The Indianapolis journal., 1896-01-29
HEALTH OF THE CITY
STATISTICS GATHERED FROM DIS
EASES AND DEATHS IN 1895.
Unpa paralle1ed Conduct of One OF the
Sanitary Oficers-A Water Tower
Will BE Bought.

The annual report Of the Department of
Health was filed with Mayor Taggart yester-
day. The report recites the history of the
department during the past year. and gives
statistical information concerning births,
deaths and disease. The board touches the
water company By urging that the latter
be compelled to put in a system of
filters, for at present the city is declared
to be in constant danger of an epidemic of
disease. The board advises that an ordi-
nance be passed governing the collection of
garbage, The work to be paid for out of
general fund. The dsuse of the vault sys-
tenn Is recommended, it being urged that the
drawer system be adopted. Probably the
most interesting portion of the report is
that which concerns the vital satisfies of
the city. 1t is shown that during the past
year there were 2237 deaths, against 1884
in 1894, with an estimated population in 1895
of 155, COZ. The death rate was 1443 in 1885.
OF those who died 1,9il were white, 292 col
ored and four unknown. Estimating the
colored population at 1900, the ratio of
death was 1876 for the white and 2OS5 for
the colored. During the year 494 cases of
diphtheria were reportd, with ia deaths; A9
cases of scarlatina, with nine deaths, and
one case of smallpox, with one death. There
were 10 deaths due to typhoid fever.
OF the total number of deaths, 29l were
due to consumption of the lungs. Pneu-
monia was responsible for 1876; brain dis
eases and meningitis for ia; scarlet fever
for ia, and cholera infantum for "A. OF the
total number of deaths, 1.1l9 were males
and 1,117 females; LII were single and us
were married. OF these $50 were under the
age of one year. 1s4 were between two and
five ID
l3S from fifteen to thirty years: 230 from
thirty to forty years; 15o from seventy to
eighty years; 7S from eighty to ninety years;
II from ninty to one hundred years, while
two were over one hundred.
During the year there were 26l9 births,
as against 2,6l2 the previous year. OF this
number, 44s were white, ~ colored, and
three unknown. OF the total 1873 were males
and 294 females, and six were not stated
as to sex in the returns.
There were 20,49s inspections made during
the year by the department., and $3.50
pounds of meat were condemned.
The total appropriations for the depart
ment amounted TO $39,Si4f. OF this $39, 1864. 10
sas sses.ss. been expended leaving a balance of
The recommendations of the board are
contained in the following:
"Since the establishment of the city char
ter the department has made great progress
in putting this branch on the level with the
demands of modern sanitary science. New
ertheless much yet remains TO be done. AT
the present time, the lack of effective laws
governing the removal of garbage makes the
task of properly controlling this evil next
lsto impossible. The city now pays a large
sum for the destruction of this refuse, but
in the absence of proper organization and
method of removing it. it is disposed of by
the h0usehoiderS in the most unSanitary
ways. The experience of other cities. whose
methods have investigated, leads us to
recommend that the removal of all garbage
for out of the general fund. Individual ef-
fort leads only 10 secretion, and in the en-
deavor TO avoid the expense of the removal.
while general taxation for the same makes
of each householder an inspector, who in
sists on the contractor promptly and eff.
fectively removing all accumulations of
garbage.
This department also finds itself power
less to maintain proper sanitary surveillance
for the lack of a proper plumbing ordinance
The great problem is the maintenance of
the purity of the water supply. The con-
struction of many vaults in thickly popu-
lated districts communicates the soil to such
an extent that water from wells of ordinary
depths is necessarily polluted. The examin-
alton of water from wells in the city shows
that great numbers of them are polluted
from this source.
This department earnestly recommends
the early abandonment of the vault system.
and the adoption of the drawer dry
closet system. This system is not only
more economical than the vaults. but from
hygienic standpoint leaves nothing to be
desired. The present water company should
be compelled TO construct an adequate and
sufficient system of filters, as under their
present system the possibility of an epi-
demic Of typhoid or other diseases is daily
threatened u.s.
The report of Dr. Bell, superintendent of
the dispensary, is contained in the report
of the board. DR.. Bell states, what every
body knows to be the truth. that the dis
pensary building is inadequate and unfit for
use. He recommends. as superintendent
have been recommending for years, that
better accommodate tions be furnished The
recommendation is made for an ambulance
stable and an emergency hospital down
town. During 1895 the dispensary staff
| treated 1876 cases at the dispensary and
| 2,5c6 outside patients. The drug room filled
| 15 450 prescriptions. The doctors made 4213
| visits, and the ambulance made 313 runs.
The total expenditures for the year were
| s4,742.45.