The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-15
THE HEALTH OF RucHMoND.
Animal Report Of the President OF
the Board.

INTERESTING REVIEW OF THE BoAED-or
STREETS, ALLEYS, AND sEwERs-GENERA
CONDITION or THE CITY-BIRTHs, DEATH
AND MARRIAGEs-c CATTLE AND CATTLE III:
EAsEs-QuARANTISE-I sUGGEs
TIoNs AND RECOMMENDATIONS, &C., &C.
The annual report OF the Board @
Health-Dr. j. G.. Cabell president---ba
been prepared and forwarded TO the MAYO
10 be printed In the bound volume OF an
nual reports. II contains great deal o
interesting matter, much of which is print
ed below. IL refers in a general way TO th
parks, the well-graded streets, the aims
house, and the fine corps OF officers wit
which the institution Is supplied, and sug
gests that the inmates could supply nurse
and attendants for free hospital, which 4
needed here.
The Board also recommends that there b,
appointed at least six physicians 10 car,
for the poor who do not desire to go L
the almshouse, and that these physician.
should be paid adequate salaries. The re
port makes appropriate reference 10 the
Sanitary Police and the Assistant Super
intendent OF the Chain-gang.
In reference 10 other matters we quote
The importance Of the registration OF
births has not thus far been appreciated by
the public. Such returns as we furnish are
incomplete, but we publish them to show
our anxiety to excite more interest on this
subject. We carefully preserve and re.
cord annually such statistics, obtained by
the house-tO.hOuse visitation OF The regis
trars. These records are open to the in
vtsiigation OF all legitimate, but closed 10
all impertinent, inquirers. They will in
future prove useful, aud will in this city, as
else where, be regarded as essential in many
cases as in The disposition Of property. We
cannot understand why the visits OF these
officers should not always be welcomed, and
every facility afforded for correct informa
tion. In the discharge Of these duties they
combine the greatest courtesy with their
desire to procure reliable statistics.
| The number OF live births registered du
ring the past year was 1912, and III still
births were reported.
| MARRIAGES..
Our report under this head presents
smaller number than in the last year. We
report total OF 5S2-whlte, 294 colOred
2SS.
| MORTUARY LIST.
| With an increasing population, we may
reasonably expect a larger mortuary list
We record 1,60S deaths during the yeal
1S79-white, 1872; colored, S76. The death
| rate has increased in the past year. We
may reasonably expect fluctuations in thi,
respect, but this advance should admOnish
us to make an increase in the force allotted
to the Board for cleaning the city, for il
Will be remembered that during long and
repeated droughts we have not the benefit
OF heavy rains, the best scavengers for a
city situated as ours is. Every citizen will
accord TO the Board a full endorsement OF
the efforts made TO perform its duties with
the limited means at disposal Had their eX-
ertons been seconded by the individual CO.
operation OF the heads OF families, the city
during the periods of excessive drought
would have been kept in a more cleaDly
condition.
| The effects of several diseases, appTopri-
ately called " filthy diseases" and regarded
as preventabe. would have been lessened.
| We allude particularly to scarlet-iever and
dphtheria. The surroundings OF one fam
| lily may jeopardize the health OF whole
square. The contagious nature OF these af-
| iections, so subtle and ditfusable, should
admonish us all OF the peril which may sur
round us, and urge every good citizen 10
|
| thorities in the discharge OF their duties.
But with you, gentlemen, rests the re-
sponsibility Of clothing these authorities
with ample powers and ample means; and
| failure in either respect will necessarily
and properly be transferred, with its at
tendant results, TO your shoulders. The
idea OF one dozen inirm persons attempt
ing to keep III healthy cleanliness CITY OF
the dimensions which this has acquired
strikes every one with amaZement. 1t is
wonderful how much has been accomplish
ed by that force. and it deserves your COM
mendatiOn. What they have left undone
should encourage you 10 supply more effi-
cient and reliable force equal to our wants
and the eXigencies which may annually
arise. We desire a paid corps OF able
bodied men 10 do this work. II Is possible
that this proposition will be forced upon
YOUR consideration in a short time in more
f0rcible manner than we can now pre-
sent it.
QUARANTINE.
This is proper time to call your atten-
ton to TINS subject. Fortunately, hereto
fore the occasions have been rare in which
municipal interference has been necessary
TO guard our city from the danger OF intro
ducing certain diseases. During the past
wear only one vessel arrived at this port
which caused any socitude. That was
the .'barque Troas" in ballast from
Havana. While the captain reported that
he remained in Hampton Roads for several
days, and no case OF sickness had occurred
since he left Havana, we found that he had
no bill OF health from the port from which
he sailed. and learning from some OF the
orayv that one OF their number was left in
Havana because OF sickness, and the
further information that the ballast, con-
slsting OF earth, was procured from that
citv. when yellow-feyer was prevailing, we
renorted the facts to the Mayor, and sug-
pested that the vessel be sent to the quaran-
tine grounds TO discharge her ballast, and
have the craft dlsinfected. lie at once
responded to our request and directed us
to take such steps as IN our judgment we
thought proper. The suggestions were
carried out. We mention this case to show
that at any time a vessel may enter our
port with disease on board OF a pestlleniiai
character, ard its Influence be extended De-
fore any measures can be adopted, because
quarantine has not been established by Inc
only authorized powers-namely, your two
bodies. At present your health autnorllies
have no power to act on the question OF
quarantine.
Now that the city by its liberaity. second
ed by little assistance from the Generai
Government, has secureG deptn Oh Waler
in our river which enables vessels OF large
tonnage TO approach oar wbaryes, ana WIN
the prospect before US OF obtaining addi'
tiona appropriation, from the General OoV-
ernment, with co ntinuance OF eXertion on
l.. tn. n Al