The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-18
.STEDDOM'S YEARLY REPORT
The Health Officer Will File the
Document Today
CITY ANNUAL DEATH RATE
There Was No Epidemic OF Any Kind
During 1895
Some Physicians Have Declined to Use ANTI
toxine on Account Of Prejudice.
The Pauper Sick
Health officer Steddom will today file

The population OF the city Is estimated
at SO, 1000, based upon the last school CEN
sus. The total number of deaths during
the year was 1176; 700 of these were
males and 476 were females. The an
nual death rate was 1913 per 1000. VI
these 1176 deaths. 243 we're caused by
specific infectious diseases. 20 by diseases
of the digestive system, 273 by diseases of
the respiratory system, 81 by diseases of
the nervous system, 1l3 by diseases OF
the circulatory system, blood and ductless
glands, 63 by diseases of the genito--
urinary organs, SO by constitutional
diseases, So by intoxicants, violence and
accidents, and 127 by miscellaneous dis
eases.
OF the total number LAG had resided in
the city less than one year, 4 less than
two years. 80 less than five years and 81
less than 10 years. showing the number of
deaths of residents less than ten years to
be 261.
There we're 81 deaths caused by pull
monarv tuberculosis; of these III were
males and SO were females. There we're
Ill deaths due To other forms OF tuber-
culosis; of these IS were male and Ii were
female.
There were IS deaths of children under
tie age of / year. As under the age of
years, and 33 under the age of years.
There were IS suicides, 26 of which were
males. with nationalities as follows: 70
Americans and o foreigners.
oHS nltLOIcu Illty NCNshS 49,
certified to by the coroner. One hundred
and eighty-one deaths occurred in the
various hospitals, 139 of which we're in the
county hospital.
There were 1888 births reported to the
health office; of these so were still births
and 81 premature births. There were SIS
males and 700 females OF the still births
A. we're males and 80 females; of the pre-
mature births, Z were males and 4 were
females.
OF the more than 400 physicians in the
city not over $50 are complying with the
law relative to the report of births and con-
taQious diseases. Many seem to think 1t
an imposition when the matter is brought
to their notice and we insist on their COM
plying with the state law and the ordl-
nances of the city on the subject. After
systematic investigation by w. B. Hinkle,
one of the inspectors. the increase in the
report of births has been at least ~ per
cent.
There was one case of smallpox in the
city in September. which. upon detection,
was taken Immediately 10 the pest house,
where the patient was cared for without
any one knowing that such case existed
until he was discharged.
Considering the close proximity OF small
pox for so many months at.Nogales on the
Mexican border. the city has just cause for
congratulation on Its escape from an
epidemic.
There have been 90 cases of typhoid
fever reported to the health Office, 81 of
which were fatal. Again | have to state
that we have not been able to induce all
physicians to report cases of typhoid fever,
hence the apparent high mortality. Mid
cases are, as a rule. not reported.
There have been reported 276 cases of
infectious diseases. for which the houses
were placar1ed. OF these 121 were scar
let fever, only two of which proved fatal.
This disease in this climate is extremely
mild and many cases, believe, are not re-
ported at all.
There were 1872 cases of diphtheria re-
ported, % of which were fatal, showing
the per centage of death to be 1S.4I.
Under the limited use OF antitoXtine the
death rate has been reduced from 2o.3 per
cent last year to 1S.4 per cent. Tor THIS.
Owing to the prejudice of many physicians
antitoxine has not been used as extensively
as might have been beneficial in those
cases. but enough has been used to prove
concIusively that it has saved the lives OF
many of our children. According to the
best reports which I can ascertain. anti
toXine has been used in about one-halt OF
the cases reported in the city. Many cases
outside the city have received its beneficial
effects, which are not included in this re-
port.
All buildings were inspected at the time
they were placarded, and after recovery
were disinfected under the supervision OF
the health office.
With the limited time at my disposal, |
have endeavored to treat as many as pos
sible of the needy sick of the city. Where
practicable have sent those with chronic
ailments, and entitled to attention. to the
county hospital, and others to the free dis
pensary.
During abe past year the inspectors have
investigated and ordered the abatement OF
2O.S42 nuisances. There were also served
1879 written notices to connect with the
sewer.
The majority of all this work has been
done by three sanitary inspectors: IL. Nc
Evoy. L. p. Crane and w. b. Hinkle.
For convenience the city has been divid-
ed into three districts, and each inspector
is assigned to a district and is held respon-
sibIe for the condition of the same.
With the limited force at our disposal it
has been impossible to make house to
house inspection as should be done at least
once month in climate like this. Here
decomposition is going on at all times, and
a very small deposit of animal or vege-
table matter soon decays and becomes a
nuisance, and. if allowed to remain. causes
serious consequences to some one of the
residents in the vicinity. who. regre to
say, is usually child.
cannot too strongly urge the immediate
filling up of cesspools and privy vaults as
soon as houses are connected with the
sewer. But unless the parties are notified
Cesspools and vaults are nearly always
located in the backyard, and the backyard
rs a rule is the children's playground: and
many children owe a serious illness, of
several weeks, perhaps, to the carelessness
of their parents.
The numbersof sanitary inspectors is ELL
tirely inadequate to the amount of work
necessary to keep the city in sanitary
condition. At present it is impossible to
do but little more than answer the numer-
Gus daily complaints which are made at
this Office.
In many instances nuisances exist on
the premises of nonresident owners which
it is almost impossible to abate for lack of
proper legislation. 1t is to be hoped that
at the next session of the legislature such
. law will be passed as will enable boards
of health, through the proper authority, to
Abate nuisances existing on the property of
nonresident owners by causing a lien
covering the expense of the same to be
made upon such property, collectable the
same as taxes. Such a bill was introduced
by Hon. Robert N. Bulla at the last session
great ruah at the last moment it failed to
spass.
MEAT AND MILK INSPECTION
A careful inspection of the markets and
slaughterhouses shows more than ever the
great necessity for union slaughter-house
and stockyards where all animals can be
inspected before killing, and where the in
spector can be present at the time of
slaughtering, and all carcasses be marked