During the past week, our attention was called to a case which had been listed as poliomyelitis, upon the basis of the report made by a physician. Another physician was called in and was able to demonstate, very clearly, that we were dealing with a case of scurvy, in which the pain in the extremities had produced a condition that simulated the paralysis of poliomyelitis. It is important, in this connection, that while the increased prevalence of this disease is sufficient to attract attention, and to put us on the alert, it does not, in any way, justify apprehension. In the year 1921, in particular, there were many weeks in the months of August, September and October, when a very much larger number of cases were reported. THE PREVENTION OF FIRES. Recommendations contained in a report of the Fire Commissioner to the Mayor are so important and, if made use of, such a basis of life and property saving, that they are published below in full: CITY OF NEW YORK, FIRE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER, "Hon. John F. Hylan, Mayor, City Hall, N. Y.: "Sir: In compliance with your orders of May 31, an inspection was made of the listed charitable institutions under control of this city, by Inspectors of the Bureau of Fire Prevention to determine the existing fire hazards, if any, and the best manner of eliminating them and protecting these buildings. Safety to life has been considered of paramount importance and recommendations have been made with this aim in view. "Many fires in institutions can be traced to defective chimneys, poorly installed stoves and furnaces, defective electrical equipment, careless handling of inflammable liquids, spontaneous combustion in accumulations of rubbish, smoking and carelessness with matches. It is, therefore, essential that the management of such institutions should realize the seriousness of the situation and contribute to the fire prevention measures by maintaining safe housekeeping conditions. "The most practical provision that can be made for egress in institutional buildings is an arrangement for moving occupants rapidly and in an orderly manner horizontally through fire walls or fire-resistive corridors, or across open bridges, to buildings or sections which are safe. Where buildings are large, they can be subdivided by standard fire walls equipped with automatic fire doors, thus dividing the building into two or more separate sections, with little danger of fire communicating from one section to the other before all occupants are safely out. "With adequate egress facilities come the education and organization of those responsible for fire safety, the provision of adequate alarms and systematic attention to fire and exit drills. "Great care should be taken in handling of gasoline for motor-driven ambulances, trucks or pleasure cars. Gasoline should be stored in buried and protected tanks and never handled in open containers. Gasoline should not be used for cleaning purposes, especially inside of buildings. Many of the metal polishes for brass work, ambulances and the metal work in buildings are largely composed of gasoline and benzine and are highly inflammable. Naphtha and benzine used as solvents for rubber cement applied to the mending of rubber gloves, hot water bottles, etc., are dangerous and should be excluded from buildings occupied by inmates. The same restriction applies to oils, paints and varnishes, which should be stored in isolated buildings. Linseed oil should not be used for oiling and polishing floors, but mineral oil compositions, which are safer, substituted. "Cotton, wool, gauze, flannelette and bedding should be stored away from spark dangers. "Some institutions have motion pictures for the inmates at frequent intervals. The ordinary type of film ignites very easily, burns rapidly and gives off a stifling smoke. Only approved machines properly installed in fire-resistive booths and attended by licensed operatives should be allowed. Articles made of pyroxalin plastic, commonly called celluloid, such as toilet articles, picture frames, toys, match trays, lamp shades and candlesticks, etc., should not be permitted inside, these institutions. "Metal cans should be provided for rubbish and soiled cotton waste. All rooms in constant use should be swept daily and any accumulation of combustible material in basement and attics should be removed at once. Especial attention should be given to the removal of papers and other packing material from grocery store and supply rooms. All lockers and closets should be frequently inspected to prevent accumulations of old clothing and other combustible material. "Wherever steam pipes are found in contact with or close to woodwork of floors and walls, they should be removed or the woodwork protected. The danger lies in the heat of the steam pipes converting the wood into charcoal, which takes fire spontaneously. "Alcohol and kerosene heaters should be kept clean, filled outside the buildings and used only when necessary. Electricity or steam is much safer. Where fireplaces are used, they should be carefully safeguarded; close-fitting screens should be provided and under no conditions should the hearths be placed over wooden floorings. Bedding should never be aired or dried before an open fire or close to a stove. Where rapid drying is desired, circulation of air by a fan is the safest method. "Clothes dryers should be of metal throughout and steam pipes should be protected by wire screening. Flames in gas mangles should be guarded. Gas irons should not be permitted. Pilot lights should be installed in circuits to all electric irons and current should never be left on when irons are not in use. Noncombustible stands with at least 6-inch clearance should be provided for irons when not in use. "Although electricity is the safest form of lighting, it should be borne in mind that excessive voltage will break down insulation and fuses must be properly installed and maintained to prevent overloading. Kinks in wiring will also break down the insulation. Gas-filled lamps become hot enough to ignite woodwork, paper or other combustible material with which they may come in contact. Wherever such danger exists