Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-04
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
THE REPORT OF THE HEALTH
OFFICER FOR 1888.

The Condition of Suburban Drainage
The Rigid Enforcement of Quarantine
Regulations The Necessity for In
creased Facilities at the Quarantine
station-The City's Freedom from Con-
tagious Diseases-The Mortuary Rec
ord.
One Of the most important departments
of the city service is that under the con-
troll Of the Board Of Health.
The report of the Health Officer. Dr.. J.
T. Mcfarland, for the year 1888 contains
some interesting data, and is a compre-
hensive statement of affairs relating to
the sanitary condition of the city and its
surroundings.
After a reference to the organization of
the Board of Sanitary Commissioners and
the manner in which that branch Of pub
lie service Is conducted, the Health OIL
Ger says:
To enter into detail of the actions Of the
Board during the year would far exceed
the space which this report is expected
10 occupy, consequently l Will not at
tempt it. Nuisances known or complain
ed Of have been promptly abated when the
ordinances authorized the Board so to do.
The sanitary condition Of the city and
suburbs has been Zealously watched
aud improved whenever feasible.
SUBURBAN DRAINAGE.
At this point / would call attention
to the defective drainage on
Waters road and Lovers lane.
For years past the bitches along these
roads have been dug deeper each year,
seemingly with disregard tonatural water
sheet and level. The consequence is that
the rain fall is forced to seek unnatural
outlet, and what cannot be conveyed OF
remains in pools to be absorbed into the
soil During the past summer these
bitches were frequently reported as null
sances by members of the Sanitary Board.
| would most respectfully recommend
that the drainage of this section be i'm
proved during the present. winter. The
general condition of the suburban drain
age is excellent.
SOURCE OF COMPLAINT.
Privy vaults have continued to be
sources of constant complaint. The de-
partment of the city having this charge
upon them have been active in discharge
OF duty, still these vaults are reported as
nuisances as frequently as ever. 1t is
impossible to keep these vaults free from
OffensiVeness for any length OF time. Dis
injecting only temporarily relieves the
nuisance, and complaints regarding these
will continue to pour in until easy sewer
connection is afforded citizens and COM
pulsOry abandonment Of priYy vaults
within the city limits ordered by the
municipal authorities. Another vital
reason for the abandonment OF
these vaults is the benefit
that would be derived in purity to well
and pump water, which is now unques-
tionably seriously contaminated.
THE GENERAL HEALTH.
The year has passed without single
case of suspicious fever, and with decid-
edly less of the usual nervous and false
reports which are generally gratultously
circulated in our community. General
good health has prevailed, as is shown by
the annexed mortuary report. The ratio
deaths OF the white population IS faVora-
bic and will compare well with 0ther clues
of the United States. The death rate OF
the blacks and colOred is large-lt is
equally so in all cities of the South where
this race is congregated in large numbers,
and is uncomfortable, very many OF them
dying in poverty and want without nav
ing applied for relief or medical treat
ment.
BY ordinance the duties of the Health
officer was increased this year to the eX-
tent of issuing all burial permits. This
has brought the differential race death
more forcibly to my observation. The
fact is deplOrable, and | regret not being
able to offer any suggestion to remedy the
same.
The ratio derived by the consolidation
of the deaths of whites and blacks, as
used by compilers of vital statistics rs I'M
just in the extreme and damaging to the
interests Of this city.
The quarantine regulations OF tnls port
have been enforced to the letter and spirit
of the Code.
QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.
1t is not out of place here to state that
that the identical code of quarantine regu-
latiOns has been enforced at the port of
Charleston, s. c., the Boards OF Health OF
Savannah and Charleston having, after
consultation, mutually adopted same. As
year after year passes without an INVASION
of yellow fever, some citizens Of this COM
munity become more and more clamOrous
for tightening of the quarantine regu-
lations, seemingly forgetting epidemic visi-
tatiOns ofthe past. The stringency of these
regulations at this port has been severely
criticised during the past summer; never
theless, the Board of Sanitary CommIs-
siOners, after ceaselesS investigation, de-
termined that the welfare and the health
of the community at large demanded
rigid enforcement of regulations as now
published. [ have visited the station sew
eral times during the year as prescribed
by the ordinances. The building ana
wharfage are in good condition, the sta
bility of each being much improved by the
additional accumulation of ballast.
would suggest that the remnant Of build
ing upon the quarantine island, Which
was erected by the Treasury Depart
ment of the United States, be purchased
by the city, and converted. after
repairs into a ward for the accommo-
dation of cases of contagious
disease which may be brought to the sta
tion during the time of closure of the Sa-
peio Quarantine Station. Such extra
ward is required, as isolation OF such
cases cannot be enforced with the present
accommodation afforded. During the year
the wharfage room at the station has been
increased one berth, now giving accom-
mediation for two vessels to discharge bal
last at the same time. To the new wharf
a tramway has been built and it was in
tended to supply same with dump car
to facilitate unballastlng. but up TO TINS
time no car has been there placed, and
the work is accomplished still by wheel
barrOws. This slow process does very
we'll during the summer months when
vessels from infected or suspected lati-
tudes are detained in quarantine fifteen
days, but l think it unnecessarily i'm
pedes commerce during the winter and
spring months, when detention in quar-
antine of such vessels depends solely upon
the time taken in unballasting.
BETTER FACILITIES REQUIRED.
l feel that the facilities now afforded
these vessels are inadequate, and respect
fully suggest that a tramway be built
from the old wharf, and that both tram
ways be supplied with dump cars.
The facilities of communication be-
tween the city and quarantine sta
ton having been unsatisfactory in
the past, and the impraeticability of
serViceable telephone connection hav-
ing been decided, the Board of SAM
tary Commissioners appointed boatman
to ply between the city and station, whose
duty it has been to take to the station, at
any time when ordered, provisions, let
tiers. etc, and bring to the city any mail
matter entrusted to him by the Quarantine
Officer. The service of the boatman has
been satisfactory, and has prevented indis-
criminate visiting at the station.
No case of epidemic or contagious dis
ease has been either brought to the sta
ton or occurred on board of any vessel
while undergoing quarantine.
The SapelO quarantine station was open
from May l until November 1, inclusive,
the latter and much the greater portion Of
time under management of the Marine
Hospital Service of the United States.
The keeping open of this station, espe-
cially during the summer months of each
year, is, think, of vital Importance to
this community both in a sanitary ana
commercial point of view. The very fact
of having a vessel lying at the mouth
of this harbor with yellow fever on
board would materially deuact from
the commerce of the port, as it would
be asserted and believed that the
in ho