Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-17

ISl3 4o5l 81 20
II appears by this calculation that the
white death-id,e % JecEson Ward IN
1855 was equal 10 - per Lon, "hrh Is
not a very unfayorable rate when the pre-
dominating cOiored element and the con-
sequent unsanitary condition OF that ward
is taken into consideration.
The records for Monroe Ward or oniy
It's. Of Madison Ward Of only 49, 90
Clay Ward Of only 1873 per LOO deserve
serious study on the part OF those who
look to Richmond as desirable place
Of residence. These three wards con-
tain the most desirable class Of the popu-
lati,u. small percentage Of negroes,
and are the most desirable residence por-
tions OF the city The fact that these
three wards are exceptionally healthy
will have much weight with those VINO
would wish 10 locate their homes III
Richmond.
LOWER THAN OTHER CITIES.
have before me the annual report
Of the Health Department Of the city OF
Brooklyn for 1880. which contains taole
giving the mortality-rate Of each warn.
out Of % wards, with a population OF
$1,000 not one reports rate as low
as the rate for Monroe Ward Of Rich-
mond. only three wards report rae
below IS per 1900, while twenty Wdtu'
report rates above ~ per 100.
[ have also before me the ward mortality
rates of New York city, and find that out
OF twenty four wards not one reports
Il death-rTlte as low as the white rate OF
Monroe Ward. out of twenty-fOur WarHs
only three report rates below %. and only
one Che Third Wari) reports rate be
low Is per 900 This comparison speaks
f.,t,, l.ff
and no doubt. II the wards were SUP
divided into smaller sanitary districts,
still more favorable results would De-
brought out. on the sanitary map pun
lished by the Board Of Health no ward
lines are given. which makes II somewhA'
difficult for one not resident or Rlch-
mond TO trace inteliigently the distrlbu-
ton of disease in your city. II "ouli
also have been preferable n Only the
most important diseases had been d'@ls-
mated on the map. since 80 many causes
on one map are confusing Thus, deaths
from erysipelas are designated on the
man. when only one death from this
cause occurred during the year lsS}. IL
ia very difacut 10 comprehend the mean
ing of a sanitary map with nine dlHereht
causes Of death. IL would be extremely
valuable 10 have maps for the city snow
ing separately the location If deaths
from each principal cause or al
least for each important class OF
diseases. The reports OF the heal'h
Office of Washington, -. g. are the most
complete in this direction 1t is turther
desirable that a sewer map Of the city
be published. and 4 map showing the To-
cation of water-mains. The recent fepoit
Of The city OF Atlanta contains several
most excellent maps Of this kind WIN
out the aid Of such maps 1t Will be diii-
cult. even for the local students OF the
sanitary condition of Richmond. TO ar
rive at intelligent conclusions. AS nave
said in the beginning. 1t is very dlihcult
10 compare the dedth-rate OF one cIty
with that Of another but II IS not so dllii-
cult To compare one section Oh 1 ny
with the sanitary condition OF another
section. provided all the elements Of the
population are known.
FACTS NOT TOUCHED UPON.
It has not been possible for me 10 give
all the figures and facts In my possession
pertaining 70 this most Interesting lhVes-
tigation. Out of mass of tables ana
notes | have selected such as seemed oil
most value Much supplementary INFORM
alton. such as pertaining to the ell
mate temperature, rainfall, humldlly'
prevailing Winds. elevation above sea
level. distance from sea, character or the
soil. etc. has Of necessity been left out
Of this discussion. | have also hdd 10
refrain from discussing the water-Supply,
efficiency Of the sewerage system, sew
eroge disposal food and milh-supply.
etc only to limited extent have |
touched upon the influence OF the negro
population, and not at all upon the IN
fantne mortality and longevity.
Ii has been my aim 10 present the more
lnluortant facts bearing on the SUBJECT.
Much to my regret. the tables are want
ing in completeness for want OF com
plete set of the reports Of the Health once.
/ will say in conclusion that but for the
most excellent manner in which these
reports have been published, but for the
abundance Of the statistical data they
contain. this investigation would nave
been impossible There are many cites
ten times as large as the city OF Ken
mond the statistical reports Of when
cities cannot be i'm any way compared
with the reports of the city of Richmond.
II have failed to present the subject IN
the manner II deserves. | sincerely
hope that those more qualified and with
better OPPORTUNITIES will continue this
investigation and not rest until all
that can and ought to be said on the
subject has been brought out. In the
mean time | repeat my assertion that
on the basis of the facts presented. Rich
mond to-day Is one of the most healthy
cities in this country, and that the asSer-
tons that have been made 10 the con-
trary are not based on facts but on guess
work. J.. l.. H.