

Wakefield-SAMUEL W. ROBERTS, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. - One case in Farmington, not fatal. I am in a region not subject to this disease, and have never had a case where it might be expected to appear if unsanitary conditions would produce it. Along my route there are many buildings so located that the well and cellar would appear to be the natural cesspools of the privy, sink, pig-pen and barnyard drainage, and yet the disease has never appeared in these families. While for thirty-five years as a practitioner I have thought I could trace it to contagion, being brought from distant localities, and in memory can go back more than fifty years, I have not observed a single case that I could trace to unsanitary conditions. Do not believe that unsanitary conditions have any relation to typhoid fever.

Walpole-GEORGE A. BLAKE, m. d.

Typhoid Fever. None observed.

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Warner-J. R. COGGSWELL, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. - No cases of true typhoid. Some mongrel cases, as they might be called; some with a malarial element. If all that is said about bad air and water were true, fevers and other diseases would be much more prevalent than now. There must be some means by which the system largely eliminates or destroys these germs of disease, or the land would be depopulated. It is the exception now to find a pure water supply in the country; neither do they have proper ventilation or good drainage of their premises. Moreover, there is consumed a great amount of diseased meat, unripe or over-ripe fruit and vegetables, and adulterated food supplies, besides quantities of milk from tuberculous cows.

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Diphtheria. None in my practice during the year. I cannot say that unsanitary conditions produce the disease, but when contracted they increase the danger and help spread it. I believe the practice of allowing saw-mills, bobbin mills, peg factories, etc., to disgorge the shavings, sawdust, chips, and other refuse into the streams upon which they are located, to be very pernicious, and the cause of much sickness in certain localities near the low lands, where much of this refuse is deposited and left to decay. I also think some plan for the inspection of meat, either before or after the animal is slaughtered, would be a very wise measure. Without doubt our people now consume a large quantity of diseased meat, and there seems to be no help for it as our laws now are.

Washington (East) - GEORGE N. GAGE, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. One case, fatal from an attack of apoplexy which occurred during convalescence. I have no doubt that unsanitary conditions favor the development of the disease. Physical exhaustion from any cause renders one much more susceptible to the disease. From my own experience I am led to believe that typhoid fever is due fully as much to the condition of the person attacked as to his sanitary surroundings. Cases occur where there appear to be no unsanitary conditions, and that very frequently, too. Again, with very unsanitary conditions the disease does not appear for years. Why is one member of a family attacked, and the others not, though all breathe the same air, drink the same water, and eat at the same table? Unsanitary surroundings are a cause, but not the only one, I think.

Diphtheria. No cases seen during the year 1888.

Westmoreland-J. A. CRAIG, M. D.

Typhoid Fever.

One case, recovered. This case was undoubtedly caused by pollution from a sink-drain which passed in close proximity to the well. The ground around the well was saturated with the drainage and the water contaminated.

Diphtheria. — One case, malignant, fatal.

Bad sanitary con

The case

She was

ditions were undoubtedly the main factor in this case.

occurred at a farmhouse, a girl aged fifteen years.

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