The binomial words defining the variousgenera and species of bacteria pathogenicto humans derive from two principalsources: first, as eponyms of the scientistswho laid claim to their initial identification;and second to a series of Greek rootsserving to describe some morphologicalfeature of the microbes.The numerous eponyms includeBrucella, Ehrlichia, Escherichia, Klebsiella,Listeria, Neisseria, Nocardia, Pasteurella,Salmonella, Shigella, andYersinia. Curiously, the discoverer of thetubercle bacillus and cholera vibrio, RobertKoch, has no genus bearing his name.The word, bacterium, derives froma Greek word meaning little staff or rodand gave rise to the Latin bacculum meaninggrape-like [but is only remotely relatedto the word, bacciferous, meaningbearing grapes which is directly relatedPhysician’s LexiconThe Vocabulary of Pathogenic Bacteriato Bacchus, the Greek god of grapes.]Coccus is yet another Greek wordmeaning berry-like. A number of Greekprefixes define it further: gono- meaningsexual or reproductive [as in the word,gonad], crypto- meaning hidden [as incryptogram], diplo- meaning double [asin diplopia or diplomat; it should be hastilystressed that diplomat does not meandouble-dealing but rather one who carriesa sanctioned diploma, which is afolded, or doubled, document], staphylomeaningclustering or grape-like, streptomeaningpliant or chain-like, andmeningo-, meaning membranous.Diphtheria was coined from a Greekroot meaning leather-like referring to thecharacteristic pharyngeal pseudo-membrane.Corynobacterium stems from aGreek root meaning club-like.Clostridium uses a Greek root meaningspinning or thread-like; the Greek Fate,Clotho , is a spinner of fabric. Botulismstems from a Latin word meaning sausage[from whence the bacteria were firstisolated.]Proteus is the name of the Greek seagodwho had the skill of easily changingform. Vibrio comes from a Latin wordmeaning to vibrate. Anthrax is from aGreek word meaning coal [as in anthracosisor anthracite]; and Chlamydia isderived from the Greek word for cloakor upper garment.– STANLEY M. ARONSON, MDRHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHDAVID GIFFORD, MD, MPHDIRECTOR OF HEALTHVITAL STATISTICSEDITED BY COLLEEN FONTANA, STATE REGISTRAR<strong>Rhode</strong> <strong>Island</strong> MonthlyVital Statistics ReportProvisional OccurrenceData from theDivision of Vital RecordsUnderlyingCause of DeathDiseases of the HeartMalignant NeoplasmsCerebrovascular DiseasesInjuries (Accidents/Suicide/Homicde)COPD<strong>June</strong>2006Number (a)201176233428Reporting Period12 Months Ending with <strong>June</strong> 2006Number (a) Rates (b) YPLL (c)2,712 253.5 3,828.52,270 212.2 6,239.0436 40.8 615.0427 39.9 6,512.5476 44.5 367.5Vital EventsLive BirthsDeathsInfant DeathsNeonatal DeathsMarriagesDivorcesInduced TerminationsSpontaneous Fetal DeathsUnder 20 weeks gestation20+ weeks gestationDecember2006Reporting Period12 Months Ending withDecember 2006Number Number Rates948 12,831 12.0*894 9,885 9.2*(16) (89) 6.9#(4) (64) 5.0#443 6,974 6.5*229 3,169 3.0*491 4,788 373.2#120 802 62.5#(109) (743) 57.9#(11) (59) 4.6#(a) Cause of death statistics were derived fromthe underlying cause of death reported byphysicians on death certificates.(b) Rates per 100,000 estimated population of1,069,725(c) Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL)Note: Totals represent vital events which occurred in <strong>Rhode</strong><strong>Island</strong> for the reporting periods listed above. Monthly provisionaltotals should be analyzed with caution because thenumbers may be small and subject to seasonal variation.* Rates per 1,000 estimated population# Rates per 1,000 live births198MEDICINE & HEALTH/RHODE ISLAND
advertisementVOLUME 90 NO. 6 JUNE 2007199
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