History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 37

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044

USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County, Wisconsin > Part 37

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

244

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

TABLE OF PRINCIPAL CAUSES.

Consumption I43

Inflammation of lungs.

Convulsions

259

Diarrhoea I31

Diptheria - 74

Scarlet fever

Typhoid fever

Old age.

Still-born

123

The Milwaukee population being about 72,000, the death rate per annum for every 1,000 inhabitants would be 21. after proper deductions of deaths from other causes than from disease, showing very favorably as compared with other cities.

Glasgow has 39 to every 1,000; Liverpool, 36; London, 25 ; New Orleans, 54; New York, 32 ; San Francisco, 24; Milwaukee, 21. Among seventeen of the principal cities of the Union, Milwaukee ranks the ninth in rate of mortality. An impression has prevailed that Milwaukee is subject to a large and disproportionate amount of lung and allied diseases. Statistics disprove this, its deaths from consumption being only 6 per cent., while those of Chicago are 7.75; of St. Louis, 9.68; of Cincinnati, 11.95; and of Boston, 19.31. But few cases of malarial disease occur in Milwaukee, and fewer cases of intestinal fever than in the interior of the state. The mortality among children is explained by its occurring chiefly among the poor foreign-born population, where all that can incite and aggravate disease is always to be found.

This, (the historical part of the health article), will doubtless call forth from the profession much additional and desirable matter, but excepting what will further appear under the head of Madison it is proper to say that we have exhausted the sources of information on the subject within our reach.

HEALTH RESORTS.

Next in order would seem to come some notice of the summer and health resorts of Wiscon- sin, which, significant of the salubrity of the state, are not only becoming more numerous, but Also more frequented from year to year.

Madison, the capital of the state, with a population of 11,000, is built on an isthmus between two considerable lakes, from 70 to 125 feet above their level; 80 miles west of Milwaukee, in latitude 43" 5' north, and longitude 89º 20' west, in the northern temperate region. The lake basins, and also the neck of land between them, have a linear arrangement, trending northeast and southwest. The same linear topography characterises the whole adjacent country and the boun- dary lines of its various geological formations, this striking feature being due to the former move- ment of glacier ice over the face of the country. At two points, one mile apart, the Capitol and University hills, respectively 348 and 370 feet above the level of Lake Michigan, rise prominently above the rest of the isthmus. Both of these hills are heaps of drift material from 100 to 126 feet thickness, according to the record of the artesian well. The neck of land on which Madison stands is of the same material. The same boring discloses to us the underlying rock structure, pene- trating 614 feet of friable quartzose sandstone belonging to the Potsdam series, 101/2 feet of red shale belonging to the same series, and 209 12 feet of crystalline rocks belonging to the Archaan. In the country immediately around Madison, the altitude is generally considerably greater, and the higher grounds are occupied by various strata, nearly horizontal, of sandstone and limestone. The Potsdam sandstone rises about 30 feet above the level of Lake Mendota, on its northern shore, where at McBride's Point it may be seen overlaid by the next and hitherto unrecognized layer, one of more or less impure, dark-colored, magnesian limestone, to which the name of Men- dota is assigned, and which furnishes a good building stone. The descent of these strata is about

245

HEALTH OF WISCONSIN.

9 feet to the mile in a due sontherly direction. Overlying the Mendota beds are again sandstone layers, the uppermost portions of which are occasionally charged with 10 to 20 per cent. of calca- reous and dolomitic matter, and then furnish a cream-colored building stone of considerable value. Most of this stratum which has been designated as the Madison sandstone, is, however, quite non-calcareous, being either a ferruginous brown stone, or a quite pure, white, nearly loose sand. In the latter phase it is of value for the manufacture of glass. In a number of quarries, cuttings and exposed places around the city, the Madison beds are seen to be overlaid by a gray- ish, magnesian limestone, the lower magnesian, varying very considerably in its character, but largely composed of a flinty-textured, heavy-bedded, quite pure dolomite, which is burnt into a good quality of lime. Its thickness exceeds 80 feet. Madison, with the conveniences and com- forts of a capital city, from its easy access by railroads, from not only in itself being beautiful, but from its beautiful surroundings, from its good society, charming climate, and artesian mineral water, is naturally a great summer resort.

