The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-08

Al the regular monthly meeting Of the
ooara OF health last evening Health OFF,
Ger Smith submitted his annual report It
shows that, although there has been de-
cioed increase in the population, the num-
Der OF deaths has decreased.
The report states that there were as
deaths in 1887 as compared with AT in 1895
and 4Ss in 1895. This is the smallest num-
Der OF deaths for any year since 1880 The
annual death rate per loo population,
computed On an estimated population Of
10000. was SIS
The largest number OF deaths from Diff
ferent diseases were as follows: Pull
monary tuberculosis, 49, as compared with
70 in 1895 and % In 1895. Other tuberculoses
included seven deaths hamilton and
marasmns included > deaths; pneumonia
III typhoid fever, IS. drowning Is: cere-
braI heInorrhage, IA: cholera infantum. L.
All other causes OF deaths included less
than ten deaths
There We're 5ds births reported. compris-
ing oo3 white, black. yellow. with IS pre-
mature and still births compared with 49,
births and 50 still births for 1895. and so
births and Is still births for 1886.
Infectious Diseases.
Smallpox did not appear in the city dur
ing the year. There were IS cases Of diph-
liberia reported. with deaths. compared
with Is cases aud deaths for 1895 and
IL cases with II deaths in 1896. The cases
for this all appeared after June. They
were reported in such numbers dur
Ing October and November that an cpl
demic was feared, which. however did
not materialize. The diphtheria anti
toxin was used in few cases, but they
were not sufficiently numerous to be of
any value for statistics.
Thirty-two cases of scarlet fever were
reported, with one death, compared with
80 eases and deaths for 1896 The nearest
approach to an epidemic for the year was
from measles. 6lS cases with death being
reported. compared with 200 cases and /
death for 1896. Five hundred and eighty
four Of these cases were reported during
February. March, April and May
OF typhoid fever, 60 cases with is deaths
were reported, being decrease in the
number of cases but a higher death rate
than 1896. when 140 cases We're reported
with IA deaths. The record for 1855 was
I41 cases and "a deaths.
Whooping cough included 81 cases with
deaths, all reported since June. Health
oH4Gei Slililu ne ulu NOT ma This
disease mentioned in the tables of the re-
port for the previous year. Members OF
the board were of the opinion that little
attention was paid to whooping cough in
this city. as ii was common 10 see a boy
on the street coughing his insides out.
Comparative Statement of Deaths.
Following is a comparative statement
of deaths from 1890: In 1890 the population
he 4
1891, population same, deaths $40. rate
1887: 1892. population 57.542, deaths 43a
rate 1855; 1893. population $1,000, deaths ass.
rate sos; 1894, population same, deaths 1866
rate I.76: 1895. population same, deaths Al
rate al; 1886, population same. deaths 49,
rate 7.26; 1887. population same. deaths 49,
rate SIS.
Deaths by wards during 1897 were as fol-
lows: First, eS; Second. %: Third 3:
Fourth. IS: Fifth 50: Sixth, 70: Seventh,
IS; Eighth. Is; Ninth. Is; total. as.
There were % deaths last month. giving
a rate of As for the month and $50 for the
year. The number Of deaths was smaller
than In any other month in the year, ex-
cepting April, when there were q. Dur
ing the month there were 81 births, 9
males and % females. The number OF Still
births was 1. Infectious diseases for the
month were as follows: Diphtherla, 3;
scarlet fever. 4: measles. 4. typhoid fever,
l. whooping cough. ?: total. 20.
DR.. r. NJ. Eames spoke OF the increased
number Of applications from the destitute
for relief. He said that as the city paid
so per cent. OF the county taxes. he
thought the health officer ought 20 have
discretion in sending patients to the
county hospital. Health officer Smith
said that the county commissioners made
no objections 10 sending patients to the
county hospital II they had been in the
city or county a year. II they were new
corners the commissioners usually reject
cd them. The matter IS 10 be discussed
by the sanitary committee of the council,
so no action was taken.
The milk ordnance which has been
hung up In the council was discussed. Or.
Eanes said that he understood Alderman
Hurd thought the ordinance too bulky.
President Horton said that the ordinance
was good one and he did not desire
10 see II changed. There was some talk
about the provisions OF the ordinance
bearing down TOO heavy or widows who
supported themselves by selling tho milk
OF COW or TWO. After an informal dis
cussion about some % the DIRECTORS sup
plying the widows with feed for their
cows, fhe matter was dropped.