The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-27
oTTY's SANITARY ooNDrr1oN.
Meath omoer Drummer Turns IN a,
Interesting Document

Inc report ~ Health Officer Brun-
ner for 1882 is a most inter
esting document ana contains some
entertaining reading DR.. Drummer
gives his opinions in plain language,
which cannot be misunderstood. Some
OF ms recommendation are worthy of
careful consideration.
he year 1892 says DR.. Drummer. sshas
/ OSeh one That has presented several new
| phases IN our sanitary history. and has
| developed the fact that Savannah with
us increasing population has taken on the
| diseases incidental TO a large and growing
| Sity- Our city is built up in "a manner
GlHerent from that of our sister cities.
| OJher cities and towns in this and adioin-
| ing states are certainly better constructed
| 10 prevent the spread of certain preventa-
PIE diseases. The scarcity of ground in
| savannah suitable for building purposes
SHOWS itself when we know that the bluff
on wInch the city proper is built, disap-
pears into lowlands both east and west,
| ana that III the southern portion of the
| Guy the ground declines until the swamp
lands are soon reached.
OVERCOMING OF BUILDINGS.
This state of affairs has resulted in
having the dwellings of the rich and
the poor alike built in close proximity
| one to another. Instead of there being a
reasonable space between residences they
are, in instances, built up in solid blocks.
ana many of these houses, particularly
IhoSe TO rent, are narrow, poorly ventilated
ana only serve the purpose of
bringing in a sufficient revenue to the
owners thereof.
Inc crowded sections of the city known
as the old Fort and Yamacraw present
striking examples of these poorly CON
structed houses thrown together in a con-
lined space. Thousands of irresponsible
negroes live in these sections, without
one single thought of sanitation, too ig-
norant to be able to care for themselves,
and too poor to better their condition, had
they the intelligence to do so. l would
cite one striking illustration of this over
crowding system in mentioning row of
poorly constructed frame houses occupied
by negroes known as Reads row, in Yam
acraw. In this row of houses there are
twenty dwellings built in a space seventy
by two hundred feet they are occupied
by from twenty-five to thirty families of
negroes, aggregating about two hundred
persons The buildings are actually
valueless. The structures are rotten with
age, flooring, walks, ceiling, roof and
foundation. They are a source of revenue
to their owner, and disgrace to a civiliz-
ed community, and the situation is well
described when this is said. Sooner or
later this matter will demand legislation,
and the remedy must be an heroic one.
CONTAGIOUS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES. .
''There was a decided increase of
typhoid fever over the last five
years, and it is hard on some
reputable physicians that this disease is
a new conner in our midst. Certainly we
have had more continued fevers than
usual, and while there is some division in
the medical fraternity as to the true type
of these fevers, it is not to- be disputed
that during the past year there existed to
some extent cases of typhoid fever. At
the same time this condition of affairs
was reported from nearly every section
of the southern states.
''That it existed in Savannah to a greater
extent than it did in other cities in this
state, is not true, and the report from
those cities will verify this statement.
There were thirty-one deaths from this
disease. Twenty-one deaths occurred
among the whites and ten among the
negroes.
Diphtheria prevailed during the months
of April, May and June, and later on dur
ing the months of November and Decem-
Der There We're forty-four cases reported
to my office and there were nineteen
deaths from this cause"
DON'T BELIEVE IN PREDICTIONS.
DR. Drummer does not take any stock in
predictions that the south is likely to
form epidemic diseases, and he severely
condemns those who make them. Con
siderable tattle he says hasbe INDUCED
in by that class of people who would pre-
fer to believe that the disease eXis ted in
epidemic form than to accept the reports
of reputable physicians. In every city
there is a class of people who are always
ready and willing to predict coming cpl
denies, whose foresight is so highly de-
veloped that for years they see the APP
proach of some dire disaster to the COM
munity that is burdened with their pres
ence
E.They cannot realize how much easier it
is to tell YOU how to do thing than it is
to do it themselves 1t is possible that
these worthy people are put here for some
good purpose.
SIT is said that Savannah is not keeping
pace with other cities that we have more
preventable diseases than we formerly
did. Each year the result of our lack of
sanitation is preached to the outside
world by those who are not in a position
to know where of they speak. If Savan-
nah should at any time have the same
number of cases of scarlet fever as the
towns of the New England and Middle
states have all the time the city would in
a short time be depopulated and again,
coming CT ser home, if Savannah would
have the sumo number of cases of typhoid
fever that city not far distant has every
year our calamity liars would magnify it
to the extent that would drive thousands
of people out of the city
NOT IN FAVOR OF HIDING FACTS.
81 believe that we should not hide from
our people the existence of
those things that are preju-
dicial to the public health, and
we should not publish exaggerated ac-
counts of any luck of sanitation for the
delectation of most cities.''
In referring to food products DR..
Drummer suggests an inspection of milk.
He speaks as follows on this subject:
''There should be an inspection made of
the milk supply furnished from the differ
emit dairies in and around the city, with
an inspection of the COWS, then stalls,
feed, water supply, etc. An ordinance
should be framed so that special law on
the subject could be put in force making
it a misdemeanor to offer for sale adul-
terated milk, requiring the milk to come
up to the proper standard and an addi-
tional clause inserted in this ordi-
nance compelling the removal of all
diaries from the city limits, as one of the
most Objectionable nuisances known to
our citizens is the herding of cows in a