Though there are no vital statistics of the city to refer to, a residence of nearly a quarter of a century has made us sufficiently acquainted with its sanitary history, which is more or less the sanitary history of this part of the state, and in a measure of the state itself. In 1844 and 1845, it was visited by an epidemic malarial fever of a bilious type, and not unfrequently fatal, which passed very generally through the state, and was attributed to the turning up of the soil. It was most virulent in the autumns. Again in 1854 it was visited by a light choleraic epidemic, which also swept the state, assuming very generally a particularly mild type. Again in 1857 it suffered lightly from the epidemic dysentery, which passed through the state. In 1865, it suffered from a visitation of diptheria, the disease prevailing generally over the state at that time. It has also had two visitations of the epidemic grip (grippe), or influenza. The last invasion, some five years since, commencing in a manner perhaps worthy of noting, by first affecting the horses very generally, and again, by beginning on the east side of the city, while the other epidemics for the past twenty-five years (unless the choleraic visitation was an exception) came in on the south- west side of the city, as has been the case, so far as we have been able to observe with the light epidemics to which children are subject. But little typhoid fever is found here, and the aguish fevers when they occur are light and easy of control. There is but little diarrhoea or dysen- tery. Pneumonia and its allied affections are more common, so is rheumatism, and so neuralgia. Inflammatory croup, however, is very rare, sporadic diptheria seeming to be taking its place. All the ordinary eruptive fevers of children are and always have been of a peculiarly mild type.

Prairie du Chien, situated immediately at the junction of the Wisconsin with the Mississippi, is built about 70 feet above low water, and 642 feet above the level of the sea. The cliffs on both sides of the river present on their summits the lower strata of the blue Silurian limestone of Cincinnati, beneath which are found sandstone and magnesian limestone down to the water's edge. We give this notice of Prairie du Chien for the purpose of bringing to the knowledge of the public that it possesses one of the most superb artesian wells in the state, which is attracting many persons by its remedial mineral properties.

Green Bay sanitarily may be considered as sufficiently indicated under the head of Fort Howard. It is, however, proper to add that from its geographical position and beautiful situa- tion at the head of the bay, its easy access both by railroad and steamboat, its pleasant days and cool summer nights, it has naturally become quite a popular summer resort, particularly for southern people.

Racine, some 25 miles south by east by rail from Milwaukee and 62 by rail from Chicago, is built upon the banks and some 40 feet above the level of the lake. Its soil is a sandy loam and

246

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

gravel, consequently it has a dry, healthy surface, and is much frequented in the summer for its coolness and salubrity.

Waukesha, 18 miles west of Milwaukee by railroad, is a healthy, pleasant place of resort at all times on account of its mineral water, so well known and so highly appreciated throughout the country.

Oconomowoc, 32 miles by railroad west by north of Milwaukee, is a healthy and de- - lightfully located resort for the summer. Its many lakes and drives form its chief attractions, and though its accommodations were considered ample, during the past summer they were found totally inadequate to meet the demands of its numerous visitors.

The Dalles, at Kilbourn City, by rail 16 miles from Portage, is unsurpassed in the northwest for the novelty, romantic character, and striking beauty of its rock and river scenery. It is high and dry; has pure water and fine air, and every-day boat and drive views enough to fill up a month pleasantly.

Lake Geneva, 70 miles by rail from Chicago, is built on the north side of the lake, is justly celebrated for its beauty, and its reputation as a summer resort is growing.

Green Lake, six miles west of Ripon, and 89 northwest from Milwaukee, is some 15 miles long and three broad, surrounded by beautiful groves and prairies; and is claimed to be one of the healthiest little places on the continent.

