The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-23
CITVS HEALTH WAS BAD
Council Refused to Appoint Additional Sanitary Inspectors, and It Also Refused to Pass Compulsory
 Vaccination Law.

President-W. H. Wilder, one year.
 Vice-President-T. F. Robinson, Bes- semer, one year.
 secretary-Edgar A. Jones' three years.
 Treasurer-R. V. Mobley, three years.
 Censor-D. F. Talley, five years.
 County health officer-J. M. Mason, one year.
 The report of the committee on health was read and accepted. It sets forth that during the year the osteopaths were de- clared by the courts to be praticing medi- cine and were subject to all laws gov erning the practitioners of medicine. The decision of the lower courts was sus- tained in the Supreme court. The com mittee further reported that the osteo- paths were now allied with physicians who have licenses to practice and that they were continuing their treatment as they have in the past except under different name. The committee states that it hopes to reach them and compel them to pay certificates of qualification or abandon their practice.
 Infectious Diseases.
 The committee further reports that It had some trouble in keeping cards on houses in which there were infectious dis eases, and that they now nave no trouble owing to an appeal to the city attorney for law on the matter. There was none' and none has yet been passed, but people retain the card as long as necessary. In March the committee reports that it made an effort to get a law passed through the city council making vaccination compul- sory, but it failed to pass. It also reports that in April an attempt was made to get two more sanitary inspectors for the summer months but the city council re- fused to allow them, and as result the city was in a very unhealthy condition and one far below the average of city of this size.
 The report further states:
 Sanitary inspection Unsatisfactory.
 "The conditions which now exist in re- gard to the sanitary inspection of the city. so important to the life and health of the people, are entirely unsatisfactory to your committee. Two sanitary in- spectors have been elected by your county hoard of health, one of whom alone has been allowed to utilize his full time in inc work, and this has been largely taken up in the Immigration of houses which were infected, and casual temporary calls. This leaves the careful inspection of the city unattended to except so far as may be done by the street commis- sioner and his force. We deem 1t nec- essary for the further sanitary protec- ton of our citizens that there should he one man at least on the sanitary force who would give his entire time to the inspection of alleys, back yards, tene- ment houses, water closets and water supplies. We are advised by MT. Walker, chief sanitary inspector, that the time of two men could be prohtably employed in a general sanitary inspection, in view of the fact that the population of the city is rapidly increasing and requires for the public welfare additional work and care.
 "The water supply has been looked af- ter, and when the improvements that arc being instituted are completed we expect to have as good water in Birmingham as any city fin the country"
 The Aims House.
 The report tells of the improvements at the almshouse, stating that the sani- tary condition of the house Is good and all the wards are free from malodors, considering the condition of the inmates. Between four and five hundred have been admitted during the last year, and all are properly fed and cared for.
 The county jail is reported by the com mittee to be in fair condition. The food during the early spring did not contain sufficient vegetable products, and the quarters for females were cramped, but these have been remedied to some extent The hospital is also reported to be in bad condition, but the report says that will be remedied when the old jail is torn down and a new one built.
 The County JalI. 77-7'
 Following is a portion of the report on the condition of the county jail made by County Health Officer Mason, which is embodied in the report of the health com mittee:
 "Since my last inspection of the county jail some marked improvements have been made. The colored women have been moved IrOm the Oiu Jdlt lntO the basement of tho new jail where they have more room and better quarters. The heating of the jail was satisfactory and the ventilation throughout was good. The corridors and cells were clean and the closets were all supplied with run ming water.
 No hospital Improvements have been made. although they are urged by the committee, consisting of Drs Morris, Tal- ley and myself. The hospital, however, was cleaner than before.'
 The report of the committee then con- tains a statement of the condition of the city, which it says is good except in the matter of closets, which should be of a different kind Sufficient good food is furnished at the jail and stockade.
 Spread Of Disease.
 The report of the committee concludes with the following:
 Every precaution possible has been taken to prevent the spread of contagious and infectious diseases. This has been especially looked after with reference to the schools. where no child is allowed to enter without a vaccination certificate, and they are detained at home for cer- tain periods after various contagious and infectious diseases have existed.
 "The question of avoiding so much