Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-20
THE SANITARIANS.
Closing Session OF the American Public
Health AssOeiation-A Highly
Successful Meeting.
DIR. g. b. ThOrntOn's Paper ON the Negro
Mortality Of MemPhis-Izterest-
ing Statistics.

INDIANAPOLIS, October I9.-The Ameri
can Public Health Association, at its morn.
ing session to-day, passed resolutions requir-
ing applicants for membership 70 state in
what manner they have shown an interest
in sanitary science.
The action of the previous association,
making secretary Of the advisory board,
was rescinded.
A resolution was passed That the advisory
council be instructed TO consider The advisa-
bility of an International sanitary conyen-
tion at Washington, or such other city as
may be thought proper, and report at the
next meeting.
The following officers were elected: Presi-
dent, Dr. Ezra NJ Hunt, OF New jersey; first
vice e-presideni, DIR. Albert L Gibson of the
United States navy; second vice-president,
DIR. J. + Reeves, OF Wheeling, w. va /;
treasurer, Dr.. j. Il. Linsley, OF Nashville,
Tenn; executive comulittee, DIR. Thomas l..
Neal, Of Ohio; I. J. Turney. of the United
States navy; G. p Conn, OF New Hampshire;
J. d. Billings, Of the United States army;
]. ]. Speed, of Louisville; III. IL. d. Frazer,
of South Caroline.
1t was decided to hold the next annual
session at Detroit.
The report of the Committee on Vital Sta
tistics, including the following resolution,
was adopted:
ResoEUed That the American Public Health Asso-
citation recommend that the chief officer and expert
adviser In the registry of vital statistics in the
sPeetiye states the three deParlnesnts Of The Fed
snail meet IN conference at a convenient place
during the ensuing six mouths to examine and
consider the outlines Of laws, plans and methods
ior securing the most complete and correct regis
traton and public uses Of vital statistics in the
eral states throughout the nation and all branches
OF the public service.
At the afternoon session DR.. ]. J. Speed,
OF Kentucky. presented a paper on "The
RalaffOnu of Haalfb AaaaaiafIona fn he
Practice Of Medicine"
DR.. Thornton, president of the State Board
OF Health Of Tennessee, and of the city of
Memphis, read a paper OF great value on
''The Negro Mortality of Memphis" which
was very we'll received. He said:
The high negro mortality Of Memphis, in com
parison with that of the white population which
has increased for the first nine months OF 1882
that OF the two preceding years, and the high
upon the eauses, for this excess BY the United
States census OF $50 the popnlat OF the city
"a 600; white. IL, 293; colored II, ,7O7.
The United states census. taken in the summer
of 1880, shows 90 593 lotiicaD In the last annual
$4,000 was taken for convenience. This was thought
too low at the time, especially for the white popu
yeIlow-feYer epidemic OF 1879, before Mem phis had
regained some OF It's white refugees, who have
when many white residents are Temporarily ab-
sent-a number of whom are known to have been
The total deaths for 1881 was 1447; white, Cos;
black, sos. The deathrste for the whole popula-
ton, calculated upon $1,000 for 1881, made total
death-rate of 43.26 TO the 1880. Calculates
upon their respective populations 1t was AZ for
the white, and 4s24 for The negro population per
1000 Tho 1471 total deaths for the city included
strangers and non-residents who died in the city
hospital With these eliminated, the total death
rate would be reduced to 1870 The last city di
rectory, compiled from a canvass of the city in
diate suburbs. at $4,000. Assuming this to
be correct il would allow fair esti-
which would reduce the death rate to SO O2 TO the
of Memphis by the United States census of 1880 is
very nearly equal the whites being less than 1000
groes exceeds the whites for 1880 and 1851 and for
the first nine months of 1882 is nearly fifty per
cent. greater Since the United States census was
in a greater ratio by Immigration than the negro
which would leave still greaIer difference in the
comparative death-rate OF the two races.
There were few deaths in 1850 and 1881 from |
the three zymotic diseases, scarlet fever measles
and diphth eria, but at time did either disease
prevail to any serious extent. The total deaths |
for these two years, among both white and col
ored amounted to seventy. one, and no death has |
Of 1852.
The first death from smsllpox for number of |
first nine months of this year only tweuty-nine |
deaths from this disease occurred in the CITY, eight
among the white and twenty-one among the negro |
population.
The zymotic diseases which have proven so fatal |
in some more northern localities within the past
few years have contributed verv little 70 the DEATH
rate of Mem phis among either whites negroes,
and now that The city is well severed. paved and
has good surface and underground drainage, be- |
sides being vastly improved in many otner re- |
spects, there is substantial reason to base the |
opinion that in the future these diseases will be
suits. The following table compiled from the |
records of the health Office show the ten diseases
credited Witu the largest number OF deaths each |
year IN question and which may be considered the
most constant eau ses of death: