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RECEIVED JUL 20 1981 jjEAUTH SCIENCES UBRW BULLETIN NORTH CAROLINA ROARD OF HEALTH. PuhlisJted Monthly at the Office of the Secretary of the Board, at Raleigh, N. C. SUBSCRIPTION, 25 CENTS A YEAR. Geo. G. Thojias, M. D., Pres., Wilmington. S. Westray Battle, M. D Asheville. W. H. Harrell, M. D Williamston. W. H. G. LrcAS, M. D White HalL JoHX Whitehead, M. D Salisbury. W^. P. Beall, M. D Green.sboro. Prof. F. P. Vexable Chapel Hill. J. C. Chase, Civ. Exg Wilmington. Richard H. Lewis, M. D., Secretary and Treasurer, Raleigh. Vol. X. APRIL, 1895. No. 1. Infectiousiie»is of 91ilk. We have recently received from the Sec-retaiy a copy of a report made to the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture on the infectious-ness of milk, especially that from tubercu-lous cows with no lesion of the udder, by Dr. Harold C. Ernst, Bacteriologist of the Harvard Medical School. The results of Dr. Ernst's investigations are so interest-ing and valuable that, inasmuch as his re-port will hardly come under the eye of most of our readers, we feel that we will be doing them a pleasing service in giving them a summary of it, short and imperfect as it must be from want of space. After certain preliminary remarks he says: "The desire of the committee was to determine whether or not the milk derived from tuberculous cows might contain the infectious material of the disease, and in this way become dangerous when used as an article of food. And this question was of necessity to be divided into two parts: (1) Whether this infection, if it existed, was contined to cases in which there was actual disease of the udder, and (2) whether it might exist in cases in which the udder was apparently or actually healthy, but the disease existed in other parts of the body. " In regard to the tirst part of the ques-tion plain common sense showed that the danger of infection was a real one, and besides this, there existed at the time sufficient experimental data to prove the fact, so that there is very little dispute that, under the circumstances, milk should not be used for food, certainly in an un-cooked condition. Evidence since then in the same direction has constantly accumu-lated, and now there is hardly a dissenting opinion that milk from cows with tuber-culosis of the udder should be condemned for food. "L'pon the second point, however, as to whether the milk from cows with tubercu-losis, but not of the udder, might be dan-gerous, there was a great diversity of opin-ion, and almost no experimental evidence upon which to base what opinion there was. It was in this direction, there-fore, that it was especially desirable to BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. obtain evidence, and after considerable dis-cussion it was decided that the main line of experiment should be so conducted that this point might he decided. In this, as in everything else, it is to be remembered that one piece of positive evidence ob-tained under proper conditions is worth many negative results, and it is for this reason that so much value may be attached to the results which have been obtained. These were published in an incomplete form and have been widely disseminated. * * * It is unquestionable that they have had much influence in moulding public opinion in this matter, and at least one direct result has been the inspection of the herds of cattle in New York by the Board of Health of that State. "The work, then, was undertaken with this special end in view—to determine ichether the infectious element of tuberculosis ever existed in milk from tuberculous cows whose udders were apparcntbj health[/, and was prosecuted under the following head-ings: 1. A careful and persistent microscopic examination, of the milk from such cattle. 2. Inoculation experiments with such milk. 3. Feeding experiments with the same milk. In addition to these three main lines investigation there was also undertaken: 4. Similar investigations of the milk supply of Boston, and 5. The gathering of as much evidence as possible from medical men and veterinarians as to cases of jnohable infection through tuberculous milk that had come under their observation.^^ These investigations were made with ex-treme carefulness, every precaution being taken to have them as free from doubt as possible. I. ^^Cover-glass examinations of milk from cows affected with tuberculosis, but, so far as the best veterinary examination could deter-mine, with no disease of the udder." A summary of the results of this line of investigation, as given in Table I, is as fol-lows: "There were 121 examinations of milk and cream made, the specimens coming from 36 different animals. The bacilli of tuberculosis were found in one or more cover-glasses upon 19 different occasions. "These 19 positive results were obtained from 12 different animals, and the bacilli were found in about equal proportion in the milk and the cream; they were seen more than once in milk from the same cow, at different examinations, 6 times. The bacilli were actually seen, therefore, in specimens from one-third (33 per cent.) of the animals examined. That these ani-mals were actually affected with tubercu-losis, and that the udder was free from dis-ease, was proven in all possible cases by care-ful post-mortem examinations. These were conducted upon 20 out of 30 animals shown in Table I. II. ^'Inoculation Experiments upon Animals.'^ —The animals used were guinea-pigs and rabbits. The results of this work are set forth in detail in Tables II and III and are summarized as follows: "There were 88 guinea-pigs inoculated with milk from 15 different cows; tuberculosis was found in 12, and these results came after the use of milk or cream from 6 different animals. * * * Ninety-five rabbits were used for the same purposes and under the same con-ditions as were the guinea-pigs. Of these rabbits 5 were for various reasons useless for the purposes of the investigation, leav-ing 90 which were subjected to full exami-nation. For these 90 animals milk from 19 different cows was used one or more times, and tuberculosis was found in 6 animals inoculated with milk from 4 different cows. These results show a less proportion of ap-parent infection of milk as demonstrated by the inoculation experiments than ap-peared to be the case in the microscopic BULLETIN OP^ THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. examinations. But this ditlVrence, even granting that tliey were all tlie results of the inoculations, is no more than might be expected and explained by causes beyond control." III. "The third line of experiment was in feeding the milk from tuberculous cows and healthy udders to different series of animals. Here, again, the greatest precau-tions were taken against outside infection, and it is believed that these were as free from sources of error as it is ever possible to make such experiments. They were carried on upon rabbits, pigs and calves, and the statement of the experiments is shown in Tables IV, V and YI." Summa-ries of these tables are as follows: ^' MUk-fecdiiKj Exiicrlinciitx upoa liabbits.— There were used 48 animals, with positive results (tuberculosis) in two, and both of these animals were fed upon milk from cow E; Xo 12, one nodule in lung after 31 days; Xo. 28, one nodule in liver after 97 days. This is of course a very small pro-portion of positive results, but the follow-ing table shows a very different condition of affairs, that is especially striking for the reason that pigs are not believed to be un-usually susceptible to tuberculosis under ordinary conditions. '^Milk-fcedin'j E.i'iierimcnis upoa Pigs.— Twelve healthy animals v.ere used with positive results (demonstration of the bacilli under the microscope) in five. In two others nodules presenting the gross appear-ance of tuberculosis were found, but the material was not saved for microscopic examination. In any case nearly 50 per cent, of the animals were shown to be tuberculous. "Milic-feeding\E.vperiiiients upon Calves.— For the purposes of the third series of feeding experiments calves were bought as young as possible, and from as healthy parentage as could be found. There were 25 calves used in this series of experiments, but of these 4 are to be excluded from the count, leaving 21. Of these 21 animals 8, or over 33 per cent., were shown to be tuberculous. "It is of course true that pigs and calves, that drink milk much more freely than do rabbits, are more susceptible to infection by the gastro-intestinal tract, and that this may explain the far greater proportion of positive results in these two species of animals. '' Exarn'nialio)} of Cows Used for Experi-i/ u/*/.—Twenty-three cows were used for the feeding experiments, and in not one of them did the most careful macroscopic and microscopic search show any sign of tuber-culosis of the udder except in one, and in this case a single giant cell, containing one bacillus, was found in one section, and no other indication of tuberculosis anywhere else in the udder. "An exceedingly interesting piece of evi-dence as regards the hereditary nature of tuberculosis is found in the history of 11) calves born of the tuberculous cows with healthy udders. Of these 19 calves, all killed within 6 days after birth, not one showed any detectable evidence of tuber-culosis, and a most careful search was made in all cases. So that this certainly seems to point avray from any very active trans-mission of tuberculosis from the cow to its-otfspring. IV. Milk SnppUj of Boston.—''As an interest-ing corollary to the work already detailed,, a series of microscoi)ic examinations and inoculation experiments were made witli milk taken at random from the mixed suj)- ply of the city of Boston. * * * There were 5(i examinations made of the milk and cream from 33 samples, with the result of demonstrating the presence of the bacilli of tuberculosis once. Twenty-five rabbit* were inoculated with this mixed milk with the development of tuberculosis in three. "Of course these results, obtained in BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. uiilk fVoiii a mixed source are not as con-ciliative upon the esi)ecial point toward which tlie main line of investigation was directed— as to the presence of the Ijacilli of tuberculosis in milk from cows with healthy udders—but lhe.y certainly tend to demonstrate that there may be this infec-tious element in any n)il< supply from un-inspected cattle." V. "The last of the lines in which investi-gation was made was to endeavor, if possi-ble, to obtain clinical rejiorts of cases of transmission through milk from mother to offspring. * * * a circular was sent out to about 1,800 medical and veterinary gentlemen, in an attempt to discover any clinical cases bearing upon the subject at band." To this circular replies were re-ceived from 937 phj'sicians, of which 19 were positive as to the transmission and !(> suspicious. "Counting all the positive and suspicions cases together, there are 35, and the percentage of those who have seen cases in which their suspicions have been aroused in this direction is 3.7—a result that is as unexpected as it is surprising in its size, if one takes into consideration the difticulties surrounding the question, and the newness of the subject." Fifty-four replies were received from veterinarians which gave a jjercentage of 42.59 plu^:. "Such a percentage is startling in its size until one remembers the greater facilities that veterinarians have for observing such cases and their origin, when it does not seem so much out of the way—granting that milk may be the vehicle for the dis-ease that the experimental evidence of-fered in this paper tends to show that it is. "Combining the statistics obtained from the two sources, it appears that there were 991 answers received to the circular-letter that should be counted, and that among these tliere were 58 gentlemen who have seen, or suspected, the existence of such cases as were inquired al)Out, giving a per-centage of 5.S4 phis, which seems to be somewhat remarkable for the reasons al- > ready given." While the facts above given are extreme-ly interesting, suggestive and valuable, we trust that our readers will not forget the plain, old-fashioned, every-day infectious-ness of milk, with which we are all famil-iar, and which, in our opinion does not receive the attention it deserves. It is needless to say, particularly at this season, that we I'efer to the dangers arising from fermentative and putrefactive changes due to heat—^and uncleanliness. Xot forgetting tuberculosis, let us bear especially in mind cholera infantum and the other allied com-plaints which make the parents of every artificially fed baby dread the approach of summer, and impress uj)on the people, as far as possible, the extreme importance of the greatest care in the management of niilk intended for infants. Suiniiinry of Kojiorts frotu C'ousit.y S«- lieritiSoiKiosiis of IJ«>aIS!t for ,1Saroh. 1S95. (eighty-sevex counties reporting). In the blanks ou which these reports are made the following' items are called for: 1. The number of cases of small-pox, measles, whooping-cough, scarlatina, diphtheria, typhoid fever, pernicious malarial fever, hemorrhagic ma-larial fever, yellow fever and cholera which have occurred in the county during the past month. 2. The diseases which have been prevalent in the county and in what parts. 3. Epidemics among domestic animals. 4. Remarks as to special unsanitary conditions in the county. In few counties do physicians generally report these details to the Superintendent, though fur-nished with blanks for that purpose, and in most cases he has to depend upon himself alone in making his report. Details as to the jails, houses of correction and countj' homes are also given in these reports and will be found tabulated on other pages. Alamance—Pr. R. A. Freeman, Burling-ton. Epidemic of cholera and roup in BULLETIN OF THE XOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. poultry in some localities. Sanitary condi-tion of towns not very good. Alexander—Dr. R. B. Killian, Taylors-ville. Xo sicliness. A new jail badly needed; iron cells have been put in old one. Allegh.vxy—Dr. C. G. Fowlkes, Topia. Mild form of catarrh in all parts. An epi-demic of distemper in horses. Aysox—Dr. E. S. Ashe, Wadesboro. No report. Ashe—Dr. L. C. Gentry-, Jefferson. Some influenza of mild charactei'. Beaufort—Dr. John C. Rodman, Wash-ington. Catarrhal troubles. There are quite a number of swampy i)laces in the county that need drainage. Bertie—Dr. H. V. Dunstan, Windsor. Bronchial diseases and pneumonia. Hog cholera in some sections. Bladen—Dr. Newton Robinson, Eliza-bethtown. La grippe in all parts. Brunswick—Dr. D. I. Watson, South-port. Bronchial troubles. The jail has been condemned by the grand jury. The county home needs some repairs; it is too far—eighteen miles—from the county-seat. Buxcombe—Dr. H. L. Baird, Asheville. Influenza and pneumonia to a slight extent in all parts. Burke—Dr. J. L. Laxton, Morganton. Two cases of pneumonia. The well at the jail is not safe; I think on account of too much surface water flowing into it; it is muddy. I have reported it to the author-ities. In other respects the sanitary condi-tion of the public buildings is as good as the structure of the old buildings will allow. Cabarrus—Dr. Leona INI. Archey, Con-cord. Bronchitis, pneumonia and rheuma-tism in some parts. Reports from live phy-sicians. The sanitary condition of the jail is not as good as it ought to be, on ac-count of the work-house hands being quar-tered there during bad weather, but will be remedied as soon as the tent is erected. Caldwell—Dr. A. A. Kent, Lenoir. Several cases of pneumonia and bronchitis. A few cases of mumps in one section. A new jail is much needed, and an effort is on foot to have it built. Camden—No Board of Health. Carteret—Dr. George N. Ennett, Beau-fort. Broncho-catarrhal troubles in all parts. A few cases of supposed Texas fever among cattle in certain sections. The court-house is dilapidated in the third story, and the jail is an old and wrecked alfair; we need a new one. Caswell—Dr. W. O. Spencer, Yancey-viUe. No sickness throughout the county that I have h.eard of The sanitary condi-tion of the jail is about as good as its con-struction will allow. Catawba—Dr. J. M. McCorkle, Newton. No diseases I'eported. Chatham—Dr. L. A. Hanks, Pittsboro. Pneumonia to a limited extent. Bronchial atlections. The health of the inmates of the county home forcibly illustrates what can be accomplished by proper hygienic methods. Cherokee—Dr. J. F. Abernathy, Mur-phy. General public and inmates of county buildings healthy. Chowan—Dr. R. H. Winborne, Rocka-hock. A few cases of rheumatism, pneu-monia and mumps. Some hydrophobia in: dogs and cholera in swine. Clay—Dr. W. E. Sanderson, Hayesville> Very little sickness. There are some ef-forts to improve the condition of the jail.. A new one is badly needed. Cleveland—Dr. 0. P. Gardner, Slielby. No disease to report. Columbus—Dr. I. Jackson, Whiteville. Two cases of typhoid fever. Bronchial diseases and pneumonia to a greater extent than usual. Hog cholera remains in only a few localities. Cravex—Dr. Leinster Duffy, Newl)ern. Catarrhal troubles, influenza and whooping-cougli. Cumherlax!)— Dr. J. H. :SlavsU, Fay-etteville. Inllueuioa in many parts. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Ci'KRiTi'CK—Xo Board of Health. Dare—Dr. W. H. Peterson, Manteo. Lit-tle sickness. Davidsox—Dr. R. L. Payne, Lexington. "Whooping-cougl'i and mumps. The sani-tarj- condition of tlie public buildings is as good as the structures will allow. Davie—Dr. James McGuire, Mocksville. Very little sickness. The sanitary condi-tion of the public buildings is as good as the structures will allow. Duplin—Dr. "W. P. Kennedy, Warsaw. Influenza and pneumonia in most parts. There is insufficient drainage in some sec-tions. The jail is clean and when com-pleted will Ije a good building. The houses at the home need repairs and whitewash-ing. They are all clean. Durham—Dr. J. M. Manning, Durham. Catarrhal and intermittent fevers in all parts. Some cases of influenza among domestic animals. At the county home a very nice building has just l)een completed for the accommodation of the insane who cannot be provided for by the State Hos-pitals. Edgecombe—Dr. Donald 'Williams, Tar-boro. A few cases of bronchitis. Forsyth—Dr. D. X. Dalton, Winston. Several mild cases of grijj and a very few of pneumonia. Fraxklix—Dr. E. S. Fo.ster, Louisburg. One or two cases of typhoid fever and a few of whoo]Mng cough of mild type and of pneumonia. Gaston—Dr. J. H. Jenkins, Dallas. Colds and two or three cases of pneumonia. A few cases of mild scarlatina reported; proper quarantine precautions were taken. Gates—Dr. I. W. Costen, Gatesville. Xo •diseases reported. Graham—Xo Board of Health. Graxville—Dr. Wm. O. Baskerville, Oxford. La grippe with com])lications in most parts. A few rooms at the county home are to he renovated. Greene—Dr. E. H. i^ugg. Snow Hill. No report. Guilford—Dr. A. R.Wilson, Greensboro. One case of typhoid fever. The jail is a disgrace to a county like Guilford. The work-house is much too crowded. Halifax—Dr. I. E. Green, Weldon. Lit-tle sickness in any part. Harnett—Dr. J. F. McKay, Dickinson. Four cases of scarlatina. Influenza and pneumonia in nearly all parts. Hayavood—Dr. J. Howell Way, Waynes-viile. Xo contagious diseases reported. Inside walls of jail recently whitewashed. The building is new. Hexdersox—Dr. J. L. Egerton, Hender-son ville. Xo disease to report. Hertford—Dr. John W. Tayloe, Union. One case each of typhoid fever, pernicious and hemorrhagic malarial fever. Some bronchial troubles and pneumonia in my section. I have pleaded time and again with our physicians, but cannot get them to let me have their reports in time. Only one report this month. Hyde—Xo Board of Health. Iredell—Dr. W. J. Hill, Statesville. The sanitary condition of the inside of the jail is fair, but the yard is used as a horse, cow and hog lot, and is filthy. The condi-tion of the work-house and county home is as good as the structure will allow. Jacksox—Dr. W. F. Tompkins, Webster. Xo diseases to report. The jail is new. JoHX.STOx—Dr. R. J. Xoble, Selma. One case of hemorrhagic malarial fever. Whoop-ing- cougli in all parts. The jail needs sewerage. JoxE.