DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS BY DIVISIONS

DIVISION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Reported Cases of Notifiable Diseases, Ohio, July, 1918

Prevalence. In order of greatest reported prevalence during the month of July, the notifiable diseases list as follows with comparative figures for June given:

For no other one notifiable disease was a total of 100 or more cases reported for July. For the twelve diseases listed in order of prevalence, the July total is 5.424 compared with June's total of 8,010 reported cases, marked decrease in reported prevalence occurring for all diseases with the exception of typhoid fever, which shows an increase in July over June of 14 reported cases, making the total for typhoid fever practically the same as for July last year (Table 1).

Whooping Cough. For both July and June whooping cough has headed the list of greatest reported prevalence. Delinquent reports for July will probably bring the month's figure in excess of June's total. A rapid checking of deaths from whooping cough for the first six months of this year places the number as high as 406. Reported cases for the six months total 6,869 and, with July added, 8,481-only 244 fewer than reported for the whole of last year.

Smallpox. From the cities were reported 178 of the 341 cases for the month (Table II), Cleveland reporting the largest number, 37 cases. For Hamilton, the 18 reported cases, for Lima and Bucyrus, the 12 cases each, continue the high case rates of several months for these cities.

Diphtheria. Although the July reported cases number only 322, health officers should bear in mind that this disease may be expected to increase in prevalence during succeeding months as past records indicate. For five years July's average of reported cases has been 385, increases continuing to the month of October with an average of 1,470 reported cases and with gradual decreases thereafter until spring.

Meningitis, Cerebrospinal. The 18 reported cases occurred by counties as follows: Athens 1, Belmont 1, Cuyahoga 4, Hamilton 2, Lucas 3, Mahoning, Medina, Meigs, Montgomery, Perry, Ross and Summit I each.

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Poliomyelitis. Table I shows the total for July 31 reported cases well below the two past years' figures for the month - 50 and 100 reported cases. From the northeastern and southwestern parts of the state have been reported the largest number of the cases, 15 in the one and 13 in the other section. By districts, the cases were recorded as follows: Cincinnati 13, Cleveland 5, Canton, Niles, Youngstown and Weathersfield Township, Trumbull County, 2 cases each; Akron, Toledo, Warren, Willoughby Township, Lake County, and Hopewell Township, Perry County, I case each.

TABLE I-REPORTED CASES OF NOTIFIABLE DISEASES, OHIO, JULY, 1916-1918, WITH DISTRIBUTION FOR CITIES AND FOR VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS JULY, 1918, AND CASE RATES PER 1,000 POPULATION, JULY, 1916-1918.

in total figures.

* Reported cases from Camp Sherman and Wright Aviation Field included

TABLE II-REPORTED CASES, TEN NOTIFIABLE DISEASES, WITH TOTAL CASE RATE PER 1,000 POPULATION, OHIO CITIES, JULY, 1918.

Total

Akron

2.134

.098 2,710 257 488 13 43 27 153 178 440 102 1,009

194 25 16 1

TABLE II-REPORTED CASES, TEN NOTIFIABLE DISEASES, WITH TOTAL CASE RATE PER 1,000

POPULATION, OHIO CITIES,

Alliance report incomplete.

Ashland, Gallipolis, Kenton, Marietta and Painesville reported no cases

for July.

3

Conneaut, Ironton and Marion reports delinquent for July.

DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION AND
TUBERCULOSIS

Summary of Activities in July, 1918

Changes in Organization.-Miss Hulda A. Cron was appointed child welfare nurse in the Bureau of Public Health Nursing July 1. Dr. R. G. Paterson, Director, resigned July 31 to take up tuberculosis work with a Red Cross unit in Italy.

Public Health Nursing Service.-Dr. Anna L. Preston was appointed public health nurse at Marietta. Reported cases of inflammation of the eyes of the newborn numbered 143. Six cases were investigated by the Department, instructions were given to health officers by telephone in four cases, six cases were provided with nursing care, and one case of impared vision was reported.

Tuberculosis Hospitals.-Proposed District No. 2 organized by resolution; permanent officers were elected and a resolution to appropriate $100,000 was adopted. Meetings of commissioners in proposed districts 4, 7 and 8 were attended. Chillicothe district hospital was inspected. A joint meeting of commissioners in Springfield Lake district was attended; the meeting rejected the plan of extension recommended by the State Department of Health. Notifications of hospital admissions and discharges received during the month are summarized as follows:

Total notifications. 357; referred to local public health nurses, 261; referred to health department of another state, 1; investigated by Division nurses, 42; histories unobtainable, 23; pending investigation August 1, 30.

Pending investigation July 1, 59: Investigated by Division nurses, 18; referred to local public health nurses, 2; histories unobtainable, 2; returned by local public health nurses, 2; net total pending from June, 39. Total cases pending August 1, 69.

Discharged Tuberculosis Soldiers. - Notifications for July, with totals since the beginning of work in behalf of discharged soldiers, are summarized as follows: