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The following is a report of prevalent diseases and deaths in the county of Brooke for the months of April, May and June, 1883:

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The following is a report of prevalent diseases and deaths in the town of Wellsburg and county of Brooke, W. Va., for the months of July, August

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WELLSBURG, W. Va., August 8, 1882. I went out on Sunday to examine the diseased cattle, and while at home, near Bethany, our family cow died. It had been pronounced "hollow horn" by some, but I thought best to begin then and there my post mortem work. (This is the only animal that has been lost from the disease in the immediate neighborhood.) I had not the opportunity nor time to weigh all or any in fact of the viscera, but give only approximative weights, hoping to make more minute investigations in the next case that comes under observation. I enclose notes of this case. I went to farm of Mr. J. P. Smith and found that he had lost six head; examined a heifer suffering from the disease and found all symptoms of "Periodic or Splenic Fever." I have sent word to nearly all parties having Alabama cattle to sell none and to isolate them from all native cattle. I wish, if you desire any further investigation, you would indicate the same. I think I have correctly diagnosed the disease, but give me any further instructions you consider necessary. Truly,

AUTOPSY.

W. K. CURTIS, M. D.

Red cow; four years old; calved seven weeks ago (calf alive); has been running in field where southern cattle were one month ago. (Four days

before death there was looseness of bowels; no appetite; general languor; ears drooped; tendency to hunt water and lie in it; skin dry and great fever; urine scanty; pulse rapid; weakness in hind parts, &c). We found digestive organs healthy until third stomach reached, which we found greatly distended and containing dry food. The fourth stomach and small intestines were the seat of general redness and ecchymosis; right lung congested; apex of heart considerably blood stained; kidneys congested; gall bladder fully distended with viscid bile; urinary bladder contained about two gallons of urine the color of port wine; liver healthy.

SPLEEN-Three times natural size; external surface ecchymosed; easily broken down, and tarry in appearance; the trabecuæ destroyed and entire substance of spleen granular and soft. The size was twenty-four inches long, eight inches wide, three inches thick; gall-bladder not so full as in other cases; urinary bladder distended; urine lighter color than usual. Did not have time to examinebrain or cord. W. K. CURTIS, M. D.

LETTER FROM DR. C. SHRIVER,

DR. JAMES E. REEVES,

Secretary State Board of Health:

BETHANY, August 10, 1882.

DEAR SIR: I was unable to attend with Dr. W. K. Curtis on the 6th inst., when, according to your order, he made post mortem examination of a case of the much talked of Texas cattle or splenic fever; although I subsequently visited Mr. J. P. Smith's farm when the disease first broke out. This morning, August 10th, I made a post mortem of a roan cow, eight years old, belonging to Mr. James P. Rodgers, being the second death in the same field within forty-eight hours. The patient had received no treatment.

LUNGS-Top of right lung very much congested. On section, black blood was sqeezed out; remaining portions apparently healthy; no pleuritic adhesions.

HEART-Right ventricle and both auricles contained a small quantity of very dark fluid blood.

KIDNEYS-Much congested, dark, and their structure easily broken. BLADDER-Contained about two ounces of bloody urine; the mucous coat very much congested, thickened and bloody.

SPLEEN-Supposed to be at least three times the normal size, (it was not weighed) and very soft. The finger could be easily thrust into and thorugh its dark and clotted blood-like substance.

LIVER-Enlarged and, on section, yellow as gold. The gall-bladder was greatly distended with dark and very viscid bile-so thick that it could scarcely be forced through the common duct.

STOMACH-Was filled with partially digested grass. The mucous coat was dark and easily separated from the tissue beneath by rubbing between the fingers. The intestines appeared normal.

*

BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD-Not examined. * *

I am, Doctor, Very Respectfully,

C. SHRIVER.

BRAXTON COUNTY.

DR. N. C. D. BOND.

To the Honorable State Board of Health of West Virginia:

TOPOGRAPHY.

1. The average altitude of Braxton county, West Virginia, is about 1,900

feet.

2. The average temperature of winter, 36.9°; spring, 50.38°; summer, fall, 55°.

.etc.

