The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-14
Annual Report Of Health OFF,
Ger Palmer.
LARGE INCREASE IN BIRTHS.
Good work Killed OF smalIpox-yeed
81 Market Isspector-rhs Care
Of Indigent Sick.

ment covering In detail the operations OF
the department. for the past year. and in
many cases brings important facts 20 pub
nc notice. In the matter of death rate
Seattle mas been fortunate. and the report
states that the cost Of keeping down the
smallpox Is small compared TO what IL
might have been with unsuccessful en-
deavors. 10 Is recommended that an as
sistant health officer and sanitary inspec-
tor be allowed the department In the
matter Of sduiterated milk DR.. Palmer
strikes note that will be heard by every
mother and father in the city. The report
is as follows:
THE total number of deaths was ass,
the death rate being sos per l. 600 tpopu-
iatlon. 610ob as compared 10 .I3 in ls32
and III. b in Tesf. From this ii viii be
seen that the death rate is low as COM
pared TO other cities. This fortunate state
OF affairs has been due to the absence OF
epidemics and the comparative infre-
qaency OF fatal infectious diseases that
are epidemic in many cities.
smallpox, which was brought here
from China. via British Columbia and
nary and February. 1898. There were
twenty-five cases discovered. which, with
three other cases later IN the year, made
total OF tweoty-eight cases. There were
eleven deaths. The efforts Of this depart
ment at that time. under DR.. r. III. Eames.
health officer. stamped out the disease
and prevented an epidemic. Every case,
rs soon M discovered, was removed to the
new smallpox hospital and the other in
mates OF the infected house were either
removed 10 the suspect house or quaran-
tined. Trains and steamboats, entering
the city were inspected and oil passengers
who could not show evidences of recent
al lon. I'D
by the health officers. In the city there
was wholesale vaccination, especially
south OF Yesler avenue. In view of the
successful prevention of an epidemic the
considerable expense entailed in enforcing
the quarantine must be considered small
price.
There were 81 cases, with 10 deaths, of
typhoid fever. As this disease is caused
only by infection from another case of the
same kind. IL is important that physicians
and householders comply with the ordi-
nance requiring the immediate report to
the health officer of any case of typhoid
fever. in order that the source of infection
commonly infected water or adulterated
milk may be investigated. Several fatal
cases were not reported until the death OF
the patients. Numerous non-fatai cases
were not reported at all. In a majority of
cases IL was found that disease was due to
sewers which were directly connected
with detective traps. or in many cases no
traps at all. The defects were remedied
by notices served on the owners of the
premises. ordering the plumbing to be
made satisfactory to the department
The immunity the city has enjoyed
from eruptive fevers is remarkable. there
having been reported only % cases of scar
let fever with 1 death, and 63 cases of
measles with S deaths.
There were cases of diphtheria re-
ported. with only death. One death was
attributed to "membranous Group" In
cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria in
spections were made and the houses pla-
carded. Distinctions were made before
the patients were allowed to 60 cut.
"Diarrhgal cases were prevalent In the
latter part OF the summer, the total num-
Der being IA. all of which occurred in in
fants under years. and the majority I'M
der i year and artificially nourished.
Whooping cough does not appear to have
caused any deaths during the year.
influenza, or la grippe, made its ap-
pearance during the autumn. materially
increasing the number OF deaths due TO
pulmonary diseases.
There were G63 births reported. of
which S63 were males. 29s females and
sex not stated. The births reported in 1891
were 555 and in 1892 SIS. There were 5S
still births reported in 1898. A circular
letter was sent 20 physicians and mid
ions of ordinance they were required TO
make returns TO the health officer within
twenty -four hours of births and deaths.
The result has been more complete returns
than heretofore. The importance of the
death record is apparent since certified
cory of death certificate is frequently
needed in settling estates. Numerous
searches of death records are continually
made BY the health officer at the request
of persons who desire information. and as
the records have been exposed to the dan
gers OF fire, they are now placed in a safe
deposit box in the Bailey block. conven-
lent "a the health Office.
Daring the year the plumbing inspec-
tor has inspected i46 buildings. issued Us
plumbers certificates. accepted i43 pieces
Of work, rejected 10. considered 26s plans
filed, made 20 first inspections, 252 final.
issued - sewer permits, connected lib
houses with sewers and made 227 sewer
inspections.
"The sanitary inspector has inspected
and ordered ahated lis filthy alleys, 10
filthy vaults q overiowing cesspools, Al
filthy premises. 3 filthy stables and 81
manure plies. One hundred and forty-two
cases of garbage on premises have been
looked into. loo dead animals ordered re-
moved. 81 cases of defective plumbing re-
ported. - cases of stagnant water brought
to property holders notice and 80 defec-
tive drains ordered repaired.
1.-THE large amount Of food condemned
during the past eight months, in which
there has been a market inspector shows
the necessity Of such an officer. but COM
bining the duties OF the sanitary inspector
with those OF market inspector has greatly
crippled this department., and is is hoped
that she city council will soon provide for
the appointment OF a sanitary inspector
Following Is a synopsis of the food con-
demned: Milk, 403 gallons; strawberries,
iaf cases: tgFalps 3 tons; apples. ID boxes:
cucumbers. boxes: sprieols and peaches
IL boxes; plams. III boxes; tomatoes. ssl6
boxes; pears. l5e boxes: cabbage, 81 sacks;
canta,oupss, y dozen; pork. 49, pounds:
FISH, 600 pounds; waterFneions, Il crates;
YEA. 20 pounds; potatoes, 30 sacks:
sweet potatoes, = sacks; grapes 2Ii
boxes. chickens. s. pounds; oranges, -
boxes and lemons. - boxes.
Inspections Of public and private
schools have shown them 10 be- with few
exceptions. IN a sanitary condition. The
completion Of the sewers now icing built
Will maze it possible TO do away with
s8gne Of the dry closet systems, which
should he replaced by the flushing system.
Previous 10 last August Is IL was the
custom tor It's health officer 70 treat IN
digent SICK persons. Patients who needed
hospital treatment were admitted ii they
had been n the city less than SIX months
or Il they were the victims of accidents.
The expense was about Ss0 a month, and
TOR care - the hospital about $50 month.
The cost 81 the hospital peg dRy vas from
81 10 - cents. according 10 Contract one
hundred and ten patents were admitted
during the year. August Is the auditing
committee o. the c4ty announced thai
they would no: allow bills for patients
unieSs the health officer first obtained =