Devil's Lake is 36 miles by rail north of Madison. Of all the romantic little spots in Wis- consin, and they are innumerable, there is none more romantic or worthy of a summer visitor's admiration than this. It is, though shut in from the rude world by bluffs 500 feet high, a very favorite resort, and should be especially so for those who seek quiet, and rest, and health.

Sparta, 246 miles by rail from Chicago, is pleasantly and healthily situated, and its artesian mineral water strongly impregnated with carbonate of iron, having, it is said, over 14 grains in solution to the imperial gallon, an unusually large proportion, attracts its annual summer crowd.

Sheboygan, 62 miles by rail north of Milwaukee, from its handsome position on a bluff over- looking the lake, and from the beauty of its surroundings as well as from the character of its mineral waters, is an attractive summer resort.

Elkhart Lake, 57 miles by rail north of Milwaukee, is rapidly acquiring a good name from those seeking health or pleasure.

CHANGE IN DISEASES.

In order to ascertain whether the classes of diseases in the state at the date of Carver's travels are the same which prevail to-day, we have compared his description of them with those tabulated in the army medical reports of Forts Howard, Crawford and Winnebago, and again with those given in the U. S. Census for 1870, and with the medical statistics of the city of Milwaukee. The three distinct and prominent classes prevailing from Carver's to the present time, are, in the order of prevalence, diseases of the respiratory organs, consumption, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc .; diseases of the digestive organs, enteritis, dysentery, diarrhoea, etc .; and the malarial fevers: At Fort Howard alone do the diseases of the digestive organs seem to have outnumbered those of the respiratory organs. So far as it is possible to gather from the reports of the commissioners of Indian affairs, these features of the relative prevalence of the three classes of disease are not disturbed.

There are, however, some disturbing or qualifying agencies operating and affecting the amount or distribution of these classes in different areas or belts. For instance, there are two

247

HEALTH OF WISCONSIN.

irregular areas in the state; the one extending from the Mississippi east and north, and the other starting almost as low down as Madison, and running up as far as Green Bay, which are more subject to malarial diseases than are the other parts of the state. While it is found that those parts of the state least subject to diseases of the digestive organs are, a belt along the western shore of Lake Michigan, and a belt running from near Prairie du Chien north into the pineries. Again, it is found that the part of the state most subject to enteric, cerebro-spinal and typhus fevers, is quite a narrow belt running north from the southern border line into the center of the state, or about two-thirds of the distance toward the pineries. All along the western shore of Lake Michigan, and stretching across the country by way of Fond du Lac to the Mississippi, is a belt much less subject to these disorders. It is equally beyond question that the western shore of Lake Michigan, and the southern shore of Lake Superior, as well as the western half of the southern boundary line of the pineries, are less affected with consumption than the interior parts of the state.

The tendency of these diseases is certainly to amelioration. The sanitary history of Wiscon- sin does not differ from that of any other state east of us, in this striking particular; the farther you trace back the history of disease, the worse its type is found to be. It follows, then, that the improvement in public health must progress with the general improvement of the state, as has been the case with the eastern states, and that the consequent amelioration of our malarial diseases especially will tend to mitigate infectious diseases. The ameliorating influences, how- ever, that sanitary science has brought to bear upon disease, of which England is so happy an illustration, has scarcely as yet begun to be known to us. But the time has come at last when this science is moving both the hearts and minds of thinking and humane men in the state, and its voice has been heard in our legislative halls, evoking a law by which we are, as a people, to be governed, as by any other enactment. The organization of a state board of health is a new era in our humanity. In this board is invested all legal power over the state health. To it is com- mitted all the sanitary responsibility of the state, and the greatest good to the people at large must follow the efforts it is making.

