The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-06
rpERB HEALTH RECORD
,.a,s DEATH RATE LOW
Az AN-a.rrAYYsOUTRERN CITY.

-.p,S DEATH RATE LOW-
Az An ANY SOUTHERN CITY.
did Results of Drainage ana
be 9piT Trs.er-what Good Sanitary
Pure ,.,ions Have Accompiisnea-
Res a r..,.mony of Physicians Rela-
Tns - the Disappearance OF Fevers
tivs - =. f. rom the City Dispen sary
rae. S,ow the Improvement in the
Tns1 81. g,altb-outline of Projected
o'n-. +5a most important factors IN the
One % ~ ~ nro;perity of Savannah is her
oF'1 H. sanitary condition Is excellent
a' lily improving. Her physicians say
'-'- has absolute immunity from
fa' 'L - If diseases that are prevalent
e -, chile malarial, typhoid and bill
's"'o' VIZ, bave been reduced almost to
. lsr and that by comparis IN with
ll.',t 10 Of its size she has one OF the best
r nns' =, c,nditioas are due largely to the
~ ~ svsta,n inauguratei by the county
y - ,.7sio,ars twelve years ago, and which,
te..r an experience of the first seven years.
'7 - - m more historically aud systemat-
{rouv carried on since.
r.! s1.n,onting the work of drainage, and
oupp tt ;+s most potential auxiliary, is the
p u9 W. u.asian water, which is far more
rSe Oh - than the unfltered water of the
EDoleso ob liver formerly supplied to the
paVan .' tha deleterious waters of the sur
flIy' VI w. tbot we're aba ldoned last year.
M ~ " Constantly increasing vigilance and
.I lIG w }rk of the health, street and
lIeti 80 water committees of council have
tilo s Chr the good work of the
p H,n 3Tp Commissioners, and the Savannah
e. 4n'jor from a sanitary point of view, is
II W 80 90 of the Savannah of as recent j
f a, as 1876. when the southern portion
" he ciry contained pools Of stagnant
trotar defective plumbing, foul
rar'erS unwholesome water and
ffo"&,otrsl drainage combined to
In tGe health and the energies of
tbe neonls. During the summer months a
~, vaars ago there was almost an exodus
4; these who could get out Of the city; now
H. sumner months are the healthiest
sEnontb, of the year, and houses on the Bay
tbat formerly closed during the heated term
Ia not think of such a ing now. A short
E,ocetion of two or three weeks at most is
i Il that is expected. and many mercha is
6o not take this, finding in Tybee near by
resort. from where, after a surf bath, they
hnsv return the same night and be i'll their
|conuting room the next morning.
To those who do not know what a change
In the bealthfulness of Savannah has come
about in the past four or five years, evil
Hence MIGHT be cited in a cumulative way
|havOnd the space assigned to this article.
hi is not necessary, however, to cite more
Khan a few ofiici i and unofficial facts to
Establish the claim tlat Savannah is one of
|tbe most healtuful cities in the south, If not
|the most healthful in the country.
IA PHENOMENAL IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH.
DR.. W. z. Brunner, health officer of the
city, says that the increase il the health of
he city has been almost phenomenal. He
says That no other city has shown such
marked sanitary improvement for the last
i've years as Savannah. He cites the fol-
lowing comparative official figures TO show
the largely decreased mortality in 1888, as
with 1884 which was not an I'M
healthy year:
In 1854 the percentage of deaths among
whites was l19, among colored 36.7. Ia
1888 the percentage of deaths among
whites was but 1l.45, and among colored
26.6 These reduced figures have been well
for the past six months Of 1889,
although the city has become more populous,
the percentage among whites being H. Is,
and among colored 25.76. DR.. Brunner SAYS
that several things have contributed
to this condition Of affairs, and he puts
drainage first. The effect of drainage, he
says, can be noticed by the most unobserv-
ing in the absence of moss and
mold on the trees, showing the lack
Of moisture. A few years ago
the trees were full OF moss This moisture
has been reduced by drainage. Another
cause of the increased healthfulnesS, Dr..
Brunner says, is due to the change in the
disposition of night soil. Some years ago it
was buried intAe lanes; nowit is deodorized
dlsll1ected, and, haviag been rendered
inert, Is removed out of the city a distance
OF three and a half miles. Since the adj
Vaac9ment OF the germ theory defective
plumbing has been given greater attention
ana this has decreased tho number of
dlphtheria and typhoid diseases. The use of
afteSlan water, and more especially its gem
SuIldC6
NelIS' Dr: Drummer says, has reduced the
number of diarrhoea and dysentery cases.
INTERESTING STATISTICS.
Dr. Drummer referred the reporter to his
special report to the city council last April.
V neH the naval commission was here, in
fIi.O ne attn outed the increased he 18th
auliieos Oh the city to the thorough drainage
- s Salen IN vogue here, the extreme health
iti itlo's Vi Uhe arteslan water, and the mar
t'me quarantine restrictions. which are a
par to the Introduction of contapions and
infectious diseases. '''' anu
~ prqnner quoted from the Sdnitor,,
Fry Oh NeE York, showing that Sayan.
nau mas tne lowest death rate of six of the
n anclpal cities of the south, in the follow.
ing mortuary table: '-'O --'"
ANNUAL RATIO PER 1000.