TYPHOID FEVER AND DIPHTHERIA.

Below may be found the substance of reports received from two hundred and eight physicians in the State, upon typhoid fever and diphtheria for the year 1886. This record would be of much more value if all the physicians in the State would render an annual report, but as there are in the vicinity of six hundred of them practicing in the State, it will be seen that only a little over one third of them report. These reports, however, cover more than one third of the territorial area of the State, for the reason that a single physician often reports cases in two or more towns. On the other hand, the record, in many instances, does not show all the cases that occurred in a town from which the record was received, because the reporting physician gave only those cases that occurred in his practice. In two or three instances the name of the physician did not accompany the report.

These reports, like those given in former volumes of the State Board of Health, contribute additional evidence to the already well-established fact that both these diseases are dependent upon bad sanitary conditions.

Acworth-CARL A. ALLEN, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. — None in my practice.

Diphtheria. None. This has been a very healthy season and but few acute cases of any kind.

Amherst - HERBERT D. HICKS, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. - None in my practice.

Diphtheria. None. Our town is in a fair sanitary condition, and I have not seen a case of diphtheria for three years.

Typhoid Fever. - Four cases, all recovered. There have been five cases in town, one fatal. In three cases the drinking-water was contaminated.

Diphtheria. None. Consider filth the most common cause

of the disease.

Andover - HENRY A. WEYMOUTH, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. Seven cases, one fatal; all in town. The first case came from out of town, and the others followed.

Typhoid Fever. - Four cases, none fatal. In all cases the drinking-water was contaminated. This with unhealthy surroundings is generally the source of the disease.

Ashland - M. C. SPAULDING, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. One case, now under treatment, was brought from Tilton. Attribute the cause of the disease to decaying animal and vegetable matter.

Diphtheria. One case in Centre Harbor, not fatal. A defective sanitary condition is the most common source of the disease.

Typhoid Fever. None observed. Only one case in town. Believe the disease is usually caused by filth in and around the buildings.

Diphtheria. None; none in town. In my opinion the filth that collects around the premises where such cases occur, and water polluted by the same, are the most common sources of the disease.

Bedford-FRANK H. Rowe, m. d.

Typhoid Fever.

One case, fatal. Two cases in town, one

fatal. The case that I lost was caused by contaminated drinking

water.

Diphtheria. I have seen none.

Belmont S. A. MERRILL, M. D.

Typhoid Fever.

Two cases, both fatal. Both these cases, which were malignant in character, occurred in strumose subjects, whose powers of resistance were below normal. Think the disease is probably due to a specific germ. In neither case was

the drinking-water contaminated.

Diphtheria. None observed.

Boscawen-E. E. GRAVES, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. - Eight cases, all in town, none fatal. Was not able to trace the cause in any case.

Diphtheria. — Twelve cases, none fatal, all in Boscawen and Penacook. Three or four cases were thought to have been caused by bad sanitary conditions; two or three others by contagion.

Bradford-J. B. RAYNES, M. d.

Typhoid Fever.- None.

Diphtheria. —Not any well-marked cases; quite a number of diphtheritic sore throats. All recovered.

Bristol-J. M. BISHOP, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. One case, recovered. I attribute the cause of the disease, in a great degree, to contaminated water and vegetable decomposition.

Diphtheria. One case, not fatal. Tonsilitis has been more frequent. In perhaps one case the drinking-water was contaminated. Consider atmospheric changes and filth to be the most common sources of the disease.

Bristol- JOHN C. WHEet, m. d.

Typhoid Fever.

One case, recovered. This case was caused

by drinking water from an old well that had not been used for five or six years, and had not been cleaned out.

Diphtheria.

Nine cases, none fatal; three of the cases were in Alexandria and three in Orange. In the cases in Alexandria, the sink-drain became stopped and a cesspool was formed near the upper side of the house and where it could easily soak through into the cellar.

Campton-JOHN D. LANCE, M. D.

Typhoid Fever.

no cause.

- Two cases, neither fatal. Could discover

Diphtheria. None.

Campton Village-A. D. MUCHMORE, M. D.

Typhoid Fever.

- Four cases, none fatal, all in Thornton.

Three of the cases occurred in one house, of which the following is a plan :

The land back of the house is a pasture, descending toward the house and well. The ground descends from the barn and privy two thirds of the way to the well, where there is a sag or depression, and at this point, which is some fifteen or twenty feet from the well, the water stands in wet weather. The soil is sandy. The well was dug down to a ledge, and the soil around the top banked up two feet above the barnyard; but as the land naturally inclines toward the well, the surface water from barn

yard and privy must find its way into it. The house is old and in a dilapidated condition, unfit for any one to live in.

- Think bad Diphtheria. One case, recovered, in Thornton.

ventilation in cellars and privies is the most common source of the disease.

Attribute the disease to a specific germ propagated in filth. In three cases the drinking-water was polluted.

Diphtheria. None observed.

Charlestown- JAMES M. WHITTAKER, M. D.

Typhoid Fever. Two cases, both fatal.

Attribute the

cause of the disease to a generally depressed physical vitality. Diphtheria. None observed.

Chesterfield-JOHN F. BUTLER, M. D.

Typhoid Fever.

None observed.

Diphtheria. Many cases of sore throat, possessing possibly a diphtheritic nature to a slight degree, but no well-marked case. Believe diphtheria to be infectious and epidemic. Have seen no well-marked instance of contagion in a practice covering about 500 cases of diphtheria.

Chesterfield-W. G. Cain, M. D.

Typhoid Fever.— None observed.

Diphtheria. Five cases, none fatal. Think polluted water may