«—Dr. R. A. Whitaker, Trenton. Influenza in all parts and quite a number of cases of pneumonia. The county home is constructed of logs, and consequently the buildings are not as comfortable as they sliouldbe,but they are good of their kind. I have suggested the erection of new ones, but the Commissioners are ahvavs slow to act. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Lenoir—Dr. C. B. Woodley, Kinston. Xo report. LixcoLX—Dr. W. L. Crouse, Lincolnton. "Whooping-cough in some parts; ten cases reported. Macox—Dr. S. H. Lyle, Franklin. Very little sickness, principally local inflamma-tions, the seqneUe of influenza. Madisox—Dr. James K. Hardwicke, Mar-shall. Seventy-five cases of measles. Some influenza and pneumonia still. The jail is frequently overcrowded, sometimes dan-gerously so. Martix—Dr. W. H. Harrell, Williams-ton. One case of hemorrhagic malarial fever. A mild form of catarrhal fever or la grippe very generally prevails. McDowell—Dr. B. A. Cheek, ^Marion. Catarrhal troul.iles in difierent parts. Very healthy. The jail v,as burned last Novem-ber. Mecklexbukg—Dr. H. M. Wilder, Char-lotte. Whooping-cough in Charlotte and other parts. Three cases of scarlatina at the Atherton cotton mills. Proper sanitary police restrictions have been observed. Mitchell—Dr. C E. Smith, Bakersville. Mumps in western part. Some la grippe, not of long duration, but severe. The in-mates of the county home have been moved, and a new man now has charge of them. I find the home and inmates in better condition than for ten years. MoxTGOMEKY—Dr. W. A. Simmons, Troy. No disease to report. "The Legislature did right in taxing us SIO apiece a year for trying to prevent sickness and cure all kinds of sickness as soon as we are notified of their appearance in our State." MooRE—Dr. Gilbert McLeod, Carthage. Whooping-cough in north-western and western parts. Influenza in all parts, especially in Carthage. Some bronchitis and pneumonia. Nasii—Dr. J. J. r^Iann, Nashville. Very little sickness. New Haxover—Dr. R. D. Jcwett, Wil-mington. Some grip and a few cases of pneumonia. Two cases of diphtheria, in each of which quarantine regulations were carried out. Northamptox—Dr. H. W. Lewis, Jack-son. Very little sickness. OxsLOW—Dr. E. L. Cox, Jacksonville. IVIalarial fever, la grippe and pneumonia. Oraxge—Dr. C. D. Jones, Hillsboro. Catarrhal troubles and one case of pneu-monia. Pamlico—No Board of Health. Pasquotank—Dr. W. W. Griggs, Eliza-beth city. A few cases of bronchitis and pneumonia. Pexder—Dr. George F. Lucas, Currie. Grippe to a moderate extent. Perquimans—Dr. John F. Speight, Hert-ford. One case of diphtheria and two of hemorrhagic malarial fever. La grippe, bronchitis and pneumonia. Persox—Dr. C. G. Nichols, Roxboro. Three cases of whooping-cough and some bronchitis and pneumonia. Pneumonia in horses. Pitt—Dr. W. H. Bagwell, Greenville. Thirteen cases of whooping-cough, five of scarlatina and one of hemorrhagic malarial fever. Some bronchitis and pneumonia. Polk—Dr. 0. S. Missildine, Tryon. No diseases to report. There is no way of keeping the prisoners in the jail warm. Raxdolph—Dr. J. M. Boyette, Ashboro. Stomatitis, bronchial troubles and dysen-tery to some extent. RicnMOXD—Dr. J. M. Covington, Rock-ingham. Influenza, bronchitis, pneumo-nia and mumps to some extent in all parts. Robesox—Dr. T. A. Norment, Jr., Lum-berton. No diseases reported. RocKixGHAM—Dr. D. W. Courts, Reids-ville. Three cases of typhoid fever. An epidemic of cholera in chickens. RowAX—Dr. John Whitehead, Salisbury. Catarrhal aftections and pneumonia in most parts. Rutherford — Dr. V/. A. Thompson, BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Rutlierfordtou. No diseases to report. There is some complaint of vermin in the jail, but the keeper saj's he will give it a thorough renovation. Sampson—Dr. John A. Stevens, Clinton. A fev," cases of influenza, pneumonia, pleu-risy and intermittent fever. Hog cholera. Stanly—Dr. D. P. Whitley, Millingport. Some catari'lial fever, pleurisy and pneu-monia. Stokks — Dr. W. L. ^NleCanlcss, Danbury. Whooping-cough in all i^art.s. Surry—Dr. .J. B. Holling.sworth, Mt. Airy. La grippe and pneumonia in all parts. Swain—Dr. U. L. Davis, Bryson City. One case of typhoid fever and a few cases of pneumonia of mild foini. Transylvania—Dr. C. W. Hunt, Bre-vard. Very little sickness. Catarrhal diseases in moderate degree. Tyrrell—Dr. Ab. Alexander, Columbia. No sickness of importance. We have had no prisoners in jail for some months nor any in the county home for over twelve months and the County Commissioners have rented the latter out for a private dwelling Union—Dr. J. E. Ashcraft, ^Monroe. Two cases of scarlatina and one of typhoid fever. Some catarrhal fever and pneumo-nia in town and county. Vance—Dr. W. T. Cheatham, Hender-son. Five cases of typhoid fever. WAKE-Dr. P. E. Hines, Raleigh. A mild epidemic of whooping-cough around Myatt's Mill. Colds, influenza, pneumo-nia and rheumatism in all parts. Dr. Kirby reports malarial fever prevailing at the In-sane Asylum due to the water-works pond. At the work-house there is not sufficient light. The superintendent and County Commissioners have had their attention called to it for two months. Fifty-one blanks and circulars were sent out and eight reports received. Wakren—Dr. J. P. Macon, AVarrenton. La grippe almost epidemic throughout the county. Catarrhal fever and pneumonia. Distemper among horses. AVashingto.v—No Board of Health. Watauga— Dr. W. B. Council), Boone. Xo sickness of any kind. Wayne—Dr. W. J. Jones, Jr., Goklsboro. Ten cases of whooping-cough. Catarrhal troubles in all parts. The jail is crowded at present. Wilkes—Dr. J. W. White, AVilkesboro. Influenza and pneumonia in many parts. Wilson—Dr. Albert Anderson, AVilson. La grippe in all parts. A few cases of pneumonia and one of typhoid fever. The jail is overcrowded at present. Yadkin—Dr. T. R. Harding, Yadkin-ville. No disease of any note. Yancey—Dr. J. L. Ray, Burnsville. Mumps to some extent. Some typhoid fever heard of I cannot get the Commis-sioners to have the jail cleaned up. The county home is in a little better condition than it was a month ago, but there is some room for improvement yet. Review of I>iseases for ;^Iarcli, lS9i5. Bronchitis— From Bertie, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Carteret, Chatham, Columbus, Durham, Edgecombe, Hertford, Moore, Pasquotank, Perquimans and Rich-mond— 14 counties. Cholera, in Chickens—From Alamance and Rockingham. Cholera, in Hogs—From Bertie, Chowan, Columbus and Sampson. Diphtheria — From New Hanover and Perquimans. Distemper, in Horses—Fi"om Alleghany. Influenza—From Ashe, Bladen, Bun-combe, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, For-syth, Granville, Harnett, Jones, Macon, ]\Iadison, Mitchell, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Perquimans, Richmond, Sampson, Surry, AVake, AA^arren, AA'ilkes and AVilson—25 counties. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAEOLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Malarial Fever—From Durham, Ons-low, Sampson and Wake. Malarial Fever, Hemorrhagic—From Hertford, Johnston, 3Iartin, Perquimans and Pitt. Malarial Fever, Pernicious — From Hertford. 3Ieasles—From Madison. Mujips—From Caldwell, Chowan, David-son, Mitchell, Richmond and Yancey— 6 counties. Pleurisy—From Sampson. PxEU-MoxiA — From Bertie, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Chatham, Cho-wan, Columbus, Duplin, Forsyth, Frank-lin, Gaston, Harnett, Hertford, .Tones, Madi-son, Moore, Xew Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Rich-mond, Rowan,' Sampson, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Union, Warren, Wilkes and Wil-son— 33 counties. PxEUMOXiA, IX Horses—From Person. Rabies, ix Dogs—From Chowan. RHECitATiSM—From Cabarrus, Chowan and Wake. Roup, ix Chickexs—From Alamance. ScARLATixA — From Gaston, Harnett, Mecklenburg, Pitt and Union. Texas Fever (?), ix Cattle—From Car-teret. Typhoid Fever—From Columbus, Franklin, Guilford, Hertford, Rockingham, Swain, Union, Vance,Wilson and Yaucey — 10 counties. Whoopixg-cough—From Craven, David-son, Franklin, Johnston, Lincoln, Meck-lenburg, Moore, Person, Pitt, Stokes, Wake and Wavne—12 counties. Sninmary of 3Iortiiary Reports for March, 1895. (twexty-nine towns). IVhite. CoVd. Total. Aggregate population 77,67S 47.429 125.104 Aggregate deaths 7° 65 135 Representing annual death-rate per 1,000 lo.S 16.4 12. S Causes of death. Typhoid Fe%'er i o i Malarial Fever i i ~ Pneumonia 12 6 ib Consumption 12 15 27 Brain diseases S 2 10 Heart diseases 426 Neurotic diseases 325 Diarrhoeal diseases 3 i 4 All other diseases 25 32 57 Accident i 4 5 70 65 135 Deaths under 5 years 10 14 24 Still-born 257 10 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Coiitlition of Jails an«l C-ounty Homes by Counties for March, 1895. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 11 Conflition 12 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 13 Mortuary Report for March, 1895. Towss AND Reporters. 14 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Meteorological Snmniary fur Xorth Carolina, March, 1S95. Furnished by the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station and State Weather Service. H. B. Battle, Ph. D., Director. C. F. vox Herumaxx, Meteorologist. STATION'S. TEMPERATURE (Degrees Fahr.). Asheville Bakersville Blowing Rock Charlotte Chapel Hill Horse Cove Littleton Lenoir Louisburg -Mt. Airy Mt. Pleasant Marion Newbern Oak Ridge Pittshoro Raleigh Rockingham Roxboro Soapstone Mount. SazoQ Southern Pines.... Salisbury Southport , Willeyton Weldou Wilmington le^ ~; 45.2 Dr P E Hines BULLETIN NORTH CAROLINa'bOARD OF HEALTH. Published Monthly at the Office of the Secretary of the Board, at Raleigh, X. C. SrBSCRIPTIOX,-e5 CEXTS A YEAR. •--^ - fOMAl^M/D.rPr-es;, Wilmington. "^ W. P. Beall, M. D Greensboro. S.-^ ' Y Baitle, M. D- ....Aslieville. AV'."]f!rrj -RKELL, M. D, •vni..'..Williamston. JoHX Whiteheab, M. %:' Salisbury. W. J. LuMSDEN, M. D Elizabeth City. Prof. F. P. Vexable Chapel Hill. J. C. Chase, Civ. Eng Wilmington. Rici)L-i.HD H-:~tEjvis, M. D., Secretary and Treasurer, Ealeigh. Vol. X. MAY, 1895. No. 2. Anunal fleeting- of the Board of Health. -- This .meeting was held "on the second daK.^*%e aijji.ual meeting of the Medical SoCi^' vf the- -State of- North Carolina," and;"^^^. ''o're took "place in the city of Got3^^ro on 'Wedj3esda3-^ the 15th instant. Owffi^tn unavoidable circumstances the att^^^'ucJ" \vas_^m all ._ ' IS^.members "Tbf -the Board for the next t\so"5^§4;s; are: Dn- W. H. Harrell and John WJift^ad re'-elected by J-he State Medical pBoc!etyvProf. F. P. Venable; Ph. D., Mr. J.'^G:-€kase'andDrs.:W; P. Beall and R. H. Ee'\vi^>re-appoin"ted,^ and .Dr. W. J. Lums-denT; appointed by His Excellency Governor Can to~-stvcceed' Df. W. H. G.. Lucas, who, oifAccou'it Q^;iriTealth,.hasbeen unable to atte"iaH.the meftm^". - '- - ' J^r^riG^prge^Xjy^etl -I'homas was unani-inSistv" re-^Jeclgd, President. The Secre- ?9%r-^ih<cfee te.fmWl^office when elected was si'^^aars, , held over "tmder the decision of th^^Sb/iieA-'^iOen^al "given at the annual meeting in Raleigh in 1893. Upou'the statement of the Secretary that the first edition of 10,000 of the pamphlets on Prevention of Tubercalosis, Drinking Water and Malaria, and Instructions for Quarantine and Disinfection was nearh- ex-hausted, and that the applications for them ahead}- reached into the thousands, he was authorized to have printed as many more as in his judgment could be used to advantage. He was also authorized to have printed in similar form and number for distribution with those mentioned the excellent paper on "The Importance of Disinfecting the Bowel Discharges in Typhoid Fever," read before the Salisbury Health Conference by Dr. A. R. Wilson, Superintendent of Healh of Guilford count}-. Washington was selected as the place for the next Health Conference with the people on a day in October to be named by the President. Arrangements were made to have the bacteriological work relating to sanitation done in our own State. This matter will be referred to more at length in a future issue. T/ie Conjoint Session with the State IMedi-cal Society was taken up with the re-elec-tion of Drs. Harrell and Whitehead, who 16 BULLETIN OF THE XORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. had no oppositiou, the annual report of the Secretary, and with a general discussion of the relationship between malaria and drink-ing water. A paper on this subject was prepared for the session by Dr. West, of Weldon, but owing to a misunderstanding was not read. It will, however, appear in the Transactions. Heretofore when the President of the Society has announced "the hour for the conjoint session has arrived" there has promptly occurred a large and disheartening exodus of members; but on this occasion, while not a great many were in the hall, practically none left. We are encouraged to believe from this and other signs that in-terest in sanitary matters is on the increase in the profession. We know it is among the people. We trust that it may continue to grow until it pervades the entire body politic. Oiiukiiig^ Watei- aii«! Malaria Onco More. We have just received from Dr. R. A. Whitaker, Superintendent of Health of Jones county, a letter which he wrote nearly a year ago in reply to our circular-letter ask-ing for testimony on the relation between drinking water and malarial diseases, but accidentally overlooked and did not send. We regret very much that we did not get it in time to incorporate it in the first edition of our pamphlet on that subject. It will, however, appear in the second edition, which is about to go to press. It is so striking and so convincing that we feel that no apology for its publication in the Bulletin is needed. DR. WHITAKER'S letter. Trenton, N. C, June 22, 1S94. Richard H. Lewis, M. D., Raleigh, N. C. Dear Doctor:—Some weeks ago a let-ter was received from you asking me for facts, or my ideas or experience in regard to malaria in connection with drinking water. In the outset I will say: Four years ago my faith in the old theory of breathing malaria into the system wa? terribly shaken and subsequent experience has taught me that not through the atmosphere alone are germs taken into the human economy, but through other channels do they enter our systems and do their deadly work. To fully appreciate what I shall say in this connec-tion it will be ne^l-ssary for me to jive you an idea of thi location of or village. Trenton is situat--^^on the south bank of Trent River, w^ • '. stream, in its general course, runs from \'.-est to east. Just south of the village is Croaked Run, which flows into the river a half mile helow the town and is parallel with the river for a mile above. On this latter stream is situalett-a-mill far enough down to throw the pond, which is a large one, covering over two hundred acres of laud, directly south of us. So you see oiir village is surrounded on all sides with water except to the west, and at this point the pond and river approach within three hundred yards of each other. This peninsula or narrow neck of land oti which our village is located is a ridge, anc our water is as good, if not better, than most of the water in this eastern section. When the river and pond are low the drain-age of our town is almost perfect and n( surface water ever contaminates our wells. All of our wells are from 18 to 30 feet deep, and the water in them is cool and good witl one exception. In midsummer if a ther-mometer is placed in the water when first drawn it will drop to 60°, and in some of the wells the water is cooler than this tem-perature. I said with one exception all of our water was good. This exception is a well which is on the public street at the foot of a hill leading to a bridge across the river. The water in this well is cool, but surface water enters it, especially during rainy spells. In this neighborhood per- EULLETIX OF THE NORTH rAllOIASA BOARD OF HEALTH. 17 sous usiug water from this well have chills more or less every year and at all sea-sons of the year. With this exception the rest of the citizens of this village are ex-empt from malarial troubles, unless during a prolonged rainy season when the other wells are to a certain extent contaminated with surface water, or they contract malaria while hunting or fishing by drinking spring, branch or river water. So uiuch for the sit-uation of our village and our water. Now for the theory of breathing in malarial poison and why my faith in said theory has been almost destroyed. Four years ago last March this mill '-hich has been men-tioned was washed out, the water ran out of the pond, leaving stagnant pools all over it, and the stench from the exposed mud and decayed vegetation was awful. To make matters worse the south winds (for the pond is directly south of us and some of the peo-ple live right ou the edge of the pond) brought this foul -odor into our village, and some nights when the winds were from the south the stench was hardly bearable. The pond remaiued in this condition all summer till fall, when the mill was replaced and the water again covered this foul mud and de-caying vegetable matter—a hot-bed for ma-laria, so to speak. Realizing the situation, I predicted that everybod}• would be sick, and I thought I could prophes}- with abso-lute certainty in this instance, but strange to saj^ we had no more chills than usual; in fact, we were almost exempt from malarial troubles. This set me to thinking and gave the theories laid down in our text-books as to how the malarial poison is contracted a terrible shaking. Last August all the water was allowed to run out of this pond in or-der that some repairs might be made to the dam. Again through the latter part of August and the month of September we had the same conditions as described above, only intensified, for in the former instance the pond was emptied early in the spring and to a great extent had dried before the hot weather had set in, but in this case it happened in the midst of the hottest season and during the mouths we have the greatest amount of malarial troubles. Our people were indignant at the owner of this prop-erty for doing as he did, but if it increased sickness at all I was never able to detect it. The truth of the matter is we had fewer cases of malaria than usual. This spring we have suffered from a prolonged and severe drought, and this same pond is now almost drj' with the exception of the pools of stagnant water and the main channel of the stream that supplies water to the pond, yet we have been entirely free from sickness of a malarial nature except in the locality of the well referred to above and these cases were earl}- in the spring before drought set in. Sincereceivingj'our letter I have made it a point to fish in this pond during all hours of the day (and the stench from the mud and decaying vegetation was very of-fensive) to see if breathing in these noxious vapors would produce malaria in mj^ sj's-tem. No trouble at all was experienced from thus exposing mj'self. Others who exposed themselves as much if not more than I did, and refrained from drinking the branch and spring water along the streams also escaped malaria; but in nearly every instance where thej^ drank from the creek and springs along this creek that supplied the pond they had malaria in some form. I will give you one more striking instance where the water vsas the prime cause of ma-larial troubles. Two miles below this place on the river is a large saw-mill. One of the hands who acted as watchman was required to be ou the grounds all the time, and a house was built for his famil}' near the mill. This family and the bauds of the mill used water from a spring that came from the earth in a low, marshy place. A curb was sunk in the mud around this spring, which held about two barrels of water all the time, and an overflow of the curb was the oulj-way for the water to escape. As long as 18 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. this water was used b}- this niau's family aud the rest of the hands at the mill some of them were down with malarial fever all the time. I ])ointed out the trouble to them aud had them to use water from another spring that flowed from a high embankment or hill, and said spring had no basin to it, but the water was taken into the vessels as it flowed out of the hill. The result was the malarial troubles were greatlj- dimin-ished and my visits to these people were cut down over half. In conclusion, I will say there is no doubt in my mind that drinking water pla3-s an important part in causing malarial troubles, and that if we can get in this eastern sec-tion good, ]Dure water, free from surface water, we will have little to fear from ma-laria. I am, very truU- yours, R. A. WhiT.