The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-21


the Board OF Health makes a very good
showing for the city OF Richmond in the
matter OF desth-rate. "E" gives valuable
figures 10 regard to public charities here,
and. like DIR. Csbell, discusses the mortality
among the negroes. Another correspond
ent. not a physician, has a queer way Of
cousoling US with regard to, mean water,
and quotes from Hugh MiIler's Old Red
Sandstone y to show, possibly, that other
people have swallowed worse water than
ever we have been furnished with:
OFFICE OF TIE BOARD OF HEALTH,
RIcHHosD, August 20, 1881.
Messrs. Editors,-To prove that NEG.
selected the most sickly month In the year
upon which be based bis remarks, / present
a summary OF three weekly reports Of the
National Board OF Health taken from thirty
odd cities OF ibe Union located variously
from Portland, Me-, 10 Galveston, Texas,
and from san Francisco TO Norfolk, Va,
with populations ranging from fourteen
hundred 10 a million and upwards.
The bulletin for week ending July 9.b
gives total population In these cities OF
7.445,2S4; the number Of deaths, 1902;
annual death-rate, 32.s.
The bulletin for week ending July 10th
gives The population OF sities reported OF
7,517,7e3; number OF deaths, 1914; death
rate, 81.
The bulletin for week ending July 231
gives the population OF cities reported OF
7,92O.0l1; number OF deaths, 4,715; DEATH
rate, BIO.
The bulletin for the week ending July
Both has not yet been received.
Our weekly and annual death-rates are
.A hv ha ~
. large number OF negroes residing in tais
city, crowded as they are In cellars and
damp, iIly-ventilated apartments, many OF
which are dark. IL is no uncommon thing
to find from FIVE 10 six occupying enc
room, In many Of which all the usual yoca-
items OF housekeeping are carried on. The
tenement houses in New York and other
cities where they have been introduced are
no worse than the miserable quarters 10
which so many Of our colored population
are compelled TO reside. In these cities
they have the benefit Of medical attention
and the privilege Of securing a place in
their public hospitals, all free OF expense.
This Board has repeatedly urged that pro-
vision be made for their treatment at home
at present, and that free hospital be
erected A move was made in the Board
OF Aldermen for the erection Of a hospital.
but failed TO secure the requisite number OK
votes. These measures were recommended
for the benefit Of both races.
The coloted population is not accouDta-
bic for the thriiiless condition in which
they are now found. IL will be recoleeted
that up 10 the commencement OF the war
they were cared for by their owners, sup
Piled With every necessary OF life and med
ca attention, their owners In many in
Stances being their nurses. Al the termi-
nation OF the war they were turned loose 10
provide for themselves, with spare cloth
log, and only such rations as the Freed
mans Bureau furnished. Ii Il not remark
able that thus early they should have recov-
cred from the severe ordeal through which
they passed.
II the mortality Of the colored popula-
ton was excluded from the general total
il would De found that Richmond presents
a fair record. l give you the destb-rate
OF the white population for the past FIVE
years, from 1876 to 1881. The average
desih-rate for that period was 1876 in the
entire white population; for the same Pc
ri0d the death-rate In the colored popula-
ton was 2SS.
IL will probably be said that for four
wears OF this calculation our population
was oyerestimated. We admit il. But the
overestimste OF populstioD was made in
every city, some being compelled TO reduce
their figures one hundred aud odd thou
sand. 1t will be found that their death
rate has increased since this reduction.
Our deatb-rate for the past year, in the
white population, was 1913. II should be
remembered that large part OF our white
population, reduced as they were by the re-
suit OF the war, are compelled to occupy
unhealthy homes, and exercise the most
rigid economy.
MEG. selected (unintentionally, i am
sure,) a nisprint OF the number Of deaths
in 1879. The total number OF deaths that
year was 1,60s, printed in nine separate
places. In only one place does the number
given by bin Q,9i2) appear.
II is q mistaken idea TO suppose that as a
city increases in population its death-rste
should be propOrtioustely increased. As
the city increases in population her wealth
is thereby greatly augmented. The author
tiles have large fund from which 10 draw
for contemplated Improvements. The iu-
telligence OF its citizens demand the outlay
for tbe preservation OF their health. The
statistics / have taken from the report OF
the National Board OF Health sustain me 10
The assertion.
| cordially endorse the compliment paid
by MEG. to the editor OF the State, but
respectfully express the opinion that both
gentlemen have selected bad time and ic1y
OF accomplishing their ends. In this opin-
ion / csndidly believe that / am sustained
by large majority Of the citizens. / re-
spectfully ask them that before the annual
appropriations are made next year they i'm
press their views upon our city fathers in
the Council chambers, where their views
will be received with due weight. Backed
by them shall have more hope OF carrying
out the suggestions heretofore made by this
Board. have not seen single new sug-
gestion made by any OF the writers for your
paper.
The editor OF the STATE is entirely mis-
taken in supposing that was apologlzing
for the Common Council or the Board OF
Health. Respectfully, j. G. CABELL,
President Board OF Health.
Public Charities and what They are
Doing.
Messrs. Editors Having enumerated our
public charities (hospitsl and the like, Il
may be interesting 10 some OF your readers
20 know, smopg other things, what they are
doing to prevent eur enormous % death
rate.
Richmond spent during the fiscal year
1880 'sl for public charities OF all kinds
f3s. 69I. .79-no mean sum when we con-
slider the few who pay taxes. OF this
amount, f6,062.T6 (approximatiye) were ex-
pended on account Of public hospitals and
The Board OF Health expended S7,31ISI.
Thb amount is not included in the above
general sbsrity sum.
These estimates are based partially upon
the annual report OF the City Auditor, and
partially upon data furnished by Captain
bigger, OF the City Almshouse.
For the current year the city will have 10