3. Fifty per cent. red clay.

4. Iron ore and stone coal in abundance.

5. Hill land seven-eighths, flat one-eighth, swamp none.

74°;

6. Poplar, oak, walnut, hickory, ash, chestnut, sugar, maple, beech,

7. Elk river, Kanawha river, Salt Lick, Cedar creek and Steer creek.

8. Stagnant water, very little, if any.

9. Drainage all west.

10. Artificial drainage; none.

11. Relative acreage, cleared land, thirty-three per cent.

12. Wheat and corn.

13. Apples, peaches and pears.

14. Hill grapes, crab apples, blackberries, &c.

DOMICILIARY HYGIENE.

15. Character of buildings; ordinary.

16. Two brick buildings; residue of wood.

17. Of plain architecture and ordinary capacity.

18. By fire place.

19. By wood and coal.

20. No special ventilation other than by doors and windows.

21. About one cellar to every one hundred dwellings.

23. Common wells.

24. From ten to forty feet in depth.

25. Stables fifty yards, pig-sties twenty-five yards, privies ten to thirty yards.

26. Quite inferior in style.

28. I do not.

29. By common lamp.

30. Petroleum oil, refined or carbon oil.

31. None.

32. One.

SOCIAL AND MORAL STATISTICS.

33. Population not definite--about eight or nine thousand.

34. Irish, English, African, German, &c.

35. African parentage ten, mulatto ten.

36. Industrious habits of each, medium.

37. Flesh of swine, beef, mutton, vegetables, &c., chiefly prepared by fire place.

38. Mechanics, one-tenth; engaged in agriculture, nine-tenths.

39. No cities; six towns; population not known; postoffices twentythree; newspapers published, one.

40. Twelve churches; valuation eight thousand dollars; denominations,, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, &c.

41. Consumers of tobacco two-thirds; alcohol very small proportion, I cannot determine.

42. At least twelve.

44. One idiot and three or four mentally aberrated.

45. One mute; relationship to disease, none.

46. One insane; cause, have not ascertained.

48. None to my knowledge.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL.

49. Exposure; number of deaths not known.

50. Scarlet fever, not frequent; enteric or typhoid fever seldom; diphtheria is common; measles, occasionally; whooping cough not of frequent occurrence; pneumonia, not often; pulmonary consumption, com-.

mon.

51. I have not yet.

52. None.

53. Not recently.

54. Not any.

55. None.

56. I have not yet ascertained.

THE HYGIENE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

58. Seventy-five school-houses; style of buildings, frame and log; number of scholars, I do not know; seventy-four teachers; method of heating, by common stoves; average space allowed in school-rooms, I do not know; drinking supplies, from springs and brooks; privies are scarce; hours of study are six.

59. Light abundant.

60. They are not.

61. Common seats and desks.

62. The play grounds are mostly in groves, generally overshadowed by trees.

63. Separate play grounds, so far as I know,

64. When wet they dry by the stoves.

66. Stop the school; isolate the affected; establish quarantine; make use liberally of disinfectants, &c.

DODDRIDGE COUNTY.

DR. HENRY S. HAID.

To the State Board of Health of West Virginia :

TOPOGRAPHY.

[I have answered the most of the mentioned numbers only concerning this district and my range of practice.]

1. About 2,000 feet above the level of the sea; mountainous and broken. 2. About sixty degrees in summer and thirty degrees in winter.

3. Rich black, read loam, and a light sandy soil.

4. Rocks in layers; sandstone; coal of poor quality; no other minerals. 5. About seventy-five per cent. of hill, twenty per cent. of flat, and five per cent. of swamp.

6. Oak, hickory, walnut, chestnut, beech, maple, etc., good quality and abundant.

7. Cove creek, Sand Fork and Fallen Timber, are the principal streams. 8. About five per cent.

9. A southwestern direction.

10. None.

11. About thirty per cent.

12. Corn, wheat, potatoes and cane.

13. Apples, a few pears, peaches and grapes.

14. Blackberries, plums, persimmons, chestnuts and walnuts.

DOMICILIARY HYGIENE.

.

15. Largest proportion are of logs, and some Yankee frames.

16. Mostly one story to one story and a half high.

17. Capacity from 16x18 to 18x20; ceiling about eight or nine feet.

18. Greater proportion are chimneys.

19. Generally wood.

20. Open doors and windows and cracks between the logs.

21. About two out of every ten.

22. Mostly dry.

23. About one-half are wells; others are taken from springs and creeks.

24. Wells are from eighteen to thirty feet deep.

25. From twenty to thirty yards from dwellings.

26. Generally supplied with privies.

27. Generally box above ground.

28. None.

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