There are many other points of sanitary interest to which it is desirable to call the attention of those interested in Wisconsin. It is a popular truth that a dry climate, all other things being equal, is a healthy climate. Our hygrometrical records show Wisconsin to have one of the driest climates in the United States. Choleraic diseases rarely prevail unless in a comparatively stagnant state of the atmosphere, where they are most fatal. Where high winds prevail such diseases are rare. The winds in Wisconsin, while proverbially high and frequent (carrying away and dissipating malarial emanations), are not destructive to life or property, as is the case, by their violence, in some of the adjoining states. A moist, warm atmosphere is always provocative of disease. Such a state of atmosphere is rare with us, and still more rarely continuous beyond a day or two. Moist air is the medium of malarial poisoning, holding as it does in solution gases and poisonous exhalations. Its character is readily illustrated by the peculiar smell of some marsh lands on autumnal evenings. Such a state of moisture is seen only in our lowest shut-in marshes (where there is but little or no air-current), and then only for a very limited period, in very hot weather.

But too much importance is attached by the public to a simply dry atmosphere for respira- tory diseases. The same mistake is made with regard to the good effects in such disorders of simply high elevations. Dry air in itself or a high elevation in itself, or both combined, are not necessarily favorable to health, or curative of disease. In the light and rare atmosphere of Pike's Peak, an elevation of 6,000 feet, the pulse is accelerated, the amount of sleep is dimin- ished, and the human machine is put under a high-pressure rate of living, conducive only to its

248

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

injury. The average rate of the pulse in healthy visitors is from 115 to 120 per minute (the normal rate, in moderate elevations, being about 75). And where there is any organic affection of the heart, or tendency to bleeding from the lungs, it is just this very dry atmosphere and high elevation that make these remedies (?) destructive. Hence it is that Wisconsin, for the generality of lung diseases, especially when accompanied with hemorrhage, or with heart disease, is prefer- able to Colorado. It may be objected, that the diseases of the respiratory organs are in excess of other diseases in Wisconsin. This feature, however, is not confined to the cold belt of our temperate latitudes- our proportion of respiratory diseases, be it noted, comparing most favor- ably with that of other states, as may be seen in the following table :

CLIMATOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PULMONARY DISEASES.

STATES.

Deaths Per cent. by Phthisis. Mortality.

Deaths by all of entire diseases of Res-

Per cent. of entire piratory Organs. Mortality.

Massachusetts, 1850, U. S. Census

3,426

17.65

4,418

22.27

Ohio, 1849-50, U. S. Census.

2,558

8.83

3,988

13.77

Michigan, 1850, U. S. Census

657

14.55

1,084

24.00

Illinois, 1849-50, U. S. Census

866

7.36

1,799

15.00

Wisconsin, 1849-50, U. S. Census

290

9.99

535

18.43

Now, while the mortuary statistics of the United States census for 1850 are acknowledged to be imperfect, they are, nevertheless, undoubtedly correct as to the causes of mortality. But besides this statistical evidence of the climatological causes of disease, there are certain relative general, if not special, truths which serve to guide us in our estimate. Respiratory diseases of all kinds increase in proportion as the temperature decreases, the humidity of the air being the same. Another equally certain element in the production of this class of diseases is variableness of climate. Still, this feature of our climate is only an element in causation, and affects us, as we shall see in the table below, very little as compared with other states. Indeed, it is still disputed whether there is not more consumption in tropical climates than in temperate climates. This much is admitted, however, that consumption is rare in the arctic regions. Dr. Terry says the annual ratio of pulmonary diseases is lower in the northern than in the southern regions of the United States, and Dr. Drake, an equally eminent authority, recommends those suffering from or threatened with pulmonary affections, to retreat to the colder districts of the country, citing among others localities near Lake Superior -a recommendation which our experience of nearly half a century endorses.

PROPORTION OF PNEUMONIA TO CONSUMPTION IN THE DIFFERENT STATES.

STATES.

CONS.

PNEUM.

STATES.

CONS.

PNEUM.

