- Email: [email protected]
NEW YORK.
950
(FROM
AN
OCCASIONAL
CORRESPONDENT.)
Health of the Navy and Marine Corps. THE latest reports of the Navy and Marine Corps of the United States show that the number of cases of influenza has declined considerably, and that there has also been an appreciable fall in the annual rate per 1000 as in the total admissions for all diseases.
National Investigation of the D’rug Habit. report has been submitted recently by the special committee appointed to make a national investigation of the drug habit. According to this report it appears that nativeborn Americans are more greatly given to the drug habit than other white races, and that the drug habit is more widespread in the United States than in any other country. The report emphasises the point that if drag addiction is to A
be controlled the individual States must pass supplementary legislation ; so far only three States have done this, namely New York, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. Owif1g to the stir raised with respect to this matter the New York Board of Health has established recently a narcotic relief station in the"down-town " part of New York. The establishment of this station has afforded very favourable opportunities for the collection and collation of data concerning drug addiction. Although experience has shown that the testimony of persons given over to drug habit is generally unreliable, yet their dicta possess a certain amount of value. An interesting and possibly an instructive feature of the drug situation in New York is that an analysis of the statements made by 1506 patients treated showed that only 19 per cent. were women. This fact, however, as the Ne7v York Medioal Journal points out, may be accounted for by the relatively greater timidity of women in applying to the clinic. Few negroes applied for relief. Of the total number of addicts who applied, 44 per cent. were skilled workers, while 17 per cent. of this total were chauffeurs, signalmen, and motormen-a somewhat alarming state of affairs. It is satisfactory that only 21 per cent. of the addicts attributed the contraction of the habit to medicines ordered in order to relieve pain or insomnia. The majority ascribed the habit to curiosity, bad associates, and idleness, 68 per cent. laying the blame on bad associates. As for the drugs employed, it was discovered that 69 per cent. of the addicts used heroin alone ; 4 per cent. used cocaine alone, and 17 per cent. used cocaine in connexion with either heroin or morphine. The treatment carried out at the narcotic clinic consists merely in the reduction of the drug until the physiological minimum has been reached, and when this point has been attained the patients are sent to a hospital for further treatment. Dr. S. Dand Hubbard, of the New York City Department of Health, who is in charge of the Narcotic Relief Station, advises that a special reconstruction hospital be
established. The Health Report of Ne-7c, York. From the annual report of the health officer for the Port of New York it appears that during the fiscal year 5161
vessels
were
inspected, 102,296 passengers.and 304,065
in the workshop or to Dr. Hamilton is of the opinion unjust to retain the prisoner in jail until the Wassermann became negative. On the other hand, if salvarsan is administered the Wassermann may become negative for a few months and then become positive again. He tenders the suggestion that these individuals be paroled. compelled to take treatment, and to report at stated intervals, bringing proof that they are being treated. to allow such prisoners to sleep with those uninfected. that it would be obviously
NEW YORK.
crew
mingle
Death of a Well-known War Nurse. Miss Jane Delano, probably the best known nurse in the United States, who died in France on April 15th, was up to the year 1918 superintendent of nurses at Bellevue Hospital, New York. In response to an appeal from the then Surgeon-General she came into the army to assist in reorganising the Army Nurse Corps. Later she assumed the direction of the Red Cross Nursing Service and proceeded to France in that capacity. In a special communication to the press Brigadier-General Francis Winters, M.C., U.S.A., compares Miss Delano’s work to that of Florence Nightingale, and suggests that a fitting memorial of her be erected in the Red Cross Building in Washington.
