The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-09
-STOODOFF- THE SICK
Board of Works Won't Even
Pay Bills for Prisoners
T IGNORES LEGAL ADVICE.
health Board Renews les Requssition--
reports OF Typhoid Cases Ee-
CURED Death Record

Al the monthly meeting of the board Of
health yesterday afternoon the trouble
between the caty and county over the re-
sponsihility IS TO care Of patients vas dis
cnssed. and for examination Of q few re-
QUESTIONS with bills for care OF people in
the Providence hospital, which had been
returned by the board of public works, .
good idea Of the resulting confusion was
obtained.
The matter came to the attention Of the
board through the report Of Health Off,
Ger Palmer ir relation 10 several cases, Of
which the following is an example: John
Hoim was sent TO Providence hospital By
the health officer August IL TO be treated
for q broken leg. The requisition for
August was allowed, also that of October.
but for some reason of which the health
officer has not been notified, the September
reqEisition was returned as having been
rejected. Another peculiar case Is that of
Frank kannard, alias kid" Donneily.
the criminal now in the hospital under
treatment, yet prisoner. The requisition
in his case has been returned, yet the
opinion of Corporation Counsel Donworth
says explicitly that the city Is liable for
the care of its prisoners.
The bills that have been returned are
those in each case that refer to persons
who were sent 70 the hospital before the
city and county fight began.
In reply TO DR.. Miller Health Officer
Palmer said that the city simply took the
stand that il was called upon 70 treat only
prisoners ana smallpox cases. yet he con-
tinued 10 attend 10 patients who were in
jured in accidents, although not called
upon to do so by the city.
Well" said DR.. Holmes, ''this thing
will end in the courts. Some one will die
in the streets. both city and county refus-
ing 10 render aid. Then the point of re-
spoRsibility will be settled"
The health officer was ordered to return
the unallowed regulations with bill to the
board of public works.
Health Officer Palmer read the following
report:
There were IS deaths occurring within
the city. as compared with 70 IN 1892 and
with 81 in September. 1893. The death
rate for the month was 9 per 1000 The
decrease in the number of deaths as COM
pared with the preceding month was due
10 the dimunItlon ia the number of deaths
due to diarrh9al diseases IN infants, there
being only 5 deaths from this cause, as
compared with 26in September.
The death rate was somewhat larger
than normal, however, owing to the prev
aience of typhoid fever, of which there
were reported seventeen cases and seven
deaths. There were doubtless other cases
not reported to this Office. The city or
dinance Is specinc in requiring the inme-
date report of ail cases OF typhoid fever
to the health officer. Both physicians and
househosders are liable TO prosecution If
these reports are not made when the dis
ease Is discovered.
Typhoid being an entirely preventable
disease it IS OF the utmost importance
that this office should have immediate no.
tice OF any outbreak OF the disease. In
every case when reports have been re-
-eiyed the premises have been thoroughly
inspected and the condition of the plumb
ing and drainage has been found unsani-
tary IN almost every instance. IL this de-
partment were properly equipped with a
sufficient corps Of inspectors TO make a
universal house to house inspection and
TO enforce in every instance proper sewer
connections and plumbing, there is no
dcuRt that the comparative large death
rate from typhoid fever m ght be material
reduced ii not abolished altogether.
By unanimous vote the health officer
VAS instructed to notify all physicians to
make immediate returns in typhoid fever
cases.
Bills were allowed aggregating s3677L