The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-15
DIR. THORNTON'S REPORT.
ACCOUNT OF HIS STEWARDSHIP
DURING THE YEAR 1888.
The Board Of Health Census Made Pub
lie. and the Benefits Thereof in It's
Bearing Upon the Death Rate-Inter-
esting and Valuable.


The tenth and last annual report OF DR..
&. B. Thornton, who yesterday retired
from the presidency OF the local Board OF
Health, appeared yesterday.
1t is q pamphlet OF thirty-seven pages,
many OF them tabular statements, and
contains features which go TO make it the
most interesting and valuable report ever
promulgated from that quarter.
Early in the report the Doctor takes up
the slight prevalence OF smallpox, scarlet
fever and diphtheria in the city, but
neither prevailed to the extent OF epidemic.
Thirty-four cases OF the former malady
were reported, all negroes, but no deaths.
The injection was supposed to have been
introduced from st. Louis, from whence
several cases subsequently came. With
other prophylactic measures adopted, n
general vaccination was at once ordered,
the total number OF persons attended to
being 1901. The deaths from diphtheria
and scarlet fever were less in 1883 than
during the preceding year.
CHAPTER on QUARANTINE.
The report then takes up the stir of last
summer over the yellow fever epidemics
in Florida, at Decatur, Ala, and jackson,
Z Miss, recitng the quarantine and inspec-
lion regulations put in force here. Phil
osophizing upon the experience, the Doc
tor says
"ln this connection it is but Just to state
that the extraordinary measures OF nom
intercourse were instituted to satisfy the
intense feeling Of apprehension which
seemed TO peryOde the greater part Of the
community Non-intercoursc, except with
known infected places, for cities the size
and varied business interests of Memphis,
Is impracticable. The correct theory TO
govern n Board OF Health is TO preserve
the public health with minimum amount
of interference with the business interest
OF the country. Non-inlercourse is an es-
toppel OF all business, which should not he
resOrted TO eXcept-in times of known eX-
traordinary danger In periods OF threat
ening danger. rs last summer and fall, our
safety should rest On our superior sanitary
condition and the efficiency OF our health
service. As no case OF yellow fever has
occurred in Memphis since 1879 though
the disease has prevailed IN several places
in the south since that year, il is fair tC
assume that the service has been effective
"Theexpericnceoi last year demonstrate,
the necessity, or at least the desimbillty,
OF having suitably located refuge nos.
pital for suspicious or real cases of yellow
fever, in the event they sholid occur
The hospital at the old riycr quarantine
grounds. foot OF Presidents Island, Is no
sufficiently accessible. and /, practically %
no use Tor this purpose. To meet this end
at the instance OF the Board OF Health
City Engineer Mcriweiher has a plan o. {
building OF eight rooms, with halls, yeran
das, etc, drawn, which Is estimated q
cost -, 600, and u Is suggested 10 erect
ON the point Ol land between the Aiissis
sippi and Wolf Rivers. as the most suit
able place, all things considered, adjucen
To- the CITY. The owner OF this proprrt
has been spoken 10 and expressed q will
iugucss Ia do NNu he could TO facilitate
~ this public work"
srcurT cFSsus ASp DEATH RATE.
In this report for the hrst iimc Is mad
t-><phnc the cru-n, taken by tho Board d
Health, which Dr. Thornton treats as FOL
lows
"ln calculating the death rate ior IN
wear w now have data for more aCCurut
estimate oi population. When the aunui
house 10 house inspection was made d
March, April. May anl June the patro
mon detailed l1T this purpose from the VS
lice force were instructed O. take q Ccnsu
OF the city. unl blanks were iuuishc
them ior name, sex age, color and Ul1t
OF residence ol each individual. which
recorded In the health Office. The oticrl
assigned 10 this duty were W. W. fu.l
". C. Faycr, Robert Delaney and H.
Reilly. The record shows 21,lJ1 whit
and - go coiotcd. total. 5O. 4bI To Oh
f..s ..2s.aa.H..UH sfl.tE
gives total estimated population Of %
1874, upon which The death rate Ia the NJ
complaining table is calculated. Thei
being 1910 deaths, OF which as Wei
white aud 40 coloud, gives tot
death rate OF 2IT1 per 1000 viii
24G4. colorcd 30. 20. With the deaths
uon.fcsidcnts and deaths hnm violcn,
eliminated, this nate u materially change
being only n total death rate per 1000 {
the city ol iND. Comparing this vi
preceding annual reports Il would see
that the death mtc Of tie city has !
creased, but such s not the fact, as q
death rate published in those reports VIC
calculated upon an estimated populaii'
from business directory which ] nl
know 10 be- exaggerated, aud substitute q
present estimate made us above state
which h nearer correct This estimate
Tor the city proper ana no part ~ VIZ HI
ufbs A. ~ much has been said OF lai"
y many II our citizens about the popuuu
OF Memphis and b. Is 30 d,ilis 90 sltia
them a. 20 population aud death rate,
will be- q rrlcl tD Those iu.vrs cd IN u
subject to have the Government Gems
next year IlSll. which wc must accept
the official census for that year at least.
The table showing death rate per N
nomination iu each ward, white aud &
orcd aud total. Is as follows