The Prevention of Typhoid Fever. this subject appeared in Public Health Reports, He March 28th, 1919, by Colonel Walter D. McCaw. states that typhoid and paratyphoid fevers are increasing in the American Expeditionary Forces, and lays stress on the fact that vaccination only confers partial protection against these diseases and must be reinforced by sanitary measures. Colonel McCaw considers, in order to avoid a serious outbreak of typhoid fever in France, it is essential that the medical officers see that every necessary mode of safeguarding the water and food-supplies is taken, and that these methods are strictly enforced. An editorial in the Medical Record upholds these views. May 20th. A paper
on
URBAN VITAL STATISTICS. (Week ended May 24th, 1919.) English and Welsh Towns.-In the 96 English and Welsh towns, with an aggregate civil population estimated at 16,500,000 persons, the annual rate of mortality, which had been 13’7, 12’6, and 12’0 per 1000 in the three preceding weeks, further declined to 10’8 per 1000. In London, with a population slightly exceeding 4,000,000 persons, the annual rate was 10’3, or 1’0 per 1000 below that recorded in the previous week, while among the remaining towns the rates ranged from 3’9 in Wimbledon and in Oxford, 5 0 in Wallasev, and 5’7 in Ipswich, to 17 1 in South Shields, 17’S in Aberdare, and 20-0 in Dewsbury. The principal epidemic diseases caused 133 deaths, which corresponded to an annual rate of 0’4 per 1000, and included 49 from measles, 30 each from diphtheria and infantile diarrhoea, 11 from scarlet fever, 10 from whooping-cough, and 3 from enteric fever. Measles caused a death-rate of 3’5 in Middlesbrough. There were 3 cases of small-pox, 1055 of scarlet fever, and 1109 of diphtheria under treatment in the Metronolitan Asylums Hospitals and the London Fever Hospital, against 3, 1078, and 1137 respectively at the end of the previous week. The causes of 28 deaths in the 96 towns were uncertified, of which 5 were registered in Birmingham, 4 in Liverpool, and 3 each in Manchester and Darlington.
Scotch Towns.-In the 16 largest Scotch towns, with an aggregate population estimated at nearly 2.500,000 persons, the annual rate of mortalitv, which had been 12’8, 13’7, and 13’5 in the three preceding
weeks, fell to 12’8 per 100J.
The 275 deaths in Glasgow correannual rate of 12’8 per 1000, and included 16 from whooping-cough, 15 from measles, 3 from diphtheria, 2 from infantile diarrhoea, and 1 from scarlet tever. The 85 deaths in Edinburgh were equal to an annual rate of 13’2 per 1000, and included 6 from whooping-cough and 1 from diphtheria.
sponded
to
an
examined in the course of the year. The number of Irish Towns.-The 118 deaths in Dublin corresponded to an annual rate of 15’2, or 2’7 per 1000 below that recorded in the previous vessels fumigated was 1195. week, and included 3 from infantile diarrhoea and 1 each from enteric fever and scarlet fever. The 118 deaths in Belfast were equal A New York Diagnostio Hospital. to a rate of 15’3 per 1000, and included 3 from infantile diarrhoea and There is widespread interest in the opening of the New 1 from scarlet fever. *York Diagnostic Hospital at 125, Seventy Second-street The institution, the fund for the establishing of which was 2ND GENERAL HOSPITAL, BRIGHTON.raised by physicians, will be the first of the kind in America. The 2ndEASTERN Eastern General Hospital, at Brighton, with all its The clinics will be for diagnosis only, and will accommodate auxiliary institutions in the Kemp Town district and at about 500 patients daily. latter had already closed their doors as Hove-some of the closed down on May 21st. Opened on Venereal Disease and Crime. hospitals-was 12th, 1914, the first convoy of wounded arrived A statement has been issued recently by Dr. James A. August on Sept. 3rd, since which date no fewer than 70,499 men Hamilton, Commissioner of Correction of New York city, had passed through the hospital and its auxiliaries, of with regard to the relation of venereal disease to crime. The whom 543 had died. Ten members of the staff and 101 of Commissioner says that the majority of male prisoners give the non-commissioned officers and men served overseas, and out of a total of 298 on the trained nursing staff a history of venereal infection at one time or another, while called up, 144 served overseas. In all, 500 nurses a venereal among female prisoners every case gives history originally the hospital during the four and a half through passed or shows a positive Wassermann. One of the questions of war. The mortuary chapel at the main hospital raised was as to whether a prisoner shall be liberated in Dyke-road is to be given to one of the medical when he shows a 4 plus Wassermann, or whether it is safeinstitutions in Brighten.
being
years
,
(FROM
AN
OCCASIONAL
CORRESPONDENT.)
