GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS OF THE STATE. Giving a list of the counties in each division; and formed for facilitating the study of causes of sickness and death. Pop. 237,676 Pop. 271.735 Pop. 188,094 Woodbury. Pop. 97,945 Pop. 230,723 Pop. 216,725 Pop. 67,090 Pop. 147,898 | Pop. 189,916 South-western Division. NORTHEASTERN DIVISION.* REPLIES BY FREDERICK BECKER, M. D., OF CLERMONT, FAYETTE COUNTY. +1. According to the United States census of 1880, six hundred and fiftysix inhabitants. 2. Six, of which number two were accidental. 3. For the incorporated town of Clermont, except where otherwise noted. 4. Less, from two to three per cent. 5. About the same from all causes, but less from disease by from two to three per cent. 6. Pneumonia and influenza. 7. A greater dryness of the atmosphere. 8. All general diseases, except as noted in answer six. 9. During the greater part of the year a lessened rain-fall. The following answers will include the whole of Clermont township: 10. From pneumonia in the aged. 11. A greater dryness of the atmosphere caused an increase in pneumonia in the aged. 12. From diphtheria. 13. To a greater dryness of atmosphere. 14. January and February, pneumonia, increased mortality; July and August, gastro-enteritis and entero-colitis, with increased mortality; April and May, measles, with no mortality. 15. Measles in April and May; typhoid fever in July. 16. Scarlet fever, 2; typhoid fever, 2; measles, 30; cholera morbus, gastro entritis and entero colitis over 100 cases; influenza 75 to 80 cases. Of these diseases there may have been more, a good many do not come under the observation of a physician. 17. Small-pox, cholera asiatica, whooping-cough, cerebro-spinal meningitis, diphtheria. 18. January-Broncho pneumonia, catarrhal pneumonia, and with typhoid erudition, catarrhal croup and typhlitis. February-Pneumonia and bronchitis in adults; and children, sore throats, colds. March-Catarrhal bronchitis and pneumonia in adults: and children, gastric catarrh. April-Pneumonia, bronchitis, rheumatism, uterine hemorrhage, erysipelas, gastritis, scarlet fever, measles, intermittent fever. May-Measles, erysipelas, intermittent fever, rheumatism, bronchitis. June-Diorrhoea, otitis interna, intermittent fever, dysentery, rheumatism. bronchitis. July-Diarrhoea, dysentery, gastro-enteritis, congestion of brain, intermittent fever. August--Gastro-enteritis, dysentery, diorrhoea, intermittent fever, congestion of brain. September Intermittent fever, diarrhoea, laryngitis, pneumonia. - October Intermittent fever, cistitis, dysentery, gastro-enteritis, diarrhoea, pneumonia, laryngitis, rheumatism. November-Pnuemonia, cistis, pleurisy, laryngitis. December--Laryngitis, influenza, pneumonia, pleurisy. 19. Cholera among swine and chickens during the months of October, November, and December, and epizootic among horses during November and December. 20. As near as I remember, January, February and March were dry, with frequent and rapid changes between cold and warm, March being unusually dry and warm; April cold and more rainfall; June the moistest month in the season, having the heaviest rain-falls of any month in years, and the highest water, especially the latter part of the month; July continued in heavy rainfall during the first half, the latter half being dry and hot; August, very hot and dry, both day and night, the thermometer ranging from 90° to 100° in the shade; September continued hot during the day from 85° to 95°, with cooler nights; October hot from 80 to 90° fore part, and dry; November cold and dry from freezing to 10° below zero *For counties comprising this division see page 79 and map. +The figures beginning each paragraph refer to the questions in Circular 23B, on pages 75-77. nights; December colder from freezing to 30° below zero both day and nights, with light snow-falls during the winter. 21. Dry months were, September, August. November, December, October. January, March, February, May, and latter part of July as regards rainfall; moist months were, June, April, and fore part of July. 22. September, November and December. 