The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-21
LESS MEDICINE TAKEN.
A FALLING OFF OF ONE-THIRD IN
CHARITY PRESCRIPTIONS.

What the Books of the County Drug
gist and the Keeper of the City Dis
pensary Show-The Costs to the City
of Looking after the Sick Poor-The
Number of Prescriptions Filled this
Month Compared with Last October
More People Sick on Mondays than
Any Other Day in the Week.
Keeper Cas-, of the city dispensary, and
County Druggist Kieffer are about as good
judges Of the health illness OF the city and
county as the physicians are. Mr. Kieffer
said to a MORNING NEWS reporter yester
day that there has been falling off Of not
less than 1871 per cent. in the number of
prescriptions so far this year as compared
with last year. The fact that the popula-
ton is increasing and the demand for medi-
cine is decreasing, augurs favorable for the
health OF the county.
Mr.. Cas- said that the dispensary books
make equally as good showing. He was
asked how the number of prescriptions this
year compared with those for the same
time last year, and he replied;
ON ACCOUNT OF THE WATER.
lowing to the use Of artesian water and
improved sanitation, there has been a
heavy falling off in the number of prescrip-
tions. On Oct 10, 1887 we filed 90 pre-
ecriptions. On Oct 10 of this year we put
up only Is. From Oct. l to Oct. 10 isclu-
sive last year we filed $50 prescriptions
So far this month we have filed but 955, a
falling off of nearly so per cent"
"How do the months of August and
September of this year correspond with
last years"
Il think the falling off for the year will
average about 33T per cent. and
months you mention. In September, 1887,
we filled 1898 prescriptions against 1,53S
last September. In August, 1887, we put
up 2, 120 prescriptions, ana but 1,64S last
August We know that the city is increas-
ing in population and the falling off in the
demand for medicine and lower mortality
ratio this year are significant of the i'm
proved sanitary condition Of the city"
WHAT IS SEEN AT THE DIsPENsARY.
"You must see great deal of the darker
side Of life herer
Yes. l have been keeper of the dispen.
sary since 1877 and in that time have seen
all phases of poverty and suffering Patients
are brought here at all hours of the day or
night. Some mangled by accident, others
cut, hacked and shot. and some have been
hauled away 10 die. The lame, the halt,
the sick and the blind come here for medi-
cines. The city dispensary is a blessing
70 the invalid poor, saving them annually
from $751; 900 to $4,000, which would have
10 tie raised some way if they had to pay
the regular price for prescriptions"
The dispensary must then be an expen-
Sive department of the eity9'
mot at all. In fact, the average cost TO
the city for prescriptions last year did not
exceed 12A cents prescription, and this
year / do not think it will go over 10N
cents. This not only includes the pay of
employees, tine cost of drugs and supplies for
the poor, but also includes the furnishing
Of medicines for the pest house, the police
barracks, the fire department, the quaran-
tine station, and to the individual firemen
and policemen.
A BLESSING TO THE POOR
A great deal of distress is relieved annu-
ally, and often receive inquiries from other
cities as to the workings of our dispensary
We have as complete drug store as there
is in the city, aud stock up every month
iusuring fresh drugs. Wemake all our own
mulas of the latest edition of the United
States dispsnsatory, and the best drugs and
chemicals are kept in stock, including the
latest preparations
''Is one day about like another herer'
''Oh no. We have very few calls on
Sunday. The doctors must all attend
church, for we have very few prescriptions
to put up on Sunday. But Monday is al
ways field day, and the prescriptions are
principally for children. The other days of
the week average up about alike"
"How do you accountfor Mondays rush"
MONDAYS RUSH FOR MEDICINE.
There is only one way can account for
it. The colored folks buy fish, vegetables
etc, pretty freely at the Saturday night
market, and let their children gorge them
selves with fish, cabbage and whatever else
is on the table and COLES, choleramorbus
and other ailments follow as a matter of
course on Monday.
1--WE dispense no little charity without
prescriptions. A poor person comes in suf-
fering from sudden attack of indigestion
or some pain. He cannot find doctor, and
we look after him If he is known to be
worthy"
The employees of the dispensary are
Keeper Cass, with a salary of 8, 900 per
annum and house rent; the keepers
assistant, e. K. Mccoy, at a salary Of 5000,
and a oolorad MORTAR Francis Rartaw 40