The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-10
HEALTH OF THE CITY.
Report OF City Physician Sparkling 70
the Year 189I-Suryestions.

x
port of Health Officer Sparkling now in the
hands of the board of health:
The operations Of this department cover
large field. including the record of vital Stats
tics, the care of the eity's sick, the inspection
and quarantine o. contagious diseases, inspec-
ton OF plumbing and drainage, tnspec-
ton OF food and the general SAM
tary inspection which embraces the scaveuger
service, the removal of dead animals, permits TO
clean vaults and connect with the public
sewer, etc.
VITAL STATISTICS
The total number OF deaths reported during
the month was q, a decrease OF IL as compared
with the same month last year. This shows
death rate per month OF 81 The
emciency OF the sanitary measures
introduced and carried out by your honorable
body is best shown by a comparison of the
death rate of this month with the same months
OF preceding years, and especially that OF ty-
phoid fever, only three deaths having occurred
from that fatal disease against fourteen the same
month last year. believe that this department.,
II furnished with adequate assistance. can do
skill better, as this disease is preventable and no
community need be affected with ii If proper
means are taken for its control.
INrERMENr PERMITS.
The following burial permits were issued:
Lake View cemetery, 81; Mount Pleasant, 4;
Duwamish, 2; Oak lake, ?; Jewish, 1; shipping
permits, 6.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
The following cases of contagious diseases
were reported: Scarlet fever. /; typhoid lever,
2. remarkable decrease in the num-
Der OF cases of contagious and in
fictitious diseases is noticeable, and
may be attributed in great degree TO the eff
ioris OF the health departments in maintaining
stringent sanitary supervision. La grippe has
mr. in 10 f=. A.
deaths directly attributed to it by the attending
physicians are very few, but in good many it
Is mentioned as a complicating trouble.
NUrsANcEs.
The following shows the number of nuisances
reported and ahated during the month: No
sewer and filthy vaults, 30; til.hy vaults, Is;
garbage on premises s; bad drainage, Z; manure
piles, 4; dead animals. 3: overlooking cesspools,
2; nuisanees abated. 70; no cause for complaint,
3; written notices served, co.
1t has been my practice from time TO time TO
institute special inspections in districts
where the general sanitary condition is unfav-
orable, with the object of detecting and remov-
ing causes of unsanitary conditions. As a rule
the work of the inspector is confined
to complaints reported at this Office.
But there are times when il is not
necessary for the inspector to search
for nuisances upon evidence of the presence of
inspection has been made in the district known
as "WhitechapeL" Where formerly the waters
would flow fesely under and about the place,
the dumping of ashes ana coal dust by the Co
lumbia & Puget Sound railroad under
their track and lying between the bay and
the above mentioned place, has prevented tho
water coming in and out, thereby causing an
accumulation of filth OF all kinds, which comes
from the sewerage of the adjacent people. It is
now nothing less than one immense cesspool.
Immediate steps should be taken to prevent the
dumping OF manure, garbage and filth in this
place and to provide suitable drainage whereby
this material could be run into the bay and car
risd off with the tide
PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE.
The following figures show the operations OF
this department during the month Buildings
inspected, 70; work accepted, 81; certificates is
sued, 30; work rejected, 8 The work of this
department shows for itself. Not single COM
plant of plumbing that was put in under the
supervision of this department. has come to
my notice.
DISEASED FOOD
l beg leave to call your attention to the extent
to which the meat of diseased animals and other
impure food Is sold in this city. The recent
suit of Herman Meyer against the city TO recover
damages for his condemned hogs brought out
the fact that diseased animals, rejected by the
inspectors of other cities, were brought to
this city for slaughter. The department has no
effective way to interfere with this pernicious
practice. Indeed, any satisfactory way at deal
Ing with the problem 10 imprsctioable until
market inspector has been appointed.
During the month 1000 pounds of chickens
were condemned, which but for q mere
accident would have been sold and
eaten as good chickens. Efforts have been
made 10 organizs food inspection
service. but SO far unsuccessfully Nearly every
board of health In the country has discussed the
subject OF diseased meats and milk, with
special reference to the role they play
in disseminating tuberculosis, and great in
terest has been elected from the public
on this important question. The amount of
food condemned during the year NEARLY 1900
pounds) shows the great necessity for sufficient
market inspection rs a means of protecting the
people from disease communicated through
foods. There is article of hu-
man food upon which life il more
dependent than upon milk, and conse-
quently constant inspection to ascertain the
purity of the same is necessary. Conse-
quently 1t is highly important that
persistent effort be made by your honorable
board and by the press to secure the establish
ment of a service which cannot be otherwise
than most beneficial to the public health.