Sidebilder
PDF
ePub
[merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

Entered as second-class matter February 21, 1922, at the post office at Sacramento, California, under the
Act of August 24, 1912.
Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917.

Vol. II, No. 21

Milk Can Sterilization.

[blocks in formation]

plant. In making the counts on the centimeters, or about one pint, of stercans they were rinsed with 400 cubic ilized water and only the bacteria found by the first rinsing are represented in the figures given here; therefore, the in the cans, but indicate their general counts do not show all of the bacteria condition. The work performed with four 10-gallon cans is taken as an example of what was found in cans which were unsterilized and those which were steamed for 25 minutes in a concrete sterilizer and dried. These examples are typical of the general results obtained in the investigations.

With the advent of hot weather the sterilization of milk cans is of the utmost importance from the bacteriologic and economic standpoints. This applies especially to the cans which are returned supposedly in a clean, sanitary condition to be refilled by the producer. Unless sterilized on the farm, cans which have not been treated in a thorough manner by the dealer will probably be the cause of his receiving very poor if not extremely undesirable milk in the next shipment. Even when In the first rinsing of one unsterilized cans are washed and rinsed soon after can soon after washing 47,000,000 bacbeing emptied, but are not sterilized, teria were found, while the count for a they will usually contain at least several similar can immediately after sterilization was 3,600. Another similar unmillion bacteria, especially if a number sterilized can which was held 24 hours of utensils are washed and rinsed in yielded 16,000,000,000 bacteria at the the same water. In warm weather, first rinsing, while in the fourth can, these millions will be increased to bil- which had been sterilized and dried, lions in 24 or 48 hours, for in such cans only 16,800 bacteria were obtained by plenty of moisture and food material the first rinsing after 24 hours. The for bacterial growth are usually present. unsterilized can which had been held 24 Some experiments have been re- hours. would have contaminated milk cently conducted by the Dairy Division placed in it with over 400,000 bacteria of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. per cubic centimeter, as compared with Milk cans were washed and rinsed and probably not more than one organism bacteria counts were made on them per cubic centimeter in the correspondboth before and after sterilization and though not meant to be taken as These counts, aling sterilized can. on similar cans which were held for standard in any sense of the word, do 24 and 48 hours. The lids were left on indicate that thorough sterilization of the cans and they were held in much milk cans is a most important factor, the same manner as if they had been especially in warm weather.-U. S. returned to the producer from a milk Department of Agriculture.

a

Preventive Medicine Has
Large Place in Living.

franchise and new

Vacation Time Notes.

For those who have no definite disease, and are just "run down," no special vacation routine is required in order that they may return to their duties with a great measure of increased mental and physical strength. Rest in the open air is what will do them the most good, and as the program of most vacations in the summer provides a large amount of this, even those who do not deliberately seek it will inevitably benefit.

Of course, in order that one may not accidentally contract an infectious disease while out of town, the ordinary precautions must be taken.

Sir George Newman, medical officer of health of Great Britain, is a strong advocate of a policy that would make the practice of medicine an integral factor in the social life of all people. He expressed this opinion recently in the following words: "No medical man who is in a right sense a man of the world can have failed to ponder on the near relationship which obtains between the practice of medicine and the social life of the people. It has often been said that our patients are not cases but men, women and children, each with a separate personality, environment, heredity, and variation, with individual habits, training, temperament Find out whether typhoid fever is and psychology. We can not be wise healers of the patient of the community prevalent in the neighborhood selected without a large sympathy and a liberal or your vacation, and if you can not humanism. We are the witnesses of a be certain that it is not, have yourself strange and rapid transition in the life immunized against the disease before of the people as a whole, an enlarging leaving the city, by your physician, who, social complexes; upon request, will give you the three higher wages, shorter hours of work, doses of typhoid vaccine required to increased leisure, high prices and demo- give you an immunity that will last for cratic aspirations are not remote from at least two and, possibly, for many, the national health and well-being. The doctor must be the missionary of hygiene, the chief educator of the people in ways of health. In being that he can not escape his share of responsibility in the study and handling of many of the medical sociological questions which surround us-education, sobriet cleanness of living, the prevalence of venereal disease, prostitution, the penal laws, the causes of certain crimes, the integrity of family life-all such questions concern us and to fulfill our vows we must be concerned with them. The ing-house huckleberry pie, jocously alcultivation of international science, luded to as containing "first a berry, cooperation and amity should also, I then a fly," since it is the germs carried think, be added. It is essential that we on the fly's feet that are the real menace. should remember that whilst these Look out for "bed-bug palaces," since, issues belong to the warp and woof of besides the annoyance caused, such inmedical polity, the decisive factor is not sects may inoculate one with disease. medical and movements in favor of their determination on medical ground are only doomed to failure."