Health of the Navy and Marine Corps. THE latest reports of the Navy and Marine Corps of the United States show that the number of cases of influenza has declined considerably, and that there has also been an appreciable fall in the annual rate per 1000 as in the total admissions for all diseases.
National Investigation of the D’rug Habit. report has been submitted recently by the special committee appointed to make a national investigation of the drug habit. According to this report it appears that nativeborn Americans are more greatly given to the drug habit than other white races, and that the drug habit is more widespread in the United States than in any other country. The report emphasises the point that if drag addiction is to A
be controlled the individual States must pass supplementary legislation ; so far only three States have done this, namely New York, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. Owif1g to the stir raised with respect to this matter the New York Board of Health has established recently a narcotic relief station in the"down-town " part of New York. The establishment of this station has afforded very favourable opportunities for the collection and collation of data concerning drug addiction. Although experience has shown that the testimony of persons given over to drug habit is generally unreliable, yet their dicta possess a certain amount of value. An interesting and possibly an instructive feature of the drug situation in New York is that an analysis of the statements made by 1506 patients treated showed that only 19 per cent. were women. This fact, however, as the Ne7v York Medioal Journal points out, may be accounted for by the relatively greater timidity of women in applying to the clinic. Few negroes applied for relief. Of the total number of addicts who applied, 44 per cent. were skilled workers, while 17 per cent. of this total were chauffeurs, signalmen, and motormen-a somewhat alarming state of affairs. It is satisfactory that only 21 per cent. of the addicts attributed the contraction of the habit to medicines ordered in order to relieve pain or insomnia. The majority ascribed the habit to curiosity, bad associates, and idleness, 68 per cent. laying the blame on bad associates. As for the drugs employed, it was discovered that 69 per cent. of the addicts used heroin alone ; 4 per cent. used cocaine alone, and 17 per cent. used cocaine in connexion with either heroin or morphine. The treatment carried out at the narcotic clinic consists merely in the reduction of the drug until the physiological minimum has been reached, and when this point has been attained the patients are sent to a hospital for further treatment. Dr. S. Dand Hubbard, of the New York City Department of Health, who is in charge of the Narcotic Relief Station, advises that a special reconstruction hospital be
established. The Health Report of Ne-7c, York. From the annual report of the health officer for the Port of New York it appears that during the fiscal year 5161
vessels
were
inspected, 102,296 passengers.and 304,065
in the workshop or to Dr. Hamilton is of the opinion unjust to retain the prisoner in jail until the Wassermann became negative. On the other hand, if salvarsan is administered the Wassermann may become negative for a few months and then become positive again. He tenders the suggestion that these individuals be paroled. compelled to take treatment, and to report at stated intervals, bringing proof that they are being treated. to allow such prisoners to sleep with those uninfected. that it would be obviously
NEW YORK.
crew
mingle
Death of a Well-known War Nurse. Miss Jane Delano, probably the best known nurse in the United States, who died in France on April 15th, was up to the year 1918 superintendent of nurses at Bellevue Hospital, New York. In response to an appeal from the then Surgeon-General she came into the army to assist in reorganising the Army Nurse Corps. Later she assumed the direction of the Red Cross Nursing Service and proceeded to France in that capacity. In a special communication to the press Brigadier-General Francis Winters, M.C., U.S.A., compares Miss Delano’s work to that of Florence Nightingale, and suggests that a fitting memorial of her be erected in the Red Cross Building in Washington.
