X-SMALL POX AT GLEN LYON, LUZERNE COUNTY. Dr. Benj. Lee, Secretary. WILKES BARRE, PA., July 23, 1889. DEAR SIR-I have been delayed in sending you the results of my investigation of the Glen Lyon small pox case, partly by my absence from town when your letter came, and partly by the difficulty in getting at the facts of the case. There had been one case of small pox in Glen Lyon, previously reported, in April, but especial care was taken of it by the township authorities, and the disease did not spread. The present case, Wm. D., aged 22, vaccinated, was taken ill July 2, 1889. The local officials of the Susquehanna Coal Company immediately built a pest house, a mile and a quarter distant from any dwelling, and the patient was at once moved to it. He was discharged July 22. He refused to give any information about himself as to the manner of contracting the disease, but Dr. Dan. Evans ascertained from others in the family that the patient had gone down the river, July 22, below Shickshinny, to meet a canal boat. On board the boat he met a girl with whom he had been keeping company, whom he found had just recovered from small pox. He remained on board the boat until June 30, returned to Glen Lyon, and was beginning to break out July 2. In the boarding house to which he returned there were twenty in number, including family and boarders. Some had had small pox, and all were vaccinated. None of these took the disease, but the patient was not allowed to remain after his disease was known, but he was literally thrust out, and a pest house built for him in a few hours. There are no other cases known in Glen Lyon or Nanticoke. It is possible, and quite probable, that among the Poles and Hungarians, there may have been cases unreported to the authorities. Respectfully yours, LEWIS H. TAYLOR. XI.-TYPHOID FEVER AT NANTICOKE. Dr. Benj. Lee, Secretary. WILKES-BARRE, PA., August 20, 1889. DEAR SIR:-At request of Dr. S. F. Holly, I to-day visited Nanticoke to make inquiry into certain reported cases of typhoid fever in that borough. In the extreme northern end of the borough, near the limits, is a farm owned by the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, known as the Hake's place, and occupied by a Mr. M. and family. Another family lives very close by, and uses the same well for drinking water. The first taken sick about June 27, was Lewis H., aged 16, recovered. Following these cases came Mrs. M., aged 58, taken sick July 4. slowly recovering. Michael DeH., aged 24, taken sick July 25, recovering. Mrs. W., aged 35, taken sick latter part of July, improving. May W., aged 9, taken sick August 6, improving. -, living in Tunk hannock, had been working on the place, is now reported ill with ty phoid fever There are four others in the family who have not been ill this year, viz: Mr. M and three daughters. Mr. M. and one daughter had the disease last year; the other two have escaped. There is no typhoid anywhere in the neighborhood except at these two houses. The two families use water from a common well, which none of the other neighbors use. Suspicion would naturally point to this well as the cause. We can see no reason for contamination, excepting in the fact that this well is on a sloping bank, while 75 feet above it, and in direct line, is an old abandoned cess pool, not used for 10 or 12 years. It is possible that the heavy rains of June may have liquified the contents of this vault and allowed percolation to take place. I have arranged to send a sample of the water to Dr. Cresson for analysis, and if it proves to be contaminated, the well ought to be abandoned and a new one dug, for if any percolation has taken place from the old vault, we cannot tell but what the ground between it and the well is still saturated. Respectfully yours, LEWIS H. TAYLOR. XII.—DIPHTHERIA AT GALITZIN, CAMBRIA COUNTY. ALTOONA, PENNA., October 9th, 1889. Dr. Benjamin Lee, Secretary State Board of Health. DEAR SIR :-An epidemic of diphtheria of quite extreme severity, has again broken out at Gallitzin. There were seven deaths of children, during the 24 hours ending last night, and there are some 30 or 40 cases now in the borough. On the invitation of the porough authorities, I went to Gallitzin yesterday evening, and addressed a so-called mass meeting of the citi zens, called for the purpose. There were perhaps 60 to 100 people pre sent, and careful attention was paid to what was stated. I tried to explain how diphtheria is disseminated, and what precautions are neces sary to prevent its spread, taking my cue from the circular of the State Board of Health on "Diphtheria." As in many such communities, there seemed to be a disposition to look for outside help to enable them to meet the difficulty, and they were quite anxious to know if the State Board of Health would not do something. I tried to impress upon them that so long as they