The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-03
THE CITY'S HEALTH In 1898.
The Death Rate for Eleven Months
Remarkably Low.

1,266-The Ratio for the White Pop
ulation a Little More that ID Per
1,ooo-The Grip Increased the Nor
tally at the Close OF the Year-Many
Matters Of Interest Discussed by the
Health ofacer-He Takes Up the
Cremation Question, and Deals With
the Care Of the Sick Poor-He Pays
His Respects to Judge Mershon.
DR.. w. F. Drummer has filed his annual
report as health of1cer with the clerk of
council. 1t is very voluminous, and COW
ers all subjects pertaining to the city's
health during 1898. Tables of vital sta
tistics, showing the death rate during the
year from various causes, are attached.
DR.. Drummer discusses certain subjects
relating to the city's sanitary interests in
a direct and interesting manner. At the
opening of 1898 he says the outlook for
healthfulness was bad, owing to the ex-
istence of scarlet and typhoid fevers, aud
other contagious diseases. Typhoid fever,
however, almost entirely disappeared af-
ter the intense cold spell IN January.
Scarlet fever, however, remained the en-
tire year, but did not exist to the extent
1t was thought it would.
The summer months showed no high
mortality, and until December the year
promised to be one Of remarkably low
death rate. With December came an ep-
idemic Of influenza, and its sequel8
which soon swelled the total of deaths.
JUNE AND DECEMBER COMPARED.
In this connection DR.. Drummer COM
pares the death rate of the two months
of June and December, representing the
opposite seasons of the year the one sup
posed TO be the healthiest of the year, on
account of the low temperature prevail
ing, and the other thought enormously to
be the most sickly. In December there
were 1856 deaths, the largest number Of
any month of the year; in June there were
~ deaths, or less than half the numbe
that occurred in the following December.
paradox this may be, nevertheless 1t
is true" says DIR. Drummer.
Each summer shows increasing health,
but it remains to DE said this does not in
clude every portion Of the city, for in the
outlying sections during the summer and
fall months malarial fevers are found in
excess over the more thickly settled por-
tions of the city, the difference of course
in population to be considered"
There were AIS deaths among the
whites and 791 among the negroes from
natural causes during the year.
There were 30 deaths from violence
among the whites and 40 among the ne
groes, total of 80 deaths from violence
during the year.
Consumption was the cause of death of
157 persons, over two-thirds of that mum =
Der being negroes. Pneumonia caused 20
death S, so per cent. of this number being
negroes.
TYPHoID's LOW MORTALITY
Typhoid fever caused the death of IA
persons. This disease did not prevail to
any extent after January. Seven of the
deaths occurred during the first three
mon his of the year. DIR. Drummer no es
the fact that typhoid fever prevails TO a
greater extent during the winter months
than during the summer, but unusually
cold weather puts stop to the develop
mcnt of new cases. 1t is more prevalent
in the north and west than in the south
There were ID deaths from scarlet fe-
yer in 1898, IL being during the first
| quarter of the year. The last death
from scarlet fever occurred in July.
There were 7 deaths from diphGheria, G
from membraneous Group, and IL from
whooping cough.
Under the head of influenza the health
| officer says: .....-.
THE GRIPS WORK.
"a rapid spreading epidemic of this
! disease in most Violent form appeared
in November. During the following
months many fatal cases occurred, IL
deaths among the whites from this cause
! being reported in december. OF this
number 10 occurred in persons over &c
| years of age.
THE 16 deaths do not include the
| deaths caused Indirectly by this disease,
and it is matter of interest to note the
number of deaths occurring during the
month of December from diseases affect
! ing the respiratory organs. There were
| 81 deaths from such causes, 80 among the
whites and 30 among the negroes"
There was only one death from measles
| during the year.
DIR. Drummer calls attention to the grow.
| ing necessity for well equipped isolation
hospital, not pest house, for the care OF
cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria and other
| preventable diseases. Particular atten.
| ton is called to the necessity for porta.
BILE steam disinfecting chamber. for the
disinfection of textile fabrics that have
been exposed to contagious or infectious
diseases. The city is put to large ex.
pense annually to remunerate citizens for
the destruction of articles that have been
exposed to disease. Enough money has
been spent in this way by the city already
to have more than paid for portable dis
injecting chamber.
MANY DIE UNATTENDED.
The health officer exclaims at the large
number of deaths without an attending
physician. Over 81 per cent. of this num-
Der are negroes and over 90 per cent. are
children under 10 years of age. Applica-
tions are made to the health officer almost
every day in the year for burial permits
for persons, usually colored children, who
have died without aphysician having been
called to attend them. When questioned
on this point the almost invariable reply
is that 1.-THE child died too soon," the ex-
preston "too soon" meaning any time
from twenty-four hours to a week.
The situation stands now in this
shape" says the health officer. "For
years the city of Savannah has furnished
gratuitous medical advice and medicines
and the negroes persistently refuse to ac-
cept them, at least, for their children.
Can the city do more4 Is there any other
move TO make, save that of appealing to
the law to enforce parents to care for
their offspringl
WHAT CAN BE DoNE7
cit Is with no deluded humanitarian
idea" continues Dr. Drummer; that this
question is brought forth. IL is a duty
we owe to the moral law TO care for those
who are unable 70 care for themselves,