VACCINATION STATUS OF REPORTED CASES.

A number of State departments of health endeavor to ascertain the vaccination histories of all persons contracting smallpox. The following gives a summary of the vaccination status of such persons in these States for the calendar years 1914 and 1915, and the available information for 1912 and 1913:

TRICHINIASIS.

Between December 1 and 8, 1915, 10 cases of trichiniasis, with 3 deaths, were reported in Portland, Oreg. All of the cases were in Italians who had eaten infected sausage, samples of which upon examination were found to contain large numbers of encisted larvæ.

TUBERCULOSIS.

The information which city and State health departments are securing of the prevalence of tuberculosis is improving. Cases are being reported more frequently so that the health department's information of where the sick are and the conditions under which they are living is constantly becoming more complete.

During the calendar year 1915 the highest recorded case rate in the continental United States was in New York State, where 3.2 cases were recorded for each 1,000 of the population. Hawaii had 3.5 cases reported for each 1,000 population, and Mississippi 4.2. In the latter State, however, the means of collecting the information is not sufficiently accurate to warrant comparison with other States. Many of the cases undoubtedly are reported several times.

Of the larger cities, Newark, N. J., Chicago, Ill., and Los Angeles, Cal., reported the highest number of cases in proportion to the population. Newark recorded 5.4 per 1,000 population, Chicago 5.2, and Los Angeles 5.1. It is not to be assumed that Newark and Chicago have a greater proportion of tuberculous persons than many other cities. The probable explanation is that the health departments have been especially interested in the disease and have secured the cooperation of practicing physicians in the reporting of cases. Los Angeles probably has a relatively large number of such persons, as many go there from other States in the hope of regaining their health.

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3 Deaths were not reported.

TYPHOID FEVER.

Typhoid fever, while one of the infections which is to be found in practically all sections of the country, is undoubtedly becoming less and less prevalent owing to the more general knowledge regarding the means by which it is spread and the improvement in municipal and individual water supplies, supervision of the handling of milk, and the screening of houses.

Of

The highest recorded case rates in States during the calendar year 1915 were in Mississippi, Maryland, and Virginia, where rates of 3.2 per 1,000 population, 2.4, and 2, respectively, were reported. these States, however, the methods employed by Maryland are the only ones which are sufficiently accurate to make the results available for comparison with other States.

As indicating the excellence of the reports of cases being received, the fatality rates in Utah and the District of Columbia are of special interest. În Utah this rate was 10.5, in the District of Columbia 11.7 per 100 cases, showing practically 10 reported cases for each registered death.

Of the larger cities the highest recorded case rates were in Nashville, Tenn., Birmingham, Ala., and Toledo, Ohio, with rates of 3.6, 2.4, and 2.3, respectively, per 1,000 population.

The lowest fatality rates of the larger cities, which usually may be taken as an index of the completeness of the reported cases, were recorded in Lynn, Mass., with a rate of 4.9 per 100 cases, in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a rate of 6.7, and Hartford, Conn., with one of 8.9.

Oregon.

Porto Rico.

South Carolina.

4 Deaths were not reported.