The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-07
COST OF QUARANTINE.
Bills for Smallpox Cases and
Prevention Over S1,l00.
SEVERAL OF THEM IN DISPUTE.
a Guaranteed Man Threatens . Suit
Health Officers Report-EHect of
Plumbing Ordinance.

nv WAC ACSuASf meeting Oh the
board of health yesterday the smallpox
scare was the principal subject discussed,
and the bills incurred examined and the
greater part approved. The action of the
council auditing committee in cutting the
pestnouse nurses salary from $35 TO SIS
was condemned. and DR.. Holmes requested
to appear before the committee in person
and explain the case. It was incidentally
stated that the duties Of the nurse con-
sisted Of caring for five smallpox patients,
cooking, washing dishes and cleaning
house. With the exception of fourteen
days there was no assistant, and the work
was both day and night. On motion of
DIR. Holmes the board rendered q vote of
thanks to Health Officer Sparkling for his
energy in preventing general spread Of
the disease throughout the city.
Among the bills approved were the fol-
lowing relating to the smallpox cases and
the guarantees:
T. W. Small, supplies for pesthouse from June
i to August Is, groceries, Clothes aud dishes,
$iiLoo; &. w. Small. delivery aud messenger SER
vices,$lSl; MacDougali & Southwick Co. bedding
and drayage. $Sa45: W. K Bentley. drugs, $556s:
Montana Livery, taking two patients to pest
house, $40; 6chade & Woodruff, bowls and pitch
ers, 81; e. C. Miles, bath tub, 50: Standard
Furniture Co., bed and mattress. $40; Stewart &
Holmes, sulphur. vaccine points, $3L65; o.
Tystar, fourteen days labor at pesthouse, $S5;
drayage to pesthouse, s.; Famous restaurant,
meals to St Elmo house, &l3S; Famous restau-
rant, meals to Alaska house, $2o26a Total.
sl,lio.3a
The bills Of DR.. w. T. Miles, one for $50
as consulting physician in the Alaska
house smallpox case and the other for
$3.50 salary for August as resident pest
house physician, were referred back for
correction. The board held that the doc
tor was due only eighteen days pay in
August, whereas the bill called for the en-
tire month. There was some difference of
opinion about the $50 fee in the Alaska
house case. but it was overcome by return
ing the bill.
An opinion was received from Corpora
ton Counsel Donworth in respect to bill
for $il.75 from Providence hospital
and another for $33 claimed by Robert
Marshall, both for clothing destroyed by
the health officer at the time of the small
pox scare. stating that the city was not
liable, and advising the board to reject
them. The bills were referred back unap-
proved.
Robert Marshall presented another bill
of $50 for boarding his family during the
time his house was quarantined. and
stated that if this and the bill Of $33 for
clothing was not paid before September 10
he would sue the city. The bill was re-
ferred back with instructions that the
board would allow him q reasonable
amount for living expenses but no more.
Health Officer Sparkling submitted the
following report:
The total number OF deaths reported during
the month was 81, showing decrease of % over
the same month last year.
The death rate for the month was Sc per 1000.
Following are the causes OF deaths and the
number from each cause:
Accident 8, apoplexy /, burn 3, cancer /, chol-
era infantum S, commissions 2, drowning l, gen.
erai debility l. hamilton 2, heart disease 5.
nights 1, pertussis l, phthisis !, pneumonia /,
typhoid fever 5; total, 30
The following interment and shipping per-
mits were issued during the month: Lake
View. %: Odd Fellows, 4; Greenwood, 2; Jew.
tsh, /; Mount Pleasant, s: Duwamish, 5; Cal.
vary, 5; shipping permits, 3
The total number Of births reported during
the month was 40, Of whom Is were males, "a
we're females and were stillborn.
Two cases OF scarlet fever and typhoid fever
were reported and Investigated during the
month This remarkable decrease in the num-
Der OF cases OF contagious diseases Is noticeable,
and may be attributed in a great degree to the
efforts Of the health department in maintaining
a stringent sanitary supervision, in securing
proper isolation and care of the sick, the disin.
lection of the premises where contagious dis
eases occur, and the destruction or distinction
OF infected clothing. When q report is made to
this office Of a case OF contagious disease, a
thorough examination of the premises is made
to ascertain its sanitary defects and to recon-
mend whatever remedy may be necessary to
abate the same.
The following table gives plumbing certih-
Gates, ETC., filed during the month: Number
buildings inspected, ~; plumbers certificates
issued, ii: plumbing work accepted, Is; plumb
ing work rejected, 8.
An ordinance has been passed BY the city
council licensing all plumbers and compelling
them to undergo ain examination as to their
qualifications before receiving such license.
This, in my opinion, Is = very wise act. In the
past any dishonest person could do plumbing
work just as his sweet will dictated--the health
department was ignored: but time has brought
a change. Formerly It was rare to see any per-
son interested N plumbing coming to this Office
for Information: now contractors can be found
here at ell hours seeking instructions. The su-
perintendent is respected by honorable men and
feared by dishonest ones. Our rules and regula-
tons hav been generally complied with by the
PETER Class OF dfCuIicCtss duu con-
tractors. We have received valuable assistance
from these gentlemen, for which the depart
mens is thankful. The other element of plumb
ers follow the rules through fear. They have
found that where they are caught doing what
is commonly known Skin" work, it has been
q costly matter 10 pull it out
The element with whom We have had the
most coutention in getting work done right has
maintained that this department could not ie-
gally make and enforce any rule or regulation
which would interfere with them in the con-
struction of cheap and dangerous work.
While this department has never conceded
single point of It's right TO assume absolute con-
troll OF all plumbing, it il willing at all times to
do anything in reason, II by so doing it Can get
our people good WORK.
The table which follows presents statement
in detail, relating TO nuissnces during the
month:
Filthy coops, Q; filthy alleys. Q; filthy vaults.
10; bad drainage. l6: manure piles, 8: garbage
on premises, 5: detective plumbing IL: broken
sewer, 5; OVERLOOKING cess pool, 1; no sewer CON
neciions, IL; total "a Nuisances abated, Sc.
In or1er 10 more fully cleanse the city of all
nuisances and sanitary defects, would recon-
mead the appointment OF two special In pectors
to make house 70 house inspection. With our
presen. force We only able 10 take care OF
The complaints fled in ou, office, and many
nuissuces which need abatement We never
hear Of