The herald., 1893-12-14
A VERY FINE HEALTH SHOWING.
Health officer Powers OIL Our
Climate Results.
The City Shows Up in Exceedingly
Fine Shape for the Year.
The City Board of Health Have Quite
an Interesting Meeting-The Griti-
cism of Dr. Hagan of the
County Hospital.

The board of health held meeting
in Mayor Rowan's Office yesterday aft.
ernoon at 2 80 O'Clock. Besides the
mayor, DR.. MacGowan, DR.. Hurts, DR..
Mitchell and Health Officer Powers
were present.
The health officer presented his an
nual report, which was ae follows:
| have the honor to submit to you the
nnnuai report of the transactions of the
health Office for the fiscal year ending
November 80. 1898.
The death rate for this year has been
based upon an estimated population OF
$4,000. which estimate has been verified
by the great register and the school
census. There have be en- 954 deaths in
the city during the year, which gives a
954 deaths, 1919 we're of persons who had
resided in the city less than one year;
| l46 of persons treated in the various
hospitals of the city, and $50 were cer-
tilted TO by the coroner. In order to
make the report more intelliyible and
in accord with the views of the latest
and best writers, the causes of death
have been classified under nine beads,
as follows: 1876 from specific infectious
diseases, S4 from diseases of the digestive
system, 2S3 from diseases of the respir-
atory syetem, 81 from diseases of the
nervous system, 81 from diseases OF the
circulatory eystem, blood and ductless
glands, 81 from diseases of the genito-
urinary organs, 80 from constitutional
diseases, 80 from intoxications, violence
and accidents, and 66 from miscellaneous
diseases. Just how many deaths from
other assigned causes than specific in
fictitious diseases that should have been
classified under that head it is difficult
to state. Yet it can be confidently as
serted that all or most of the deaths re-
ported ae caused by mem braneous Group
should have been classed as diphthsria,
and that many OF the deaths reported
caused by consumption or phthisis"
should have been reported as. cases of
tuberculosis, hence we would have the
number OF deaths in specific infectious
diseases, or preventable diseases, in our
report increased and those from other
causes. particularly diseases of the
respiratory system, much reduced.
OF the 954 deaths reported, 120 were OF
children under the age OF l year. The
assigned causes of the deaths of the
children were principally as follows:
Twenty-Five from diseases of the diges-
tive system, % from diseases OF respira-
tory system, 81 from constitutional dis
eases and 20 from specific infectious dis.
eases.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The city ia to be congratulated upon
not having been visited with any severe
epidemic during the past year. Not one
af l1nnY hoo haav ha
city hospital during the year. Several
suspected cases have been reported, but
upon investigation not one proved to be
smallpox.
There have been SO deaths from
typhoid fever. The number OF persons
reported sick of this disease does not
far exceed the number of deaths. The
physicians do not seem to understand
that they are required to report cases of
typhoid fsver. However, we hope DUR
ing the coming yearrto enlist their as
sistance in trying to control this dis
ease, which is more easiy prevented
than cured.
One hundred and Heventy-eight cases
of infectious diseases, for which the
houses are placardeo, have been re-
ported to the health Office. vi these,
112 cases were OF scarlet fever, and 66
we're caees of diphtheria. -Four of the
liz cases of scarlet fever died, and 26 of
the 66 cases of diphtheria were fatal. l
desire to state that in every instsnce the
physicians have been careful and pains
taking IN assisting us in preventing the
spread OF scarlet fever and diphtheria.
And there has been but one instance in
which the dread disease of diphtheria
threatened to become epidemic, and
that was in one room OF the Gates-street
school in the First ward, where no doubt
the disease was carried by pupil before
a physician had been consulted. Among
the children OF this class room, or their
relatives, there were six other cases
developed. We advised the closure
of the room for two weeks,
which was done, and l am sure
by this means of isolating the
children, and by disinfection the fur
ther spread of the disease was prevent
ed. In every instance we have had the
premises thoroughly inspected, and al
most invariably where diphtheritic
cases were reported we found either the
building or premises in an unsanitary
condition. The lack of proper santa
ton usually consisted of defective
plumbing, foul cesspools and privy
vaults or accumulations OF manure and
filth.
BIRTHS.
There have been 1880 births reported
to the health Office. OF these rs were
still births, and of the 78 still births 26
were reported with the assigned cause,
premature BIRTH" Four of the still
births were reported with the assigned
causes as follows: Internal hemorrhage
of the mother, twisting OF the cord in
utero, malformation of the child and
prolapsus of the cord. The other AZ
were reported without any assigned
cause. The following questions natu-
rally arise: Why 60 many still births?
Why 80 many without any assigned
cause? Why 80 many with the assigned
cause premature birth ?"
MEAT INSPECTOR.
The meat inspector has been faithfully
and industriously at work since his ap-
pointment little over two months ago.
He has made 2045 visits and inspections