Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-21
TENTH ON THE LIST.
Where Pittsburg Stands, as Compared
With Other Large Cities,
In ITS ANNUAL MORTALITY RATE.
Interesting Statistics in the Report Of the
Health Bureau.
THE PAST YEAR FREE FROM SCOURGE


includes the reports of the Register Of
Vital Statistics, Sanitary Inspector and the
Meat and Milk Inspector, and all have been
submitted to the Chief of the Department Of
Public Safety. The whole report of that
department is now complete and ready fol-
printing in book form.
The financial statement OF the Bureau oi
Health shows that for the year 1SS9-90 il
had an appropriation of $39, 800, but So ,0OC
was transferred by Councils to the Police
Bureau, leaving $50, 500 of which s36, 49S So was
expended for the maintenance of the Health
Bureau. The receipts of the bureau. turned
over to the City Treasurer, were S23T 20-con-
sideraoly less than previous years, owing to the
reduction of the fee for cesspool permits made
by the last Legislature.
A place is given IN the report to the munich
pal hospital for smallpox and varioloid patients,
situated at Bedford avenue and Francis street,
Thirteenth ward. There has been but little
use for the building during the past year, but
it is kept in frst-class condition, having re-
Gently been repainted and partly refurnished.
1t is regarded as the best hospital of Its kind in
this State
Among the improvements suggested for this
branch of the bureau are a new ambulance
wagon, the old one being nearly worn out and
very cumbersome, and a couple of fire extln-
guishers. Mr.. Baker also recommends the erec-
tion of two or more small buildings on the
large hospital grounds. isolated from the big
building, for the accommodation OF destitute
persons suffering from other infectious
diseases. He states that he has had considera-
BILE trouble to provide for this class of cases. as
the Department of Charities will have nothing
to do with them, no matter how destitute the
patient may be, and the appropriation does not
admit Of their being taken TO hospitals even If
they would accept them, which, In cases OF
erNSlpelas. is extremely doubtful.
ONLY THREE OF THEM.
There have been but three cases Of smallpox
in the city during the year past, two of them
resulting fatally One case was of an oil driller
brought here suffering from fatal type of the
disease contracted at PetroIa. He was taken
to Mercy Hospital, where he died, and the at
tending nurse contracted the disease and died
also.
During the year 81, 2SS so was expended in
vaccinating unprotected persons by physicians
appointed by the Bureau of Health with virus
furnished by the same bureau, and the physi-
clans we're paid, under State law. % cents for
each successful vaccination. This work is done
under set of rules. one OF which requires care
ful inquiry to the circumstances Of the per-
son to be vaccinated to see if he is an object of
charity. Mr.. Baker thinks this is unnecessary
and hampers the physicians, who must take
oath that they have performed their duty ac-
cording to all the rules
The garbage furnace comes IN Tor share OF
notice, and It's work for the year past is highly
commended. Mr.. Baker advocates the es-
tablishment of three such furnaces in the city,
on the Southside East End and Lawrenceville.
The report of Chief Sanitary Inspector James
NJ. McEwen, shows S,24S nulsances abated, and
3.l45 visits made by the sanitary police to per-
sons suffering from infectious diseases: Some
very interesting figures are presented in the
character of the local distribution of contagious
diseases The general impression is that the
East End district of the city is very healthy.
while the old city, comprising the first Il wards.
is very unhealthy. The figures furnished by the
physicians returns. SO far as contagious dis
eases are concerned, show the contrary TO be
the case. The first eight wards of the city and
the Thirtieth, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth.
Thirty-fifJh and ThIrty-siXth wards are shown
to be the most healthy portions of the city.
The old wards are getting well severed, and
waste water and other disease-breeding matter
is carried of 10 the river. On the Southside,
at TemperanceFille. the Sawmill run drains
the territory surrounding II very rap
idly. Further up the river. toward Smithheld
street bridge, the formation of the land is such
that most of the waste and filth is conveyed
rapidly to the river. The ordinance now pend
ing in Councils providing that property holders
shall connect with public sewers will sford
great relief to all parts of the city from a
health standpoint.
INSPECTOR M'CUTCHEoN's REPORT.
The report of Meat and Milk Inspector
George w. McCutcheon shows that meat,
tables the market value of which was esti-
mated at Sl3,2l6 O5, were condemned and con-
dscated as unfit for food during the year. In
addition, 1,305 head of hogs, AZ head of cattle,
56 calves and sheep were condemned and
slaughtered. Suits were instituted and fines
imposed against SIX persons for adulterating
milk, and against one person Tor selling dis
eased cattle. In concluding his report
Mr.. McCutcheon calls attention to the
large number of slaughter houses in the city
without sewer connections. Especially dur
ing the heated term they become very Of
fensIve and nuisances of the worst kind. He
recommends that all such places should be re-
Quired to connect with the public sewers at
once. Another source of complaint and an
noyance is the existence of many dairies in the
thickly-populated portions of the city. 1t is
suggested that Councils pass an ordinance linn
iting the dairles to certain sparsely-settled To-
cali5ies. Mr.. McCutcheon further directs at
tention to the large number of cattle, sheep
and hogs received daily atsthe Central stock
yards and which should all be inspected upon
arrival. This would require the presence of
an Inspector at the yards during at least i've
days in the week. which his present duties
would not allow the present Inspector to give.
DR.. J. Guy McCandless. City Physician and
Register of Vital Statistics, presents a very
complete and exhaustive array of tab
uiated figures in his report. He con-
graduates the city upon the low
death rate maintained during the year, not
withstanding there were special reasons for
alarm, owing to the contamination of the water
supply in the midst of the heated term by the
Johnstown flood, and consequently to the fact
that many families resorted to the use OF spring
water which, in most instances, was contami-
mated from contact with cesspools and leaking
sewers.
THE CITY'S DEATH RATE.
The total number of deaths during the year
was 4,2S6 equal to an annual death rate of l7.S5