The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-08
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Presentation of the Monthly
Report.
THE OLD MEMBERS PRESENT.
DIR. Noble Retires From the Room
proposition to Levy Inspectors
Fees and Create . New once.

The board of health met yesterday with Dr.
shannon III the chair and Drs. Churchill and
Noble present DR.. Newiands did not put in an
appearance
The chair directed Dr. Heliker, a. assistant
health officer, to read the minutes in the alb
sence OF DR.. Sparkling
Before he had time TO begin Dr. Noble asked
II there had been any action taken BY the coun-
eli a. 10 the constitution of the board Nobody
could give him any informatior so taxing ND
his hat, Dr.. Noble jokingy remarked that he
guessed he would so and punch up the council
bit, and LETT the meeting.
DR.. Heliker read the following report. which
was approved:
To the Honorable Board of Health. In aecor-
dance with the city charter I hereby present tho
following report for the month of july 1881:
The death rate shows slight increase over the
past lew months, owing 10 visitation OF
cholera iniantum. Nine deaths have occurred
from that disease during the last twenty-four
days. In other respects the mortality is an'aver-
age one, showing the total number OF deaths as
nlty-nye and from the following causes:
Asphyxla l, alcoholism :, apoplexy l, burns /,
Brights disease !, cancer !, eramp /. convui-
steDs i, cholera infantum 2, coiiitis chronic l.
carbuncle l. erysipelas J. heart disease ? inani-
ton :. jaundiee meningitis 6, measles / phthisis
1, perltoniiis /, pertusss !, pneumonia ?, sepii-
known /, Lnyletis ].
The birth record for the month registers
thirty-six; females twenty-five and males four
teen. There should be complete record kent
OF all births, and until some extreme measure is
taken 70 bring about this result we must be con-
tent with receiving notices from those who vol
unfairly keep the law. The health officer is not
supposed TO run after physicians to collect these
reports, fact which some of the doctors ap-
psrently think is the case.
Inc sanitary report shows the following:
Number OF premises inspected, IS: number of
re-inspections made, AZ; number of nuisances
aoated, 81; number of complaints without cause,
q number OF plumbing certificates issued, o.
number OF buildings inspected, Us; number OF
nnal inspections, SIS; number of buildings re-
iected. L.
There are many nuisances reported TO us
which are impossible 10 remedy; for instance,
Change Of grade in certain streets leaves some
houses below the grade, with no chance of max
lug proper sewerage connections; again, there
are numerous localities in which there are no
sewers, and where it is impossible to arrange
LOT eesspools, owing TO springs and certain con-
oitions ci soil We are compelled for the pres
ent to make the best of these, and do such work
as ig possible.
The proposition proposed for making the san
Itary inspector also an inspector of milk is one
tnat deserves consideration. The fact that i'm
pure milk is sold in this city is beg ond a ques-
tonoi doubt. The inspector should be provided
with lactometer and thermometer. a tin cylin-
der for holding milk to be tested. He sh auid be
familiar with ell places where milk 10 sold and
ali places where milk enters the city from with
out FROM May TO November inclusive he
should once week inspect the milk early in
the morning, as il is delivered BY dealers to
households. At least twice a month, when the
temperature Is not so low as TO freeze the milk
the inspector should examine il as il comes into
the city at ferries and railroad depots and in
making tests the lactometer should stand in 100
degrees at temperature of co degrees Faren-
heit.
should the appearance, taste and lactomet-ic
standing OF q sample OF milk indicate that il ia
SKINNED, watered, or in any way adulterated
specimen should be taken in bottles had for that
purpose, and subjected to a further examine
ton
knowing that with our present force of en-
ployes IL is impossible to organize a thorough
system for suppressing the use OF impure milk
we can at least make a start and enlarge upon il
as circumstances viii admit
beg to submit to you the fact that there are
many cheap lodging houses in the city which
are. so to speak, underground deathtraps. Hun
dreds of people are crowded into these places
nightly, where ventilation is unthought OF, and
pediculi abound.
l suggest that steps be taken to prevent the
use OF any cellars for lodgiug-house purposes,
and that all rooms used for sleeping purposes be