The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-05
CLEANLINESS is NEYT TO GODLI

Returned by Under Returned bv Fhy-
.aAer. sicians.
Typhoid fever. Ifmboiiam ------
S ShoHp ,nton., Congestion of brain.
quick consumption. Typhoid fever
Heart cl0t. - lC9psnmn+inne
Pleurisy Of heart Acute bronchitis
uhaer these circumstances, with all the care
wnivn we can possibly exercise, we cannot
sf,rSens our vital statistics in as correct
tSIni as we desire to do. An examination of
tne reports OF cities which are more favora-
ply situated than we, with regard to law in
sno case, SHOWS, however, that they are una
Die 70 Tree their tables entirely from errors.
RULES OF THE BOARD.
The general provisions of the Health Law
and the Rules of the Board heretofore adopt
work which we have marked out to accom-
plish: But conditions which were considered
Satisfactory three years ago, fail now to sat-
ls1y, and new rules must from time to time
be adopted, while we must in addition call
nances. u4U
The following, in addition to our former
rules, was adopted by the Board, November
%, 1889:
ORDER OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH, OF THE CITY
OF PORTLAND, ME-,
1pproved by Wn,. Writ Viroin one the Justices
1889.
D..
Whenever privy vault shall have been re-
moved by order Of the Board of Health, or other
wise the premises shall be supplied with suita-
shan be to the Board Of HeaS
At the time Of making this report there is
not case In the city of diphtheria, scarlet
fever or typhoid fever, nor has any case If
contagious disease bsen reported to the Board
for fifteen days.
For many weeks the returns of death were
so small that we have hoped to present a
greatly reduced death rate at the end of the
year, but the prevalence of influenza and the
very great increase of humidity combined
nave frustrated these hopes In the four
weeks ending February first, the number of
fatal cases Of pneumonia was twenty-four,
| OF phthlsis fifteen, of old age twelve, super.
Induced by the prevailing epidemic. For
these iour weeks the death rate was 3l.26
per 10Y. our normal rate being for the whole
OF last year 1905 per 1000. Our monthly re-
ports .lll be OF great service in pointing out
exceptional conditions at the time they exist.
We believe that the alley, bye-places and
YARDS OF the city were never in better or
cleaner condition. The inspector gave spec
lal attention to this matter before the first
SHOWS came in order that the spring might
| nnd as lew sources OF disease and dscOm-
| Tort as possible caused by piles of refuse,
| &c, being covered and decaying during the
changing weather Of our winter season.
We still believe that city, like an indiyid-
ual, should keep itself clean, and that the
municipality should gather and dispose of its
| garbage, refuse, ashes, night soil, ETC. If a
beginning were made by collecting the ashes
| stagnant pools, which in the summer season
offend the senses and imperil the public
health. could be filled, and many cellars and
yards now given over as the receptacle of
refuse and waste could be made and kept
clean. OF the further advantage which the
city would gain by having cheap, but ex-
cellent material for making its streets over
low lying lands, and filling its flats, we do
not need to speak.
We hope that some future city council will
| nave the courage to graphic with this prob
| lem and give 1t the right solution.
CAUSES OF DEATHS
| The whole number of deaths in the CITY
| iron March LIST, 1889, to February 2Sth, 1890,
inclusive, was 769. This does not include
the 26 deaths at the Maine General Hospital,
OF persons brought from out of the city for
treatment and taken home for burial nor
the number of still births, which was SO, or
IL more than last year. Our estimate of the
population of the city for the past year is
42,04S, which makes the death rate
1881 for each 1000 inhabitants against 1905
| for last year, and 1913 and 1888 for the two
| years Immediately preceding.
VI the 769 deaths, ia were from Zymotic
diseases, and 1t will be observed that the
large increase over the number of last year,
Is principally attributable to the mum Der OF
deaths from cholera infantum caused doubt
less by the very unfavOrable weather which
prevailed last summer.
Comparative deaths in four years:
$4,000. 1S8S-88 1888 1Ss6-S7