\KER, M. D. Sniiimai'.y of itf ports t'roiii C'<»iiiit.y Sii-l> eriii<oii<)<>3itK at' Hcaltii for April, lS<>o. (eigiity-nixe counties reporting). lu the blanks on which these reports are made the following- items are called for: 1. The number of cases of small-pox, measles, whooping-cough, scarlatina, diphtheria, typhoid fever, pernicious malarial fever, hemorrhagic ma-larial fever, yellow fever and cholera which have occurred in the county during the past month. 2. The diseases which have been prevalent in the county and in what parts. 3. Epidemics among domestic animals. 4. Remarks as to special unsanitary conditions in the county. In few counties do ph3sicians generally report these details to the Superintendent, though fur-nished with blanks for that purpose, aud in most cases he has to depend upon himself alone in making his report. Details as to the jails, houses of correction and county homes are al.so given iu these reports and will be found tabulated on other pages. Ai,.\M.\NCE—Dr. R. A. Freeman, Bur-lington. Two cases of diphtheria. The sauitary condition of towns not ver3- good. Alexander—Dr. R. B. Killian, Taylors-ville. Ver}' little sickness. Alleghany—Dr. C. G. Fowlkes, Topia. Two cases of typhoid fever. Mild catarrh and rheumatism in main- parts. An epi-demic of chicken cholera. The court-house is just ready to fall down. Anson—Dr. E. vS. Ashe, Wadesboro. No report. Ashe—Dr. L. C. Gentry, Jefferson One case of typhoid fever. Some influenza. Beaufort—Dr. Johu C. Rodman, Wash-ington. Diarrhceal diseases in certaiu parts. There has been some draining in town and more is needed. Bertie—Dr. H. V. Dunstan, Windsor. Chills and fevers and bronchial troubles iu some parts. An epidemic of hog cholera. Bladen—Dr. Newton Robinson, Eliza-bethtown. No diseases to report. Brunswick—Dr. D. I. Watson, South-port. No diseases to report. Buncombe—Dr. H. L. Baird, Asheville. Pneumonia aud influenza to a slight extent. Burke—Dr. J. L. Laxton, Morgauton. Ver}- little sickness. The county home is neat and clean and well kept. There has been ver\- little sickness among its inmates for several years. Cabarrus—Dr. Leona M. Archey, Con-cord. Mild malarial and catarrhal fevers in many parts. An epidemic of pneumonia in horses. Caldwell—Dr. A. A. Kent, Lenoir. No sickness except a few cases of tonsillitis, bronchitis and pneumonia and one of roseola. The grand jury at the recent term of court made a very adverse report as to the capacity aud faulty construction of the jail, but as yet there is no move to build a uew one. Camden—No Board of Health. Carteret—Dr. Geo. N. Ennett, Beau-fort. La grippe and pneumonia iu some parts. Owing to recent unprecedentedlj-heavy rain-fall the general sanitar}- condi-tion of the county is bad; especially so in the town of Beaufort, for want of proper sewerage. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 19 Caswell—Dr. \V. O. Speucer, Yaiicey-ville. One case of scarlatina of very mild type. Indefinite reports of more in the south-western part. Proper precautions against spreading used iu the case men-tioned. Cat.wvba—Dr. J. M. McCorkle, Newtou. No diseases reported. Chatham—Dr. L. A. Hanks, Pittsboro. One case of typhoid fever. Bronchial af-fections in many parts. Cherokee—Dr. J. F. Abemathy, Mur-ph}'. Health of people verj' good. There is la grippe or something allied to it. Chowan—Dr. R. H. Winborne, Rocka-hock. Bronchitis and mumps in some parts. A slight epidemic of hog cholera. Some cases of rabies in dogs. Clay—Dr. W. E. Sanderson, Hayesville. No diseases to report. Cleveland—Dr. O. P. Gardner, Shelby. Whooping-cough iu the southern part. The sewerage of the jail has been greatly im-proved. Columbus—Dr. I. Jackson, Whiteville. Three cases of t3-phoid fever. Hog cholera iu some localities, but not as much as usual. Craven—Dr. Leinster Duffy, Newbern. Influenza in mild form, whooping-cough and pneumouia. One case of diphtheria. Cumberland—Dr. J. H. Marsh, Fayette-ville. La grippe in man}' parts. Currituck—No Board of Health. Dare—Dr. W. H. Peterson, Manteo. Two cases of typhoid fever. The sanitary condition of the county is not good on ac-count of fish offal being e.xtensiveh' used as a fertilizer and polluting the driiiking water. No interest is manifested by the county officials in the sanitary condition of the public buildings. Davidson—Dr. R. D- Payne, Lexington. Whooping-cough in the northern and western parts. Certain parts of tlie county are badly in need of drainage. Davie—Dr. James McGuire, Alocksville. One case of scarlatina reported. Whoop-ing- cough has prevailed generalh'. Duplin—Dr. W. P. Kennedy, Warsaw. La grippe and pneuuionia in several parts. Heavy rains and poor draiuage have ren-dered many parts unsanitary and the water bad for drinking purposes. Durham—Dr. J. M. Manning, Durham. No diseases to report. I have never seen so little sickness in the town and hear of none iu the county. Edgecombe—Dr. Donald Williams, Tar-boro. One case of diphtheria. Influenza and tonsillitis in all parts. Forsyth—Dr. D. N. Dalton, Winston. The least sickness ever known. Franklin—^Dr. E. S. Foster, Louisburg. No diseases of any importance. The jail is not sufficiently ventilated. I am at work on the Commissioners now for the neces-sary additions. Gaston—Dr. J. H. Jetikins, Dallas. Whooping-cough still prevails. A few cases of dysentery and cholera infantum. Sev-eral cases of sporadic croup in children. Gates—Dr. I. W. Costen, Gatesville. One case of typhoid fever. Graham—No Board of Health. Granville—Dr. Wm. O. Baskerville, Oxford. Some erysipelas and pneumonia. Greene—Dr. E. H. Sugg, Snow Hill. Malarial fever and a few cases of scarlatina and roseola. Guilford—Dr. A. R. Wilson, Greens-boro. Catarrhal diseases. The jail is filthy. It needs a water suppl}' and sewerage. Halifax—Dr. I. E. Green, Weldon. But little sickness in any portion of count}'. Cholera among hogs and chickens in some sections. Harnett—Dr. J. F. McKay, Dickinson. Pneumouia and catarrhal troubles in some parts. Haywood—Dr. J. Howell Way, Wiiynes-ville. Very little sickness in town or county. Henderson—Dr. J. L. Egertcn, Ilen-dersonville. No di.seases to report. 20 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Hertford—Dr. John W. Tayloe, Union. Some Indrophobia iu dogs. County unu-sually healthy; some few cases of chills. Hyde—No Board of Health. Iredell—Dr. W. J. Hill, Statesville. Two cases of scarlatina. An epidemic of chicken cholera. A great work has been done on Fourth Creek bottoms between the Mocksville and Jonesville roads through the untiring efforts of Mr. Jackson Sulli-van, the chairman of the creek commis-sion. The creek has been relieved of logs and the channel straightened until the lands oil either side which were covered with frog, turtle and malaria bog ponds are now dry enough to cultivate. I must iu this way congratulate him and his colleagues upon this grand piece of work, and I hope that others will soon follow the example of this good old man. A little more effort of this kind will bring into view some of the finest land in the vState and make our people among the healthiest. Jackson—Dr. \V. F. Tompkins, Webster. No diseases to report. A force pump has just been put up aud water is now forced into the jail for lavatory and other pur-poses. Johnston—Dr. R. J. Noble, Selma. A few cases of cholera in bogs. Jones—Dr. R. A. Whitaker, Trenton. Four cases of whooping-cough. Mild inter-mittent fever. The Commissioners have ordered a new roof for the jail. Lenoir—Dr. C. B. Woodley, Kinston. Measles aud mumps to a great extent. Lincoln—Dr. W. L. Crouse, Lincoluton. . Ten cases of whoop-ug-cough. Some bron-chial and pneumonic troubles iu all parts. An epidemic of distemper in horses. Macox—Dr. S. H. Lyle, Franklin. Four cases of diphtheria. Madison—Dr. James K. Hardwicke, Mar-shall. Two hundred cases of measles. The roof of the jail has been repaired. The County Commissioners were not to blame for the late disgraceful overcrowding, and will see that it does not occur again. Martin—Dr. W. H. Harrell, Williams-ton. Mild catarrhal affections of the re-spiratory tract in all parts. Scattered cases of hog cholera. Heavy rains and overflow from the river have made the well water bad. The jail is not properlj- ventilated. McDowell—Dr. B. A. Cheek, Marion. Catarrhal troubles. Mecklenburg—Dr. H. M. Wilder, Char-lotte. Whooping-cough, lo; scarlatina, 3; diphtheria, i; typhoid fever, i. Catarrhal affections in all parts. Complaint is fre-quent from the Long Creek section, many people having chills, caused, it is supposed, by the choking of the channel and over-flow of the water on the lowlands. The sanitary condition of one of the count}' convict camps is excellent, the other fair onl_\'. Mitchell—Dr. C. E. Smith, Bakersville. Three cases of typhoid fever and a few of pneumonia. La grippe iu some parts. INIONTGOMERY—Dr. W. A. Simmous, Troy. Very healthy. Some bronchitis. Moore—Dr. Gilbert McLeod, Carthage. Some influenza and bronchial troubles dur-ing the first half of April. Nash—Dr. J. J. Maun, Nashville. Very little sickness. New Hanover—Dr. R. D. Jewett, Wil-mington. One case of typhoid fever, three of German measles, some varicella and a good deal of pneumonia. The jail is crowded to an unreasonable extent, due partly to the large number of United States prisoners and parti}- to the less frequent holding of the Criminal Court under the new law. I look for much trouble during the hot summer months. Northampton—Dr. H. W. Lewis, Jack-son. Two cases of hemorrhagic malarial fever. Influenza and malarial fever in all sections. I am urging, and with some effect, the sinking of driven wells; many are put-ting them down. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 21 OxsLOW—Dr. E. L. Cox, Jacksouville. No diseases reported. The county home needs better drainage. Orange—Dr. C. D. Jones, Hillsboro. A few cases of catarrhal fever and la grippe, five of pneumonia and some diarrhoea and malarial troubles. Pamlico—No Board of Health. Pasquotank—Dr. W. \V. Griggs, Eliza-beth City. A few cases of pneumonia. Pender—Dr. George F. Lucas, Currie. Some dysentery and malarial fever in mild form. There is no cleaner or better venti-lated jail in the State. Perquimans—Dr. John F. Speight, Hertford. La grippe and pneumonia. Person—Dr. C. G. Nichols, Roxboro. No sickness. Pitt—Dr. W. H. Bagwell, Greenville. IMan}- cases of whooping-cough, four of scarlatina and two of hemorrhagic malarial fever. Catarrhal troubles and some mala-rial fever. Hog cholera in some localities. Polk—Dr. O. S. Missildine, Tryou. No disease in any part. Randolph—Dr. J. M. Boyette, Ash-boro. One case of typhoid fever. Diar-rhcea, bronchitis, la grippe and some pneu-monia. Richmond—Dr. J. M. Covington, Rock-ingham. Bronchial affections, influenza, pneumonia and rheumatism. Robeson—Dr. T. A. Normeut, Jr., Lum-berton. No diseases reported. Rockingham—Dr. D. W. Courts, Reids-ville. Mild cases of measles. Remittent fever in Reidsville. Rowan—Dr. John Whitehead, Salisbury. Pneumonia, broirchitis and malarial affec-tions. Rutherford—^Dr. W. A. Thompson, Rutherfordton. Little sickness. A few cases of catarrhal nature. The public build-ings are neat and clean as they usualh- are just before and after court. S.-VMPSON—Dr. John A. Stevens, Clinton. Health fairlv good. Some hog cholera. vStanly—Dr. D. P. Whitley, Millingport. Ver}' little sickness. Will soon build a new jail. Stokes—Dr. W. L. McCanless, Danbury. Whooping-cough in all parts. Surry—Dr. J. B. Hollingsworth, :\It. Air}-. No sickness. vSwain—Dr. R. L. Davis, Bryson City. No sickness of any consequence. Transylvania—Dr. C. W. Hunt, Bre-vard. Three cases of pneumonia, one of phlegmonous erysipelas and some catarrhal affections. Tyrrell—Dr. Ab. Alexander, Columbia. Six cases of typhoid fever in Gum Neck township. Union—Dr. J. E. Ashcraft, Monroe. Two cases of whooping-cough, five of typhoid fever, a few mumps and grip. V.\NCE—Dr. W. T. Cheatham, Hender-son. La grippe in all parts. Sanitarj- con-dition of the county has not been good owing to the immense rain-fall. Wake—Dr. P. E. Hiues, Raleigh. One case of measles and six of whooping-cough. Bronchitis, pneumonia, rheumatism, la grippe and intermittent fever reported from all parts. Some chicken cholera. Dr. G. L. Kirby reports intermittent fever preva-lent in the Insane Asylum "caused bj' the water-works pond." The temporary work-house quarters are a little crowded and there is not sufficient light, except on very fair, clear dajs. Fifty circulars and blanks for reports sent to pln'sicians with six responses as the result. W.arren— Dr. P. J. Macon, Warrentou. Bronchial affections and la grippe in all parts. W.\SHiNGTON—No Board of Health. Watauga— Dr. W. B. Counciil, Boone. No sickness of any note. W.\YNE—Dr. W. J. Jones, Jr., Goldsboro. Jilalarial fever and catarrhal troubles in all parts. Wilkes—Dr. J. W. White, Wilkesboro. Influenza in some parts. 22 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Wilson—Dr. Albert Anderson, Wilson. Two cases of t3'phoid fever and one each of pernicious and of hemorrhagic malarial fever. Y.^DKIN—Dr. T. R. Harding, Yadkin-ville. Nothing of note except a few mild cases of whooping-cough. Yaxcey—Dr. J. L. Ray, Burnsville. Catarrhal fever with a typhoid teudenc}- in some parts, also measles and mumps. The county home is not kept as well as it should be. The jail is in better condition than usual, but not clean enough vet. Review of Diseases* for .Ipi-ii. JS9.>. Bowel Diseases—From Beaufort, Or-ange and Randolph. Bronxhitis— From Bertie, Calduell, Chatham, Chowan, Lincoln, INIartin, Mont-gomer)-, INIoore, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Transylvania, Wake, Warren and Wayne—15 counties. Choler.\ Ixfaxtum—From Gaston. Cholera, in Chickexs—From Alle-ghany, Halifax and Iredell. Choler.\, in Hogs—From Bertie, Cho-wan, Columbus, Halifax, Johnston, Martin and Pitt—7 counties. Croup—From Gaston. Diphtheria—From Alamance, Craven, Edgecombe and Mecklenburg. Distemper, in Horses—From Lincoln. Dysentery—From Gaston and Pender. ErysipEL.^S—From Granville and Tran-sylvania. INFLUENZ.\ — From Ashe, Buncombe, Carteret, Cherokee, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Mitchell, Moore, Northampton, Orange, Perquimans, Ran-dolph, Richmond, Union, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wilkes—20 counties. Malarial Fever—From Bertie, Cabar-rus, Greene, Jones, Northampton, Orange, Pender, Rockingham, Rowan, Wake and Wayne—11 counties. MAL.A.RIAL Fever, Hemorrhagic— From Northampton, Pitt and Wilson. :Malarial Fever, Pernicious—From Wilson. Measles—From Lenoir, Madison, Rock-ingham and Wake. Mumps—From Chowan, Lenoir and Yancey. Pneumoni,\—From Buncombe, Cald-well, Craven, Duplin, Granville, Lincoln, ^litchell. New Hanover, Orange, Pasquo-tank, Perquimans, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Transylvania and Wake—16 coun-ties. Pneumoni.\, in Horses—From Ca-barrus. R.\BIES, IN Dogs—From Chowan and Hertford. Rheu:vi.-^TISm—From Alleghany and Wake. RoTHELN—From New Hanover. Sc.arl.\tin.a—From Caswell, Davie, Greene, Iredell, Mecklenburg and Pitt— 6 counties. Typhoid Fever— From Alleghany, Ashe, Chatham, Columbus, Dare, Gates, Meck-lenburg, ?vlitchell. New Hanover, Randolph, T}-rrell, L'uion and Wilson—13 counties. W h o O P I N G-COUGH—From Cleveland, Craven, Davidson, Davie, Gaston, Jones, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Pitt, Stokes, Union, Wake and Yadkin—13 counties. Suiiiniarv of Mortuary Reports for .Iprii. 1S95. (twenty-nine towns). IVIiite. CoVd. Total. .Agg^regate population S6,Soo 61,054 147.854 .Aggregate deaths S5 94 179 Representing annual death-rate per 1,000 II. 7 iS 3 14.5 Causes of death. Typhoid Fever 112 ?ilalarial Fever 303 Whooping-cough 202 ^Measles... i o i Pneumonia... •... 11 14 25 Consumption 9 15 24 Brain diseases 909 Heart diseases 10 10 20 Neurotic diseases 325 Diarrhoeal diseases 202 All other diseases 2S 47 75 Accident. 3 4 7 Suicide 303 Violence o i_ i S5 94 179 Deaths under 5 years 16 19 35 Still-born '. 5 11 16 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Condition of JailH and €onnty Homes by Counties for April, 1895. 2.} 24 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH C^AROLIXA BOARD OF HEALTH. CoiKlition of itiila autl County Homes by €oii»ties.- BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 25 €oii(li(ioii of Jails aiirt Comity Homes by Counties.—Continued. COUNTIES. JAIL. © > o c .^ 9 = o £ it"- o Pasquotank ... Pender Perquiman.=.. Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham, Rowan Rutherford ... Sampson Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Tran.sylvania, Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey good excellent good very liad very good poorj excellent fair good good good good well kept good good good good good good good good very goodf very good 1 2 9 9 12 18 9 10 14 15 8 1 8 5 (I 1 1 10 8 88 (a) very good good fair good good 2 15 (6) 7 12 7 7 800 750 1000 500 700 COO 770 HOME. O good good good good very good good excellent fair good good fair good well kept good good good good good I good good very good very good 24 5 7 13 28 4 29 21 16 42 23 18 17 9 11 18 4 4 27 12 Go 17 very good good fair good good t C !t C — c3 Sr3 a) > o — 1000 1000 500-700 5004- 700 7O0 700 * Space exceeds l,oi«t Superintendents in this i« tion. cubic feet. jSee Bulletin for April, 189.5. t See Summary of Report.s of County sue. (a) Includes 75 in Hoii.-e of Correction, (h) Includes 4 in House of Corree- 26 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLLN'A BOARD OF HEALTH. Slortiiary Report for April, 1S95. Towns AND Reporters. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH, 27 Meteorological Siiinniary for North Carolina, April, 1S93. Furaished by the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station and State Weather Service. H. B. Battle, Ph. D., Director. C. F. vox Herrmax.n, Bleteorologist. ^ Hon K P Battle /k BULLETIN OF THE L Published MontMy at the U(n<-e of the ^Secretary of the Board, at Raleigh, N. C. SUBSCRIPTION, 25 CENTS A YEAR. Geo. G. Thomas, M. D., Pre.s., Wilmington. S. Westkay Battle, M. D., Asheville. W. H. Hakkell, M. D., Williamston. John Whitehead, M. D., Salisbury. W. P. Bball, M. D., Greensboro." W. J. LuMSDEX, M. D., Elizabeth C-ity. PuoF. F. P. Venabi.e, Chapel Hill. J. C. Chase, Civ. Es«., Wilmington. KicHAKD H. Lewis, M. D., Secretarij anchTreafiurer, Raleigh. YOL. X. JUNE, 1895. X> Hygiene and the Profession, In his admirable address at the recent meeting of the State Medical Society, President Tucker paid special attention to pi-eventive medicine. Indeed, it was the principal theme of his discourse. We were much pleased with his treat-ment of the subject, but more gratified at the fact of his recognizing its 'impor-tance and magnifying it. It portends the dawn of a brighter day, we hope and believe. When the medical pro-fession, generally, becomes sincerely interested, and takes an active part in the propagation of the gospel of health the conversion of the people is assured. We take both pride and pleasure in presenting to our readers the portion of the address referred to, as follows j * * * lij (jesire to ask your atten-tion, briefly, to a consideration of some of the obligations resting upon our profession, and especially upon this Society, in the line of the prevention of diseases. I ti-ust no apology Avill be deemed necessary by this body of pro-gressive physicians for suggesting methods by which their work may be diminished rather than increased. In-dustrial corps, labor unions, farmers' alliances and other like organizations view with grave suspicion the action of a member who would by any method hinder or lessen the lousiness activities of their orders, but modern medicine under the new era, the medicine in whose service we are enlisted and at whose shrine we bow, speaks in no uncertain tone when the physician is sent forth to prevent disease, lessen sickness and prolong human life, and no priesthood proclaims a purer gospel than the simple and unselfish creed of him who wards off and prevents the disease for the cure of which he would receive fame, fortune and .power. The late Professor Flint, the great teacher, the profound author and America's greatest physician of his day, in a posthumous address prepared for the British American Association of I88(i, says : "The medical profession shall have reached an high ideal posi- BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. tion when the physician, guided by his knowledge of diagnosis, the natural history of diseases and existing thera-peutic resources may, with neither self-distrust nor the distrust of others, treat an acute disease by hygienic measures without potent medication. When this time comes a system of practice which assumes to substitute medical dynamics for the Vix Medicatrix Naturce will have been added to the list of by gone medical delusions." Again, about the same time, the late Professor Samuel D. Gross, America's great surgeon, and the peer of any sur-geon in the world, in his last public ad-dress, spoken at the dedication of the McDowell monument, says: "The great question of the day is not this opera-tion or that, not ovariotomy, or lithot-omy, or an hip-joint amputation, which has reflected so much glory on American medicine, but preventive medicine—the hygiene of our persons, our dwellings, our streets, in a word, our surroundings, whatev^er and wher-ever they may be, whether in city, town, hamlet or country. "This is the great problem of the day, the question which you, as the rising generation of physicians, should urge in season and out of season upon the attention of your fellow citizens, the question which, above and beyond all others, should engage your most serious thought and elicit your most earnest co-operation.'" In full touch with these sentiments, which have come to us as a blessed heritage from men who have brought renown upon modern medicine—one representing the medical and the other the surgical thought of the day, and both crystallizing their views in an appeal for hygienic and sanitary reform and a more rigid observance of all that may be embraced in the generic term of preventive medicine, it is not sur-prising that this Society, under the leadership of the late Dr. Thomas F. Wood and a few faithful coadjutors, should have organized a Board of Health and sent it upon the mission of preventing disease, collecting vital statistics and teaching the people the benefits and blessings which come from a wise observance of sanitary rules and regulations. It would be interesting to study the history of this Board, its struggle for existence, difficulties of securing public confidence, and still greater difficulty in disseminating sanitary teachings among the people, and that, too, under the most brilliant leadership which any service could possibly command; suffice it to say it has grown from a mere coui-mittee of this Society into an active, useful and indispensable part of our State governmental system, and is to-day, in its work of preventing dis-ease, lessening sickness and prolonging human life, accomplishing a service which entitles it to the admiration of this Society and the confidence and support of the people of the State. This Board comes to us in conjoint ses-sion for conference, for encouragement and support, and the question which naturally arises is, Are we giving it the support which its relation towards us and the important interest it has in hand demands, and if not, why not ? Let us for a moment consider the question of vaccination. For many years past the worthy Secretary of the Board of Health has reported to this Society an. increased indifference on the part of the profession and the peo-ple to this great preventive measure, and in a recent session he announces from the floor of this Society that, in his belief, nothing short of a visita-tion of an epidemic of this dread dis- BULLETIX OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 31 ease, small-pox, in our borders will arouse the people to the sense of their dang-er and impress upon them the necessity for vaccination. We have no statistical data upon which to base an opinion, but a conservative estimate would leave more than one-half of our people, ages and classes considered, without the benefit of this great pro-phylaxis, and when we consider the increasing number of epidemics of small-pox occurring in the more popu-lous eastern States, the increased facil-ities for travel and the changed habits of our people with regard to travel, many thousands going and returning from the great centres of population, thereby subjecting themselves to the danger of contracting a disease which, once set on foot in our State, will grow into a conflagration more appalling, if possible, and more dilBcult of suppres-sion than a prairie fire in mid-summer, we may well counsel together about matters of prevention. This body is too technical for any exhaustive arguments in defence of the utility of vaccination, but in view of the existing apathy and the urgent necessities of the situation, I trust you will excuse some references along these lines. Medical and sanitary scientists teach to-day that small-pox is abso-lutely within the power of man to re-press, and that a death from this dis-ease shows criminal carelessness and should be charged neither to the igno-rance of man nor the providence of God. Standard medical authorities and current medical literature teem with indisputable proof that when compul-sory vaccination is enforced, small-pox enjoys no lease of life, and is scarcely known in mortality reckonings. In epidemics of small-pox it is a well-ascer-tained fact that the mortalitv in non-vaccinal cases is from 40 to 51 per cent., Avhereas in post-vaccinal cases it is only about 4 per cent., and yet, in spite of these convincing proofs, the anti-vaccinists, whose opposition is founded on ignorance and prejudice and whose arguments are supported by factitious statistics and misleading statements, flaunting their unallowed colors in the very face of our profession, assert that we suppress the truth as regards the frightful mortality and enormous sick-ness which attends vaccination, its complications and sequelae. It is amaz-ing that in this intelligent age there should be people in North Carolina who are imbued with these sentiments I Physicians everywhere, of large ex-perience, have seen vaccinal complica-tions, but very few have seen death or permanent injury result from them, and none have ever seen "frightful mortality*' and enormous sickness re-sult. Dr. Quine, in a recent address before the Medical Society of Illinois on this subject, shows that in the city of Chi-cago there were one million of vaccina-tions with only two deaths which could possibly be ascribed to the complica-tions of vaccination, furnishing a mor-tality too trifling to give the opposition any standing in a court of jjhysicians. Again, the Germans to whom our pro-fession is so largely indebted for having directed our study of infectious and contagious diseases along rational lines, in an ofiBcial report to the German gov-ernment, in 1890, report 2,485,483 vacci-nations without a single death. But I will not tire you further with exposition along this line. The con-sensus of medical and sanitary opinion, in which this Society will heartily join, is that vaccination and re-vaccination affords absolute protection against suiall-pox, and when properly done. 32 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. with pure vaccine lymph, there is posi-tively no danger of death, serious sick-ness nor hurtful consequence from the operation, its complications or sequela*. In the sparsely populated condition of our State it would be impracticable to enforce compulsory vaccination, the law would be cumbrous, expensive and difficult of execution; but we can and should secure tlie enactment of a law making it compulsory in our public schools ; indeed, we might go a step farther, and make a certificate of vacci-nation a prerequisite to entrance in any school whose doors are opened for public patronage, and we as physicians who are charged with the sacred duty of maintaining tlie health and pro-moting the well-being of the people, should resort more frequently to vacci-nation in our own private practice, remembering that the best "starting point" is at the physician's own house-hold ; through these combined agen-cies, in a few years, we may hope to have the larger portion of our people brought under the influence of this great prophylactic measure, and thus aid our Board in the accomplishment of a work which has occasioned so much anxiety. The subject of tuberculosis is to-day one of the gravest with which the phy-sician and sanitarian has to deal, and the necessity of lowering its frightful mortality by methods of prevention was never more keenly felt by our pro-fession— a disease which, we are told, is responsible for one-seventh of the deaths from all causes in the world, furnishing an annual mortality greater than from all theiinfectious and conta-gious diseases combined, not excepting yellow fever and cholera, and rapidly increasing in our own State, especially among the working classes, will natur-ally engage your most serious consider-ation and elicit your most earnest efforts in the line of its prevention. Since the publication of Dr. Robert Koch's classical paper, in 1882, an-nouncing the discovery of the tubercle bacillus and demonstrating its generic relation to disease, there has existed but little doubt in the minds of sanitary scientists that this disease should be properly grouped with the infectious and contagious class and brought un-der the surveillance of our health au-thorities, in order that aggressive meas-ures may be instituted for its restric-tion. In a recent publication one of the most distinguished of our American sanitarians briefly summarizes his views as follows : 1. Tuberculosis is a communicable disease and is distinctly preventible. 2. It is acquired by direct transmis-sion of the tubercle bacillus from the sick to the well, usually by means of the dried and pulverized sputum floating as dust in the air. 3. It can be largely prevented by simple and easily applied means of cleanliness and disinfection. It is upon these propositions that the sanitary and health authorities of the country invoke the aid of our profes-sion in devising means and instituting measures for restricting and lessening the frightful ravages of tuberculosis, and the mandates of professional honor and duty alike suggest a ready and willing response to the appeal. The remedy is largely educational— the i)eople must be taught, by publi-cation, by lectures, by conference, pub-lic and private, in season and out of season, the .true character of the dis-ease, the danger of contagion, the source of infection, the method of dis-infection, and, above all, the urgent need for rigid hygienic and sanitary treatment, personal and domiciliary, BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 33 and in no way can this work be made more effective than through the medi-um of the faithful and conscientious family phj'sician. These questions are worthy of your most serious consideration, for they involve grave responsibilities and are important enough to command the best executive ability and the pro-foundest medical and sanitary knowl-edge. The methods instituted by our health authorities and now generally prac-ticed in our villages and towns for the restriction of scarlet fever and diph-theria, namely, notification, isolation and disinfection, together with more intelligent, persistent and systematic efforts at disinfection in typhoid fever and other zymotic diseases, have been the means of preventing an enormous amount of sickness and suffering, and doubtless of saving innumerable lives. The more intelligent of our i^eople everywhere are beginning to realize the value of this service, and the time seems most auspicious for carrying for-ward our standards, and by public addresses, lectures, sanitary confer-ences and other agencies to create in the public mind a sentiment commen-surate with the great interests in-volved— at least, as educated and pro-gressive iihysicians, let us demonstrate to the people the necessity for, and the value of, public hygiene and sanitation, and that as a science it is something more than a mere "jumble of unproved" hypotheses. Lord Derby, years ago, declared that "no sanitary improve-ment worth the name will be effective, whatever acts you pass or whatever poAvers you confer on public officers, imless you create an intelligent inter-est in the matter among the people at large ;" and this eminent authority fur-ther says : "With a low average of pub-lic healtli, you will have a low average of public morality and probably also of public (or national) intellect." The physical, moral, intellectual and mate-rial well-being of all classes of our peo-ple will be promoted by an enlightened administration of public hygiene, and in no other direction will an expendi-ture of labor, time and money give returns so immediate and of such im-measurable value. If Ave were to apply the money test as to the value of each citizen who dies from a preventible disease, as sug-gested by Dr. Farr and corroborated by other sanitarians, it would consti-tute a sum so large that capitalists would be startled. It is enough to say that the amount saved to the state, as thus demonstrated, would be so enor-mous that the most visionary dreams of speculation can offer nothing so alluring : but this side of the question belongs to the political economist, and not to the physician. We promise as the result of our labors, diminished sickness, improved health, increased longevity and the resultant blessings of happy and cheer-ful homes for the people of our State. Statisticians tell us that the duration of human life has been advanced from twenty-eight and below to fortj'-one years under the ordinary workings of sanitary laws, and under more enlight-ened measures, that if mortality can be reduced to fifteen per thousand and maintained at that point, the rate will be advanced to fifty-four years ; and if we can reach eight per thousand, as suggested by the distinguished Dr. Richardson in his beautiful picture of the ideal city of Hygeia, with her broad streets, lovely courts and fault-less di-ains, her extended jiarks, silvery lakes and pure water, with a popula-tion "moral, cultured and intelligent," 34 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF AEALTH. we will carry the rate up towards ninety. Hygeia is a city of the Mil-lenium and these hopes are purely ideal and not within the range of pres-ent possibilities, but they are none the less valuable as pointers to the modern sanitist. Who can be more sensible of the value of sunshine, of fresh air, of pure water, of wholesome food, of effective drainage, of cleanliness and of thorough disinfection than the edu-cated physician, and who can better impart this knowledge to those who anxiously look to him for guidance in matters affecting their health, happi-ness and well-being ? As members of a noble profession, and especially as members of this great and \isef Lil Society, let us carry forward the beneficent Avork ; the soil is fertile and needs but the touch of the master hand to give forth an abundant har-vest of good works." * * * Summary of Reports from County Superinten-dents of Health for May, 1895 (eighty nine counties reporting*. In the blanks on which these reports are made the following items are called for : 1. The number of cases of small pox, measles, whooping-cough, scarlatina, diphtheria, typhoid fever, pernicious malarial fever, homorrhagic malarial fever, yellow fever and cholera which have occurred during the past month. 2. The diseases which have been prevalent in the county and in what parts. 8. Epidemics among domestic ani-mals. 4. Remarks as to special unsanitary conditions in the county. In few counties do physicians gener-ally report these details to the Super-intendent, though furnished with blanks for that purpose, and in most cases he has to depend upon himself alone in making his report. Details as to the jails, houses of cor-rection, and county homes ai'e also given in these reports and will be found tabulated on other pages. Alamance—Dr. R. A. Freeman, Bur-lington. No diseases reported. Alexander—Dr. R. B. Killiam, Tay-lorsville. No sickness of importance. Alleghany — Dr. C. Gr. Fowlkes, Topia. Whooping-cough in the north-western part. One case of typhoid fever. Chicken cholera. There are some efforts at improving the court-house or building a new one. Anson—Dr. E. S. Ashe, Wadesboro. Some malarial fever. A few cases of pneumonia. Hog cholera epidemic in part of the county. Ashe—Dr. L. C. Gentry, Jefferson. No sickness of importance. Beaufort—Dr. John C. Rodman, Washington. Diarrhoeal diseases in the county generally. A good deal of hog cholera. The county needs drainage J in many jjlaces—the town also. 1 Bertie—Dr. H. V. Dunston, Wind-sor. La grippe and fever and ague in some parts. An epidemic of hog chol-era. Bladen Dr. Newton Robinson, Elizabethtown. Very little sickness. Hog cholera. Brunswick —Dr. D. I. Watson, Southport. Some malarial fever. Buncombe—Dr. H. L. Baird, Ashe- i ville. A few mild cases of diarrhoea. 1 Burke—Dr. J. L. Laxton, Morgan-ton. No sickness reported. Cabarrus—Dr. Leona M. Archey, Concord. Grippe, malarial and catar- BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 35 rhal fevers and dysentery in nearly all parts. One case of typhoid fever. Along- certain creeks and on certain streets in town the sanitary condition is not g-ood. Five physicians report. The court-house is not kept as clean as it should be. Caldwell—Dr. A. A. Kent, Lenoir. Three cases of typhoid fever and a few of pneumonia, dysentery and cholera infantum. Some improvement in the ventilation of the jail is being made, but a new jail is the only real remedy in the case. Camden—No Boai-d of Health. Carteret—Dr. Geo. N. Ennett, Beaufort. One case of pernicious ma-larial fever. Some dysentery, malarial and bronchial troubles in all parts. The jail needs better ventilation. The court house is in fairly good condition, though the public square remains yet undrained or not filled in. Caswell—Dr. W. O. Spencer, Yan-ceyville. Little or no sickness of im-portance. Catawba—Dr. J. M. McCorkle, New-ton. No disease reported. Chatham—Dr. L. A. Hanks, Pitts-boro. Influenza in some parts and a few cases of pneumonia. The condition of the public buildings will doubtless compare favorably with any in the State. Cherokee—Dr. J. F. Abernathy, Murphy. No diseases reported. Chowan—Dr. R. H. Winborne, E,ock-ahock. Mumps in the middle part. Some intermittent fever. An epidemic of hog cholera. Clay—Dr. W. E. Sanderson, Hayes-ville. One case of typhoid fever. The jail has been condemned as unsafe and the prisoners moved to Murphy. Its sanitary condition is good. Cleveland — Dr. O. P. Grardner, Shelby. Four cases of typhoid fever. The drainage of towns is not as good as it should be. The physicians of the county met on the first Monday, organ-ized a county medical society and took measures to secure co-operation in san-itary matters. Columbus—Dr. I. Jackson, White-ville. Six cases of typhoid fever. A case of scarlatina heard of. Craven—Dr. Leinster Duffy, New-bern. Bowel troubles quite prevalent. Some malarial fever and whooping-cough. Two cases of scarlatina. Cumberland—Dr. J. H. Marsh, Fay-etteville. A few cases of whooping-cough. Bowel diseases in children. Currituck—No Board of Health. Dare—Dr. W. H. Peterson, Manteo. One case of diphtheria, four of typhoid fever and ten of pernicious malarial fever. Davidson—Dr. R. L. Payne, Lexing-ton. Whooping-cough and measles in scattered portions. Davie—Dr. James McGuire, Mocks-ville. Whooping cough and bronchi-tis. Duplin—Dr. W. P. Kennedy, War-saw. Dysentery in some parts. Too much rain has rendered the drinking water poor. Durham—Dr. Jno. M. Manning, Dur-ham. Dysentery, malarial diseases and a few cases of la grippe. An epi-demic of bronchial disease in horses. The sanitary condition of the neighbor-hood of the Pearl cotton mill is not good. An effort is being made to im-prove it. Two wells which furnish the drinking water have been sampled for analysis. Edgecombe—Dr. Donald Williams, Tarboro. A few cases of tonsillitis and l)ronchitis, some of pneumonia. 