SECRETARY'S REPORT. TYPHOID FEVER AND DIPHTHERIA.* The following are the brief reports upon typhoid fever and diphtheria that have been received from the physicians. We have continued these reports from year to year because they give a partial record of the diseases named, but more on account of the lessons in sanitation which they contain. No one can read these reports without being impressed with the relationship exhibited between these diseases and filth in some form: Typhoid Fever. - None in my practice; none in town. Diphtheria. One case, not fatal. Could not trace the cause. In my opinion, filth is the most common source of this disease. Alstead GEORGE H. GORHAM, M. D. Typhoid Fever. None in town. Three cases, none fatal. These cases were all imported. Attribute the cause to bad drainage. Amherst J. B. PETTENGill, m. d. Attribute the cause to contam Typhoid Fever. One case. inated water, cesspools, vaults, and decaying vegetable matter. *The reports of the physicians embrace the year 1887. In some instances the physician neglected to sign his name, as will be seen. In several cases both town and name of physician were omitted, and the report was not used. Physicians who have reported, and fail to find the return in the proper place, may feel certain that they are in the list just referred to, as no report has been otherwise omitted that has been received at this office. I. A. W. Diphtheria. None. Think bad sanitary conditions the most common cause of the disease. Amherst Typhoid Fever. - One case, not fatal. Do not know the cause in this case. The patient was poorly nourished, and in a bad condition generally. Diphtheria. Have not seen a case for four years. Think the most common source of the disease is bad drainage, infected milk and water. Typhoid Fever. Three cases, none fatal. Attribute the disease to impure water and air, and other agents unknown to me. Diphtheria. Six cases, none fatal. The sanitary conditions. were good, except in two cases, where the drinking-water was polluted from badly constructed vault. The source of this disease is not yet known to me. Antrim I. G. ANTHOINE, M. D. Typhoid Fever. - Two cases, one fatal; the fatal case in town, the other in Bennington. tary surroundings, as a rule. Diphtheria. Attribute the disease to unsani - Four cases, all four cases fatal. These cases were in Greenfield, and filth was evidently the cause of the disThink polluted water the most common source. ease. East Barrington G. E. OSGOOD, M. D. Attribute one Typhoid Fever. Two cases, both recovered. case to contagion from fecal matter; in the other, cause not discovered. Drinking-water polluted in both cases. Diphtheria. Eleven cases, three fatal. In fatal cases, drainage and all kinds of impurities aided, refuse being kept sacredly housed. Think the most common source of the disease is a germ multiplied through filth. - Barrington WILLIAM WATERHOUSE, M. D. Typhoid Fever. None observed. Diphtheria. Three cases, all recovered. Cause, bad sanitary condition about buildings, and large tract of low land covered with water in winter and drawn off in summer. Think the disease is most commonly caused by bad water and filth about buildings. There were two fatal cases in town. Typhoid Fever. — Three cases, none fatal; two of the cases in town, one in Haverhill. Diphtheria. Four cases, all recovered. Belmont-S. A. MERRILL, M. D. Typhoid Fever. — Two cases, not fatal. Think the disease is caused by a specific germ. Neither of the above cases was caused by impure water; one came home worn by overwork. Diphtheria. None observed. Belmont-F. L. GERALD, M. D. Typhoid Fever. — None observed. Think vaults and cesspools in a foul condition the most common source of the disease. Diphtheria. None observed. Think bad sanitary conditions the common cause of the disease. Berlin Falls - FRANK A. COLBY, M. D. Typhoid Fever. — Twenty-seven cases, three fatal. Attribute the cause to poor food, bad water, uncleanliness, filth, and bad drainage. The drinking-water was polluted in all cases. Diphtheria. Forty-eight cases, twelve fatal. Cause directly traceable to filth, lack of drainage, and bad water. The disease was spread by contagion, owing to the total indifference of parents. Boscawen-E. E. GRAVES, M. D. Typhoid Fever. - Three cases, none fatal; one case was in Canterbury. Could not ascertain cause. Diphtheria. Seven cases, none fatal; Canterbury six, Webster one. Bad drainage in two families. Bradford-W. F. WALLACE, M. d. Typhoid Fever. -Two cases, recovered. water in all cases. Polluted drinking Diphtheria. - None observed. Think filth is the most common source of the disease. Bristol- JOHN C. WHEET, M. D. Typhoid Fever. Six cases, none fatal; two in Alexandria, one each in Hill and Bridgewater. Do not know that the water was polluted. Diphtheria. Eight cases, none fatal; four in town, two in Alexandria, one each in Plymouth and Bridgewater. Typhoid Fever. Bristol - Four cases, none fatal; all in other towns. Attribute the disease to a germ poison. Diphtheria. Three cases in consultation. Brookline ALONZO S. WALLACE, M. D. contracted in Typhoid Fever. - One case. Disease was Boston. were in Diphtheria. Twelve cases; eleven of these cases Mason. Stagnant water and decayed vegetable matter were in the cellars. In my opinion, uncleanliness is the most common source of the disease. Campton Village - A. D. MUCHMORE, M. D. Typhoid Fever. Four cases in my practice; three in Woodstock, one in Thornton; none fatal. Case first in Woodstock. Water good from mountain spring. Drainage bad. Two L's in the rear of main house, one running east from north end, and one east from south end, a platform between them. In this platform is a wooden box leading into covered board drain without any trap, into which dishwater, washing-water, and house slops were thrown. In the south L was bedroom where patient slept next to main building; in the rear of this was a small room about ten feet deep, also walk alongside of this room running to water-closets occupying the whole of the east end of the south L. There are no partitions to prevent the foul air from the waterclosets passing under the whole L to the foundation of main house. The platform floor is not tight, allowing filth to accumulate under it, which becomes wet by rain and water spilled, as washing is done on this platform in the summer. One may easily imagine what an unhealthy place this must be. The patient was quite sick, temperature ranging from 1032° to 1051⁄2°. |