23. In June and July. 27. In November and December. In regard to question number 25 I have no positive knowledge, any more than the general, given in answering the foregoing questions numbers 21 to 27. The answers given to question number 18 are taken from my case record, and are, as far as my practice, as wellas my general knowledge reaches, nearly correct. In regard to the prevention of disease I would say that it is my view, that disease and death are especially induced by the use of tobacco, whisky, mastubation and filth. Tobacco and whisky induce especially insanity, paralysis, dysentery in infants; sunstroke, chronic ophthalmia, chronic diphtheria, etc. Masturbation and tobacco are the causes of two deaths of every three from consumption. Filth is the cause of a majority of deaths from typhoid fever and diphtheria. Tobacco and whisky used by a father or a mother, will induce deformity, paralysis, insanity and diarrhoea and dysentery in infants and children, and will most certainly increase the death rate in that class of diseases. I would upon the ground of these experiences respectfully suggest the education of the young to abstain from these vices and injurious habits by suitable works being introduced in our public schools, and for home reading in families. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant. Clermont, Fayette County. FREDRICK BECKER, M. D. REPLIES FROM JOHN SHEPHERD, POSTVILLE, ALLAMAKEE COUNTY. 1. Incorporated city, 732. 2. Six; 2 from organic diseases of the heart; 2 from cholera infantum; 1 membranous croup, and one said to be broncho-pneumonia. 3. Part of counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette and Winneshiek, including a circle of five miles round Postville. 4. I think rather under the average; at any rate not above. 5. Compared with the fall and winter of 1877, when we had a very fatal epidemic of diphtheria. The death rate has been light, and in 1880 rather under the average. 6. Cholera infantum, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, scarlatina and not more than usual, and the first not so fatal as in some previous years. The fatality of the second confined to one family who lost three. No deaths from the other two. 7. I cannot. 8. Cholera infantum. 9. I cannot say unless it was that the temperature was not so continuously *The figures beginning each paragraph refer to questions in Circular 23B, on pages 75-77. March-Bronchitis, pneumonitis,scarlatina and diphtheria. April-Intermittent fever. pneumonitis, and cerebro-spinal meningitis. May and June-No diseas except a few slight cases of diarrhoea. July-Cholera infantum and typhoid fever. August-Cholera infantum, diarrhoea of adults and typhoid fever. September-Cholera infantum and typhoid fever. October - Pneumonia, bronchitis, typhoid fever, and rheumatism. November-Intermittent fever, bronchitis, typhoid fever, croup, and pneumonia. December-Intermittent fever, bronchitis, and typhoid fever. 19. What is called hog cholera prevailed more or less all the year, but to a great extent in spring and fall. 20. I cannot specify each month. The driest was September and October. The early part from January up to second week of July was unusually wet. 21. Answer to 20 is all I can say. 22. It was not unusually dry at any time during the year. 23. From January to second week of July. 24. Wells in town average from 12 to 25 feet. On some high farms from 25 to 50 feet. 25. I cannot say. They could not have been low from the frequent rains we had. 26. Answer to 23 is all I can say. 27. It was lowest for 1880 in September and October, but not unusually so when compared with former years. 28. I believe the cause of some diseases is to be found in a neglect of careful sanitary measures, such as filthy alleys, back yards, and privies, many of which are badly kept, and often located in too close proximity to wells. Many wells are very imperfectly protected from surface water and filth. From such negligent sanitary conditions, the medical attendant on the family where the three fatal cases of typhoid fever occurred attributes the malignant character of the disease. The cause of the six deaths in town is given in answer No. 2. The country deaths resulted from typhoid fever, 3; active congestion of the brain, 1; paralysis agitans, 1 (duration over two years, ending in consumption); senile decay, 2; accidental, 1; organic heart disease, 1; in all, 9, with six in No. 2. total 15. Deducting the three from organic disease of the heart, one from paralysis agitans, two, senile decay, and one killed by accident, in all seven, the death rate from lymphatic and other acute diseases was light, considering that the district embraced is very thickly peopled. The number of deaths given from all causes is as near correct as known to me, and as far as I can find out. Please pardon me for sending so imperfect a statement regarding so important.a matter. Yours very respectfully, JOHN SHEPHERD, M. D. Postville, Allamakee Co., April 15, 1881. REPLIES OF J. B. DARLING, M. D., OF LAPORTE CITY, BLACK HAWK Co. *The numbers at the beginning of paragraphs refers to questions in Circular 23B, pages 75–77. |