them selves were the parties afflicted, and were not a terror to contiguous neighborhoods, they would have to deal with the problem themselves. The real difficulty in this case is lack of water supply, the people being entirely dependent on shallow wells, lack of sewerage system, the house filth and excrement being simply put in holes in the ground, and draining into the wells below, and a complete lack of the ordinary precautions that are now used to prevent the spread of diphtheria, as shewn by public funerals, non-isolation of cases, and far too great lack of disinfection of the excreta. There is also lack of efficiency on the part of the borough authorities in enforcing necessary rules in regard to cleanliness. We have promised to help these people get started toward an organization, either through a committee of councils, or a board of health, which will do something toward taking the necessary precautions against the spread of epidemics. For this purpose, won't you kindly have sent me, at your early convenience, at least 100 circulars on "Diphtheria," 5 copies of the "Model Ordinance," and 3 copies of the "Compendium of the Law of the State in regard to Boards of Health." As soon as these are received, I will arrange to go to Gallitzin, and spend time enough to get these people started, at least, in the line of more correct work. Kindly let me know if you approve of this arrangement, and if you would suggest any different action. Very truly yours, CHAS. B. DUDLEY, Medical Inspector. P. S.-- The schools were closed yesterday until the 1st. of December XIII. QUARANTINE AT CAPE HENLOPEN. (a.) APPOINTMENT OF DR. BENJAMIN LEE AS U. S. COMMISSIONER. WASHINGTON, May 9, 1889. Doctor Benjamin Lee, Secretary of Board of Health of Pennsylvania. SIR-By request of the supervising surgeon-general, and in accordance with the terms of the Act of the Delaware legislature ceding the jurisdiction to the United States of a portion of land at the Delaware Breakwater for quarantine purposes, you are hereby designated and requested to act as a commissioner in conjunction with three commissioners to be appointed by the state of Delaware to fix and determine the boundaries of the said land. Your travel expenses will be paid, and compensation for the actual time engaged at the rate of $10.00 per diem. Should you accept this designation, you will please reply at once to the supervising surgeon-general, when the Governor of Delaware will be notified, and the commissioners can set a day for their meeting. Respectfully yours, GEO. S. BATCHELLEY, (b.) COPY OF AN ACT TO CEDE CERTAIN LANDS TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Delaware in General Assembly met: : Section 1. That Hiram R. Burton, David L. Mustard and Franklin C. Maull, of Sussex county, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners on the part of the state of Delaware, and they, or a majority of them, are hereby authorized and empowered in conjunction with any agent or person appointed by the President of the United States, or by the Secretary of the Treasury, to locate and fix the boundaries of any quantity of land belonging to the state of Delaware, not exceeding fifteen hundred feet front, and twelve hundred feet deep from low water mark, situate and lying on the Delaware Bay between the United States Government Iron Pier, and the point of Cape Henlopen, and the land so located and designated by the aforesaid commissioners, in conjunction with the agent or person appointed as aforesaid by the President of the United States, or the Secretary of the Treasury, and all claim, title, and right of soil and jurisdiction of the state of Delaware, in, to, or over the same, are hereby ceded to, and vested in the United States in perpetuity that a plot of the land so located and hereby ceded as aforesaid, be made and recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds, in and for Sussex county: : Provided, that the sovereignty and jurisdiction of this state shall extend over the land hereby ceded to the United States, so far, as that all civil and criminal process issued under any law of this state may be executed in any part of said lands, and the buildings or structures thereon erected. Section 2. That the above cession of land and jurisdiction is made upon the express condition that a quarantine station shall be located and maintained thereon by the United States. (c.) NOTIFICATION FROM J. F. SAULSBURY, ESQ., SECRETARY of State of DELAWARE. Doctor Benjamin Lee. DOVER, DEL., May 21, 1889. DEAR SIR-The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States has informed me that he has appointed you commissioner on the part of the United States to condemn certain land at, or near Lewes, for quaran tine purposes. The commissioners on the part of the state of Delaware are Hiram R. Burton, David L. Mustard and Franklin C. Maull. Any communica |