CALIFORNIA. San Francisco, 360,000. Report for November: Total deaths, 564; death rate, 18.79; deaths from cerebro-spinal meningitis, 2; typhoid fever, 10; bubonic plague, 1; whooping cough, I; diphtheria, 10.

CONNECTICUT.-The State Board of Health bulletin for November reports 1,104 deaths. This was 42 more than in October,

and 7 more than in November of last year, and 77 more than the average number of deaths in November for the five years preceding. The death rate was 15.1 for the large towns, for the small towns 13.2, and for the whole State, 14.6.

The deaths reported from infectious diseases were 106, being 9.6 per cent. of the total mortality.

The infectious diseases continue to prevail in varying numbers. The prevalence of measles has much diminished, but scarlet fever has increased very markedly. It has occurred in 42 different towns, yet notwithstanding that widespread prevalence in a territorial sense, the vigilance of the local health officers is proven in the limited number of cases in the whole State. A disease as casily communicated as scarlet fever, if occurring in more than 40 towns during one month would, under old methods of management, have caused a good many hundred cases. But by watchful isolation and efficient disinfection the total cases reported were less

than 250.

Small-pox has also invaded the State from the surrounding States more frequently than for several years. There have been. 22 cases reported during the month in 10 towns.

All the above diseases have been characterized by a remarkable mildness of type.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.-278,880. There were 124 deaths in the District during the week ended January 4, of which 55 were of whites and 69 colored. In the corresponding week of last year they numbered 131. The death rate for whites was 141; for the colored, 40.0; and for all, 22.1 per thousand. Mortality from acute lung diseases, as compared with the last report, increased from 20 to 26, and from consumption from 13 to 15. There was a decrease in deaths from brain disorders from 16 to 13, and from affections of the heart, 7 to 3. There were 6 fatal cases of typhoid fever, 7 of diphtheria, and 5 of malignant growths. By violence 3 deaths occurred, all accidental.

ILLINOIS.-Chicago, 1,758,025. Report for November: Total deaths from all causes, 1,811. Death rate, 11.91. Deaths under five years, 447. Deaths from consumption, 195; bronchitis, 64; pneumonia, 235; diphtheria and croup, 55; cancer, 73.

The total exemption of the city from small-pox-no case having been discovered since August 12th, ult.—was interrupted by an imported Wisconsin case found on the 12th, after a three months' in

terval. The victim-a Pole, 45 years old-had an imperfect, faint, vaccinal scar from childhood; never revaccinated. On the 18th three residents, who had been exposed to the Pole, and were under surveillance, developed the disease; these had never been vaccinated prior to exposure. On the 21st another imported Wisconsin case was discovered; also never vaccinated. At midnight of the 30th there were four cases remaining in the Isolation Hospital--the first case having been discharged recovered. These new cases were made the occasion of renewed appeals, in the Weekly Bulletins, to the unprotected public to "Get vaccinated."

INDIANA.-Reports to the State Board of Health show there were 2,842 deaths in the State in December, 1901, which is an annual rate of 13.3 in 1,000. Deaths under five, 531; one to four years of age, 151, or 5.6 per cent. Deaths from tuberculosis, 359; typhoid fever, 86; diphtheria, 51; scarlet fever, 18; measles, 3: whooping cough, 11; pneumonia, 380; cerebro-spinal meningitis, 22; influenza, 25; puerperal fever, 14; cancer, 81; violence, 148. Cases of small-pox reported from 27 places, 465, with 2 deaths.

IOWA. State Board of Health Bulletin for December sums up the outbreaks of infectious disease during the month of November: Diphtheria in 14 localities; scarlet fever in 29; small-pox in 68; typhoid fever in 3. The State has been divided into eight public health districts. Local boards of health have been notified that the Secretary of the State Board of Health cannot personally respond to calls for visits to infected localities. All such calls should be made directly upon the members of the State Board of Health at their residences, and should be made by the mayor or township clerk. No provision is made by the State for the payment of expenses for such visits. They must be borne by the city, town or township making the call.

KANSAS.-The Secretary of the State Board of Health reports for December the existence of small-por at twenty-five localities, 380 cases, I death.