Paresis (or general paralysis) and locomotor ataxia, diseases due to syphilis of the nervous system, have resisted treatment with drugs that kill the germs of syphilis in other organs of the body. In 1915 two American chemists described a new form of a drug, arsenic, that has been found to cure syphilis in animals. During the past three years physicians at the University of Wisconsin have treated cases of paresis with this new arsenical, tryparsamide, and have secured some striking results. "While tryparsamide can not be called a cure for general paralysis and locomotor ataxia, the effects as reported by the Wisconsin investigators, appear to be

years. Of course, everyone should be revaccinated against smallpox, if this has not been done within ten years.

For your comfort and protection against other diseases do not go where mosquitoes abound and where the house arrangements permit access of these insects.

Neither should one patronize places where flies are allowed access to the food, either in the kitchen or the dining room, for the food over which much more dangerous than the boardthese nasty insects have crawled is

Don't eat any food that is under suspicion of being spoiled, either from its history, or the evidence of your sight, smell or taste, since serious digestive disturbances, including "summer complaint," may result.

By all means see that your drinking water comes from a safe source-not from a well or cistern into which sewage may drain.

Before you go to the country your teeth should be put in good condition.

If showing any evidence of any illness whatever (including evestrain), you should go to the family physician, or other medical authority, for advice.

Child Dies From
Bite by Rabid Dog.

Leprosy Amenable

to Treatment.

Leprosy is in a measure amenable to

A child in Oakland, who was bitten by a dog April 4th, while living in Los Angeles county, died of rabies, June treatment, says the U. S. Public Health 26th, in the Alameda County Hospital. Service. During the last ten years The child was bitten on the forefinger (1912-21) a considerable percentage of and six days later was given the Pas- the lepers segregated at the Kalihi teur treatment upon the receipt of a

Of those

paroled about 13 per cent have relapsed and have returned to segregation; but about one-fourth of these were later paroled for the second time. In all, 242 lepers were paroled; 31 relapsed and seven of these were later paroled. Ten were completely released from parole.

report of positive findings for rabies in Hospital, near Honolulu, and on the dog. The wound was not cauterized Molokai Island have been paroled; that with nitric acid. Treatment was com-is, they have been released as being pleted without intermission. On June "not a menace to the public health," but 5th a dog which had been kept in confinement for a period of 40 days was have been required to report for exreleased and on the same day bit this amination at certain intervals which child upon the same forefinger which vary with the individual case. had been bitten previously by the rabid dog. The child with his family left for Oakland June 16th where he remained until his death. He was well until June 25th when he showed typical symptoms of rabies which became in creasingly aggravating until the time of his death the following day. Less than The chance of arresting the disease one per cent of individuals who have decreased with the length of time that received the Pasteur treatment die of it had been allowed to go without treatrabies. It is not believed that the bitement unless this period was seven years of the second dog is associated in any or more. Apparently patients who surway with this case. Apparently, this patient came within the exceedingly small class of individuals in whom immunity is not produced through the

Pasteur treatment.

