Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-09-02
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Mortunxy BtatiHties for the Past
Eight Months with Comparative
Figures.

Mortuary Statistics for she Past
Eight Months with Comparative
Figures.
Since the organization of the Board
Of Health upon a firm basis, the city was
never so healthy, and the good accom-
plished in a sanitary sense cannot be too
highly appreciated or commended. The
Beard is composed of learned and
scientific physicians as follows: DR.. B.
W. Avant, President; DIR. R. H. Taylor,
Secretary; DIR. Frank Rice, Health
Officer. This latter gentleman has been
unwearying in his vigilence and efforts
to make the sanitary condition of tho
city as perfect as possible. During
the past year numberless
sinks have been cleaned out,
streets and alleys have been
policed and cleaned. Hundreds of
death-dealing nuisances have been
abated and with the most gratifying re-
suits, as the death rate of the city dur
ing the past eight months will clearly
show. The reports published weekly and
monthly by the Board of Health prove
that Memphis stands among the most
healthy cities on the continent. The
United States census of 1870 gives US
only a population of A OPS, when in fact
u population, according to the scholas-
tic census, shows the population to be
owe 10000. In 1874, even according to
the United States census of population,
the death ate was only % in the 1000 of
population, which would be 10 in the
1000 of actual population.
From the Secretary, DR.. R. H. Taylor,
cur representative cleaned some valuable
information, which we give in brief, dis
carding the intricate and lengthy tabu.
statements. The deaths include
deaths in the city, deaths in has hospital
aud still-born, For the first eight months
of 1874, the deaths in the city amounted
to $685. for the corresponding eight
months of 1873, only 63S; deaths in hos
pital for same period of 1874, ll9; same
period in hospital for 1876, deaths III;
still-born for eight months in 1874, deaths
40; same period Of 1876, deaths 81. To-
tai deaths for first eight months of 1874,
S54; total deaths for first eight months
of 1875, Sal. This shows a death rate
per 1000 for the first eight months of
1874 of 10, on a basis of 10000
population, and for the past eight |
months Of 1875, at the same rate of ba.
sis, but Of twelve. The death rate of
and whites shows that the mortal
ity is comparatively heavy among the
black race-this class Of citizens not OBJ
as rigidly as the whites the i'm.
p%erative laws of hygiene; did they do so,
their death-rate would be reduced to
about ten to b 'one thousand Of popula-
lion. For the first eight months of 1874,
The death-rate Of the blacks was twenty.
Xix to a death-rate of ten of the whites,
aud for the past eight months Of 1875,
5he death.rate of blacks was t~wenty-four
eight and a half Of the whites. Of
The blacks, there died during that period
Of time, in 1874, 1894, to the whites
four hundred and ~ffty.one, and during
The corresponding period of time in
1875 of blacks there died 1862 to 1888 Of
whites. These figures are official and
ire based upon the comparative state
nent of population, the blacks being put
down as /, or $4,000 out of 60, 900, q
proportion much larger than really ex.
ists in favor Of the blacks.
In closing this valuable official article
II may be added that the Board of
has virtually destroyed Happy
which two years ago was re.
as the fruitful source of woes
nnnumbered." The pools in the Hollow
faye been pumped dry aud the Hollow
nearly filed up with earth by the
force employed by the Board Of
Health.