Biennial report of the Kansas State Board of Health. 1893

of county, 23,000; regular physicians practicing medicine in county, 22; eclectic, 6; homeopathic, 3; midwives, 7; registered, 38.

Remarks: Scarlet fever is prevalent in Greenleaf and vicinity, and few cases in and near Hanover, but very mild. Measles has appeared near Hanover and Greeneaf, but of mild type. As against measles, there is no disposition on the part of the people to obey the rules, and when scarlatina is mild, as it has been in this county, it is almost impossible to enforce rules. Many cases are not seen or even heard of by any physicians. On advice from this office, the city schools of Greenleaf were dismissed for a few weeks. Have now resumed again, under strict instructions carried out by Doctors Armstrong and Gardner, with coöperation of superintendent and school board.

WALLACE COUNTY.

Number of deaths during year, 10; births, 32 reported; marriages, 16; dead animals buried, do not know, but quite a number. Water supply: Good. General health of county: Good. Prevailing diseases in county: Diseases have been of several kinds; nothing contagious or infectious. Population of county, about 3,000; regular physicians practicing medicine in county, 2; eclectic, 1; registered, 3.

WILSON COUNTY.

Number of deaths during year, 48; births, 260; contagious diseases, 3 kinds measles, scarlet fever, and pertussis -not over a dozen cases reported; marriages, 155; fumigations after contagious diseases, ordered several; nuisances abated, 2; dead animals buried, 1. Water supply: Scarce, except in the city of Fredonia. General health of county: Fair to good. Prevailing disease in county: Influenza or la grippe. Population of county, about 13,800; regular physicians practicing medicine in county, 19; eclectic, 8; homeopathic, 1; registered, 40, first and last-28 still living in county.

WOODSON COUNTY.

Number of deaths during year, 70; births, 106; contagious diseases, 1 case of scarlet fever; marriages, 77; fumigation after contagious diseases, 1; nuisances abated, about 15; dead animals buried, 4 or 5. Water supply: Scant for cattle, but well water good. General health of county: Good; some la grippe followed with pneumonia. Prevailing disease in county: La grippe. Population of county, about 10,000; regular physicians practicing medicine in county, 10; eclectic, 4; homeopathic, 1; registered, 16.

HEALTH OF TOWNS.

The following circular letter was mailed to one physician in every town in this state by the Secretary. The State Board desires to express its thanks to the corresponding physicians who have so willingly and gratuitously reported these much-desired and interesting facts relative to the sanitary conditions of their respective localities. The Secretary regrets the omission of some interesting reports, from various towns, because some were received too late, while others did not have the signature of the reporting physician.

TOPEKA, KAS., January 10, 1894.

DEAR DOCTOR-The law creating the State Board of Health requires me to make an annual report to the governor of the sanitary condition of the state; therefore, I am endeavoring to obtain a report from one physician in every town in this state, with reference to those influences which affect the health of the people, such as the water supply, drainage, sewage disposal, etc., and also the number and character of

prevailing epidemics occurring in the various towns in Kansas, and the condition of the public health in general during the year 1893. I hope the doctor to whom this circular is addressed will promptly respond to the inquiries proposed therein. I particularly request that, if for any reason you cannot respond to the within inquiries, you will please give them to some other local physician who will do so.

While we receive good reports from the health officers of about 75 counties, there are about 30 counties from which we have received no report whatever; therefore, I have mailed this circular to one physician in every town in the state, in order that I may receive a sanitary report from every county. You are at liberty to communicate anything upon other topics in case you have time and feel disposed to do so. I herein submit the questions upon which the information is sought regarding the health of your town and surrounding country. Your reply will be published in my annual report over your name, a copy of which you will receive as soon as it is published. Hoping to receive a prompt reply, I am,

The following questions were submitted to the sanitary correspondents:

1. Including all sickness, has there been more or less during the year 1893 than in previous years? 2. What is the water supply of your town?

(a) Is the water supply good?

(b) In all months of the year?

3. Has typhoid fever been unusually prevalent?

(a) In what months most prevalent?

(b) Has it been traced in any instance to a special source?

4. Is disinfection of excreta of typhoid patients insisted upon by the physicians in your vicinity?

5. Does your board of health make sanitary inspections systematically, or does it act only upon complaints received?

6. Extent and prevailing type of scarlet fever:

(a) Are isolation and disinfection usually practiced with scarlet-fever patients?

7. After death from contagious diseases, what precautions are observed concerning funerals, disinfection, etc.?

8. To what extent has diphtheria prevailed, and type?

(a) Proportion of deaths?

(b) Are isolation and disinfection practiced?