Too often, because medical officers of health

desire to secure prevention, they are stated

vive without treatment for seven years possess powers of resistance that slightly increase their chances for marked improvement under treatment.

to

Those who desire it are treated with chaulmoogra oil and its derivatives. The parole system was begun in 1912 and has worked admirably. Those to be in favor of the nationalization of the medical profession, but will paroled appear nationalization their have told not secure prevention any more than panel friends that the conditions existing at practice will lessen avoidable sickness. Better the hospital were good; and the mere training and better understanding will mean better results for the medical officer of health fact that they had been released has and the state want the help of the general shown that segregation might lead to medical practitioner in the direction of the cure and not to lifelong confinement, as practice of preventive medicine. We realize that for years to come the main function of it almost invariably did previous to the general practitioner will be the treat- 1912. As a consequence many lepers, ment of disease, but we are confident that instead of concealing the disease up to when the new medical curriculum gets into the last possible moment (and thereby full working order, the medical man, during his course of training, will be animated with spreading it through the community) the spirit of prevention which we hope, in are now surrendering of their own the language of Sir George Newman, will accord and taking treatment. This remain with him "as a pervading influence, earlier surrender and earlier treatment an attitude of mind, permeating and guiding all clinical study and practice,' and so, lead- hasten the degree of improvement that ing directly to the promotion of national will secure parole and will later, perhealth.-Medical Officer. haps, complete release. About 70 per cent of these who have been paroled were in segregation for less than two

BUILDING SOUND BONES. Sunlight and nourishing food mean a sturdy years. youngster, almost too active for the mother's peace of mind; the lack of them means a round bellied little child waddling on bowed, skinny legs. It isn't always the child of the wealthy who is sturdy, however, for although his parents can afford sunlight, they also

afford food too rich for his little digestive system and entertainment too frequent and too exciting for his little nervous system."Hygeia.

In the last fifty years, the science of more medicine has advanced than in the previous fifty centuries. But the average man is still willing to tell you infallible remedy for a cough or the rheumatism.-Hygeia.

or

woman

an

[blocks in formation]

Typhoid Fever.

18 cases of typhoid fever have been reported, as follows: Alhambra 1, Los Angeles County 2, Los Angeles 3, Rialto 1, San Leandro 1, San Francisco 1, San Joaquin County 1, Stockton 1, Red Bluff 1, Healdsburg 1, Colusa 1, Contra Costa County 1, San Bernardino County 1, Imperial County 1, California 1.

Cerebrospinal Meningitis.

501 cases of measles have been reported, as follows: Oakland 20, Chico 5, Santa Clara County 15, Palo Alto 17, Berkeley 15, Long Beach 12, Alhambra 11, Pasadena 7, Los Angeles County 15, San Leandro 8, Alameda 16, Sacramento 34, Willits 6, Tracy 5, San Joaquin County 5, Lodi 5, Calistoga 5, Gilroy 29, Alameda County 2, Redwood City 4, Orange County 2, Mill Valley 4, Sausalito 2, Red Bluff 2. Healdsburg 3, Burbank 3, Carmel 1, Monterey 2, Los Angeles 71, San Francisco 122, Santa Cruz County 4, Monterey County 1, Monrovia 1, Hawthorne 2, El Segundo 3, Santa Monica 1, San Luis Obispo County 2, Butte County 5, Lompoc 4, Benicia 4, Tuolumne County 3, Fresno County 1, Contra Costa County 1, Merced County 3, Stockton 3, Vacaville 1. Manteca 3, Tulare Two cases of poliomyelitis have been County 1, Santa Ana 1, Sacramento County 3, ported, one from Contra Costa County and Richmond 2, Fullerton 1, Huntington Park 1,1 from Los Angeles. Pacific Grove 2.

Scarlet Fever.

