Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-26
OUR HEALTHY CITY.
A FTattering Annual Report Made BY
the Bureau Of Health.
NEW GARBAGE FURNACES NEEDED.
and Additions to the CITY
Hospital Suggested.
NEED OF PURER DRINKING WATER

The annual report of the Bureau Of
Health, just prepared for circulation, con-
tains some interesting statements and hg-
ures. In his report Superintendent Baker
lays stress on the necessity for improve
ments in the Municipal Hospital, though
granting that so tar as caring for patients 10
concerned the hospital is in frst-class condi-
ton. The purchase of q new ambulance II
recommended, the present one being old,
entirely too cumbersome and not adapted to
its use. Continuing, he says:
~ would also recommend the construc-
tion of two or more small buildings separate
from the main hospital, but on the same
grounds, on which there is ample room, for
the purpose of accommodating destitute in
dividuals suffering from scarlet fever,
diphtheria and erysipelas. During my
service in the Health Bureau / have had
considerable trouble in trying to provide
for such cases. 1t is almost impossible to :
get cases of erysipelas admitted TO any OF
the hospitals. There should undoubtedly
be some place where destitute individuals
suffering rom the above diseases could be
placed for proper treatment and care. Com
mon humanity, as well as a proper regard
for protection to the public, demands that
building Of the kind mention should be
erected, and can suggest no better way or
place OF caring for such cases"
DIsPosING OF GARBAGE.
OF the collection and disposition of garb-
age and the management of garbage fur
nsces. Superintendent Baker says:
"The removal and disposal OF garbage in
any city is a very important matter in q
sanitary point OF view, and one in which
most cities are very slow in adopting proper
methods This city unfortunately must be
classed in that category.
"The city of Pittsburg is growing very
rapidly, and the one great problem, more
than any other that stares this bureau in
the face, is, what shall we do with our con-
stantly increasing garbage? Our only ans
wer Is 'crematioh.'
He states that the garbage furnace on
Hill street was kept running day and night
during the past year. "But one furnace is
not sufficient to destroy all the garbage Of
this city. Our opinion is that there should
be at least three more furnaces located as
follows: OHe at q convenient point on the
Southside, one in the East End and one in
Lawrenceville. We there ore earnestly sug-
gest that you present this subject before the
Councils of this city and urge them to at
once appropriate enough money to build at
least three additional furnaces"
During the year the bureau abated 8,248
nuissnces of every description.
THE WATER QUESTION.
DR.. J. Guy McCandless, Register Of
Vital Statistics, at the very beginning of his
report takes up the question of the quality
of our drinking water, and asserts that the
danger to health from the use OF well and
spring water In the city is infinitely more
than from even the unboiled river water.
The total number of deaths was 4, 2S6,
equal to an annual death rate of 17.85 per
1000 inhabitants, on an estimated popula-
tion of $40, 900. There were ], ,030 deaths OF
infants under year and 762 children be-
tween the ages of and 5 years, making II
per cent. of the total mortality.
OF infectious cases there were 1885 cases
reported, with 678 deaths. They were To-
Gated as follows: Old City, 775 cases, 162
deaths; East End, 1886 cases, 319 deaths;
Southside, 725 cases. 139 deaths.
During the year S41 cases of dipht6eria
were reported, of which 213 died. This is
the lowest mortality from this cause for the
past 16 years. The want OF proper sewerage
in the East End district is no doubt the
cause of its prevalence there, where the
number was more than that of the Southsids
and Old City combined.
GOOD SHOWING.
The following table of comparative state
ments, compiled from official sources, is