(d) General sanitary condition of houses infected with diphtheria.

9. Have malarial diseases prevailed more or less than in 1892?

(a) If at all, what is the general character?

10. Extent and prevailing type of measles.

(a) Restrictive precautions.

11. In general, what is the sanitary condition of town as regards sewage disposal and drainage? 12. What sanitary improvements have been made during the year?

13. Has your board of health issued a code of sanitary regulations?

14. Is there, in your opinion, any advance in public sentiment on questions of public hygiene?

15. Are you in favor of the legislature enacting a law requiring every person to be a graduate of some reputable medical college before he or she shall engage in the practice of medicine in Kansas?

In response to the above inquiries, the following have been received:

TOWN OF ABILENE-E. E. HAZLETT, M. D.

1. Including all sickness, has there been more or less during the year 1893 than the average in previous years? There was less sickness than usual last year.

2. What is the water supply of your town? Is from a natural, inexhaustible spring, and is the best in the world, being almost entirely devoid of organic matter. 3. Has typhoid fever been unusually prevalent? No; a few questionable cases only. (a) In what months most prevalent? September. (b) Has it been traced in any instance to a special source? No.

4. Is disinfection of excreta of typhoid patients insisted upon by the physicians in your vicinity? Yes; so far as I am aware.

5. Does your board of health make sanitary inspections systematically, or does it act only upon complaints received? Only when complaints are received, or when I myself see some violation of the law.

6. Extent and prevailing type of scarlet fever: A few cases only, of the regular mild form. (a) Are isolation and disinfection usually practiced with scarlet-fever patients? Yes.

7. After death from contagious diseases, what precautions are observed concerning funerals, disinfection, etc.? Funerals are generally of a private character, and disinfection thorough.

8. To what extent has diphtheria prevailed, and type? One case only reported, but diphtheria was assigned as the cause of death on 14 death certificates. (b) Are isolation and disinfection practiced? Yes; so far as I am able to know. (c) Can you give any facts relating to its beginning and mode of spreading? No; the cases have, as a rule, been of sporadic character, scattered throughout the county. (d) General sanitary condition of houses infected with diphtheria: Don't know; having been notified a month or so after the demise of the patients, did not investigate. 9. Have malarial diseases prevailed more or less than in 1892? Less. (a) If at all, what is the general character? Of remittent type-the so-called typho-malarial, principally. We have very few intermittents.

-am sat

10. Extent and prevailing type of measles: Thirty-five cases reported isfied many more not reported, owing to the apathy on the part of the physicians. Two deaths were reported from this cause.

11. In general, what is the sanitary condition of town as regards sewage disposal and drainage? The sewerage of the town is not good; garbage is dumped into the streets and alleys promiscuously.

12. What sanitary improvements have been made during the year? None. 13. Has your board of health issued a code of sanitary regulations? No.

14. Is there, in your opinion, any advance in public sentiment on questions of public hygiene? No.

15. Are you in favor of the legislature enacting a law requiring every person to be a graduate of some reputable medical college before he or she shall engage in the practice of medicine in Kansas? Decidedly yes.

TOWN OF ALMA-G. C. BEALS, M. D.

1. Including all sickness, has there been more or less during the year 1893 than the average in previous years? So far as I can observe, about the same.

2. What is the water supply of your town? Drilled wells. (a) Is the water supply good! Yes, with exception of being intensely "hard." (b) In all months of the year? Yes.

3. Has typhoid fever been unusually prevalent? No.

4. Is disinfection of excreta of typhoid patients insisted upon by the physicians

in your vicinity? Never heard of its being done.

5. Does your board of health make sanitary inspections systematically, or does it act only upon complaints received? Sanitary inspection is something we never have to complain of to health board here.

6. Extent and prevailing type of scarlet fever: Two or three; one died. (a) Are isolation and disinfection usually practiced with scarlet-fever patients? None whatever, except what the physician is able to accomplish.

7. After death from contagious diseases, what precautions are observed concerning funerals, disinfection, etc.? Precaution is a procedure unknown here.

8. To what extent has diphtheria prevailed, and type? None in the last year. 9. Have malarial diseases prevailed more or less than in 1892? No. (a) If at all, what is the general character? Nothing different from the ordinary.

10. Extent and prevailing type of measles: None.

11. In general, what is the sanitary condition of town as regards sewage disposal and drainage? Drainage is fairly good, but it is all of a surface character. 12. What sanitary improvements have been made during the year? None. 13. Has your board of health issued a code of sanitary regulations? No. 14. Is there, in your opinion, any advance in public sentiment on questions of public hygiene? The subject of public hygiene would be regarded as a curiosity here.

