The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-04-22

Council, Adopted,
The Council then adjourned 10 Thursday
night, April 22j'
Annual Report Of the Health Otiicer,
Hon, Mayor aud Cily Council
| Expenditure for hospital lnGluhlpE 49,.
| "A ,InrV of "A rlHWHTd ,....,,,,,,,,..., $40 %
| UuIldlng rdt aim, utC,rt,t ,,,tL,t. ,. lbN ~
ModielneaR ANA medical supplies Tor hos -. .,
M dcne for city lndipcnts outside o., $50 ~
ID gln'cOtanth for city aud hoHpllnl',", ~ 70
insnoctlng blulrr auarantlnro.,..,.,. $50
| Medicines on handn.n,,,,,,,,,,,,",n ~ 90
Total number OF palicnh treated outside,
among tho INDECENT of tho city, 3l7 number
ofdonths In hospitals, II; number Of deaths
In tho city, 30; total deaths, 22l number of
aIllborn children, IL; total number of pau
pOn buried by tho city, 27i cost, at SO cOcb,
Sl02.
When took charge of the hospital the
| first of N, year, nearly nll the bedding and
furniture In the hospital was unfit for use
| from wear and mu9h use, consequently now
bad TO be furnished to put tho hospital In u
healthier condition.
The we'll water used Mt tho hospital was
also considered unhealthy, md was conse.
quontly abandoned, aud water was supplied
by tho Water Works company,
The INDECENT treated outside Of the hospital
were unable TO procure medicine or medical
attention,
A lumber were treated outside that were
able to buy medicines but unable TO secure
medical hid, Whenever II was made Known
TO me that the poor in any part OF the city
were unable Ia get medical aid, responded,
night or day, without distinction of race or
nationality.
PUBLIC HYGIENE.
This Is N subject TO which have given Il
good deal Of time and energy. In the pro-
motion of public health the end sought TO
be attained is both the removal OF every con-
dition, matter and thing which tends ~ cause
i'll health among the people, or in any way
TO abreylate the natural lito ofthe individual
in every rank an, grade in society, and the
creation ofull the conditions which will Sc
cure the most perfect typo of physical deyol-
opment and tho longest and most active life
of which each Individual is cnpablc."
These duties may be grouped under build
ings, food supply, water supply and Drainage
Almost every individual understands the
necessity of constructing buildings with the
view of securing plenty Of free circulating
air and protection from rainfall; but rs to
the absolute importance of draining the
ground floor and ventilating il 20 as to secure
purity and dryness of soil underneath, there
seems TO have been great lack Of intorma-
ton or neglect In tho city, This is II matter
that should receive tho earliest attention of
the Engineer or othor competent authority,
Food Supply.-Good food in abundance
can DO secured here, Of course, Tho public
health can only be protected, however, by
an energetic and vigilant Market Inspector
This is an important sanitary officer All
food supply, fresh especially, offered for sale,
ought 10 be thoroughly inspected. This
gives protection to the health and to the hon
est dealer.
Water supply.-NoXt TO food pure and unde-
nlod water in an abundance is II protection
to public health,
Germs of disease enter the human system
perhaps oftener through water than through
any other means
| This Is a matter of very great Importance
and needs the protecting care of tho govern,
ment local and general, "The closing of
low.lying wells and springs rests with boards
ofhealths, for no other branch of tn munic-
ipal government properly appreciates the me-
cessity." Impurities Of animal origin are
most to be feared in Il water supply, and one
privy will afford mere contamination than all
the swamp land that coul be crowd
ed into the whole watershed" sur
rounding Dallss. Thore exists now in this
city localities that will at an early day need
attention in this matter of priSy contamina-
ton. The Water Supply company of
this city now furnishes plenty
of pure and uncontaminated water, Tut it
needs the protection of the public author-
ties to secure 1t from future danger. When
ever any water is suspected of impurities
such as produce disease, 1t should be sub
ected to competent watcr-testors.
DRAINAGE,
zone of the first external conditions of the
health of city is dryness and purity Of
soil This can be secured only by deep
drainage and opening of natural water
courses.
The surface-water must be removed rs fast
rs it arcumulates, whether from tn clouds
or other sources. We have Just passed
through ahealthy year. "Some say it wa'
dry year. Then let every year be n dry
year. This dryness can be secured by the
necessary drainage. All are aware that
as the rains descend through the air they do
not cause disease. 1t is only when tho water
remains in the surface soil in contact with
organic matter that germs Of diseases are on.
gendered. lfwhen the water comes down it
finds the means of flowing Immediately away
! to the natural water courses, we are as much
protected as If it were continually dry. Good
and sufficient deep drains, good streets and
good sidewalks, that will shed water and not
retain moisture, are some of tho greatest
needs of the city rs sanitary measures.
The report of the engineer will contain
more on this subject. He is the proper sani-
tary officer to define the methods Of perfect
ing drainage.
We have Just passed through year in
which no contsgion nor infect N has invaded
our city. In the United States during this
time, a large number OF this character of dis
eases have prevailed. | have endeavored TO
keep pace with them in their progrsss, and at
the same time seeking every m ans to avert
them or arrest them ii they come.
I'VE have been engaged since the first of
March vigorously cleaning the city, and the
work is now going ON daily and nightly. BY
the middle OF My If the sanitary work coa-
tiuues as now progressing, we shall have the
city 10 better sanitary condition than ever
before. Cleaning is an endless work. As