Massachusetts

3,424

549

North Carolina

562

664

Ohio

2,558

895

Kentucky

1,288

429

Illinois

866

647

Wisconsin

290

194

When we compare the general death-rate of Wisconsin with that of the other states of the Union, we find that it compares most favorably with that of Vermont, the healthiest of the New England states. The United States census of 1850, 1860 and 1870, gives Wisconsin 94 deaths to 10,000 of the population, while it gives Vermont 101 to every 10,000 of her inhabitants. The

249

STATISTICS OF WISCONSIN.

census of 1870 shows that the death-rate from consumption in Minnesota, Iowa, California and Wis- consin are alike. These four states show the lowest death-rate among the states from consumption, the mortality being 13 to 14 per cent. of the whole death-rate.

Climatologically considered, then, there is not a more healthy state in the Union than the state of Wisconsin. But for health purposes something more is requisite than climate. Climate and soil must be equally good. Men should shun the soil, no matter how rich it be, if the climate is inimical to health, and rather choose the climate that is salubrious, even if the soil is not so rich. In Wisconsin, generally speaking, the soil and climate are equally conducive to health, and alike good for agricultural purposes.

STATISTICS OF WISCONSIN.

1875.

ADAMS COUNTY.

POPULATION.

White.

[Colored

Male.

Female.

Male.

Female.

Aggregate.

Adams

200 77

198 71

154

Dell Prairie.

244

221

466

Easton .

164

153

317

Jackson.

261

200

481

Leola

117

100

217

Lincola.

204

193

897

Monroe ..

240

229

489

New Chester New Haven.

444

403

847

Prestoo

186

Qolacy

126

118

244

Richfield.

121

220

Rome ..

199

181

380

Springville.

189

182

371

White Creek

127

115

242

Total.

3,451

3,045

6,502

ASHLAND COUNTY.

Ashland.

La Pointe.

268 141

180 141

448 282

Total.

409

321

780

BAYFIELD COUNTY.

Bayfield.

538

493

1,032

BARRON COUNTY.

POPULATION.

White.

Colored

TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.

Male.

Female.

Male.

Female.

Aggregate.

Barron.

343

295

628

Chetac.

459

397

856

Prairie Farm. ...

364

319

683

Stanford

326

216

542

Sumner.

214

182

396

Rice Lake

122

206

Dallas

240

186

426

Total.

2,068

1,869

3,737

BROWN COUNTY.

Aswabanon

210

175

385

Allouez ..

143

136

....

Bellevue.

371

337

....

768

Depere village.

943

956

1,911

Eaton ...

291

208

499

Glenmore.

3,966

4,017

8,037

Green Bay

581

542

1,123

Holland

784

705

1,489

Howard.

687

579

Humbolt ..

519

467

986

Lawrence

499

408

909

Morrison.

765

633.

1,398

New Denmark.

616

529z

1,145

Pittsfield

384

3357

719

Preble.

888

792'

1,642

Rockland.

434

372"

696

1,470

Suamico.

477

452

929

West Depere village.

982

941

1,923

Wrightstown

1,222

1,058

2,295

Total.

18,376

16,899

35,373

711

Depere.

410

358

...

1.721

3,610

Fort Howard city.

1,889. 591

482

1.078

Green Bay city.

183

187

800

Strong's Prairle

501

433

984

TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.

898

Big Flats

....

279

1,266

Scott.

806

774

250

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.

BURNETT COUNTY.

POPULATION ..

White.

Colored

Male.

Female.

Male.

Female.

Aggregate.

Grantsburg

433 231 87

379 191 82

827 434

Wood Lake ..

Total.

751

652

1,456

BUFFALO COUNTY.

Alma

296 34

254 293

550

Belvidere

307

279 137

275

Buffalo City.

138 876 869

336

712

Cross.

292

282

574

Door

Gilmanton

277

227

504

Glencoe

418

372

339

809

Manville.

275 215

212

427

I Iton ..

402

383

#85

Modena

Montana.

217

671

1,388

Naples.

899

664

1,563

Wanmandee

552

501

Alma village.

465

421

Fountain City village.

500

494

994

Total.

7,517

6,702

14,219

CALUMET COUNTY.

Brothertown

864 666

809

1.692 1,173 2,093

Chilton.

