The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-30

Roard oi Health. composed of Drs. J. q
Csbcli. William II. Taylor, and I. ID. Gun
ninghsm: 400.
RIoHxoNp, February ID, 1882.
10 nc Honorable Mayor and Council o.
ne City Of Richmond;
The Board OF Health respectfully submit
their eleventh annual report. The usua
,sbulated reports a. to births, marriages
snd deaths for the year 1881 are made
psrt OF this report:
The number OF live births registered du
ring the past year was 1,9O1-whitc, 1,001
e,lored, 900 We report i61 still-births-
white, Sc; colored, IO5.
MARRIAGES.
Phe number OF marriages, 569-whitc
3eI; eolored, 82.
NoRTUARY Lust.
We recorded 2,0l9 deaths--white, So
colored, I.IS4--an increase OF 300 over th'
report OF 1880. The number OF deaths II
the white race was increased to 1874; in thu
colored race 20 l75.
Rate OF mortality OF whole population
3I.04: rate OF mortality Of white popuia
ton, ~. 30; coIored population. 1919. This
calculation is based upon an estimate Of .
population al the middle Of the year 1881 OF
Sc, 900 inhabitants. White, 3s,SO0; COZ
ored, 1920.
This large rate OF mortality should in
iIice you, our City Fathers Qt is again re-
spectfuliy suggestcdl, to lend more VIII
iing car TO recommendations heretofore
made by this Board ~ calculated TO dimin-
ish II. The death rate in the white pOpu-
istion has not been so high rs to excite
D,,t hi lv hot
'lle care and protection Of the colored race
now rests upon us. This responsibility
we cannot avoid II we would. Let us meet
the Issue squarely and fairly as men, ma
king no inquiry a. 10 how and why such q
result was obtained, and while uttering no
complaint we must show TO the world that
we are equal 10 the occasion. and thus
command their respect.
Ills a fact that the colorcd race is now being
educated at the expense OF the white, but
the fruits OF the system OF such care are 4,
vet but partially manifested. A few years
more. it is hoped, will satisfactorily de-
velop the benefits OF the course pursued.
Already we sec signs OF their improve
snent. We notice with great pleasure de-
sire Oh their part 10 avail themselves of tic
advantages OF education, and in proportion
Ind an increased self-respect and acknow-
fedgment OF greater obligation on their
part to conduct themselves a. good citizens
of the State. We lind that by integrity,
economy, and sclf-reljance many have estab-
fshcd themselves in permanent homes, and
are now securing pecunary independence.
But the mass still need aid. That aid can
De most efficiently extended to them by
caring for them in times Of sickness. At
IYesent they cannot supply themselves
90 abtrri hi,
peculiar wants in this respect will be
treated more particularly under the head
Of q Free Hospital
We now call your attention to some OF
the causes of the increase in the mortality
81 the city. First and foremost was the
prevalence Of
SMALLPOX,
which made its appearance III this city on
the oath Of March, 1851, introduced with
cut doubt by rags obtained outside Of the
city, ~ all OF the first cases occurred
among the operatives Of the paper-mill Ii
prevailed TO such an extent, not only in
numbers, but in every portion OF the city,
as 10 constitute an epidemic. 1t has not
been satisfactorily asceTtained from what
point these rags were obtained. Inasmuch
- this has been the second occasion Of the
from the same cause, it is hoped that you
will consider q suggestion heretofore made
bv this Board requiring the managers OF
such establishments TO submit the materials
used in their mills to a process OF disin-
ioction previous to being handled by so
many operatives.
The epidemic has not been confined to
This locality. While Richmond was one Of
the first cities to feel its ravages, it spread
RON Maine TO Texas and from the Atlantic
TO the Pacific ocean. So general was it.
that the supply OF vaccine virus was not
equal TO the demand. II is proper here to
1--WE our experience a, to the relative
merits Of bovine virus and bumanized
virus. The small success attending the
use Of bovine virus lead us to believe that
in consequence OF the unusually large de-
mand for 1t, the propagators OF the virus,
not exercising the same care as they had
heretofore done, threw upon the market
supplies which were imperfect. or possibly
the unusual heated term through which we
passed last summer impaired the efficiency
oi the virus before il could be used.
The success of the public yaccinators has
been very great since the Board secured
hssr~unised UiruS. selected as Ii was by con-
scientious physicians, and furnished by
one of the most reliable pharmaceutical
firms in the country.
The lessons to be drawn from the recent
epidemic are apparent, and should i'm
press themselves upon your bodies.
First, that il will not answer to rely upon
periodical efforts in the way Of vaccination
for the protection OF the public from small
pox. Those sanitary precautions should be
continuous, aud measures adopted to Sc
mi Poi fnl ,.f
the same. The wise aud beneficial proyi-
sions OF your ordinance for compulsory
vaccination, endorsed a. il has been by
legislative enactment, will tend greatly
70 prevent q recurrence OF the scenes
through which we passed during the year.
The whole country tributary to the COM
niefco OF this city was demoralized and
panic-strlcken. Some other cities profit
cd by the course pursued by our authori-
ties IN reporting every ease which occur
red. Time will show that In such, as in all
other matters, - honesty Is the best poll
ey." With Us no secrecy has been OBJ
served. The public in and outside of
Richmond have been kept informed of the
extent OF the disease. These daily bulle-
tins, relied upon by the people, allayed the
unfounded fears engcndered by unscrupu-
ious agents in the employment Of rival in
rcrests to our commercial prosperity. We
have not concealed, nor have attempted to
conceal, the least fact as to the prevalence
al the disease, and we commend our ex-
ample 10 the authorities Of all the cities in
This country.
Unfortunately We have in our midst q
class Of population in many instances not
sufficiently educated TO appreciate the i'm.
portance OF vaccination, many OF whom
a-o superstit;ous about the preventive mea-
sares, and others are fataists, and are only |