LOUISIANA. New Orleans, 300,000 (80,000 colored). Report for November: Total deaths, 542 (200 colored); death rates, white, 16.63; colored, 21.68: 19.65; deaths under five years, 114 (40 colored); from typhoid fever, II; malarial diseases, 13; scarlet fever, 6; whooping cough, 1; croup and diphtheria, 6; consumption, 57 (34 colored); cancer, 18.

MASSACHUSETTS.-The Thirty-second Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts, for the year 1900, with its 915 pages, comprehends, as usual, a wide range of sanitary work.

The higher death-rate for 1900, as compared with the previous three years, although much less than the average for ten years, is attributed to a greater prevalence of infectious diseases. But the decrease in these diseases for a long period of years is satisfactory evidence of good work in the State, the death-rate from consumption alone being considerably less than half what it was fifty years ago, and from typhoid fever the improvement being especially notable. The 209 cases of small-pox in 1899 and 1900, with 17 deaths, furnish the usual proof of the value of vaccination, and gave occasion for two circulars of information on small-pox and vaccination from the board which would have prevented the present prevalence of this disease if the board's advice had been followed.

The sanitary statutes reported as enacted are: Requiring the State Board to examine and report annually upon all main sewer outlets in the State, and upon their sewage disposal, with recommendations; that the business of killing and rendering animals should be licensed each year, with a nominal fee for the license; prohibiting the taking of oysters and other shellfish from contaminated waters; providing hospitals for small-pox and other dangerous diseases; prohibiting the sale and manufacture of fabrics and papers containing a certain percentage of arsenic; authorizing cities and towns to take waters for emergency use; prohibiting the sale of articles of food and drink which contain antiseptics; requiring labels on certain article of food and drink.

Of the more than 600 pages devoted to a most thorough study of water and sewage, 100 are given to the action of the board in reply to requests for information and advice from cities and towns and boards and corporations. Then follow papers containing full analyses and elaborate tables on examination of water supplies; on examination of rivers; on water supply statistics; on filtration of water; on the action of water upon metallic or metal-lined service pipes; on the retention of bacteria in ice when ice is formed under different conditions; on the efficiency of water filters; on the examination of spring waters; on the consumption of water in cities and towns in Massachusetts.

Under the laws providing for the inspection of food and drugs, 10.122 samples were examined during the year, including 6,232 of

milk, with the result of 94 prosecutions and 89 convictions, involving fines of $1,890.70.

There were 53.389 packages of diphtheria antitoxin, of 1.500 units each, issued to cities and towns; and 5,173 cultures were made for diagnosis of diphtheria. The examinations for diagnosis of tuberculosis were 746; 76 specimens of blood were examined for malaria infection and 62 for typhoid fever.

There were 32,615 notices of cases of infectious diseases received and recorded during the year.

Of 157 samples of paper and woven fabrics examined for arsenic, 34 were found to contain it, but only 7 in quantities beyond the limit allowed by law; and of 186 samples of dress goods, 81 contained arsenic, of which 27 had amounts beyond the legal limit.

In an exhaustive study of cancer by Dr. W. F. Whitney, the conclusion is reached that the great increase in cancer, as shown by the mortality returns, is apparent rather than real, due to better diagnosis and to registration less inaccurate.

The statistical summaries of disease and mortality are at present incomplete in many essential details, but they are of value, and perhaps chiefly as the possible beginning of placing that important subject where it belongs, wholly in the hands of the State Board of Health. Under the board's skillful management the subject of vital statistics might be made a credit to the State, as it unfortunately is not now, and of very much greater practical use.

BOSTON, 573.590.-Deaths during the month of October, 878. Death rate, 18.37. Deaths under five, 269. Deaths from "general diseases," 266; of which from tubercle of the lungs, 112; typhoid fever, 31; diphtheria, 13; alcoholism, 8; cancer, 16. Infectious diseases reported during the month, small-pox 49 casesno deaths.

MICHIGAN. The Secretary of the State Board reports for the month of December, 1901, compared with the preceding month, pleuritis, pneumonia, scarlet fever, inflammation of kidneys, smallpox, erysipelas, inflammation of bowels and cerebro-spinal meningitis were more prevalent; and intermittent fever, remittent fever, whooping cough and diphtheria were less prevalent. Reports from all sources show cerebro-spinal meningitis reported at 5 places more; whooping cough at I place less; measles at 12 places more; diphtheria at II places less; typhoid fever at 57 places less;