1,061

507 1,000

1,267

Charlestown

1.008

875

1,684

Harrison.

1,015

949

1.965

New Holstein.

837

753

1,590

Stockbridge.

910

865

156

2,092

Woodville ..

690

639

1,329

Total

7,720

6,989

193 183

15,085

CLARK COUNTY.

Beaver

106 303

197

Colby ..

163

142

325

Fremont.

47 310

663

Hewet.

101

Hixon

205 262 84

123 237 71

155

Levis.

151 347

807

654

Mayville.

137

123

260

789 36

Unity

132

107

239

Warner

186

121

807

Weston.

226

153

379

Washburn

138

York

171

135

808

3,968

3,294

7,282

CHIPPEWA COUNTY.

POPULATION.

White.

Colored

TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.

Male.

Female.

Male.

Female.

Aggregate.

Anson.

361 488

269 420

630 908

Auburn.

654

606

1,260

Chippewa Falls city.

3.286

1,755

6,050

Edson .

329

288

617

Eagle Point.

1,360

1,074 638

1,688

Sigel

346

252

810

Total

8,312

5,670

13,995

COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Arlington,

512 639

497

1,009

Caledonia

481

400

681

516 Columbus city.

912 662

647

1.309

Dekorra ...

662

618

1.280

Fort Winnebago.

376

351

727

Fountain Prairie.

749

712

1.461

Hampden

515

506

1.109

Lodi

705

743

1,448

Lowville ..

449

437

886

Marcellon

444

409

858

Newport.

853

862

1.721

Otsego.

130

119

249

Portage city

2,164

2,161

1,186

Scott.

409

374

783

Spring Vale.

423

347

770

West Point.

486

442

928

Wyocena.

580

540

1,120

West w. Vil. of Randolph .. Total.

14,710

14,069

28,803

CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Bridgeport.

177 851

765

....

Eastman.

955

688

... ..

1.664

Baney ...

498

404

720

Prairie du Chlen town.

894

326

Pralrle du Chien city --

411

352

429

535

964

Second ward.

404

424

898

Fourth ward ..

Scott.

Seneca.

704

687

1,891

Utica

773

697

1.470

Wanzeka

583

511

1,094

Total.

7,759

7,276

18| 11

15,035

DOUGLAS COUNTY.

366

346 3 6 |

741

Superior

186

.... ..

968

Clayton ..

1,616 1,448

Freeman

798

766

313

258

571 902

Marletta.

Third ward ..

184

209

485

468

953

Loyal.

499

Lynn.

113

264

Mentor.

736

1,525

Pine Valley Ferkins .. Sherman

132

120

252

210

513

Eaton . ..

104

Grant ..

353

240

341

306

647

Nelson.

1,053 Leeds

886 Lewiston.

541

505

1.046

759

737

1.496

Pacific.

4.387

Randolph

630

556

...

2,484

La Fayette.

1,046

-698

Wheaton

442

868

564

1.229

785 648 Columbus town ..

991

1.903

Courtland ..

Cauton

690

821

195

637

Buffalo.

586

Brillion ..

668

592

Rantoul.

161

828

First ward

768

828

596

497

1.012

Bloomer.

Trade Lake.

TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.

Total ..

Lincoln.

STATISTICS OF WISCONSIN.

DOOR COUNTY.

POPULATION.

White.

Colored

TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAOES.

Male.

Female.

Male.

Female.

Aggregate.

Bailey's Harhor ..

210

186

896

Brussels,.

359

316

675

Clay Banks

844

279

623

Egg Harbor ..

244

210

454

Forestville

420

382

802

Gardner ..

208

206

414

Gibralter.

377

325

702

Jacksonport

166

107

273

Liberty Grove.

394

278

672

Nasewaupee.

226

192

418

Sevastopol

268

211

479

Sturgeon Bay .

290

259

549

Sturgeon Bay village

331

301

632

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Grant County, Wisconsin, Part 37

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1044

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1044