The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-31
BOARD MAKES A REPORT
A VOLUMINOUs DOCUMENT FILED IN
THE MAYORS OFFICE.
Statistics Showing the Health of the
City for N Year-Munic-
ipaI Affairs.


The annual report of the City Board of
Health was sent to Mayor Taggart yester-
day afternoon. 1t is a voluminous report,
giving all the statistics of the year and
brief history OF the smallpox epidemic
in this city last year. The report shows
during 1899 there were fifty-two cases of
smallpox in the city, but there was not a
single death. The department did all in it's
power to prevent the spread of the dis
ease, but it greatly hampered because
of the absence of a pesthouse or isolation
hospital. The report does not argue the pest
house question, as IL stated the matter
will be given attention in another way.
The report shows that during 1889 there
were 2,3SS deaths in the city. of which 124
were from violent causes. The death rate
was 1874 per thousand inhabitants. This
death rate is better than is shown by any
other city of like size in the country.
OF the 3oS cases of diphtheria there were
fifty-one deaths. a percentage of 16. Since
the discovery of anti-toxin the death rate
has been lowered from 60 per cent. to l6
per cent. There were 491 cases of scarlet
fever and twenty-nine deaths. There were
sixty-four deaths from typhoid fever.
which is at the rate of three to 10000 in
habitants, a better rate than is shown by
any city in the world.
The health board issued 924 licenses to
dairymen during the year and GIL samples
of milk were tested. OF the 341 tested for
fats, sixty-five were found to be below the
standard. Out Of the $50 tested for pre-
sentative it was found that thirty con-
tanned formaldehyde The report sets out
the fact that the Board of Health is in
need of a plumbing inspector and should
competent man be appointed to that
place there would be less danger from
sickness in the city.
The report calls attention to the prompt
manner in which the City Council allowed
appropriations last year for the Health
Board when smallpox was prevalent in the
city, and says because of this epidemic the
health department was forced to employ
run so high. The appropriation for the
Health Board during the year amounted
to $2o,1375O and s17695.SS was expended.
leaving a balance to be returned to the
city of s2,45l.62. The appropriation for the
City Dispensnry amounted to s5,46976, and
of this $5,2le 10 was expended, leaving
balance of s25S66. The appropriation for
the City Hospital was $50. SIPS, of which
s30095.01 was expended, leaving bal
ance of s5l7.A. The grand total appro-
priated for the entire department for the
year amounted TO S5bZJS.0l, ana the amount
expended was $52,99699 leaving bal
ance of s3.22272 to be returned to the
city.
The report sets out the inspection of
the stockyards for the year. 1t shows the
number of inspections as follows: Cattle.
127, go; calves, 1851; hogs. 1,6S6,S12; sheep,
$3.50 Total, 1,912,5i2. The record of the
stock condemned shows: Cattle, las head,
143 430 pounds; calves, 6S head, 10,425 pounds;
hogs, $50 head. 116.450 pounds; sheep, 113
head, 212oo pounds. The inspection of the
slaughterhouses and meat markets showed
that 1,S65 inspections were made and 49,
$50 pounds of meat condemned.