Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-05-11
PUBLIC HEALTH.
Interesting Figures from Com
missioner oysters Report.
SANITARY CONDITION OF THE CITY.

IL
The Existence of Contagion During the
Past Year. the Cause of Typhoid Fever
and the Proper Course to Prevent Re-
currence-Mortuary Record-Precaurions
in View of the Possibility of Cholera
Health Commissioner G.. l.. Eyster
in his annual report to the city coun-
ell presents much information of an
interesting and gratifying nature.
A study of the vital statistics sub
mitted in connection herewith, the
doctor comments. shows that the city
has good reason to he congratulated
upon its low mortality. A to-
tai Of 21O deaths in year
in population of 20,000 gives
us less percentage of death rate and
places, Rock Island in this respect be-
low the average of cities throughout
the world. & "a
Sanitary R.vicw
Sparodic attacks OF scarlet fever
and diphtheria. DR.. Eyster reports.
have occurred during the year, but
they have been of mild character and
| limited extent. Forty-nine cases of
scarlet fever and 90 of diphtheria
were reported with but two deaths
from scarlet fever and five from
| diphtheria. These statistics are GER
| tainly evidence of good sanitary con-
| ditions. OF the contagious diseases
| reported, nine ofdiphtheria and nine
| of scarlet fever existed in the First
| ward; % of diphthcria and II of
| scarlet fever in the Second ward; 10
| of diphthcria and eight of scarlet fever
| in the Third ward; one of diphtheria
/ and eight of scarlet fever in the
| Fourth ward; none of diphtheria and
| two of scarlet fever in the Fifth ward
one of diphtheria and four of scarlet
fever i'm the Sixth ward. and II Of
diphtheria and seven OF scarlet fever
| in the seventh ward.
OF the number of deaths reported
| above 115 were male and % female
| Eleven deaths were caused by acct
| dent, from alcoholism, Il from old
ace, > from suicide. from drowning.
| from unknown causes and the re-
mainder from the various diseases
| that human flesh i heir to.
Cause of Diseases.
The doctor saws in his comments:
| The high water OF last June. | am
| convinced has been the chief factor
in the production of preventable
diseases during the past year. The
overflow of low and undrained por-
tions of'the city carried with it into
wells and cellars large quantities OF
filth and septic matter, which con
| taminated water used for drinking
| and rendered foul and unhealthy the
| air of the houses. | am satisfied
| that the origin of most cases Of ty-
| phoid fever that have occurred may
| be traced to these conditions. The
bad results ensuing from the over
| flow were undoubtedly much modi-
| fled by the precautions taken by the
department in covering the flooded
| grounds with quicklimc as fast n
the water subsidized, and the cncOur-
| amemcnt of a general cleaning of
premises. But the greatest evil en-
| suing from it, the use OF water from
contaminated wells, it was found i'm
possible to obviate. though every
means were taken to notify people in
the affected districts of the danger
consequent to its use.
| consider the matter of providing
for the filling up and proper drain
age of the low portions of the city,thc
most important sanitary work that
should be undertaken. The crying
need of this urges its immediate pros
ecution. The first and most urgent
step in this direction, should be the
provision of an adequate pump fo1
draining the Fifth avenue sewer dur
ing high water in the river. This
sewer ceases to drain when the
river reaches a stage of ten feet
| above low water wark. when the
| gates must be shut and its drainage
effected by the pump provided for
the purpose; it should be at once re-
| placed by one which will perform the
| work required.
Considerable portions of the city
| are subject to overflow on account OF
! lack of proper surface and under
| ground drainage. All these defects
| might be remcdicd by Il we'll devised
| sewerage system properly built up
| to. In my report of last year /
| earnestly recommended the employ
| ment of competent sanitary engl-
| neer to survey and devise n proper
| sewerage and drainage system for
| the city. The saving of damages to
property resultant from overflow
would soon repay the cost OF this
work, aside from the benefits to life
and health which would come from
IT'S construction.
Precautions Against Cholera.
With the great danger existent
during the next few months of Wis
| ~ frop, tho Orri m Scourrp of chO era.