The herald., 1896-12-20

and eighty-eight cases of diphtheria
were reported, IS Of which proved fatal.
The percentage Of death was 1912. Two
years ago the death rate was $3.50 per
cent. The decrease in the death rate is
accounted for by careful and judicious
use OF anti-toxine by nearly all phys
icians without regard to school of prac-
tice. There were 122 cases of typhoid
fever reported, % of which were fatal
During the past few months the health
department has been the recipient of
many inquiries regarding the prevalence
of consumption in Southern California.
or the total number of deaths from
consumption since April l, 1882 5.26 per
cent were natives of Los Angeles city,
ll.63 per cent were natives of the Pacific
coast. The death rate from pulmonary
consumption In Southern California is
3.6 per cent, while that for the Pacific
coast is IL per cent, showing conclusively
that pulmonary consumption is not on
the increase in Southern California.
The report contains a number of sug-
gestions, among which are the follow
ing: Hn N3F
The milk sold in the city at the pres
ent time Is fairly good. A higher stand
ard is being maintained than heretofore
but better quality of milk is yet desir-
able. and can be sold with profit to the
consumer and dairymen alike. The an
alysis of the milk taken from the wagons
as 1t is sold to consumers on the street,
is not as high as it is when the sample
is taken direct from the dairy at the
time of milking. OF thirtyseven sam
pies taken from the various dairies DUR
ing the last two months the percentage
Of butter fat ranged from to Sc per
cent. The average per cent of butter fat
of the milk as sold to consumers is about
3 per cent In some instances it is high
er. but per cent is the average. BY
comparison of the milk taken direct
from the dairy at milking time, which
shows an average of AZ per cent butter
fat, and the milk as sold to consumers,
which shows an average of 3 per cent
butter fat it is plainly visible that there
is a deterioration of al least % per cent
in the quality of the milk, due to some
kind of adulteration. The most common
adulterations are the additions of water.
coloring matters to make the milk look
rich. and preservatives of various kinds
to keep the milk from spelling in warm
weather. None of these should be used
under any circumstances and are all
violations of law.
Since my last report a new contract
has been let for the collection of garbage
which contains some rather impra ctica-
BILE features. The placing of garbage
cans inside the property line has proven
Objectionable both to the property own
er and the contractor alike; so much so
that it was thought best by the board of
health to ask the counciIto make certain
amendments in the contract looking TO
the betterment of the sanitary condi-
tions regarding the same. Another seri-
Gus mistake was the placing of the crem-
atory outside of the city. An effort
was made on the part of the authorities
to locate 1t otherwise, but on account of
the strenuous and continued objections
of the property owners and residents in
the vicinity of any proposed site for its
location 1t was placed just outside of the
city limits. If the crematory had been
centrally located so as to be accessible
for all purposes, many nuisances which
are being committed every day by
dumping of various kinds of refuse mat
ter on vacant lots would have been OBJ
waited by taking the same to the crema-
tory; but rather than make long haul
necessary to reach the crematory, per-
sons run the risk of being intercepted
by the authorities and make dumping
grounds of many out-of-the-way parts
Of the city.
Very few complaints have been made
at this Office during the past two months
regarding the collection OF garbage. 1t
Is very necessary that all residents Sc
cure garbage cans in compliance with
late ordinance which will do away with
much thsA hal been unsightly and af-
fensive during the past two years.
During the past year the inspectors
have investigated and ordered the
abatement of 15100 nuisances ana serv-
cd 2442 written notices to connect with
the sewer
There has been no increase in the
working force of the office since last
year, although much additional terri
tory has been added to the city. 1t has
been impossible to make house to
house inspection, except in a section
here and there where it seemed absolute
ly necessary to protect the people in the
surrounding neighborhood from unsani-
tary conditions. The work of the de-
partment has more than doubled during
the past two years, and it Is not possible
to answer all the complaints made for
relief as promptly as should be done.
The sanitary conditions of the city
are much better than they were year
ago, due to better inspection and a more
rigid enforcement of the sanitary laws
in all branches of the department Many
sewer districts have been formed and
sewers laid, and where all the houses
have been connected properly and al
cesspools and privy vaults abandoned
and filled up. there has been very little
contagion Of any kind, where much sick
ness existed before. Many nuisances
Stlll cAlSt ou CilS pi cHiicCS VI AoH-icSi-
dent owners which in many cases it has
been impossible to abate for lack of
proper legislation. 1t is to be hoped
that at the coming session of the legsa-
ture ample laws will be enacted fully
covering the subject.
The poor of the city have been taken
care of as we'll as the meager facilities
connected with this Office will admit
Many have been sent to the free dis
pensary, where there are greater facili-
ties for careful examination and dag
nosis and others sent to the county hos
pital. Drs George Walrath, ]. j..
Rogers, E. l.. Vaughan and NJ. A
Bresee and others have kindly rendered
their services to this department, and
many cases have been turned over 10
them for attendance and treatment.
CITY HALL NOTES.
The commissioners on revising and