USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc > Part 37
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THE NORTHERN HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
This hospital was opened at Oshkosh, May, 1873. The total number under treatment September 30, 1876 was - males 246, females 257, total 503. No ailment of an epidemic charac- ter has affected the health of the household, which has been generally good. The report of Dr. Kempster is full of suggestive matter for the legislator and sociologist.
CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
Still adhering to the plan, in writing the sanitary history of the state, of gathering up all the health statistics which properly belong to us, we now take up those of Milwaukee, the only city in Wisconsin, so far as we know, that has kept up a system of statistics of its diseases. The city is built on each side of the mouth of Milwaukee river, on the west shore of Lake Michi- gan in lat. 43º 3' 45" N., long. 87º 57' W., and is considered remarkable for its healthy climate. The board of health has furnished us with its report for 1870 and downward. The character of its mortality from June 19, 1869, to March 31, 1870, is thus summarized : In children under five years of age, 758 out of 1,249 deaths, consumption, 93 ; convulsions, 128; cholera infantum, 59; diarrhœa, 128; scarlet fever, 132; typhoid fever, 52; inflammation of the lungs, 41; still- born, 79. This disproportionate number of still-born children is attributed in part to a laxity of morals. The deaths from consumption in Milwaukee are 71/2 out of every 100, one third less out of a like number of deaths than in San Francisco, in which city, in 4,000 deaths, 441 died of con- sumption, being 1I out of every 100 deaths for the year ending July, 1869. The deaths for 1870 numbered 1,655, the population being at the last census report, 71,636.
244
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
TABLE OF PRINCIPAL CAUSES.
Consumption.
143
Inflammation of lungs.
56
Convulsions 259
Diarrhœa 131
Diptheria
74
Scarlet fever
1
52
Typhoid fever
49
Old age.
28
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 43º 5' north, and longitude 89° 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- dáry 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 2091/2 feet of crystalline rocks belonging to the Archæan. 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 southerly 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 1657 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 diarrhea 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, diarrhœa, 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 by Phthisis.
Per cent. of entire Deaths by all diseases of Res- Mortality. piratory Organs. Mortality.
Per cent. of entire
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
198
398
Big Flats
77
71
2
4
154
Dell Prairie
244
221
465
Easton
164
153
317
Jackson ..
261
200
461
Leola,.
117
100
217
Lincoln
204
193
397
Monroe ..
240
229
469
New Chester
163
137
300
New Haven
444
403
847
Preston
74
62
136
Quincy .
126
118
244
Richfield.
121
99
220
Rome.
199
131
330
Springville
189
182
371
Strong's Prairie
501
433
934
White Creek
127
115
242
Total.
3,451
3,045
2
4
6,502
ASHLAND COUNTY.
Ashland. La Pointe
268 141
180 141
282
Total.
409
321
..
730
BAYFIELD COUNTY.
Bayfield.
..
538
493
1
... .
1,032
BARRON COUNTY.
POPULATION.
White.
Colored
TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Aggregate.
Barron.
343
235
628
Chetac.
459
397
856
Prairie Farm.
364
319
683
Stanford.
326
216
542
Sumner
214
182
396
Rice Lake.
122
84
206
Dallas
240
186
426
Total
2,068
1,669
3,737
BROWN COUNTY.
Aswabanon.
210
175
385
Allouez ...
143
136
279
Bellevue ..
371
337
3
711
Depere.
410
358
768
Depere village.
943
956
5
6
1,911
Eaton ..
291
208
499
Fort Howard city
1,889
1,721
3,610
Glenmore.
591
482
Green Bay city.
3,966
4,017
29
25
8,037
Green Bay.
581
542
1,123
Holland
784
705
1,489
Howard.
687
579
1,266
Humbolt.
519
467
. .
Lawrence
499
408
2
909
Morrison.
765
633
New Denmark.
616
529
335
792
6
6
1,642
Rockland.
434
372
696
452
929
Suamico.
982
941
.
..
7
2,295
Wrightstown
1,222
1,058
8
45
35,373
Total.
18,376
16,899
53
1,398
Pittsfield
384
Preble ..
838
Scott.
774
1,470
477
1,923
West Depere village.
806
1,145
719
1,073
448
986
....
TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.
..
250
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
BURNETT COUNTY.
POPULATION.
White.
Colored
TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Aggregate.
Grantsburg .
433
379
11
4
827
Trade Lake.
231
191
5
7
434
Wood Lake.
87
82
12
14
195
Total
751
652
28
25
1,456
BUFFALO COUNTY.
Alma
296 34
254
Q
3
550
Belvidere
293
637
Buffalo.
307
279
586
Buffalo City
138
137
275
Canton
376
336
712
Cross.
292
282
574
Gilmanton
277
227
504
Glencoe
413
372
785
Lincoln.
339
309
648
Manville
275
240
515
I lton ..
215
212
427
Modena
402
383
785
Montana.
341
306
647
Naples.
717
671
1,388
Nelson ..
899
664
1,563
Waumandee
552
501
1,053
Alma village
465
421
886
Fountain City village
500
494
994
Total.
7,517
6,702
2
3
14,219
CALUMET COUNTY.
Brothertown
864 666
809 507
12
7
1,692
Brillion
1,061
1,000
16
16
2,093
Charlestown
668
592
3
4
1,267
Harrison.
1,008
875
1
1,884
New Holstein.
1,016
949
1,965
Rantoul
837
753
1,590
Stockbridge.
910
865
161
156
2,092
Woodville ..
690
639
1,329
Total.
7,720
6,989
193 183
15,085
CLARK COUNTY.
Beaver
106
91
197
Colby.
303
210
513
Eaton
183
142
325
Fremont.
57
47
104
Grant.
353
310
663
Hewet
.58
43
101
Hixon
205
123
328
Loyal.
262
237
499
Lynn ..
84
71
155
Levis.
151
113
264
Mentor.
347
307
654
Mayville
137
123
260
Pine Valley
789
736
1,525
Perkins.
36
37
73
Sherman
132
120
252
Unity.
132
107
239
Warner
186
121
307
Weston.
226
153
379
Washburn
70
68
138
York
171
135
306
Total
3,988
3,294
7,282
CHIPPEWA COUNTY.
POPULATION.
White.
Colored
TOWNS, CITIES . AND VILLAGES.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Aggregate.
Anson ...
361
269
630 908
Auburn.
488
420
Bloomer.
654
606
1,260
Chippewa Falls city.
3,286
1,755
6
3
5,050
Edsoll
329
288
617
Eagle Point.
1,360
1,074
2,434
La Fayette.
1,046
638
4
1,688
Sigel
346
252
598
Wheaton
442
368
810
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