36 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA P.oARI) OF HEALTH. Forsyth—Dr. D. N. Dalton, Win-ston. Dysentery, diarrhoea and mala-rial fever in mild form in most parts. Franklin—Dr. E. S. Foster, Louis-burg-. IS^othing of importance. The jail is not sufficiently ventilated. Gaston—Dr. J. H. Jenkins, Dallas. Some malarial fever, dysentery and diarrhwa. Big Long creek is a potent factor of so much malarial fever that drainage has been advised. Two rooms in jail have been overhauled and put in good sanitary condition. GrATES—Dr. I. W. Costen. fTatesville. One case of typhoid fever. Graham—No Board of Health. Granville—Dr. Wm. O. Basker-ville, Oxford. One case of diptheria. Greene—Dr. E. H. Sugg, Snow Hill. Dysentery. I have ordered the jail and county home premises thoroughly limed as a preventative. Guilford—Dr. A. R. Wilson, Greens-boro. No diseases to report. Halifax—Dr. I. E. Green, Weldon. Diari-hcea and dysentery in some parts. Some hog cholera. Harnett—Dr. J. F. McKay, Dickin-son. Dysentery in some parts. Haywood—Dr. J. Howell Way, Waynesville. Scarcely any sickness. Henderson—Dr. J. L. Egerton, Hen-dersonville, No diseases to report. Hertford—Dr. John W. Tayloe, Union. I hear of typhoid fever in one section. Hyde—No Board of Health. Iredell—Dr. W. J. Hill, Statesville. One case of whooping cough and one of scarlatina. Sanitary condition of Fourth creek improved. An effort is being made to improve Third creek bottoms. The jail yard is being im-proved by the County Commissioners. Jackson—Dr. W. F. Tompkins, Wel>- ster. No diseases reported. Johnston—Dr. R. J. Noble, Selma. No diseases reported. Jones—Dr. R. A. Whitaker, Tren-ton. Four cases of measles. Intermit-tent fever in all parts. An epidemic of cholera in hogs. A new roof has been put on the jail. Lenoir—Dr. C. B. Woodley, Kin-ston. Very little acute sickness except intestinal troubles among children. Lincoln—Dr. AV. L. Crouse, Lincoln-ton. Six cases of whooping-cough. Malarial diseases in some parts, along water-courses. McDowell — Dr. B. A. Cheek. Marion. One case of typhoid fever. Mumps on Crooked creek and the river. Only Dr. Geo. P. Reid reported. Macon—Dr. S. H. Lyle, Franklin. One case of diphtheria. Madison—Dr. Jas. K. Hardwicke. Marshall. Three cases of typhoid fever developed in one locality among peo-ple using water from a shallow spring below a hog pen and stable, the germs of the disease having been brought there from another county. Martin—Dr. AV. H. Harrell, William-ston. One case of typhoid fever. Mild bowel troubles. Heavy rains have made drinking Avater bad. Mecklenburg—Dr. H. M. Wilder. Charlotte. Chills and fever in parts of city and county. The two creeks to the east and Avest of Charlotte are in bad sanitary condition, both being-filled with sand and debris, causing the seAvage to OA'erfloAv during freshets and to spead out OA'or the Ioav grounds. This, together with decomposing A-ege-table matter, is a sufficient cause for sickness. An effort is being made to remedA' the trouble, shared in bA' the J lULI.ETIX OF THE NORTH CARf)LIXA BOARD OF HEALTH. Board of County Commissioners and the city authorities. The city sewer sys-tem and the cleaning up of the city are also receiving attention. Mitchell—Dr. C. E. Smith. Bakers-ville. Xo sickness to report. MoxTGOMERY—Dr. W. A. Simmons. Troy. A few eases, perhaps, of pleuro-pneumonia. Moore—Dr. Gilbert McLeod, Car-thage. Verj' little sickness. Nash—Dr. J. J. Mann, Nashville. No disease reported. New Hanoaer—Dr. R. D. Jewett, Wilmington. Three cases of scarlatina and three of typhoid fever, remittent and intermittent fever, bowel troubles, catarrhal fever and pneumonia. Four-teen physicians reported. Northampton-Dr. H. W. Lewis, Jackson. Very little sickness. 0^'SLOW—Dr. E. L. Cox, Jacksonville. No diseases reported. The county home needs better drainage. Oraxge-Dr. C. D. Jones. Hillsboro. Some catarrhal and gastric troubles. Little sickness. Pamlico—No Board of Health. Pasqiotaxk—Dr. "W. W. (xriggs, Elizabeth City. A few cases of inter-mittent fever and diarrhoea in the east-ern part. Pexder—Dr. George F. Lucas, Ciii-- rie. Mild dysentery in some parts. Perquimans—Dr. John F. Speight, Hertford. Dysentery. Person—Dr. C. G. Nichols, Roxboro. Some grip and pneumonia. Pitt—Dr. W. H. Bagwell, Greenville. Some whooping-cough. One case of hemorrhagic malarial fever. Hog chol-era. Polk—Dr. O. S. Missildine, Tryon. has resigned, and Dr. Earl Grady, Tryon, has been elected to fill the unex-pired term as Superintendent of Health. No diseases to report. Randolph—Dr. J. M. Boyette, Ash-boro. Very little sickness. Richmond—Dr. J. M. Covington. Rockingham. Very healthy. A few cases of la grippe and dysentery. Robeson—Dr. T. A. Norment, Jr.. Lumberton. Three cases of whooping-cough. Infantile diarrhoea. The sani-tary condition of the jail needs improve-ment. Rockingham—Dr. D. W. Courts. Reidsville. No diseases to report. Rowan—Dr. John Whitehead, Salis-bury. Two cases of typhoid fever. Malarial affections. Rutherford—Dr. W. A. Thompson, Rutherfordton. Remarkably healthy. A few cases of dysentery. The jail is as well kept, perhaps, as could be ex pected with such a poor building. Sampson—Dr. John A. Stevens, Clin-ton. A few cases of diarrhci^a and dysentery, and some malarial fever. Stanly—Dr. D. P. Whitly, Milling-port. Measles and whooping cough in the western part. Stokes—Dr. W. L. McCanless. Dan-bury. Whooping-cough in all parts. Surry—Dr. J. B. Hollingsworth,-Mt. Airy. No report. Swain—Dr. R. L. Davis, Bryson City. No sickness of importance. The condition of the jail is as good as it can be made under the circumstances. We need a new one. Transylvania—Dr. C. W. Hunt, Brevard. No sickness worthy of men-tion. Tyrrell—Dr. Ab. Alexander, Co- 38 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. lumbia. Four cases of typhoid fever in Guna Neck township. Union—Dr. J. E. Asheraft, Monroe. Four cases of whooping-cough, five of typhoid fever and a few of la grippe. Vance—Dr. AV. T. Cheatham, Hen-derson. One case of typhoid fever. Unusually healthy. Wake—Dr. P. E. Hines, Raleigh. Bronchitis, one case of scarlatina. Chills and pneumonia around Morris-ville. Bronchitis and rheumatism in the city, and diarrhfpa, dysentery and chills at the Insane Asylum. Dr. G. L. Kirby reports the chills as caused by the water-works pond. Fifty circulars and blanks sent out with four replies. Warren—Dr. P. J. Macon, Warren-ton. Xo diseases reported. Consump-tion among the colored seems to be on the increase. We have in our county more than 25 lunatics unable to get into the asylums. The houses at the home are being whitewashed inside and out. Washington—Xo Board of Health. Watauga—Dr. W. B. Councill, Boone. Mumps in the jail. I have never known so little sickness in the county or so many births. Wayne-Dr. W. J. Jones, Jr., Golds-boro. Malarial troubles in all parts. Wilkes—Dr. J. W. White, Wilkes-borO. Some typhoid fever and whoop-ing- cough. Wilson—Dr. Albert Anderson, Wil-son. Malaria and its complications in all parts. The jail has been over-crowded for about twenty days. Yadkin—Dr. T. R. Harding, Yadkin-ville. Mild cases of whooping-cough. Yancey—Dr. J. L. Ray, Burnsville. A few cases of typhoid fever, mumps and measles. The jail is not kept as clean as it should be and never is. The Home is in a little better condition than usual, but is not kept as it should be. Review of Diseases for May, 1895. Bowel Diseases * — From Bun-combe, Craven, Cumberland, Forsyth, Gaston, Halifax, Lenoir, Martin, XeAv Hanover, Pasquotank, Robeson and Sampson—12 counties. Bronchitis—From Carteret, Davie, Edgecombe and Wake. Cholera Infantum — From Cald-well. Cholera in Chickens—From Alle-ghany. Cholera in Hogs—From Anson, Beaufort, Bladen, Chowan, Halifax, Jones and Pitt—7 counties. Diphtheria—From Dare, Granville, and Macon. Dysentery—From Cabarrus, Cald-well, Carteret, Duplin, Durham, For-syth, Gaston, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Pender, Perquimans, Richmond, Ruth-erford and Sampson—15 counties. Influenza—From Bertie, Caldwell, Chatham, Durham, Person, Richmond and Union—7 counties. Malarial Fever — From Anson, Bertife, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Carteret, ChoAvan, Craven, Durham, Forsyth, Gaston, Jones, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Pasquotank, Rowan, Sampson, Wake, Wayne and Wilson —20 counties. Malarial Fever, Hemorrhagic —From Pitt. Malarial Feter, Pernicious— From Cartaret and Dare. Measles—From Davidson, Jones and Y'ancev. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 39 Mumps—From McDowell, Watauga and Yancey. Pneumonia—From Anson, Caldwell, Chatham, Edgecombe, New Hanover, Person and Wake—7 counties. Rheumatism—From Wake. Scarlatina—From Columbus, Cra-ven, Iredell and New Hanover. ToNSiLiTis—From Edgecombe. Typhoid Fever—From Alleghany, Caldwell, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Dare, Gates, Hertford, McDowell, Mad-ison, Martin, New Hanover, Tyrrell, Union, Vance, Wilkes and Yancey— 17 counties. *I)YSENTERY, When mentioned by reporters, is entered under a separate heading. Summary of Mortuary Reports for May, 1895. THIRTY TOWNS. White. CoVd. Total. Aggregate population 87,650 61,754 149,404 Aggregate deaths 76 99 175 Representing annual death rate per lOUO 10.4 19.2 14.0 Causes of Death. Typhoid fever ^ ^ Z Scarlet fever 2 2 Diphtheria Oil Measles '^ ^ a Pneumonia 2 6 8 Consumption 7 13 20 Brain diseases 17 8 25 Heart diseases ^ ^ ^ Neurotic diseases ^ ^ in Diarrhcpal diseases U 8 19 All other diseases 24 52 7b Accidents -. ^ }, } Violence 10 1 76 99 175 Deaths under 5 years 9 28 37 Still-born 3 12 15 40 BULLETIN OK THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Condition of Jails and County Homes by Counties for May, 1895. BULLETIN OF THK NORTH CAKoLIXA BOAKD OF HEALTH. 41 Condition of Jails and County Homes by Connties.—Continued. JAIL. HOME. COUNTIES. , 42 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Condition of Jails aud County Homes hj Counties.— BULLETIN OF THE XORTH CAROLINA BOARD Mortuary Report for May, 1895. 44: JiULI.ETI.N <iF THP: NoKTH CARoLIXA IKiAKD oK HEALTH. 3IETE0R()L()G1( AL sr31x>IARV FOK NORTH ( AROLINA. MAY. 189.>. Furnished by tlie Nortli Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station and State Weather Service. H. H. BATTLE, PH. D., DIRECTOR. C. F. VON HERRMAN, Meteorologist. TEMFERATrKE. (Degreks F.vhim X(t. OK DAV STATIONS. o ^ 7i ^ -VA CE3 98 Asheville ! 61.7 91 Bakersville I 56.6 89 Blowing Rock 53.8 78 Charlotte 65.6 97 Chapel Hill 65.1 Horse Cove 60.5 Littleton 64.4 Lenoir .- 64.1 Lumbei'ton 69.0 Mt. Airy 62.2 Mt, Pleasant ! 6.5.0 Moneure 64.7 Xewbern 68.0 Oak Ridge.... 63.6 Pittsboro 61.8 Raleigh 65.0 Rockingham 67.9 Roxboro n3.9 .•^oaiJStone Mount... 63.4 Saxon 6.3.7 Southern Pines 67.0 Southport 67.6 88 Sloan •.;.-' 97 Willeyton tS.O , 98 Weldon , fi.5.2 j 97 Wilmington I 680 ! 96 99 Mitchell Sfi Society BULLETIN OF THE L W U PuUished Jlonthly at the Office of the Secretary of the Board, at Raleigh, JV. C. SUBSCRIPTION, 25 CENTS A YEAR. Geo. G. Thomas, M. D., Pres., Wilmington. S. Westray Battle, M. D., Asheville. W. H. Hakrell, M. D., Willlamston John Whitehead, M. D., Salisbury. W. P. Beall, M. D., Gi-eensboro. W. J. LuMSDEN, M. D., Elizabeth City. Prof. F. P. Venable, Chapel Hill. J. C. Chase, Civ. Exg., Wilmington. EiCHARD H. Lewis, M. D., Secretary and Treasurer, Kaleigh. Vol. X. JULY, 1895. X^ Bacteriological Examinations. At the conjoint-session of the Board with the State Medical Society at Greensboro, in May 1894, Passed Assist-ant Suryeon J. J. Kinyoun, who was present by invitation as the represen-tative of the U. S. Marine Hospital Service, announced tliat the Service would be glad to give, in its laboratory at Washington, free of charge, a six- Aveek"s course of instruction in practi-cal sanitary bacteriology, directed par-ticularly to the biological examination of drinking waters, to duly accredited representatives of our Board. Drs. Albert Anderson, of Wilson, and W. T. Pate, of Gribson's Station, promptly signified their desire to avail them-selves of the opportunity. They were duly appointed, and in January of the present year went toWashington where, at their own expense, they spent the full time in practical study and work under the immediate instruction of that eminent bacteriologist. Dr. Kin-youn. Since their return they have each fitted up a laboratory and are now pre-pared to make biological examinations of drinking waters, and in suspected cases of tuberculosis and diphtheria. In acknowledgement of the courtesy of the Board in appointing them as its representatives they have agreed to a special arrangement for official work in drinking waters. Owing to our very small appropriation we are under the necessity of issuing permits for such examinations at the expense of the Board with much circumspection. To insure this, any physician suspecting a water as the cause of disease must first submit the matter to his County Super-intendent of Health, or to the Medical health officer of his city or town, if it have one, who will write the facts and his opinion as to the necessity for the examination to the Secretary, and if in the latter's judg-ment the expense would be justified, a permit, with instructions for taking sample, will be sent to the applicant. Examinations made on this permit will 46 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. be paid for by the Board, but in every instance express charges must be pre-paid by sender. County superintend-ents will please bear in mind the neces-sity for careful inquiry into all the facts before advising an examination, for the reason above stated. We would be very loth to refuse an application endorsed by a superintendent. To our readers who are members of the State Medical Society Drs. Ander-son and Pate need no introduction, but to those not acquainted with them it is proper to say that they are among the best men in that unusually strong body. Intelligent, earnest, pains-tak-ing, scientific, they are worthy of con-fidence, and we trust that they may receive such support in private work (in regard to Avhieh information must be obtained from them direct) as will encourage them to persist in their val-uable labors on this line. In conclusion, we desire to express our aijpreciation of the enterprise and self-sacrifice shown by the gentlemen alluded to in this matter. It is now well known that the specific pathogenic qualities of infected drinking water cannot be ascertained with certainty by any other method than a bacterio-logical or biological examination, and it is a great gratification to feel that we have, right here at home, men com-petent to do this important work asso-ciated wath the Board. Purification of Sewage-Polluted Waters by Sand Filtration. Those of our readers who do not see the admirable journal of the Massachu-setts Association of Boards of Health will, we feel sure, thank us for giving them the pleasxire of reading the fol-lowing most interesting extract from a paper on the above subject read by Prof. W. T. Sedgwick, at the April quarterly meeting of that body : "With regard to the Purification of Sewage polluted Waters I will say only a word or two. The matter may be stated rather briefly, something like this : Why do we attempt to purify sewage-polluted water? For two rea-sons : first, because such water is a nui-sance ; and, second, because it is apt to be dangerous to the public health. It certainly is dangerous to drink. "How shallwegoto work to purify it ''. Well, how does nature go to work ? If the farmer puts upon his field barn-yard manure year after year, giving it a heavy dressing of the material, this is easily taken care of by the mother earth. No one knows or thinks that the farmer is creating a nuisance, the odor is not objectel to by any one. On the contrary, every one of us feels a sort of primitive agricultural delight in the smell of good barn-yard manure thus utilized, and we have no objection to living in the neighborhood. I have seen the lawns on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston so covered with stable manure that one had almost to hold his nose in passing, and yet the same people who do not object to that odor would complain most bitterly of the slightest odor coming from a gar-bage pail or anything else of equally unsavory nature or origin. W'e know that the earth takes care of this organic matter. And the same is true of the conditions of the ordinary untidy country house or the tenement house, where the housewife, to get rid of her dish-water or slojis, throws them out of the window. Unless that is done in excess, or for too long a time and under unfavorable circumstances, the earth takes care of all the stuff thus thrown out and little or no trouble ensues. BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 47 Here is a hint for the doing of the whole thing. The earth is capable of taking care of the organic matter, pro-vided it does not have too much of it or have it for too long a time without change. "We have arrived at this conclusion by experimentation. As long ago as 1839 London began to filter the highly polluted water of the river Thames through sand filters. It was supposed that by simply straining out the sus-pended matters and some of the dis-solved matters the water would do no harm. Bacteria had not then been heard of. But time has gone on, and it has been found by making a study of the affair that, by putting sewage-pol-luted water on the land, with the right kind of soil, you can dispose of sewage on land as the farmer disposes of his barnyard manure ; or, on the other hand, in the case of sewage-polluted water, that a larger volume of water can be treated, and then recovered through an underdrain and used for drinking. "As an example of the first case, the city of Berlin, a city of a million and Bix or seven hundred thousand popu-lation, disposes of its sewage upon the land. The river Spree runs through the city, but does not receive the sew-age except in times of storms, when the overflow goes into the river. The sew-age ordinarily is disposed of upon the land ; and the same principle is applied as here in Brockton—namely, the put-ting of a thin layer of sewage upon the soil, and letting the earth take care of it. In the case of Berlin they make use of the sewage-impregnated soil to raise crops ; but, when you commence to raise crops at the place where the filtering is going on, you must remem-ber that you cease to operate the filter to its highest capacity. In Berlin they raise cabbages and other vegetables, where the sewage of sixteen or seven-teen hundred thousand people is dis-posed of on the land ; and the effluent water, as it comes out below, is used for drinking. Here is an instance of the disposition of sewage in this way on a large scale. And if any one says that Brockton's plan is only an expei'i-ment, and that no one can say how long it is going to continue satisfacto-rily, or how it will be in fifteen or twenty years from now, we may reply that Ber-lin has been doing the same thing for years, and there is no uncertainty about it ; that the mother earth, when the place is rightly chosen and