The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-16
THE HGALrH or nIcHnosD.
Entercsfing Annual Report OF tho
Ctty's RoarsI OF Hcnltr,. I 5

Tntercssing Annual Repors OF ths
Ctty.s Roarsl OF Hcn1tr,. q s75
BIRTHS, MARRIAa aEs, AND DEATHS I'M
PoRTASCE oF CLEANING TIE STREETS
AND ALLEYs-DEcREAsEI IN TaEEUM
| OF DEATHS FROM MIAsaiATIC CAUSES.
| SOIL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
AS TO NEW wsEwERs-THE WATER oRDI.
NANcE-yEETILATIoN OF PUBLIC ANE
PRIVATE sEWERs-sRocKoE CREEK
scARLET.FEyER, DIPHTHERIA, AMI
SMALLPOX, &c, &C.
| The annual report OF the Board OF Health
DR.. j. G.. Cabell president-has been for.
warded to the Hou. w. c. Darlington,
Mayor Of the city. During the year 1904
| living births took place, and 1853 still-births
were reported, making an aggregate OF
2,053 births. The number OF marriages was
$40.
! The number OF deaths for 1877 CORE
spends exactly with that OF 1876. The in
crease Of population would lead us naturally
TO anticipate a larger number OF deaths.
Our city, says the Board, suffered from the
prevalence of two diseases-viz., measles
| and scarlet-fever-irom which for several
years VIC have been particularly exempt;
| the loss Of life thus occasioned amounted
| to 81 persons. Our estimate OF the
population OF the city at the mid.
die Of the year 1877 is 1860
white, 44,4oo; colored, as,1oo. The death
| rate per 1000 OF the entire population is
21.27-of the white, 1854, and OF the col
ored 2S.S7. We think we are warranted,
in the absence OF any new census returns,
in stating that the population of this city is
fully equal to, il not above, the estimate
made. We learn that our public-school
| accommodations are inadequate for our de-
mands, while the number Of private schools,
in place of diminishing, has steadily in
creased. The spirit Of economy induced
many beads OF families to become joint ten
ants OF houses. The large increase In the
number OF dwellings erected, and the few
OF such which are vacant, shows that there
must have been large accession to popula-
tion. In our estimate Of the'added popula-
ton we have given ratable increase Of each
race upon former estimates.
CLEANING OF THE STREETS.
During the year 1905 loads of ashes,
garbage, and street-sweepings were re-
moved. Owing to the large deposit re-
naming in the streets and alleys in the
flooded district after the subsidence Of the
freshet OF November, when the river rose
25.3 feet above the usual high tide, we were
compelled to neglect other parts OF the city
and confine our labors to that particular To-
cality Some thirty days were thus con-
sumed. The labor attending the removal
OF the mud was very great; but with the
cooperation OF the Fire Department and the
City Engineer, who transferred his whole
force, and the facilities afforded by the Rich
mond, York River and Chesapeake and the
Richmond and Danville railroad companies,
the work was satisfactorily accomplished.
Independently OF the emergency which
thus arose requiring this additional force,
our experience convinces Us that it would
be .eXpedient to transfer larger force
from the chain-gang to the Board Tor the
cleaning Of the streets and alleys. Interest
and humanity alike require that every posi-
BILE facility should be supplied to free the
Sickness alone entails upon community
great pecuniary sacrifices, and death takes
away according to the capacity Of the vic
TINS energy, profit, and influence. The
number OF lives which may thus be saved
by more active hygienic measures will in
crease in proportion to the means en-
ployed. The losses, anguish, and Suffering
consequent on sickness and death thus
avoided will be appreciated by all classes.
DEATHS FROM MIAs,lATIC CAUSES.
We call your especial attention, says the
Board, to the marked decrease in the num-
ber OF deaths from miaSmatic causes in the
past year. In the year 1871, with much
smaller population, there were 464 deaths
ascribed to diseases of this character, while
in 1877 only 367 were so recorded. This
class of affections is placed under the head OF
preuentable diseases, and are recognized as
being mainly caused by filth, want OF drain
age, and imperfect ventilation-all OF which
can be remedied. The removal OF ashes
and garbage, the partial introduction OF
sewers, and the more regular cleansing or
the public streets, have been the cause or
this improvement in the general health OF
the city. Under these circumstances we
most earnestly appeal to you to strengthen
our hands by increasing our laoorlng 1orce
in the manner indicated.
The increased immunity from diseases OF
this character, which by thorough and
systematic cleaning of the city will be Sc
cured, will compensate thousand-fold the
small outlay to be required. Immediately
after the subsistence of the freshet the in
spector of the flooded district examined all
the cellars, and gave orders to have them
cIensed. AS soon as the walls become
sufficiently dry orders will be issued to
lime wash them; and to use Stacked lime
upon all dirtfoors. We suggest that some
carbolic acid in solution be used In the
lime-wash.
SEWER FACILITIES and sOIL-sATURATIoN.
|. The Board next refer to the lack Of sewer
facilities in that section OF the city lying
between Broad street and Brook avenue
and the northern and western limits OF the
citv. The soil is saturated with liquid from
sinks, DC. the air filled with the emana-
tions from these receptacles OF effete mat
ter. which, even under the benign infu-
ence OF bright sun, are still unmistakable;
while at night, without that purifying in
fluence, they are intensified and waited
into every dwelling. The residents IN this
district are debarred in many instances from
having any easements or cellars to their
houses. For years past, notably in the last,
that district has suffered from diseases pro-
duced by causes above referred to-. Re-
heated personal examinations have con-
yinced us that no other part OF the city IS
in more Immediate want OF relief by the ln-
PRODUCTION OF sewers.
We are justified in urging prompt action
from the urgent and repeated appeals made
to this office; by physicians. The number
of deaths from typhoid and scarlet-feYer,
diphtheria, and other diseases, which have
occurred in that particular district, JUSTIFY
us in being earnest in our endeayors 10
secure such legislation on the part OF the
Council as will relieve 1t in future FROM the
calamitics OF the past year. We recon-