Chickenpox. For two months chickenpox has headed the notifiable diseases listed as to greatest reported prevalence. The December total exceeded the November reports by 220 cases and as shown by the table for December, 1915-17, was higher than the totals for the month both years. Toledo recording 388 cases in November, reported 279 cases for December. Cleveland recorded 119 cases for December, Cincinnati 99, Akron 80 and Columbus 62 cases. Complete reports for Dayton have not been received to date but at least 50 cases were recorded during the month. The six cities reported 689 of the 1,438 cases for the month, 48 percent. Diphtheria. Excluding the 435 cases in the eight cities listed immediately following, the remainder of the December cases, 317, were scattered, having been reported from 140 health districts in 58 counties. Cleveland reported 176 cases, Cincinnati 81, Toledo 46, Akron 43, Dayton 36 (incomplete), Columbus 29, Lima 17 and Findlay 7 cases. The latter two cities have had high case rates for three months past, the reduction for Lima for December not being so marked as the reduction for November, Lima having reported 32, 19 and 17 cases, Findlay 17, 12 and 7 cases for the three months. Scarlet Fever. The total of 752 cases recorded to date of January 15, for scarlet fever was the same figure recorded for diphtheria for the month and 6 cases less than reported for November, although previous years of record show tendency for increase in December over November. Meningitis, Epidemic Cerebrospinal. The reports for December, 1917, more than double the figure for December, 1916, 30 cases against 13. The cases were reported as follows by counties and health districts; Adams Co., Winchester Tp. I; Athens Co., Nelsonville 1; Cuyahoga Co., Cleveland 5; Franklin Co., Columbus I; Madison Tp. 3; Hamilton Co.. Cincinnati 1, Addyston 1; Lucas Co., Toledo 3; Mahoning Co., Smith Tp. 1; Medina Co., Wadsworth 1; Montgomery Co., Dayton 4: Ross Co., Camp Sherman 8. Disease. REPORTED CASES OF NOTIFIABLE DISEASES, DECEMBER, 1915-17, DISTRIBUTION DECEMBER, 1917, FOR CITIES AND FOR VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS. Literature. 879 pieces of 16 varieties of literature were forwarded from this department during the month. Publicity. Nine newspaper publicity stories were released, as follows: Two of general interest to state, released to three press associations, which together serve 100 papers; seven of interest to particular localities, sent to 61 papers. The December number of the Ohio Public Health Journal, comprising 48 pages, frontispiece and cover, completed Volume 8. Nursing Service On December 1 Miss Jessie L. Chapman succeeded Miss Margaret R. Simpson as prevention of blindness nurse. On December I Miss Gertrude R. Steckel resigned from her position as public health nurse for Bellefontaine. She will be succeeded by Miss Annie J. Cunningham. On December 31 Miss Virginia Lewis and Miss Annie J. Cunningham of the Portsmouth Bureau of Community Service resigned. Miss Lewis will take charge of the nursing work of the Columbus Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. Mrs. Grace Burbank is doing public health nursing work throughout Portage County. This service is being supported by a private. organization. The James B. Clow Co. of Chicago has appointed a public health nurse for the employes of its plant in Newcomerstown. Tuberculosis Hospitals Site committee of tentative Tuberculosis Hospital District No. 3 inspected several sites during the month, and expected to call upon the Department in the near future for the approval of one or more of these sites. Admissions and Discharges. From December 1 to 31, 182 notifications were received, 85 of which were of admitted patients, 97 of discharged patients. Of these, 136 were referred to local public health nurses for instruction, investigation and report. Twenty-one were investigated by Division nurses, 14 were found whose histories were unobtainable and II were pending investigation. Of the 57 pending notifications December 1, 36 were investigated by division nurses, three were referred to local nurses, four had histories which were unobtainable, and nine were returned uninvestigated. Eleven new pending cases were added, making a total of 34 pending cases January 1. NOTIFICATION OF TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND DISCHARGES RECEIVED BY THE DIVISION OF TUBERCULOSIS, STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 1917. Cases reported by laymen... Instructions to health officers by telephone. Cases investigated by Department... Cases provided with nursing care by Department nurse. Cases provided with nursing care by special nurse... Cases reported as having impaired vision (November case not reported then.) DIVISION OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE Summary for December 2 11 Dr. E. R. Hayhurst assumed his duties December 18 as consultant to the division. Plans have been made for the direction of the energies. of the department toward the industries manufacturing war materials. Assistance was given the Division of Tuberculosis during the month in listing by counties in the order of their importance the industrial pursuits in Ohio. Attention was given to plans for the issuance of certificates of vaccination to the students of Ohio State University. Cases of Tuberculosis arranged according to the U. S. Census. Classification, reported in connection with gainful occupations: |