the opera-tion is properly managed, will take care of any amount of organic matter which you may wish to put upon it. "When you come to water purifica-tion, there is the same problem with certain modifications. Sewage is water gone bad, water with excess of foul matters,—such as we saw to-day,— which sewage was not ordinary sewage, but thinner, yet formy purpose answers well enough, because I may point to those filter-beds, and show you sewage-polluted water purified there by sand filtration. It was sewage, so called. It was really sewage-polluted water ; and that is what sewage always is. The sewage of Berlin is so polluted that it becomes almost as black as ink, and is as thick as thin mud. I have seen it of that characteT on the filter fields of Berlin, like thin black mud or thick ink. Now in such a case, ordinarily, there is one unfavorable condition: the sewage does not contain any oxy-gen. These filters are not strainers, they are not mere heaps of sand ; but when in good working order, they are rather like living organisms, for they are filled with bacteria Avhich breathe and feed, taking up the organic mat- 48 BULLETIN OF THE XOKTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. ters of the sewage. Oxygen being available, the bacteria resident in the sand feed upon the organic matters, and reduce them to similar matters of a mineral sort, and their organic char-acter is lost. It is as if those filter-beds were a gigantic living sponge. You know the sponge before it is gathered is a living mass permeated by narrow channels. And, if we imagine one of these filters to be a heap of sand, swarming with living bacteria, we can see how easy it is for the sewage-pol-luted water to flow into this great sponge, and for the living contents of the latter to feed upon the matters it contains. When the filters are water filters, they work more freely, because ordinary water is saturated with oxy-gen. "The theory becomes comparatively simple when looking at these filters, if one does not regard them as mere sand, but rather as somethtng which would remind us of London and Paris Avith their dense populations, great centres teeming with multitudes of individuals. The sewage that arrives they receive with open arms, taking from it the oi-ganic matters which are their food, and working them over into mineral matters, which, in solution, pass olT below. So the purification of sewage-polluted water is pretty much the same thing as the purification of sewage, only the work is done faster because of the oxygen in the water. You have an example of this in the city of Law-rence, where you have heard of the municipal filter designed by Mr. H. F. Mills, of the State Board of Health. That city is now supplied with water fit for drinking, purified by simple sand filtration in a bed two and a half acres in extent. It is not merely a bed of sand, but contains a vast multitude of bacteria, feeding there upon this impure Avater, which, after it is filtered, goes into a reservoir pure and clear. We may see how the thing works as far as can be seen with the naked eye, but for scientific purposes we must take a microscope ; and we shall then find every grain of sand in this great filter coated with bacterial jelly, and bacteria actively at work doing their part in the process. If we wish to see what has been accomplished in this way, we can compare the death-rate in Lawrence as it is now with the death rate which pre-vailed before the filterwent into opera-tion. Lawrence, instead of standing higher than any other city in the Com-monwealth in deaths from typhoid fever, as it did, stands now on a par with those cities which are furnished with a good water supply and having similar industries and climate : and its bad reputation as a breeder of typhoid fever has disappeared. Typhoid fever is no longer "endemic"' in Lawrence; it is only occasional and sporadic, as it is in Haverhill, Brockton, Lynn, and all other cities with good water sup-plies. There are a few cases arising from the use of water taken unfiltered fi-om the river, and a few imported cases, and also cases from using bad milk and from other sources; but the death-rate of Lawrence from typhoid fever now compares favorably with that of other cities of its own size, character and situation having perfect water supplies. In other words, sew-age- polluted water that is purified is not objectionable, but safe. The same thing is true of London, which for many years has been supplied with sewage-polluted water thus purified. The death-rate of London from typhoid fever is very low. "In looking at these so-called inter-mittent filters, then, one should take out of his mind any idea that they are BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 49 mere heaps of sand. Every grain of that sand has on it thousands of bac-teria which have taken up their resi-dence there in a jelly-like form, so that the total effect is softness of the soil, because of this great aggregate of bac-terial life. It is bacterial life which takes care of the farmer's manure spread upon the earth, and of the dish water thrown out of the window by the careless housewife, and of the sew-age which is spread on fields, as you have seen it to-day." Infectiox by flies was illustrated at a recent meeting of the Royal Society in London, with sections of potatoes which were covered Avith brilliant red streaks and rosettes of a growth of bacillus prodigiosus planted by the feet of a fly, in the following manner. The fly having been allowed to walk a few times over a slice of potato covered with a culture of this bacillus, is kept for a while, and then made to walk over a sterilized slice of potato, which, after a proper period of incubation, displays a luxuriant bacillary groAvth, actually revealing the path and tracks of the fly, so abundantly were the microbes taken up*and transported by the feet of the insect. Winged in-fection is hard to quarantine. It would be much easier to prevent its incep-tion.—/ SYwi. Era. Summary of Keports from County Superinten-dents of Health for June, 1895, (eighty nine counties reporting, i In the blanks on which these reports are made the following items are called for : 1. The number of cases of small-pox, measles, wliooping cough, scarlatina, diphtheria, typhoid fever, pernicious malarial fever, hemorrrhagic malarial fever, yellow fever and cholera which have occurred in the county during the past month. 2. The diseases which have been prev-alent in the county and in what parts. B. Epidemics among domestic ani-mals. 4. Remarks as to special unsanitary conditions in the county. In few counties do physicians gener-ally report these details to the Super-intendent, though furnished with blanks for that purpose, and in most cases he has to depend, upon himself alone in making his report. Details as to the jails, houses of cor-rection and county homes are also given in these reports and will be found tabulated on other pages. Alamance—Dr. R. A. Freeman, Bur-lington. One mild case of scarlatina which is convalescing. Condition of public buildings as good as it can be made under the circumstances. Alexander—Dr. R. B. Killiam, Tay-lorsville. Very little sickness. Alleghany—Dr. C. G. Fowlkes, Topia. Three cases of measles. AVhoop-ing- cough in south-eastern part. An epidemic of chicken cholera. Some places in the county need better drain-age. The court house is being re-paired. Anson—Dr. E. S. Ashe, Wadesboro. Very little sickness. Some malarial fever and a few cases of diarrhoea and dysentery of mild form. Ashe—Dr. L. C. Gentry, Jefferson. Some typhoid fever in north-east part, and mild sporadic dysentery in the north-west. Otherwise, health excel-lent. The Home was lately imju-oved by the addition of two new rooms. BEArFOHT-Dr. John C. Rodman, 50 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Washington. One case of scarlatina and two of typhoid fever. Malarial disorders. Some cholera in hogs. Many places in county need drainage. Bbrtie—Dr. H. V. Dunston, Wind-sor. Health excellent. Chills and fever in some parts. An epidemic of hog cholera. Bladen—Dr. Newton Robinson, Eliz-abethtown. Very little sickness. Chol-era in hogs and chickens in nearly all parts. Brunswick — Dr. D. I. Watson, S«uthport. No special diseases. The public buildings are all in great need of repair, and the Home should be removed nearer the county seat. It is now 18 miles distant. • Buncombe—Dr. H. L. Baird, Ashe-ville. Bowel troubles to a slight extent in all parts. Burke—Dr. J. L. Laxton, Morgan-ton. No sickness except a few cases of diarrhoea, chiefly among children. Cabarrus—Dr. Leona M. Archey, Concord. Malarial fevers, diai-rho^a and dysentery in many parts. Caldwell—Dr. A. A. Kent, Lenoir. Remarkably healthy. A few mild cases of diaiTh<Ha. Camden—No Board of Health. Cartaret — Dr. Greo. N. Ennett, Beaufort. Bowel troubles in most parts. Caswell—Dr. W. O. Spencer, Yan-ceyville. Little sickness. Some bowel troubles. The jail is in fair condition with the exception of the furnace base-ment, which is in a very unsanitary state. This has been reported to the authorities and it is hoped it will receive prompt attention. Catawba—Dr. J. M. McCorkle, New-ton. Health of county for the last six months very good. Chatham—Dr. L. A. Hanks, Pitts-boro. Little sickness. Influenza to a limited extent in some parts. Cherokee—Dr. J. F. Abernathy, Murphy. The people generally have awakened to a sense of the importance of cleanliness in this section ; hence good health prevails. Chowan—Dr. R. H. Winborne, Rock-ahock. A few cases of mumps in Sec-ond township. Some cholera morbus, diarrhmea and dysentery. Clay—Dr. W. E. Sanderson, Hayes-ville. Influenza among horses. Cleveland—Dr. O. P. Gardner, Shelby. Health remarkably good. Columbus—Dr. I. Jackson, Wbite-ville. A few cases of typhoid fever. An epidemic of hog cholera from sev-eral parts. Mild malarial fever and diarrh(Ha in different sections. Craven—Dr. Leinster Duffy, New-bern. Two cases of scarlet fever and four of whooping cough. Malarial and typhoid fevers have occurred. Cumberland—Dr. J. H. Marsh, Fay-etteville. A few cases of typhoid fever. Malarial fever and diarrhcjea diseases in some parts. Currituck—No Board of Health. Dare—Dr. W. H. Peterson, Manteo. Two cases of typhoid fever and five of pernicious malarial fever. Davidson—Dr. R. L. Payne, Lexing-ton. Whooping cough has prevailed. Davie—Dr. James McQnire, Mocks-ville. No diseases reported. Duplin—Dr. W. P. Kennedy, War-saw. Colds and malarial fever in some parts. Sufficient attention is not paid to drainage and drinking water. Many deep wells are being bored along the railroad and I hope to see malarial fever banished. I BULLETIN OF THE NOKTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 51 Durham—Dr. J. M. Manning, Dur-ham. Three cases of whooping cough. Diarrhoea and dysentery in nearly all parts, especially among children. Most of the convicts are camping out on the county roads. Edgecombe—Dr. Donald Williams, Tarboro. Three cases of typhoid fever. Intermittent fever in all parts. Forsyth—Dr. D. N. Dalton, Win-ston. A few cases of typhoid fever. Mild intermittent and remittent fevers in all parts. Franklin—Dr. E. S. Foster, Laurin-burg. As little sickness as ever before knoAvn. Some mild cases of dysentery. The sanitary condition of the public *b]iildings is as good as can be under existing circumstances. Changes are demanded in jail which I am striving with the authorities to get. Gaston—Dr. J. H. Jenkins, Dallas. Colds. One case of pneumonia and one of typhoid fever. Malarial fevers still prevail, much of which is caused by the bad drainage along Big Long creek. G-ATES—Dr. I. W. Costen, Gatesville. No diseases reported. Graham—No Board of Health. Granville—Dr. Wm. O. Basker-ville, Oxford. No diseases to report. Greene—Dr. E. H. Sugg, Snow Hill. Malarial fever and dysentery. Guilford—Dr. A. R. Wilson, Greens-boro. One case of typhoid fever. The county has furnished the convicts with a tent containing 19,800 cxabic feet of space. This is much more comfortable and healthy than crowding them into small, ill-ventilated rooms as hereto-fore. Water-closets have been at last put into each jail cell and connection has been made with the city sewer. Halifax—Dr. I. E. Green, Weldon. Malarial diseases and bowel diseases among children in some parts. Harnett—Dr. J. F. McKay, Dickin-son. Very little sickness. A few cases of dysentery. Haywood—Dr. J. Howell Way, Waynesville. Comparatively little sick-ness. Henderson—Dr. J. L. Egerton, Hen-dersonville. A few cases of diarrhoea. Hertford—Dr. John W. Tayloe, Union. More cases of typhoid fever. Diarrhoea and dysentery in some parts. Hog cholera in limited areas. Hyde—No Board of Health. Iredell—Dr. W. J. Hill, Statesville. Two cases of scarlatina and two of typhoid fever. Bowel troubles. The citizens on Fourth creek between Bos-tian's bridge and Keistler's bridge have arranged to clean out the creek and drain the swamps. Jackson—Dr. W. F. Tompkins, Web-ster. Mumps and dysentery in central part. Hydrophobia among dogs. Johnston—Dr. R. J. Noble, Selma. Very little sickness. Some hog cholera. Jones—Dr. R. A. Whitaker, Tren-ton. Malaria in. mild form in all parts. A few cases of severe dysentery. Lenoir—Dr. C. B. AVoodley, Kin-ston. A few cases of mumps, measles and intermittent fever, and many cases of diarrhfBa among children. Lincoln—Dr. W. L. Crouse, Lincoln-ton. Ten cases of whooping-cough. Dysentery in all pai*ts. Health of county good. McDowell—Dr. B. A. Cheek, Marion. Whooping-cough and bowel troubles. Macon—Dr. S. H. Lyle, Franklin. One c^se of diphtheria. A few cases of diarrhcea. Very little sickness. 52 BULLETIN OF THE NOKTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Madison—Dr. Jas. K. Hardwicke, Marshall. Health remarkably good. Martin—Dr. W. H. Harrell, William-ston. One case of tj'phoid fever. Mecklenburg—Dr. H. M. Wilder, Charlotte. One case of scarlatina and one of typhoid fever. The creeks around Charlotte are in an unsanitary condition from the discharge of sewer-age into them. The city authorities have taken steps to remedy it. Mitchell—Dr. C. E. Smith, Bakers-ville. Some typhoid fever. Montgomery—Dr. W. A. Simmons, Troy. Healty, except bowel diseases to some extent in most parts. Moore—Dr. Gilbert McLeod, Car-thage. Diarrhoea, dysentery and chol era morbus in all parts. Some malarial fever in one or two localities. The cells in jail are not sufficiently ventil-ated for hot weather. Nash—Dr. J. J. Mann, Nashville. Very little sickness. Dysentery in some parts. New Hanover—Dr. R. D. Jewett, Wilmington. Three cases of typhoid and one of hemorrhagic malarial fever. Cholera infantum and other bowel troubles mentioned by all reporters. Northampton—Dr. H. W. Lewis, Jackson. Very little sickness. Onslow—Dr. E. L. Cox, Jacksonville. Malarial fever. Orange—Dr. C. D. Jones, Hillsboro. Malarial fever in some parts. Pamlico—No Board of Health. Pasquotank—Dr. W. W. Gfriggs, Elizabeth City. No sickness to report. Pender—Dr. Geo. F. Lucas, Currie. One case of scarlet fever and one of typhoid fever. Light malarial fever in the eastern part. The sanitary condi-tion of the county is gradually iiu-proving. Perquimans—Dr. John F. Speight, Hertford. Dysentery and remittent fever. Person—Dr. C. G. Nichols, Roxboro. No sickness of consequence. Some diarrhoea. Pitt—Dr. W. H. Bagwell, Greenville. Malarial fever and dysentery in all parts. Hog cholera in nearly all parts. Polk—Dr. Earl Grady, Tryon. Cholera infantum in a limited area. The jail has been in a miserable condi-tion but has been cleaned and refitted and is much improved. Randolph—Dr. J. M. Boyette, Ash-boro. Three cases of typhoid fever. Some diarrhoea and dysentery in all parts, and have been almost epidemic at Randleman and Ramseur. Richmond—Dr. J. M. Covington, Rockingham. No report. Robeson—Dr. T. A. Norment, Jr., Lumberton. Whooping-cough, not extensive. The jail is a little too crowded. Rockingham—Dr. D. W. Courts, Reidsville. Two cases of measles and two of typhoid fever. Rowan—Dr. John Whitehead, Salis-bury. Ten cases of whooping-cough and two of typhoid fever. Malarial fevers in most parts. Rutherford—Dr. W. A. Thompson, Rutherfordton. Mild dysentery in all parts. Sampson—Dr. Jno. A. Stevens, Clin-ton. Diarrhd^a and dysentery. A fcAv cases of malarial fever. Stanly— Dr. W. P. Whitley, Milling-port. Six eases of measles and one of typhoid fever. Very little sickness except unusually mild bowel disorders. Stokes—Dr. William V. McCanless, Danbury. Whooping-cough in all parts. BULLETIX OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 53 Surry—Dr. J. B. HoUiugsworth, Mt. Airy. No sickness to reiDort. SwAix—Dr. R. L. Davis, Bryson City. One case of typhoid fever. Traxsylvaxia—Dr. C. W. Hunt, Brevard. Good health in all parts. Tyrrell—Dr. Ab. Alexander, Co-lumbia. No sickness to report. Uxiox—Dr. J. E. Ashcraft, Monroe. One case of diphtheria and four of typhoid fever. Bilious diarrhrea in town and country. Yaxce—Dr. W. T. Cheatham, Hen-derson. Two cases of typhoid fever. Wake—Dr. P. E. Hines, Raleigh. One case of typhoid fever. Two cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis reported to the city authorities. Dr. Kirby reports the health of the Insane Asj^- lum good "except for the mill pond south of us, with cases of intermittent fever." Some cholera in hogs at the same institution. Some dysentery in various parts. Dr. Templeton, of Ca-ry, reports four cases of peritonitis, two of them in the same house. Five reports received. Warren-Dr. P. J. Macon, Warren-ton. A few cases of measles. Malarial fever in some parts and dysentery in all. The Home has been whitewashed inside and out and the bedding and furniture thorougly disinfected. Washington—No Board of Health. Watauga—Dr. W. B. Councill, Boone. No sickness in any part. Wayne—Dr. AV. J. Jones, Jr., Golds-boro. Five cases of measles. Malarial troubles in all parts. Wilkes—Dr. J. W. White, Wilkes-boro. Whooping cough and typhoid fever in some parts. Wilson—Dr. A. Anderson, Wilson. Diarrhcwa and dysentery in all parts. Yadkin—Dr. T. R. Harding, Yadkin-ville. No sickness of note. Yancey—Dr. J. L. Ray, Burnsville. Two cases of typhoid fever. The jail is in better condition than it has been in for some time but is not clean enough yet. The Home is about as usual, not kept as clean as it should be. Keview of Diseases for June. 1895. Bowel Diseases* — From Anson, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Cartaret, CasAvell, Chowan, Columbus, Cumberland, Durham, Halifax, Hen-derson, Hertford, Iredell, McDowell, Macon, Montgomery, Moore, New Han-over, Person, Polk, Randolph, Samp-son, Union and Wilson—2(3 counties. Cholera, in Chickens—From Alle-ghany and Bladen. Cholera, in Hogs—From Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Hertford, Johnston, Pitt and Wake. Diphtheria—From Macon and Un-ion. Dysentery — From Anson, Ashe, Cabarrus, Chowan, Durham, Franklin, Greene, Harnett, Jackson, Jones, Lin-coln, Moore, Nash, Perquimans, Pitt, Randolph, Rutherford, Sampson, Wake, Warren and Wilson—21 coun-ties. Hydrophobia—From Jackson. Influenza—From Chatham. Influenza, in Horses—From Clay. Malarial Fever — From Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Cabarrus, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland. Davie, Edge-combe, Forsyth, Gaston, Greene, Hal-ifax, Lenoir, Moore, Onslow, Orange, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, RoAvan, Sampson, Wake. Warren and Wayne —25 counties. 54 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Malarial Fever, Hem.^iorrhagic —From New Hanover. Malarial Fever, Perxicious — From Dare. Measles—From Alleghany, Lenoir, Rockingham, Stanly, Warren and Wayne. MENIN&ITIS, CEREBRO - SPINAL — From Wake. Mumps—From Chowan, Jackson and Lenoir. Pneumonia—From Gaston. Scarlatina — From Alamance, Beaufort, Craven, Iredell, Mecklen-burg and Pender—6 counties. Typhoid Fever—From Ashe, Beau-fort, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Dare, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Graston, Gruilford, Hertford, Iredell, Martin, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, New Hanover, Pender, Randolph, Rockingham, Row-an, Stanly, Swain, Union, Vance, Wake, Wilkes and Yancey—27 coun-ties. Whooping-Cough — From Allegha-ny, Craven, Davidson, Durham, Lin-coln, McDowell, Robeson, Rowan, Stokes and Wilkes—10 counties. * Dysentery, when mentioned by reporters, is entered under a separate heading. Summary of Mortuary Reports for June, 1895. TWENTY-NINE TOWNS. White. Aggregate population 86,V92 Aggregate deaths 105 Representing annual death rate per 1000 1L5 Causes of Death. Typhoid fever Scarlet fever 1 Malarial fever 1 Whooping Cough I Pneumonia 4 Consumption 13 Brain diseases 18 Heart diseases .5 Neurotic diseases 1 Diarrhceal diseases 21 All other diseases 36 Accident 5 105 Deaths under 5 years H Still-born ". 10 CoVd. Total. 61,592 131 25.5 148,384 336 19.0 6 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 55 Con 56 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Condition of J BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 57 Condition of Jails an 58 BL'LLETIX OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. Moi'tuary Report for June, 1895. Towns AND Reporters. Asheville Dr. H. L. Baird. Charlotte Fred. Nash, Esq. Durham Dr. J. M. Mannins Fayetteville Dr. J. H. Marsh. Goldsboro T. H. Bain, Esq. Greensboro Dr. A. R. Wilson. Henderson Dr. AT. J. .Tudd. Hillsboro Dr. C. D. Jones. Jacksonville Dr. E, L. Cox. Lenoir Dr. A. A. Kent. Lexington Dr. R. L. Payne. Marion Dr. B. A. Cheek. Monroe Dr. J. M. Blair. Oxford Dr. vr. O. Baskerville Pittsboro Dr. L. A. Hanks. Raleigh Dr. Jas. McKee. Rocky Mount Dr. G. L. Wimberley. Salem F. E. Keehlu, Esq. Salisbury Dr. John Whitehead. Scotland Neck Mayor J. A. Perry. Southport....'- L. A. Galloway, Esq. Statesville Dr. W. J. Hill. Tarboro Dr. Donald "Williams Warrenton Dr. P. J. Macon. Washington Dr. J. C. Rodman. Weldon Mayor J. T. Gooch. Wilmington Dr. R. D. Jewett. AVilson Dr. Albert Anderson Winston Dr. John Bynum. Races. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. 1 Colored. t White. Colored. White. Colored. i White. Colored. I White. Colored. White. Colored. 1 vvhite. i Colored . White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. White. Colored. I White. Colored. AVhite. Colored. White. iColored. White. Colored. Popula-tion. 4,000 ^'^^1 B,000 ^^'"^, 8,000 5,000 5,300 8,000 4,250: 700| 600 1,000 2,100 800 1 2,400: 3,000, t 600] 4,500 3,500 2,800 2,200 3,.500 i,soo: 5,500 ' 2,500 2,250 2,000: 400, 300, 400' 200 j 800 200 1,800 300 650 150 1,800' BOO, 1,600 ' 1,400 350 250 ^'tlJl 16,000 ( ,oOO ' i,6oo; 4,284, 5,000, 1,100 1,200 3,500| 2,500 2,000 5,.500 1,450 22,000 3,500 1,200 400! 3,942 342 1 3,500 1,500 : 700' 4001 750 450 1 2,500; 1,000 1,:}00 1,200 1,150 850, 3,000 ; 2,500! 700' 750 9,000 13,000 2,000 1,500 5,200 If, fvnn\ 4,800 ^"'"^1 13.5 24.0 22.7 40.0 5.3 3.4 17.1 5.4 0.0 13.3 10.9 43.2 10.7 18.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 L5.0 0.0 6.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 20.0 7.5 8.6 0.0 0.0 24.0 25.6 200 0.0 9.1 32.2 13.7 32.0 17.1 30.0 32.0 53.3 9.6 12.0 2.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 24.0 3;^.6 0.0 0.0 21.3 29.5 18.0 40.0 9.3 40.0 H 17.0 29.6 4.2 12.0 4.5 21.0 14.1 0.0 0.0 12.0 .5.7 0.0 .5.0 8.0 0.0 24.7 15.0 11.2 19.2 21.8 40.0 10.3 14.4 0.0 28.4 0.0 36.2 27.4 24.0 ^ , OJ bl " *^ -5 io £ -r •= E- 03 .:r ^l mK OJ 35 53 ^ 53 2 S » c -2 •t^ .s -r S ® 2 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTPI. 59 METEOROLOC^ICAL SUMMARY FOR NORTH CAROLINA, JUNE, 1895. Furnished l)y the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station and State Weather Service. H. B. BATTLE, Ph. D., Director. C. F. VON HERRMAN, Meteorologist. STATIONS. Asheville...- Baker
Object Description
Description
Title | Bulletin of the North Carolina Board of Health |
Other Title | Bulletin of the North Carolina State Board of Health; Bulletin of the North Carolina Board of Health |
Creator | North Carolina. State Board of Health. |
Date | 1895 |
Subjects |
Diseases--Reporting Genealogy Institutional care Meteorology--Observations Mortality--Statistics Prisons--Statistics Public Health--North Carolina--Periodicals |
Place | North Carolina, United States |
Time Period | (1876-1900) Gilded Age |
Description | Volume 10, Issue 5, August 1895 |
Publisher | Wilmington, N.C. :Secretary of the Board, |
Agency-Current | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services |
Rights | State Document see http://digital.ncdcr.gov/u?/p249901coll22,63754 |
Physical Characteristics | 61 v. :ill. ;23 cm. |
Collection | Health Sciences Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Type | text |
Language | English |
Format | Bulletins |
Digital Characteristics-A | 2,234 KB; 176 p. |
Digital Collection |
Ensuring Democracy through Digital Access, a North Carolina LSTA-funded grant project North Carolina Digital State Documents Collection |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Related Items | Imprint varies: published later at Raleigh, N.C. |
Title Replaced By | Health bulletin** |
Audience | All |
Pres File Name-M | pubs_edp_bulletinboardofhealth1995.pdf |
Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_edp\images_master\ |
Full Text |
RECEIVED
JUL 20 1981
jjEAUTH SCIENCES UBRW
BULLETIN
NORTH CAROLINA ROARD OF HEALTH.
PuhlisJted Monthly at the Office of the Secretary of the Board, at Raleigh, N. C.
SUBSCRIPTION, 25 CENTS A YEAR.
Geo. G. Thojias, M. D., Pres., Wilmington.
S. Westray Battle, M. D Asheville.
W. H. Harrell, M. D Williamston.
W. H. G. LrcAS, M. D White HalL
JoHX Whitehead, M. D Salisbury.
W^. P. Beall, M. D Green.sboro.
Prof. F. P. Vexable Chapel Hill.
J. C. Chase, Civ. Exg Wilmington.
Richard H. Lewis, M. D., Secretary and Treasurer, Raleigh.
Vol. X. APRIL, 1895. No. 1.
Infectiousiie»is of 91ilk.
We have recently received from the Sec-retaiy
a copy of a report made to the
Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for
Promoting Agriculture on the infectious-ness
of milk, especially that from tubercu-lous
cows with no lesion of the udder, by
Dr. Harold C. Ernst, Bacteriologist of the
Harvard Medical School. The results of
Dr. Ernst's investigations are so interest-ing
and valuable that, inasmuch as his re-port
will hardly come under the eye of
most of our readers, we feel that we will
be doing them a pleasing service in giving
them a summary of it, short and imperfect
as it must be from want of space. After
certain preliminary remarks he says:
"The desire of the committee was to
determine whether or not the milk derived
from tuberculous cows might contain the
infectious material of the disease, and in
this way become dangerous when used as
an article of food. And this question was
of necessity to be divided into two parts:
(1) Whether this infection, if it existed,
was contined to cases in which there was
actual disease of the udder, and (2)
whether it might exist in cases in which
the udder was apparently or actually
healthy, but the disease existed in other
parts of the body.
" In regard to the tirst part of the ques-tion
plain common sense showed that the
danger of infection was a real one, and
besides this, there existed at the time
sufficient experimental data to prove the
fact, so that there is very little dispute
that, under the circumstances, milk should
not be used for food, certainly in an un-cooked
condition. Evidence since then in
the same direction has constantly accumu-lated,
and now there is hardly a dissenting
opinion that milk from cows with tuber-culosis
of the udder should be condemned
for food.
"L'pon the second point, however, as to
whether the milk from cows with tubercu-losis,
but not of the udder, might be dan-gerous,
there was a great diversity of opin-ion,
and almost no experimental evidence
upon which to base what opinion there
was. It was in this direction, there-fore,
that it was especially desirable to
BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
obtain evidence, and after considerable dis-cussion
it was decided that the main line
of experiment should be so conducted that
this point might he decided. In this, as
in everything else, it is to be remembered
that one piece of positive evidence ob-tained
under proper conditions is worth
many negative results, and it is for this
reason that so much value may be attached
to the results which have been obtained.
These were published in an incomplete
form and have been widely disseminated.
* * * It is unquestionable that they have
had much influence in moulding public
opinion in this matter, and at least one
direct result has been the inspection of the
herds of cattle in New York by the Board
of Health of that State.
"The work, then, was undertaken with
this special end in view—to determine
ichether the infectious element of tuberculosis
ever existed in milk from tuberculous cows
whose udders were apparcntbj health[/, and
was prosecuted under the following head-ings:
1. A careful and persistent microscopic
examination, of the milk from such cattle.
2. Inoculation experiments with such milk.
3. Feeding experiments with the same milk.
In addition to these three main lines
investigation there was also undertaken:
4. Similar investigations of the milk supply of
Boston, and 5. The gathering of as much
evidence as possible from medical men and
veterinarians as to cases of jnohable infection
through tuberculous milk that had come under
their observation.^^
These investigations were made with ex-treme
carefulness, every precaution being
taken to have them as free from doubt as
possible.
I.
^^Cover-glass examinations of milk from
cows affected with tuberculosis, but, so far as
the best veterinary examination could deter-mine,
with no disease of the udder."
A summary of the results of this line of
investigation, as given in Table I, is as fol-lows:
"There were 121 examinations of milk
and cream made, the specimens coming
from 36 different animals. The bacilli of
tuberculosis were found in one or more
cover-glasses upon 19 different occasions.
"These 19 positive results were obtained
from 12 different animals, and the bacilli
were found in about equal proportion in
the milk and the cream; they were seen
more than once in milk from the same
cow, at different examinations, 6 times.
The bacilli were actually seen, therefore,
in specimens from one-third (33 per cent.)
of the animals examined. That these ani-mals
were actually affected with tubercu-losis,
and that the udder was free from dis-ease,
was proven in all possible cases by care-ful
post-mortem examinations. These were
conducted upon 20 out of 30 animals shown
in Table I.
II.
^'Inoculation Experiments upon Animals.'^
—The animals used were guinea-pigs and
rabbits. The results of this work are set
forth in detail in Tables II and III and are
summarized as follows: "There were 88
guinea-pigs inoculated with milk from 15
different cows; tuberculosis was found in
12, and these results came after the use of
milk or cream from 6 different animals.
* * * Ninety-five rabbits were used for
the same purposes and under the same con-ditions
as were the guinea-pigs. Of these
rabbits 5 were for various reasons useless
for the purposes of the investigation, leav-ing
90 which were subjected to full exami-nation.
For these 90 animals milk from 19
different cows was used one or more times,
and tuberculosis was found in 6 animals
inoculated with milk from 4 different cows.
These results show a less proportion of ap-parent
infection of milk as demonstrated
by the inoculation experiments than ap-peared
to be the case in the microscopic
BULLETIN OP^ THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
examinations. But this ditlVrence, even
granting that tliey were all tlie results of
the inoculations, is no more than might be
expected and explained by causes beyond
control."
III.
"The third line of experiment was in
feeding the milk from tuberculous cows
and healthy udders to different series of
animals. Here, again, the greatest precau-tions
were taken against outside infection,
and it is believed that these were as free
from sources of error as it is ever possible
to make such experiments. They were
carried on upon rabbits, pigs and calves,
and the statement of the experiments is
shown in Tables IV, V and YI." Summa-ries
of these tables are as follows:
^' MUk-fecdiiKj Exiicrlinciitx upoa liabbits.—
There were used 48 animals, with positive
results (tuberculosis) in two, and both of
these animals were fed upon milk from
cow E; Xo 12, one nodule in lung after 31
days; Xo. 28, one nodule in liver after 97
days. This is of course a very small pro-portion
of positive results, but the follow-ing
table shows a very different condition
of affairs, that is especially striking for the
reason that pigs are not believed to be un-usually
susceptible to tuberculosis under
ordinary conditions.
'^Milk-fcedin'j E.i'iierimcnis upoa Pigs.—
Twelve healthy animals v.ere used with
positive results (demonstration of the bacilli
under the microscope) in five. In two
others nodules presenting the gross appear-ance
of tuberculosis were found, but the
material was not saved for microscopic
examination. In any case nearly 50 per
cent, of the animals were shown to be
tuberculous.
"Milic-feeding\E.vperiiiients upon Calves.—
For the purposes of the third series of
feeding experiments calves were bought as
young as possible, and from as healthy
parentage as could be found. There were
25 calves used in this series of experiments,
but of these 4 are to be excluded from the
count, leaving 21. Of these 21 animals 8,
or over 33 per cent., were shown to be
tuberculous.
"It is of course true that pigs and calves,
that drink milk much more freely than do
rabbits, are more susceptible to infection
by the gastro-intestinal tract, and that this
may explain the far greater proportion of
positive results in these two species of
animals.
'' Exarn'nialio)} of Cows Used for Experi-i/
u/*/.—Twenty-three cows were used for
the feeding experiments, and in not one of
them did the most careful macroscopic and
microscopic search show any sign of tuber-culosis
of the udder except in one, and in
this case a single giant cell, containing one
bacillus, was found in one section, and no
other indication of tuberculosis anywhere
else in the udder.
"An exceedingly interesting piece of evi-dence
as regards the hereditary nature of
tuberculosis is found in the history of 11)
calves born of the tuberculous cows with
healthy udders. Of these 19 calves, all
killed within 6 days after birth, not one
showed any detectable evidence of tuber-culosis,
and a most careful search was made
in all cases. So that this certainly seems
to point avray from any very active trans-mission
of tuberculosis from the cow to its-otfspring.
IV.
Milk SnppUj of Boston.—''As an interest-ing
corollary to the work already detailed,,
a series of microscoi)ic examinations and
inoculation experiments were made witli
milk taken at random from the mixed suj)-
ply of the city of Boston. * * * There
were 5(i examinations made of the milk
and cream from 33 samples, with the result
of demonstrating the presence of the bacilli
of tuberculosis once. Twenty-five rabbit*
were inoculated with this mixed milk with
the development of tuberculosis in three.
"Of course these results, obtained in
BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
uiilk fVoiii a mixed source are not as con-ciliative
upon the esi)ecial point toward
which tlie main line of investigation was
directed— as to the presence of the Ijacilli
of tuberculosis in milk from cows with
healthy udders—but lhe.y certainly tend to
demonstrate that there may be this infec-tious
element in any n)il< supply from un-inspected
cattle."
V.
"The last of the lines in which investi-gation
was made was to endeavor, if possi-ble,
to obtain clinical rejiorts of cases of
transmission through milk from mother to
offspring. * * * a circular was sent
out to about 1,800 medical and veterinary
gentlemen, in an attempt to discover any
clinical cases bearing upon the subject at
band." To this circular replies were re-ceived
from 937 phj'sicians, of which 19
were positive as to the transmission and !(>
suspicious. "Counting all the positive and
suspicions cases together, there are 35, and
the percentage of those who have seen
cases in which their suspicions have been
aroused in this direction is 3.7—a result
that is as unexpected as it is surprising in
its size, if one takes into consideration the
difticulties surrounding the question, and
the newness of the subject." Fifty-four
replies were received from veterinarians
which gave a jjercentage of 42.59 plu^:.
"Such a percentage is startling in its size
until one remembers the greater facilities
that veterinarians have for observing such
cases and their origin, when it does not
seem so much out of the way—granting
that milk may be the vehicle for the dis-ease
that the experimental evidence of-fered
in this paper tends to show that it is.
"Combining the statistics obtained from
the two sources, it appears that there were
991 answers received to the circular-letter
that should be counted, and that among
these tliere were 58 gentlemen who have
seen, or suspected, the existence of such
cases as were inquired al)Out, giving a per-centage
of 5.S4 phis, which seems to be
somewhat remarkable for the reasons al- >
ready given."
While the facts above given are extreme-ly
interesting, suggestive and valuable, we
trust that our readers will not forget the
plain, old-fashioned, every-day infectious-ness
of milk, with which we are all famil-iar,
and which, in our opinion does not
receive the attention it deserves. It is
needless to say, particularly at this season,
that we I'efer to the dangers arising from
fermentative and putrefactive changes due
to heat—^and uncleanliness. Xot forgetting
tuberculosis, let us bear especially in mind
cholera infantum and the other allied com-plaints
which make the parents of every
artificially fed baby dread the approach of
summer, and impress uj)on the people, as
far as possible, the extreme importance of
the greatest care in the management of
niilk intended for infants.
Suiniiinry of Kojiorts frotu C'ousit.y S«-
lieritiSoiKiosiis of IJ«>aIS!t for
,1Saroh. 1S95.
(eighty-sevex counties reporting).
In the blanks ou which these reports are made
the following' items are called for:
1. The number of cases of small-pox, measles,
whooping-cough, scarlatina, diphtheria, typhoid
fever, pernicious malarial fever, hemorrhagic ma-larial
fever, yellow fever and cholera which have
occurred in the county during the past month.
2. The diseases which have been prevalent in the
county and in what parts.
3. Epidemics among domestic animals.
4. Remarks as to special unsanitary conditions in
the county.
In few counties do physicians generally report
these details to the Superintendent, though fur-nished
with blanks for that purpose, and in
most cases he has to depend upon himself alone in
making his report.
Details as to the jails, houses of correction and
countj' homes are also given in these reports and
will be found tabulated on other pages.
Alamance—Pr. R. A. Freeman, Burling-ton.
Epidemic of cholera and roup in
BULLETIN OF THE XOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
poultry in some localities. Sanitary condi-tion
of towns not very good.
Alexander—Dr. R. B. Killian, Taylors-ville.
Xo sicliness. A new jail badly
needed; iron cells have been put in old one.
Allegh.vxy—Dr. C. G. Fowlkes, Topia.
Mild form of catarrh in all parts. An epi-demic
of distemper in horses.
Aysox—Dr. E. S. Ashe, Wadesboro. No
report.
Ashe—Dr. L. C. Gentry-, Jefferson. Some
influenza of mild charactei'.
Beaufort—Dr. John C. Rodman, Wash-ington.
Catarrhal troubles. There are
quite a number of swampy i)laces in the
county that need drainage.
Bertie—Dr. H. V. Dunstan, Windsor.
Bronchial diseases and pneumonia. Hog
cholera in some sections.
Bladen—Dr. Newton Robinson, Eliza-bethtown.
La grippe in all parts.
Brunswick—Dr. D. I. Watson, South-port.
Bronchial troubles. The jail has
been condemned by the grand jury. The
county home needs some repairs; it is too
far—eighteen miles—from the county-seat.
Buxcombe—Dr. H. L. Baird, Asheville.
Influenza and pneumonia to a slight extent
in all parts.
Burke—Dr. J. L. Laxton, Morganton.
