The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-31
pu1,lIc MeaftIY.

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70 the Editor Of the indianapolis Journm.
Probably no legislation within, many years has
been Of more vital Importance and has resulted
in greater good than, that establishing State and
local boards Of health Our State board has
able and very efficient management of the secre-
tary, DR. Elder, and his associates ably seconded
by many efficient county, town and city health
officers have been greatly interested in the
second annual report of the State board, re-
Gently published. From it may be cleaned
many important facts and much very use
full information. Among the most i'm
portant works undertaken was a
thorough inspection into the sanitary
condition Of the school-houses of the State
This inspection revealed some startling facts
It disclosed the fact that of the twenty three
ol-houses of indianapolis, sixteen had grave
hygienic faults; that ten of them had polluted
water supply; that 20 per cent of all the school
houses OF the State have no water-closets, and
that of those that have them 40 per cent are in
bad order; that 10 per cent. have no vaults, and
that So per cent have never been cleansed. The
surveys show that large number Of the school
houses are badly ventilated; many located in
low, damp, underlined, malarial locations; some
of them near graye-yardss and their wells
of water contaminated by drainage from
such places; many without any water supply,
except such as the branches and streams near
BY afford; large per cent. of them without
fences many without underpinning; many Of the
yards muddy, without walks grown up IN
weeds, having become the pictures Of desolation
In many cases the law mas been disregarded,
and doors are hung inward In many cases no
care has been exercised to exclude those having
infectious diseases, and by such neglect valuable
lives have been sacrificed. From the statistics
and articles contained in the report | have
culled few items
In the seventy-five counties of the State there
are confined in the county po0F-houses COS in-
sane persons Total numbered deaths during the
year ending September 30, 1883, IA g25 deaths
from violence 740; still births, 800y premature
births, 245; old age, 274; zymotie diseases, BIG;
constitutional malades 2s540 local diseases,
5,304;. developmental diseases, ], $40; unknown,
etc, 525 Total births ia the State, 81, sos; He
Ultimate births, 40S-rfrom 387 American and n
foreign, and 1854 white aud A colored mothers.
From these statistics we learn that q. per
cent. Of al the deaths were from zYmotic dis
eases, which belong to the preyentAble class
which gave 49, 5 per cent With efiicient legisla,,
ton and with active, efficient boards of health.
these zymotic diseases can be almost entirely
eliminated from the State, or at least greatly
reduced. Dr.. Elder says Of this class Of
diseases: sIt embraces cholgra diphthefia,
smallpox, yellow fewer and all the
terrible maladiss which have swept in such
great class that Official hygienic and sanitary
regulations are mortal enemies, and in the light
OF progressive sanitary science we now feel
authorized to say that the continued presence or
frequent destructive visits Of any one Of these
diseases is reprp0eh upon the sanitary intellit
gehce and industry Of any land" pisinfeetion,