The Prevention of Typhoid Fever. this subject appeared in Public Health Reports, He March 28th, 1919, by Colonel Walter D. McCaw. states that typhoid and paratyphoid fevers are increasing in the American Expeditionary Forces, and lays stress on the fact that vaccination only confers partial protection against these diseases and must be reinforced by sanitary measures. Colonel McCaw considers, in order to avoid a serious outbreak of typhoid fever in France, it is essential that the medical officers see that every necessary mode of safeguarding the water and food-supplies is taken, and that these methods are strictly enforced. An editorial in the Medical Record upholds these views. May 20th. A paper
on
URBAN VITAL STATISTICS. (Week ended May 24th, 1919.) English and Welsh Towns.-In the 96 English and Welsh towns, with an aggregate civil population estimated at 16,500,000 persons, the annual rate of mortality, which had been 13’7, 12’6, and 12’0 per 1000 in the three preceding weeks, further declined to 10’8 per 1000. In London, with a population slightly exceeding 4,000,000 persons, the annual rate was 10’3, or 1’0 per 1000 below that recorded in the previous week, while among the remaining towns the rates ranged from 3’9 in Wimbledon and in Oxford, 5 0 in Wallasev, and 5’7 in Ipswich, to 17 1 in South Shields, 17’S in Aberdare, and 20-0 in Dewsbury. The principal epidemic diseases caused 133 deaths, which corresponded to an annual rate of 0’4 per 1000, and included 49 from measles, 30 each from diphtheria and infantile diarrhoea, 11 from scarlet fever, 10 from whooping-cough, and 3 from enteric fever. Measles caused a death-rate of 3’5 in Middlesbrough. There were 3 cases of small-pox, 1055 of scarlet fever, and 1109 of diphtheria under treatment in the Metronolitan Asylums Hospitals and the London Fever Hospital, against 3, 1078, and 1137 respectively at the end of the previous week. The causes of 28 deaths in the 96 towns were uncertified, of which 5 were registered in Birmingham, 4 in Liverpool, and 3 each in Manchester and Darlington.
Scotch Towns.-In the 16 largest Scotch towns, with an aggregate population estimated at nearly 2.500,000 persons, the annual rate of mortalitv, which had been 12’8, 13’7, and 13’5 in the three preceding
weeks, fell to 12’8 per 100J.
The 275 deaths in Glasgow correannual rate of 12’8 per 1000, and included 16 from whooping-cough, 15 from measles, 3 from diphtheria, 2 from infantile diarrhoea, and 1 from scarlet tever. The 85 deaths in Edinburgh were equal to an annual rate of 13’2 per 1000, and included 6 from whooping-cough and 1 from diphtheria.
sponded
to
an
examined in the course of the year. The number of Irish Towns.-The 118 deaths in Dublin corresponded to an annual rate of 15’2, or 2’7 per 1000 below that recorded in the previous vessels fumigated was 1195. week, and included 3 from infantile diarrhoea and 1 each from enteric fever and scarlet fever. The 118 deaths in Belfast were equal A New York Diagnostio Hospital. to a rate of 15’3 per 1000, and included 3 from infantile diarrhoea and There is widespread interest in the opening of the New 1 from scarlet fever. *York Diagnostic Hospital at 125, Seventy Second-street The institution, the fund for the establishing of which was 2ND GENERAL HOSPITAL, BRIGHTON.raised by physicians, will be the first of the kind in America. The 2ndEASTERN Eastern General Hospital, at Brighton, with all its The clinics will be for diagnosis only, and will accommodate auxiliary institutions in the Kemp Town district and at about 500 patients daily. latter had already closed their doors as Hove-some of the closed down on May 21st. Opened on Venereal Disease and Crime. hospitals-was 12th, 1914, the first convoy of wounded arrived A statement has been issued recently by Dr. James A. August on Sept. 3rd, since which date no fewer than 70,499 men Hamilton, Commissioner of Correction of New York city, had passed through the hospital and its auxiliaries, of with regard to the relation of venereal disease to crime. The whom 543 had died. Ten members of the staff and 101 of Commissioner says that the majority of male prisoners give the non-commissioned officers and men served overseas, and out of a total of 298 on the trained nursing staff a history of venereal infection at one time or another, while called up, 144 served overseas. In all, 500 nurses a venereal among female prisoners every case gives history originally the hospital during the four and a half through passed or shows a positive Wassermann. One of the questions of war. The mortuary chapel at the main hospital raised was as to whether a prisoner shall be liberated in Dyke-road is to be given to one of the medical when he shows a 4 plus Wassermann, or whether it is safeinstitutions in Brighten.
being
years
,