Two cases of pneumonia. The well at the
jail is not safe; I think on account of too
much surface water flowing into it; it is
muddy. I have reported it to the author-ities.
In other respects the sanitary condi-tion
of the public buildings is as good as
the structure of the old buildings will allow.
Cabarrus—Dr. Leona INI. Archey, Con-cord.
Bronchitis, pneumonia and rheuma-tism
in some parts. Reports from live phy-sicians.
The sanitary condition of the
jail is not as good as it ought to be, on ac-count
of the work-house hands being quar-tered
there during bad weather, but will
be remedied as soon as the tent is erected.
Caldwell—Dr. A. A. Kent, Lenoir.
Several cases of pneumonia and bronchitis.
A few cases of mumps in one section. A
new jail is much needed, and an effort is
on foot to have it built.
Camden—No Board of Health.
Carteret—Dr. George N. Ennett, Beau-fort.
Broncho-catarrhal troubles in all
parts. A few cases of supposed Texas
fever among cattle in certain sections. The
court-house is dilapidated in the third
story, and the jail is an old and wrecked
alfair; we need a new one.
Caswell—Dr. W. O. Spencer, Yancey-viUe.
No sickness throughout the county
that I have h.eard of The sanitary condi-tion
of the jail is about as good as its con-struction
will allow.
Catawba—Dr. J. M. McCorkle, Newton.
No diseases I'eported.
Chatham—Dr. L. A. Hanks, Pittsboro.
Pneumonia to a limited extent. Bronchial
atlections. The health of the inmates of
the county home forcibly illustrates what
can be accomplished by proper hygienic
methods.
Cherokee—Dr. J. F. Abernathy, Mur-phy.
General public and inmates of county
buildings healthy.
Chowan—Dr. R. H. Winborne, Rocka-hock.
A few cases of rheumatism, pneu-monia
and mumps. Some hydrophobia in:
dogs and cholera in swine.
Clay—Dr. W. E. Sanderson, Hayesville>
Very little sickness. There are some ef-forts
to improve the condition of the jail..
A new one is badly needed.
Cleveland—Dr. 0. P. Gardner, Slielby.
No disease to report.
Columbus—Dr. I. Jackson, Whiteville.
Two cases of typhoid fever. Bronchial
diseases and pneumonia to a greater extent
than usual. Hog cholera remains in only
a few localities.
Cravex—Dr. Leinster Duffy, Newl)ern.
Catarrhal troubles, influenza and whooping-cougli.
Cumherlax!)— Dr. J. H. :SlavsU, Fay-etteville.
Inllueuioa in many parts.
BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
Ci'KRiTi'CK—Xo Board of Health.
Dare—Dr. W. H. Peterson, Manteo. Lit-tle
sickness.
Davidsox—Dr. R. L. Payne, Lexington.
"Whooping-cougl'i and mumps. The sani-tarj-
condition of tlie public buildings is as
good as the structures will allow.
Davie—Dr. James McGuire, Mocksville.
Very little sickness. The sanitary condi-tion
of the public buildings is as good as
the structures will allow.
Duplin—Dr. "W. P. Kennedy, Warsaw.
Influenza and pneumonia in most parts.
There is insufficient drainage in some sec-tions.
The jail is clean and when com-pleted
will Ije a good building. The houses
at the home need repairs and whitewash-ing.
They are all clean.
Durham—Dr. J. M. Manning, Durham.
Catarrhal and intermittent fevers in all
parts. Some cases of influenza among
domestic animals. At the county home a
very nice building has just l)een completed
for the accommodation of the insane who
cannot be provided for by the State Hos-pitals.
Edgecombe—Dr. Donald 'Williams, Tar-boro.
A few cases of bronchitis.
Forsyth—Dr. D. X. Dalton, Winston.
Several mild cases of grijj and a very few
of pneumonia.
Fraxklix—Dr. E. S. Fo.ster, Louisburg.
One or two cases of typhoid fever and a
few of whoo]Mng cough of mild type and
of pneumonia.
Gaston—Dr. J. H. Jenkins, Dallas. Colds
and two or three cases of pneumonia. A
few cases of mild scarlatina reported;
proper quarantine precautions were taken.
Gates—Dr. I. W. Costen, Gatesville. Xo
•diseases reported.
Graham—Xo Board of Health.
Graxville—Dr. Wm. O. Baskerville,
Oxford. La grippe with com])lications in
most parts. A few rooms at the county
home are to he renovated.
Greene—Dr. E. H. i^ugg. Snow Hill.
No report.
Guilford—Dr. A. R.Wilson, Greensboro.
One case of typhoid fever. The jail is a
disgrace to a county like Guilford. The
work-house is much too crowded.
Halifax—Dr. I. E. Green, Weldon. Lit-tle
sickness in any part.
Harnett—Dr. J. F. McKay, Dickinson.
Four cases of scarlatina. Influenza and
pneumonia in nearly all parts.
Hayavood—Dr. J. Howell Way, Waynes-viile.
Xo contagious diseases reported.
Inside walls of jail recently whitewashed.
The building is new.
Hexdersox—Dr. J. L. Egerton, Hender-son
ville. Xo disease to report.
Hertford—Dr. John W. Tayloe, Union.
One case each of typhoid fever, pernicious
and hemorrhagic malarial fever. Some
bronchial troubles and pneumonia in my
section. I have pleaded time and again
with our physicians, but cannot get them
to let me have their reports in time. Only
one report this month.
Hyde—Xo Board of Health.
Iredell—Dr. W. J. Hill, Statesville.
The sanitary condition of the inside of the
jail is fair, but the yard is used as a horse,
cow and hog lot, and is filthy. The condi-tion
of the work-house and county home
is as good as the structure will allow.
Jacksox—Dr. W. F. Tompkins, Webster.
Xo diseases to report. The jail is new.
JoHX.STOx—Dr. R. J. Xoble, Selma. One
case of hemorrhagic malarial fever. Whoop-ing-
cougli in all parts. The jail needs
sewerage.
JoxE.«—Dr. R. A. Whitaker, Trenton.
Influenza in all parts and quite a number
of cases of pneumonia. The county home
is constructed of logs, and consequently the
buildings are not as comfortable as they
sliouldbe,but they are good of their kind. I
have suggested the erection of new ones, but
the Commissioners are ahvavs slow to act.
BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
Lenoir—Dr. C. B. Woodley, Kinston.
Xo report.
LixcoLX—Dr. W. L. Crouse, Lincolnton.
"Whooping-cough in some parts; ten cases
reported.
Macox—Dr. S. H. Lyle, Franklin. Very
little sickness, principally local inflamma-tions,
the seqneUe of influenza.
Madisox—Dr. James K. Hardwicke, Mar-shall.
Seventy-five cases of measles. Some
influenza and pneumonia still. The jail is
frequently overcrowded, sometimes dan-gerously
so.
Martix—Dr. W. H. Harrell, Williams-ton.
One case of hemorrhagic malarial
fever. A mild form of catarrhal fever or
la grippe very generally prevails.
McDowell—Dr. B. A. Cheek, ^Marion.
Catarrhal troul.iles in difierent parts. Very
healthy. The jail v,as burned last Novem-ber.
Mecklexbukg—Dr. H. M. Wilder, Char-lotte.
Whooping-cough in Charlotte and
other parts. Three cases of scarlatina at
the Atherton cotton mills. Proper sanitary
police restrictions have been observed.
Mitchell—Dr. C E. Smith, Bakersville.
Mumps in western part. Some la grippe,
not of long duration, but severe. The in-mates
of the county home have been
moved, and a new man now has charge of
them. I find the home and inmates in
better condition than for ten years.
MoxTGOMEKY—Dr. W. A. Simmons, Troy.
No disease to report. "The Legislature
did right in taxing us SIO apiece a year
for trying to prevent sickness and cure all
kinds of sickness as soon as we are notified
of their appearance in our State."
MooRE—Dr. Gilbert McLeod, Carthage.
Whooping-cough in north-western and
western parts. Influenza in all parts,
especially in Carthage. Some bronchitis
and pneumonia.
Nasii—Dr. J. J. r^Iann, Nashville. Very
little sickness.
New Haxover—Dr. R. D. Jcwett, Wil-mington.
Some grip and a few cases of
pneumonia. Two cases of diphtheria, in
each of which quarantine regulations were
carried out.
Northamptox—Dr. H. W. Lewis, Jack-son.
Very little sickness.
OxsLOW—Dr. E. L. Cox, Jacksonville.
IVIalarial fever, la grippe and pneumonia.
Oraxge—Dr. C. D. Jones, Hillsboro.
Catarrhal troubles and one case of pneu-monia.
Pamlico—No Board of Health.
Pasquotank—Dr. W. W. Griggs, Eliza-beth
city. A few cases of bronchitis and
pneumonia.
Pexder—Dr. George F. Lucas, Currie.
Grippe to a moderate extent.
Perquimans—Dr. John F. Speight, Hert-ford.
One case of diphtheria and two of
hemorrhagic malarial fever. La grippe,
bronchitis and pneumonia.
Persox—Dr. C. G. Nichols, Roxboro.
Three cases of whooping-cough and some
bronchitis and pneumonia. Pneumonia in
horses.
Pitt—Dr. W. H. Bagwell, Greenville.
Thirteen cases of whooping-cough, five of
scarlatina and one of hemorrhagic malarial
fever. Some bronchitis and pneumonia.
Polk—Dr. 0. S. Missildine, Tryon. No
diseases to report. There is no way of
keeping the prisoners in the jail warm.
Raxdolph—Dr. J. M. Boyette, Ashboro.
Stomatitis, bronchial troubles and dysen-tery
to some extent.
RicnMOXD—Dr. J. M. Covington, Rock-ingham.
Influenza, bronchitis, pneumo-nia
and mumps to some extent in all parts.
Robesox—Dr. T. A. Norment, Jr., Lum-berton.
No diseases reported.
RocKixGHAM—Dr. D. W. Courts, Reids-ville.
Three cases of typhoid fever. An
epidemic of cholera in chickens.
RowAX—Dr. John Whitehead, Salisbury.
Catarrhal aftections and pneumonia in
most parts.
Rutherford — Dr. V/. A. Thompson,
BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
Rutlierfordtou. No diseases to report.
There is some complaint of vermin in the
jail, but the keeper saj's he will give it a
thorough renovation.
Sampson—Dr. John A. Stevens, Clinton.
A fev," cases of influenza, pneumonia, pleu-risy
and intermittent fever. Hog cholera.
Stanly—Dr. D. P. Whitley, Millingport.
Some catari'lial fever, pleurisy and pneu-monia.
Stokks — Dr. W. L. ^NleCanlcss, Danbury.
Whooping-cough in all i^art.s.
Surry—Dr. .J. B. Holling.sworth, Mt.
Airy. La grippe and pneumonia in all
parts.
Swain—Dr. U. L. Davis, Bryson City.
One case of typhoid fever and a few cases
of pneumonia of mild foini.
Transylvania—Dr. C. W. Hunt, Bre-vard.
Very little sickness. Catarrhal
diseases in moderate degree.
Tyrrell—Dr. Ab. Alexander, Columbia.
No sickness of importance. We have had
no prisoners in jail for some months nor
any in the county home for over twelve
months and the County Commissioners
have rented the latter out for a private
dwelling
Union—Dr. J. E. Ashcraft, ^Monroe. Two
cases of scarlatina and one of typhoid
fever. Some catarrhal fever and pneumo-nia
in town and county.
Vance—Dr. W. T. Cheatham, Hender-son.
Five cases of typhoid fever.
WAKE-Dr. P. E. Hines, Raleigh. A
mild epidemic of whooping-cough around
Myatt's Mill. Colds, influenza, pneumo-nia
and rheumatism in all parts. Dr. Kirby
reports malarial fever prevailing at the In-sane
Asylum due to the water-works pond.
At the work-house there is not sufficient
light. The superintendent and County
Commissioners have had their attention
called to it for two months. Fifty-one
blanks and circulars were sent out and
eight reports received.
Wakren—Dr. J. P. Macon, AVarrenton.
La grippe almost epidemic throughout the
county. Catarrhal fever and pneumonia.
Distemper among horses.
AVashingto.v—No Board of Health.
Watauga— Dr. W. B. Council), Boone.
Xo sickness of any kind.
Wayne—Dr. W. J. Jones, Jr., Goklsboro.
Ten cases of whooping-cough. Catarrhal
troubles in all parts. The jail is crowded
at present.
Wilkes—Dr. J. W. White, AVilkesboro.
Influenza and pneumonia in many parts.
Wilson—Dr. Albert Anderson, AVilson.
La grippe in all parts. A few cases of
pneumonia and one of typhoid fever. The
jail is overcrowded at present.
Yadkin—Dr. T. R. Harding, Yadkin-ville.
No disease of any note.
Yancey—Dr. J. L. Ray, Burnsville.
Mumps to some extent. Some typhoid
fever heard of I cannot get the Commis-sioners
to have the jail cleaned up. The
county home is in a little better condition
than it was a month ago, but there is some
room for improvement yet.
Review of I>iseases for ;^Iarcli, lS9i5.
Bronchitis— From Bertie, Brunswick,
Cabarrus, Caldwell, Carteret, Chatham,
Columbus, Durham, Edgecombe, Hertford,
Moore, Pasquotank, Perquimans and Rich-mond—
14 counties.
Cholera, in Chickens—From Alamance
and Rockingham.
Cholera, in Hogs—From Bertie, Chowan,
Columbus and Sampson.
Diphtheria — From New Hanover and
Perquimans.
Distemper, in Horses—Fi"om Alleghany.
Influenza—From Ashe, Bladen, Bun-combe,
Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, For-syth,
Granville, Harnett, Jones, Macon,
]\Iadison, Mitchell, Moore, New Hanover,
Onslow, Pender, Perquimans, Richmond,
Sampson, Surry, AVake, AA^arren, AA'ilkes
and AVilson—25 counties.
BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAEOLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
Malarial Fever—From Durham, Ons-low,
Sampson and Wake.
Malarial Fever, Hemorrhagic—From
Hertford, Johnston, 3Iartin, Perquimans
and Pitt.
Malarial Fever, Pernicious — From
Hertford.
3Ieasles—From Madison.
Mujips—From Caldwell, Chowan, David-son,
Mitchell, Richmond and Yancey—
6
counties.
Pleurisy—From Sampson.
PxEU-MoxiA — From Bertie, Buncombe,
Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Chatham, Cho-wan,
Columbus, Duplin, Forsyth, Frank-lin,
Gaston, Harnett, Hertford, .Tones, Madi-son,
Moore, Xew Hanover, Onslow, Orange,
Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Rich-mond,
Rowan,' Sampson, Stanly, Surry,
Swain, Union, Warren, Wilkes and Wil-son—
33 counties.
PxEUMOXiA, IX Horses—From Person.
Rabies, ix Dogs—From Chowan.
RHECitATiSM—From Cabarrus, Chowan
and Wake.
Roup, ix Chickexs—From Alamance.
ScARLATixA — From Gaston, Harnett,
Mecklenburg, Pitt and Union.
Texas Fever (?), ix Cattle—From Car-teret.
Typhoid Fever—From Columbus,
Franklin, Guilford, Hertford, Rockingham,
Swain, Union, Vance,Wilson and Yaucey
—
10 counties.
Whoopixg-cough—From Craven, David-son,
Franklin, Johnston, Lincoln, Meck-lenburg,
Moore, Person, Pitt, Stokes, Wake
and Wavne—12 counties.
Sninmary of 3Iortiiary Reports for
March, 1895.
(twexty-nine towns).
IVhite. CoVd. Total.
Aggregate population 77,67S 47.429 125.104
Aggregate deaths 7° 65 135
Representing annual death-rate
per 1,000 lo.S 16.4 12.
S
Causes of death.
Typhoid Fe%'er i o i
Malarial Fever i i ~
Pneumonia 12 6 ib
Consumption 12 15 27
Brain diseases S 2 10
Heart diseases 426
Neurotic diseases 325
Diarrhoeal diseases 3 i 4
All other diseases 25 32 57
Accident i 4 5
70 65 135
Deaths under 5 years 10 14 24
Still-born 257
10 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
Coiitlition of Jails an«l C-ounty Homes by Counties for March, 1895.
BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 11
Conflition
12 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH. 13
Mortuary Report for March, 1895.
Towss
AND Reporters.
14 BULLETIN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF HEALTH.
Meteorological Snmniary fur Xorth Carolina, March, 1S95.
Furnished by the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station and State Weather Service.
H. B. Battle, Ph. D., Director. C. F. vox Herumaxx, Meteorologist.
STATION'S.
TEMPERATURE (Degrees Fahr.).
Asheville
Bakersville
Blowing Rock
Charlotte
Chapel Hill
Horse Cove
Littleton
Lenoir
Louisburg
-Mt. Airy
Mt. Pleasant
Marion
Newbern
Oak Ridge
Pittshoro
Raleigh
Rockingham
Roxboro
Soapstone Mount.
SazoQ
Southern Pines....
Salisbury
Southport ,
Willeyton
Weldou
Wilmington
le^ ~;
45.2
Dr P E Hines
BULLETIN
NORTH CAROLINa'bOARD OF HEALTH.
Published Monthly at the Office of the Secretary of the Board, at Raleigh, X. C.
SrBSCRIPTIOX,-e5 CEXTS A YEAR.
•--^
- fOMAl^M/D.rPr-es;, Wilmington. "^ W. P. Beall, M. D Greensboro.
S.-^ ' Y Baitle, M. D- ....Aslieville.
AV'."]f!rrj -RKELL, M. D, •vni..'..Williamston.
JoHX Whiteheab, M. %:' Salisbury.
W. J. LuMSDEN, M. D Elizabeth City.
Prof. F. P. Vexable Chapel Hill.
J. C. Chase, Civ. Eng Wilmington.
Rici)L-i.HD H-:~tEjvis, M. D., Secretary and Treasurer, Ealeigh.
Vol. X. MAY, 1895. No. 2.
Anunal fleeting- of the Board of Health.
-- This .meeting was held "on the second
daK.^*%e aijji.ual meeting of the Medical
SoCi^' vf the- -State of- North Carolina,"
and;"^^^. ''o're took "place in the city of
Got3^^ro on 'Wedj3esda3-^ the 15th instant.
Owffi^tn unavoidable circumstances the
att^^^'ucJ" \vas_^m all
._
' IS^.members "Tbf -the Board for the next
t\so"5^§4;s; are: Dn- W. H. Harrell and John
WJift^ad re'-elected by J-he State Medical
pBoc!etyvProf. F. P. Venable; Ph. D., Mr.
J.'^G:-€kase'andDrs.:W; P. Beall and R. H.
Ee'\vi^>re-appoin"ted,^ and .Dr. W. J. Lums-denT;
appointed by His Excellency Governor
Can to~-stvcceed' Df. W. H. G.. Lucas, who,
oifAccou'it Q^;iriTealth,.hasbeen unable to
atte"iaH.the meftm^". -
'- -
' J^r^riG^prge^Xjy^etl -I'homas was unani-inSistv"
re-^Jeclgd, President. The Secre-
?9%r-^ih |