wire lamp guards should be used. Lamps hung on drop cords should not be tied or twisted or allowed to come in contact with gas pipes, nails or other metal. "Safety matches should be used in preference to the 'striking anywhere' type and metal friction lighters should be used wherever possible for lighting gas lights and ranges. Irresponsible inmates should not be allowed to have matches in their possession. Smoking in bed should be absolutely prohibited. "Rubbish, waste paper and soiled dressings are frequently burned in open fires in the yards. Because of the danger from flying sparks such material should be burned under boilers or in properly constructed incinerators. "In the dark, or smoke, or under panic conditions, passage through narrow corridors may prove difficult or impossible. Corridors should be wide enough to accommodate all who will use them at one time under any condition. They should be kept absolutely clear at all times, especial attention being given to the removal of wheel chairs, spare cots and other obstructions which are apt to be left temporarily in the corridors. "All officials, physicians, nurses, attendants and other employees should be carefully instructed regarding common fire hazards, the use of extinguishing equipment and the method of sending in a fire alarm. In giving such instruction especial attention should be paid to the teaching of new employees, who are frequently overlooked. Respectfully, TYPHOID FEVER IN NEW YORK CITY During the second quarter of 1923 there were 156 cases of typhoid fever reported. Subsequently, 23 of these cases were found to have been erroneously diagnosed, bringing the total for the quarter down to 133, as compared with 105 cases in the corresponding quarter of the preceding year. There were, therefore, 28 more cases in the present quarter than in the quarter of 1922. Part of this increase was due to a grouping of cases in the Riverside district. During the present quarter, 19 deaths from typhoid fever were reported, a similar number having been reported in the corresponding quarter of 1922. The diagnosis in these cases was confirmed by laboratory examinations in 37 per cent of the cases, the Widal test being our chief reliance. The probable mode of infection was ascertained in 31 per cent of the cases, as compared with 25 per cent so traced in the corresponding quarter of 1922. Nineteen cases were found to have resulted from contact with active cases or with suspected or proven carriers in the present quarter, as compared with 17 cases in the second quarter of 1922. Eighteen cases were shown to have acquired their infection out of town, as compared with 9 cases last year. During the present quarter, 58 per cent of the cases were treated in hospitals, as compared with 47 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 1922. MORTALITY BULLETIN FOR THE WEEK ENDING JULY 28, 1923. During the past week the mortality rate of the city rose slightly above that of the corresponding period of last year, the respective rates being 9.36 and 8.74. The fact that 8 deaths were reported during the past week from sunstroke, as compared with 1 during the corresponding week of 1922, indicates that the warmer weather which prevailed last week was responsible for the heavier mortality. The largest increase during the week was in the mortality of heart diseases, from which cause 200 deaths were reported, as compared with 168 during the week ending July 29, 1922. The mortality of cancer and nephritis also showed increases. The mortality of the acute contagious diseases was lower than last A few more deaths were reported from the diarrhoeal diseases. year. The death rate for the expired period of 1923 was 12.95. Last year for the corresponding period it was 13.13. The infant death rate for the first 30 weeks of 1923 was 71. In 1922, during the same period, it was 81. PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION of the MUNICIPAL REFERENCE LIBRARY 3rd Floor, 505 Pearl Street Open to the general public for reference use. Material will be loaned to persons on the payroll of the City. CLINICS-Davis, M. M., Jr.-Pay clinics, DENTISTRY-Anthony, L. P. A dictionary of dental science, consisting of words and phrases used in dental literature and such words of the collateral sciences as relate to the art and science of dentistry, with their pronunciation, derivation and definition. Lea & Febiger. 1922. 324 p. 23 plates. 617.6Am3. ENCEPHALITIS-Great Britain Ministry of Health. Report on encephalitis lethargica, being an account of further enquiries into the epidemiology and clinical features of the diseases. . . . . 1922. 344 p., charts, tables. (Report on public health and medical subjects No. 11.) 616.84G7. FOOD-New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor. Food for the family. 1922. 31 p., illus. p641.5N7£ HEALTH-Vercoe, R. H.-Public health and the population problem (Med. Off., June 30, 1923. p. 317-319.) HYGIENE-Timme, Walter. A critique on modern methods in racial hygiene. (A. M. A. Jour. p. 83-85.) MILK SUPPLY-Sharwell, S. G. The requisites of a clean milk supply. (Newark, N. Y., Health Department of. Monthly Buletin, June, 1923. p. 3-4;10.) PATENT MEDICINE-American Medical As sociation. The propaganda for reform in proprietary medicines. v. 2, 1922. 603 p. 614.27Am3pro. PLAGUE-Robertson, H. McG. A possible explanation of the absence of bubonic plague in cold countries. (U. S. Public Health Service. Public Health Reports, July 6, 1923. p. 1519-1531, tables.) VITAL STATISTICS-CITY OF NEW YORK. Deaths, and Annual Death Rate Per 1,000; Deaths According to Certain Causes and Ages; Deaths and Death Rate Under One Year Per 1,000 Births Annual Death Rate 12 52 11.86 12.87 10.82 10.64 12.43 10.26 10.55 10.68 26 9 80 7 14 21 28 1230 1213 1010 1088 993❘ 1068 "Acute 183 171 78.8 68.9 249 252 798 842 148 182 183 138 153 146 118 114 131 142 59.7 53.3 78.9 55.6 61.8 58.8 47.6 46.0 52.8 57.4 176 170 205 690 587 611 323 800 811 817 296 854 255 304 286 218 217 286 247 Infectious Diseases" include Typhoid Fever, Scarlet Fever, Measles, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Smallpox and Cerebro-spinal Meningitis. **Does not include suicides. |