74 cases of scarlet fever have been reported, as follows: Los Angeles 27, Oakland 4, San Francisco 6, Pasadena 4, Sacramento 1, Stockton 1, Marin County 1, Burbank 2, Ventura County 1, Alameda 3, Long Beach 4, Monrovia 2, Los Angeles County 2, San Diego County 1, Chula Vista 1, Patterson 1, Fresno 1, Chico 2, Santa Ana 1, Berkeley 2, Riverside 1, Richmond 1, San Bernardino County 2, San Jacinto 3.

Four cases of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis have been reported, as follows: Alameda 1, Bakersfield 1, San Francisco 1, Los Angeles 1.

Poliomyelitis.

Leprosy.

Sacramento reported one case of leprosy. Epidemic Encephalitis.

re

Los Angeles reported 1 case of epidemic encephalitis.

Rabies (Human).

Los Angeles County reported one case of human rabies.

*From reports received on July 2d and 3d for week ending June 30th.

[merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]
[merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Entered as second-class matter February 21, 1922, at the post office at Sacramento, California, under the
Act of August 24, 1912, .
Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917.

Vol. II, No. 22

Making Light of a

JULY 14, 1923

GUY P. JONES
EDITOR

Serious Disease.

Biwonkycaudatus William 1066, or the Arangopseudospattus Buggins 1927-to the great detriment of euphonic and scientific English

and even the dates are omitted.

A writer in the Medical Officer, pub-and to the lasting disgrace of those egotistic describers. With diseases, more fortunately, lished in London, makes light of the we have been spared in general this personal United States Public Health Service advertisement. Hippocrates, Galen and Rhazes did not seek to perpetuate their names so report of tularaemia in our neighboring cheaply; nor do we talk of Rickets Glisson State of Utah. The criticism might be 1650, or of Scarlet Fever Sydenham 1675. The few diseases known by the names of their worthy of more serious consideration, first describers are called shortly by those were it not for the fact that this over-names alone-Adison's or Graves' diseasesseas publication has often written face- Really good advertising ability is found pretiously concerning scientific investigations into communicable diseases and their control undertaken by American workers. A few months ago an article in the Medical Officer ridiculed a serious outbreak of botulism caused by infected canned food reported in an Indiana town. In it the writer wondered "if the water were not tinned" and wandered far afield in his false interpretation of a scientific report. Cynical, satyrical writing makes good reading and there is real enjoyment to be had in the editorial reprinted here.

In reading, it must be remembered, however, that jackrabbits are native to Utah but not to London.

A "NEW" DISEASE.

When a person observes that an ordinary worm has developed a kink in either of its tails, or that a previously. sedate spider has affected spats, he proceeds at once to announce his great discovery and to label his victim with a title long and ugly enough to awaken envy in many a decent Welsh village. At the end of this appellation he attaches his own name, and probably the date of his amazing discovery. The result is that we have the

In

eminently in the United States. They knock
spots off us at this business, and Piccadilly
sky-signs are dark in the light of Broadway.
When Christopher Columbus discovered
America he did not add his name and date to
it, for probably he did not consider it to be
a new disease; but the present inhabitants of
that great country are not so reticent.
the State of Utah there lives a pre-Columbian
rodent of ancient lineage known as the jack-
rabbit; and this animal has been accused of
causing a disease in man which is now offi-
cially and succinctly known as "Tularaemia
Francis 1921, a New Disease of Man." *
It is probably just about as new as the rabbit
and as man; but it is new, oh! very new!-To

Surgeon Edward Francis. So he discovered
it, and he and two other enthusiasts turned it
into a medical paper of eighty-seven pages,
complete with lots of tables and a pretty plate
showing the Bacterium Tularense Francis 1921
in rod and coccal form, multiplied by 3200
(approximate).

As its name implies, Tularaemia Francis 1921 is a horrid disease. If it is your inclement destiny to live in Utah, you may get it from your rabbit when it bites you. When your rabbit sneezes in your face you may become diseased, for the creature's nasal secretion is infective. So is its urine. So are its feces or faeces, according to whether you are American or English. If you neglect to wash

« ForrigeFortsett »