The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-14
-1r cITYs HEALTH IN 1896.
or,I, NUMBERS OF DEATHS
The REPORTED 1882.

ant the spread of Infection
10 che Disease-The Milk eues-
rO n,.cussed-The City's euaFan-
inc. ,.,. OAsoor w
r.-,n,er was handed to the mayor yes
'r The report is lengthy and deals
-, several subjects of interest and
,-.,ance to the people of Savannah
o.+ns,,v statistics are interesting.
T,o+al number of deaths for the year
20 of which 465 were white and S67
LID The deaths by months were as
s,rs January, 101; February 81;
~, 1o. April 1916; May, 142; June, 155;
I,,os August 119; September, lOl; oc-
~. ,os. November, 1O4; December, 1O7
rrse were IS deaths by accident, ID hom-
an and six suicides. There were l5l
str,irths and Il premature births. The
inner of deaths without any attending
,b,>ian was N5 There were 146 deaths
urr 10 years of age.
O5ecedents 70 years of age and up
was there were As whites, 20 males and
q, fa1es. and AZ colored, IA male and 81
fsma None of the decedents were cen
,onses OF the ! 1872 decedents, 5l4 were
MATHS of Savannah, 462 of Georgia other
tbaRavannah lac of South Carolina, p
ofNth Carolina, 10 of Florida, u of Vir-
ajnatO of New York, 80 of other states
of thunion, 81 of Ireland, % of Germany,
10 ofIngland, 6 of Norway and Sweden,
and gof other foreign countries and s of
unkntn nativity.
Theear could not be called a healthful
one le health officer states, the total
morts.y having exceeded the average
mortsty for the last ten or fifteen years.
The port shows, however, that the city
enioyl immunity from deaths from diph-
theriand scarlet fever and that but few
death occurred from typhoid fever, and
that! deaths from malarial fever among
the wtes were much below the average.
The cath rate for the year was "a per
1000: among the whites and "a among
the heroes. The principal cause of death
durnghe year were as follows: Phthisis
pulmonhs, 2l2: malarial fever, 50; pneu-
mona, 8; cgnvulsions, 50; dropsy, A; heart
disease, g, bid age, SO; paralysis, 81.
The Last bath from diphtheria occurred
Oct ., $50 The records of the city fail
10 show ha Savannah ever enjoyed such
immunity f1m the disease before.
Measles pbvailed to considerable ex-
tent during the early part of the year.
There were11 deaths from this disease.
Eight casesbf scarlet fever were reported
during the year, none resulting fatally.
There we're II deaths from typhoid fever
The largdnumber of deaths from con-
sumption, whites and 1872 negroes, is
commentedlon by the health officer,
and prevhtive measures were dis
cussed II is apparent, he says
that the disease is spreading
more rapidly than the general public
is aware OF. There were more deaths from
consumpti4 among the whites in 1896 than
during any previous year for twenty
years FQi the information Of the general
public thdfollowing preventive measures,
from a high authority, are sre-
commendh. The sputa of consump-
tyes shotld be collected and destroyed;
portable tasks to receive the same are
for sale j any city, and should be used.
The chaues of infection are greatest in
young CHILDREN. The patient should oc-
cupy Jingle bed The possibility of
Transmission by infected milk has been
fully demonstrated. Tuberculous cattle
shodld bd killed. Veterinary inspection of
diaries should be made. A mother with
consumption should not suckle her child.
An infant born of consumptive parents,
or Of a family in which the disease pre-
walls should receive special attention as
to food clothing and general environ
ments,'
There were tWenty-seVen deaths from
Whooping cough, more than from scarlet
fever and diphtheria combined for two
years Physicians will be requested to
report all cases Of infectious and conta-
gous diseases coming under their care,
including consumption, whooping cough
and measles.
There were % deaths from ali forms of
maiarlal fever, OF this number, q were
whlle and s. negroes. This leads the
Hea'h officer to remark that the mortality
among the whites from this disease is
growing beautifully less.
Inc health officer makes some caustic
SsonInents on the report spread by the
spanish consul on account of two deaths
""eh occurred from the congestive type
u malarial fever in August, that yellow
lever existed in the city
Inc sanitary inspectors are commended
O' sood work done by them during the
gar Chlef Inspector Melvin and Mr.. c.
y., LeDey being specially mentioned. The
a. f.1e o. sanitary inspection is dwelt upon.
c,, p uououul,' says the report, 'if any
M my ~ yAe south has a more unclean negro
s'p.-duoh than those who live in the low
r-Nul4S OF the QifN pa1laA Wa a, 4
,5nsO"H' and frequent inspection OF
ny Two localities is made necessary for
projection Of the rest of the city,"
a5.i. uaasers from contaminated and
lenets s'S.e1 milk are dvSelt upon at some
b IAN by The health officer. In beginning
1-rt vsslon OF this subject he says:
h.ya BOARD OF sanitary commissioners
. serio,. 1'Neh up this important subject for
. tbs o eohslderation and it should receive
Gin, nus. careful attention, for, if ever a
y,s. needed legislation on any subject Sa.
inT,-alu needs it on the milk question. The
of T.. mortality is increased by the sale
of tL"puie milk. The diarrhoeal troubles
Ia sp.lns and summer can be obviated
jsls,..5" iIeraDle extent by protective leg.
flfb,. lac milk from cows kept in
vast. soIls and fed on slops and other
for t"'''er cannot be wholesome food
are 5l auults or infants. These COWS
"SsI in narrow, dirty yards with
IN '.Ne pr.vy vaults in close nroximitv
| tn le" exceptions the persons milkine
ba r.2" are dirty, the vessels in which
a ,bare '''A '5 placed are unclean. and h
/ bgs.r. any iedeeming feature to the mill
i Ken, H., Ho ldr as the milk from COW.
been I'M 'N' Guy is concerned, IL has never
Ion I'M 0ol'u during four years inspec
gbaro .e'e are few Isolated case,