The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-05
THE MORTALITY OF THE CITY.
discussion BY The Academy Of Medicine
and Surgery.
ouYL FEW CASES OF DIPHTHERTL.
,-,,. public Dumps and Had Plumbing Said
90 Greatly Increase the Death Ron.
shockhoe Creek Condemned.

Tie Academy Of Medicine and Surgery held
,se,r regular meeting last evening, with DR..
c,.r,ee NJ shields in the chair.
rae meeting was largely attended and the
..t.e-t under discussion was tho mortality in
,he civ of Richmond
Dr John *. Wexford read lengthy and
,.rr interesting paper on the subject Among
a.. reasons why the mortality of this city
49,. c,nsidored larger than it WAS in reality
So mentioned that many old people moved
f..r the county INTO the city to die here.
richmond was a medical centre. and many
...e we're brought here 20 die IA private
tIs There was also a considerable
.,,lr- of people brought here who had been
-a ON railroads Furthermore the
+I.srre of public hospitals was very apt 70
-.,r.sse the death rate IN many instances
"e,a.e would rather die than 10 go - the
s.~.t. use for treatment.
Tho speaker thought that the number OF
r.,.-ted diphthera cases was greatly exag
r.-et4l There we're not many cases OF tina.
: .e.se IN the city. and n certainly WAS not
.,..arntc The presence OF the disease III
c'-tsn localities was caused by the direct
VIOLATION - the laws of public health. He
advocated that $1,000 should be taken an
rrsIg rom the pOorhouso fundfor the main
IS p
The defective plumbing in this also
caused f. good deal of disease.
ur. John \. pshuT spoke against The de-
fe.t.ve plumbing and advocated the establish
ueut ot public hospital.
ur. vs.. ". Parker made a very interesting
argument and stated that nothing Was as yet
lr wa about the origin of diphtheria and IFS
D.. caranco could. therefore. not be predicted
u 70 sanitary surroundings. Or course there
w4s some specific cause for the disease. but Il
VS. etil unknown. and he urged those pres
trf 10 diligently look for ths cause. Five
g,ars after he had commenced 90 practice
ledicene there had been no dIphtheria ia
tis country. However, It's signs were visible
q. the naked eye
DR.. Parker stated that in nix opinion The
present sanitary condition # Richmond was
ne 60 three things. The immense open sewer
which was draining the northwestern part Of
the city. and was running close TO tho heart
ol the city, caused a great deal OF sickness.
Where the creek was walled ia II should at
once be covered with cement. Another cause
vas the remarkable topography Of Richmond
with ITS numerous raylnes. which haa been
and were still being filed MP with dumps
Some OF the worse cases Of disease could 10
found night at the border OF the dumps. The
third cause was the neglect of the SICK poor
among the cOlOred population.
BAD PLUMBING.
Dr. Shields also named bad plumbing es
one OF tire causes. Ho added TINT it the
90 ering up of Sh0ckoe creek should cost one
million Of dollars the work would IN It's good
sanitary result he fully worth tho money.
He WAS satisfied that many lives could be
saved IN that manner
Dr Hugh Blair related several instances
where diphtheria had been contracted ~ the
country and brought into the city.
Ur. Augustus w. Leo thought that the
dumps formed an important factor ia the
Oieltion Of disease and he spoke against the
b.0.tof negroes erecting butts near the dumps.
ill., also spoke about the bad effects of stag
Llut pools IN the various parts of the city
ND motion Of Dr. Shields 10 was decided
uHa committee OF five should submit q suit
s.epaper on the subject o. the Academy 40
te next meeting. The paper, If approved,
u teu be presented 10 the City Council.
Tire president reserved time 20 appoint the
0umlttee
fle meeting than diournad