TOWN OF AMERICUS-A. B. ROYAL, M. D.

1. Including all sickness, has there been more or less during the year 1893 than the average in previous years? More; two epidemics of la grippe.

2. What is the water supply of your town? Wells and cisterns. (a) Is the water supply good? Yes. (b) In all months of the year? Yes.

3. Has typhoid fever been unusually prevalent? No. (a) In what months most prevalent? August and September. (b) Has it been traced in any instance to a special source? Yes; to foul well; three families infected from same well.

4. Is disinfection of excreta of typhoid patients insisted upon by the physicians in your vicinity? Yes.

5. Does your board of health make sanitary inspections systematically, or does it act only upon complaints received? Presumably upon complaints received, as we have never seen them in our neighborhood.

6. Extent and prevailing type of scarlet fever: Few isolated cases; mild type. (a) Are isolation and disinfection usually practiced with scarlet-fever patients? Yes. 7. After death from contagious diseases, what precautions are observed concerning funerals, disinfection, etc.? Too few precautions are observed.

8. To what extent has diphtheria prevailed, and type? Few cases; mild type. (a) Proportion of deaths? No deaths. (b) Are isolation and disinfection practiced? Yes. (c) Can you give any facts relating to its beginning and mode of spreading? No, except by contagion. (d) General sanitary condition of houses infected with diphtheria: Fair.

9. Have malarial diseases prevailed more or less than in 1892? More. (a) If at all, what is the general character? Tertian fever.

10. Extent and prevailing type of measles: None.

1 1 T

reneral, what is the sanitary condition of town as regards sewage disposal Drainage good; no sewerage system.

y improvements have been made during the year? None, except

ard of health issued a code of sanitary regulations? If so, have

, in your opinion, any advance in public sentiment on questions of ne? Yes.

you in favor of the legislature enacting a law requiring every person to ate of some reputable medical college before he or she shall engage in the f medicine in Kansas? Yes.

TOWN OF ANTHONY-A. H. BALDWIN, M. D.

1. Including all sickness, has there been more or less during the year 1893 than the average in previous years? There has been an increase.

2. What is the water supply of your town? Bluff creek. (a) Is the water supply good? Yes. (b) In all months of the year? Until last year; from June to October, water very low and impure.

3. Has typhoid fever been unusually prevalent? Yes. (a) In what months most prevalent? July to November. (b) Has it been traced in any instance to a special source? No; only supposition that it came from bad water.

4. Is disinfection of excreta of typhoid patients insisted upon by the physicians in your vicinity? It is.

5. Does your board of health make sanitary inspections systematically, or does it act only upon complaints received? One a year; in spring, inspection is made and garbage, etc., ordered removed.

6. Extent and prevailing type of scarlet fever: Have had no marked cases. (a) Are isolation and disinfection usually practiced with scarlet-fever patients? Yes.

7. After death from contagious diseases, what precautions are observed concerning funerals, disinfection, etc.? Have had no contagious diseases during year. 8. To what extent has diphtheria prevailed, and type? No cases.

9. Have malarial diseases prevailed more or less than in 1892? More. (a) If at all, what is the general character? Complicated with typhoid fever.

10. Extent and prevailing type of measles: None.

11. In general, what is the sanitary condition of town as regards sewage disposal and drainage? Sewage is removed as ordered or complaint is made; drainage in city poor.

12. What sanitary improvements have been made during the year? None.

13. Has your board of health issued a code of sanitary regulations? Not that I know of.

14. Is there, in your opinion, any advance in public sentiment on questions of public hygiene? Very little, if any, in our locality.

TOWN OF ARCADIA-JULIUS PASLEY, M. D.

1. Including all sickness, has there been more or less during the year 1893 than the average in previous years? It has been less.

2. What is the water supply of your town? It is by wells. (a) Is the water supply good? Very good. (b) In all months of the year? Some of the wells failed in November and December; all were quite low.

3. Has typhoid fever been unusually prevalent? It has not. (a) In what months most prevalent? October, November, and December. (b) Has it been traced in any instance to a special source?

It has not.

4. Is disinfection of excreta of typhoid patients insisted upon by the physicians in your vicinity? It has been.

5. Does your board of health make sanitary inspections systematically, or does it act only upon complaints received? Only upon complaints received.

6. Extent and prevailing type of scarlet fever: No scarlet fever in 1893. (a) Are isolation and disinfection usually practiced with scarlet-fever patients? They

are.

7. After death from contagious diseases, what precautions are observed concerning funerals, disinfection, etc.? Disinfections used in all cases.

« Previous Continue »

Books