The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1893-06-07
Health Needs In American Cities.

Health Needs In American Cities.
DR.. John s. Billings Of the surgeon
generals Office in Washington contrib
utes to The Forum . paper defining the
present needs Of American cities, great
and small, in the matter of sanitation.
The first need he considers to be accurate
and complete vital statistics. The death
rate per 1000 among infsnts, middle
aged and old people should be kept in,
separate lists, also the race, color and
residential locality Of each individual.
1t has been found, for instance, that the
death rate Of the negro population Is far
greater than that of the white. In WASH
ington 1t Is almost twice as large. .
city may therefore get the name Of be-
ing unhealthful when it merely has a
large population of poor and shiftless
negroes. .,-r-
From the strictly sanitary point o.
view the first need Of city Is an album
dant supply of pure water. The danger
from contamination Of their water sup
ply is constantly Increasing In the vicin-
ity Of all our cities as the population is
crowded together closer, and the care
Of every city at once should be to see to
1t that the sources of its water supply
are given to Its own control, with full
power TO abate any nuisances. actual or
threatened, for the danger that turks In
impure water Is the most deadly Of all.
The lack of perfect sewerage is an
other crying want in our American nu-
nicipal system. Illustrations of the worst
sewerage system on earth are to bs
found not . few In our towns. Here Is
another dangerous menace to life and
health. DR.. Billings points ont next that
many European cities have municipal
lighthouses. and washhouses. They are
not charities st al. Poor women pay .
small but sufficient fec and take theii
weekly wash to the public laundry,
WHARF hot and cold water, tubs, drying
rooms and ironing rooms are provided.
They do their laundry work and take
ths renovated linen home. with the
unplsasantness and inconveniencs Of
clothes washing all removed from their
homes. Even rich people would be glad
Of such accommodations.
!. At the public bathhouses working peo-
pie may go. pay Q small fee and wash
themselves clean. In some towns, too,
the municipal government owns the
abattoirs and keeps them under strict
surveillance from the sanitary point Of
view. Our cities want small hospitals
for the treatment Of contagious diseases,
such hospitals that respectable, well to
do parents can turn over to them their
children or any member Of their families
stricken with diphtheria, scarlet fever
or other contagious disease. knowing
that they will get the best of care, whilr
thsre viii thus be no danger that thu
contagion will spread among other mem
bars Of the household By such regulei
tions as these contagious diseases could
b stamped ont. .shsa famd.
DR.. Billings would have in each city
. public mortuary, with convenient
branches. These would Be houses or
chapels perhaps, TO which the poor eiti-
ssns could convey tho bodies Of thsir
dead for burial. They would pay proper
fee. and the funeral services would be
conducted at the lnortuaxy. Ths BODY
would be removed thither immediately
after death. TO b kept till tho funeral.
thus preventing the danger and incon.
veniencs Of holding It for day or two
in the tenement home with only two
rooms. .sn.o -i ia as,