COUNTIES. TABLE VII.-SHOWING AGES, WHEN GIVEN, IN CASES IN WHICH A POSITIVE BACTERIOLOGICAL DIOGNOSIS WAS MADE. Over one Year. Total Cases, AT THE TIME TABLE X.-TYPHOID.-SHOWING DAY OF DISEASE ON WHICH FIRST POSITIVE TABLE XI.-SHOWING AGES, WHEN GIVEN, IN CASES GIVING THE TYPHOID Eleventh Twelfth. Thirteenth 1 14 12 97 Epidemic Outbreaks. The legislative enactment creating a State board of health makes it one of the duties of the board to make inquiries into the causes of epidemics. Whenever, therefore, an unusual number of cases of any communicable disease occurs an investigation is made of the possible causes, and the local authorities are given advice and assistance in every possible way. Prior to 1895 there was no law in this State which required local boards of health to report cases of infectious diseases to the State board of health. The law which was passed at that time is explicit in its requirements, but on account of new members being appointed to local boards of health, and especially where the secretary of a local board is replaced, the reporting is sometimes neglected. Each year, however, shows a definite improvement over the preceding one, and in most instances reports are made promptly. The year closing December 31st, 1899, has been marked by a number of cases of small-pox, which have appeared in various localities. The investigation of the source of infection in almost every instance showed that the disease was contracted from persons coming from the south, especially from points in Virginia. Over 90 cases of this disease were reported during the year, and a short description is given of the cases in each locality. It is especially interesting to note that by isolation of patients and free vaccination in every instance the extension of the disease was prevented. Following the reports as to small-pox will be found records of transmission of diphtheria by means of milk, which caused a number of cases at Plainfield, and also action taken at Irvington and Hilton to prevent the spread of typhoid fever from dairies. SMALL-POX. BLOOMFIELd. The following is a history of two cases of small-pox which occurred in Bloomfield. A man by the name of Max Johnson, who lived in the brick row on Franklin street, received an injury to his hand and went to the Memorial Hospital, Orange, for treatment. After a week he was discharged, but on Monday, the twelfth of June, he returned to the hospital to have his hand dressed. The physician in charge noticed an eruption on his face and ordered him to return home. Dr. Lockwood, of Bloomfield, saw him and stated that he was suffering from small-pox. On Tuesday Dr. Bailey was notified, and he suggested that Dr. White, who has had an extensive experience in the diagnosis of small-pox, be called in. Dr. White confirmed the diagnosis already made. The house in which the patient resided was quarantined and Johnson was removed to the poor-farm on Thursday night. At the time of inspection the premises from which the patient had been removed were examined, and it was found that they had been thoroughly disinfected. The walls and woodwork had been drenched thoroughly with a bichloride solution, and formaldehyde had been used in all of the rooms. The parties living in the house were vaccinated, and the board carried on systematic vaccination as rapidly as possible. About the first of July a brother of Johnson, who had been exposed, contracted the disease and was sent to the isolation hospital. The origin of the first case is uncertain, but Johnson states that while in Orange he watched some colored boys playing on the street, and it may be possible that some of them had come from infected houses. There is a very slight possibility that the disease may have been contracted at the hospital. in some way, as early in May a case was removed from the Memorial Hospital by the Orange authorities and taken to the contagious disease hospital. DOVER. Three cases of small-pox were reported as occurring in Dover. These cases are directly traced to the outbreak in Rockaway. Maria Copeland, a colored girl, who went to Dover from Mr. Tuck's house in Rockaway, and who had recovered from small-pox, obtained employment at the house of Mr. P. Jenkins, on Prospect strcet, Dover, remaining there until November 16th. On the date of November 16th, a daughter of Mr. Jenkins, Annie, 15 years of age, was taken ill, and diagnosis of varioloid was made. She had not been to school within a week before her attack. The second child, a son, 17 years of age, was taken ill at the same time; diagnosis made on the 16th. The servant girl was discharged and left with her clothing for New York, November 16th. At a later date another case developed. The board of health of Dover quarantined the house, vaccinated |