Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-14

any suggested dfSquisition on utilltarfan justice. THOMAS D. PARKEt t, Report on CountyAlms House.
 To the President of the Committee of k Health: sff
 IC T beg leave to submft the following j. brief report on the sanitary condition of the county aims house. The poor of the county are we'll cared for. The only fault to be found is it's crowded condition and that the sick are kept in the same wards with the well. This condition of affairs has existed since the present system of caring for the indigent was begun. There seems to be little prospect that this evil Will be corrected soon. With the present overcrowded condition of affairs there Is a lack of help in caring for the acute cases. .k .E
 The insane are kept in a. small house, which does well enough as far as 1t goes, but does not allow the patient any outdoor life. There are only two in- mates at the present time. No insane should be cared for by the counties, as they are only confined and their life is little more than a prison life Respect fully. c. WILSON. :.
 City Prisons. hg- By request I have also examined the city prison. It is badly overcrowded and could be kept in better condition l was told that it was washed out twice week, but its general appearance would suggest that it was poorly done. 2'-
 The meals are served three times day and are good enough.
 There is no hot water attachment to the bath tub and I cannot think that this part of the institution is well patronized in winter. The prisoners are healthy Respectfully, f.g c. WILSON.
 County Jail.
 MT. Chairman: I herewith submit my report on the sanitary condition of the county jail. zas,. -.-s
 Last year the committee made very exhaustive report on the arrangement of the buildings, ventilation, lights, etc.. the mode of heating and the per capita space. ,fs.a = f-
 There have been no changes since that time, so it will not be necessary to go into the detail again.
 The only way by which fresh air can be obtained and foul air eliminated is by open windows, and these are kept closed in cold weather, so that the ventilation is not what it should be. The sewerage system is In good shape. The sinks are well flushed and there are no odors per- ceptible anywhere aboutbthe premises, either inside or outside the buildings. There is general appearance of cleanli- ness everywhere except in the negro quarters. The prisoners are fed twice day and the bill of fare seems ample. There were 115 prisoners all told when I
 
 in the sick wards. All seemed in good condition physically. I found nothing which seemed to require a radical change so far as the management of the jail is concerned. Respectfully,
 ca s. L. LEDBETTER. |, In conclusion I wishq to say in behalf of the committee that in the main the work of the year has been without fric- tien, and the health office has been managed well and satisfactorily to the committee. The health officer has been efficient and careful ein the detail of his work for which the committee wish to commend him. Respectfully, 7;G lS9e $. l.. LEDBETTER. Secretary. ~ Dr. Rosser objected to- that part of the report so far as it referred to the ventila- tion of the county jail. saying that he was aware that a special shaft was ar ranged when the Jaff was erected, and that such report from this society would be misleading; that if the jail was mot properly ventilated it was the lack OF proper attention, and. could not be at tributed to the arrangement of the build tpg. as the shaft was amply sufficient. g. The jail ventilation called forth discus sions pro and con by various members, and a motion finally prevailed referring that part of the report so~far as it re- lates to the jail ventilation back to the committee of health for further investi- gation. Ge- %&ss Fts..3t
 ioI. lI. r. 1tlSSS, tle retiring DTeSluenl, read very able address, in which he touched upon pending matters of inter est to the profession At the conclusion Dr. w. E. B. Davis moved that the socie- ty tender him a vote of thanks for his able paper, together with his efficient rulings during his term of, office. .sss Unan- mously carried. iss%N
 On motion the presidents paper was ordered filed in the archives of the so- ciety. f~
 The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
 President pr. R. M. Cunningham vice-president. Dr. c. H. Jernigan on board of censors, pr. S. C. Carson-of Bes- semer; county health officer, Dr. J. w. Barclay; city sanitary officer, J. D. Gres- ham.
 The election of delegates to the State Medical association was deferred until the next meeting.
 All the officers were duly installed. Dr. Thomas D. Park. the retiring health off, cer. declined to accept a re-eleetion giv- ing as his reason. that he desired to de- vote his entire attention to his private practice.
 TERCEI 'T0lD