The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-07

to the increase in the number of deaths
! from cancer. The report was filed with
the clerk of Council yesterday, and was
carefully compiled. While the white
death rate was the lowest in the his
tory of the city the negro death rate
does not present so favorable a condi-
ton.
In his report Dr.. Drummer says: I'VE
have two distinct races OF people liv-
ing in this city. and in no other way
do they differ more than in their health
conditions, and their death rate. It
will be necessary to first give the pop
ulation of each race, and then present
figures which will form this state
ment.
Census Figures Quoted.
1.-THE United States census, for 1900,
gave this city a population of $4,000;
$4,000 whites and $4,000 negroes. Since
that time it is estimated, and the fig
ures are approximately correct that by
immigration, by increase of births over
deaths, and by the extension of the
city limits the city has now 5000
whites and "a, 900 negroes, a total o.
$1,000 persons. The following figures
show the mortality:
Annual
Ratio
Population. Deaths. per / 1000.
Whites ........29, 900 All 1924
Negroes .......34,0 900 1922 29.17
$1,000 1.463 23.21
THE white death rate makes a mag
nificent showing, for, by comparison
with other cities, we will rank among
the best. For years the health officers
of Southern cities have requested that
in the comparison of their mortality
statistics by the NATIONAL government
that the death rates of the two races
be separated. This request was COM
plied with when the last census was
made"
Causes of Death.
THE following diseases show where
deaths among the negroes are far in
excess of those among the whites:
Deaths
per 1000.
tuberculosis ........55 1854 1.S9 ASP
pneumonia ..........35 SO 1.2O 2SS
Malarial fevers ..26 IS 30 "a
Intestinal diseases so las 200 Al
The immunity of whites from fatal
forms of malarial fever over the ne
Sroes Is most remarkable fact; for
merry the reverse was the annual ex-
nlolt' rake the age summary which
demonstrates the difference in the case
OF children under 10 years of age.
whites .............. ........133 45s
NeSIoeS .'.,...... ...........3S 1856 II "a
Few Died in Summer.
Attention is called to the increas-
ing health of the city during the sum
mer months. The records show no
deaths from any form of malarial fe-
Vers of white residents from July 16
to Oct. p, There are over twenty
deaths from malarial fever among the
negroes during this period. There
were twenty-nine still births among
the whites and 1873 among the negroes.
There were six white persons who
dled without medical attention, ana
l44 negroes who died without treat
ment, and the city of Savannah en-
ploys three white and two colored city
physicians, who respond to all calls
and the City Dispensary furnishes free
medicines for all persons unable to buy
. them. This subject is dwelt upon in
order that it can be made clear that
the city of Savannah, for the white
race, is not second to any city of it's
size in healthfulness."
Cancer is IncreasinE.
II is SHOWN tnat tWenty-fOur whites
and nine negroes died from cancer
during the year, making a total of
thirty-three. This causes DR.. Brun-
ner to say; The last named disease,
II appears, is increasing in this city,
as the number of deaths for this wear
exceeds Fthat of any year by a large
margin. 1t must be said however.
that the X-ray treatment for it's cure
has been in vogue here this year and
persons from other parts of the state,
suffering with the disease, have come
here to receive treatment.
IAN astonishingly few number
of cases of diphtheria were re-
ported to this office during the
year, and very few of the
cases reported proved to be
diphtheria. There were seventeen
cases reported, but ARCHAEOLOGICAL in
vestigation showed but six to be diph-
iberia. Three of these. all membra-
neous Group, were fatal. The cost of
disinfection, material and labor to the
city government and cost of damage
done to household furniture and houses
was saved in eleven instances. 1t
would be perfectly safe to challenge
any city in the United States to equal
our dlphtheria record. There were
several hundred cases of measles dur
ing the year with three deaths.
About waste Matter.
while this office has absolutely
nothing to do with the disposal of the
garbage # the city it would be held
responsible for any bad effect on the
health of the community by the i'm
proper administration of that service
This form of waste matter has been
distributed in close proximity to the
city; frequently within the city lin
its, and while the health officer has
protested against these dumping places
each time his protest is without avail
This service should be controlled by
the health officer of the city. There
is no responsibility on anyone else, and
to draw it mildly 1t is not equitable for
1t to remain under its present control
New Cemetery.
while it may be tiresome for you to
have this subject brought to your at
tention, yet it is more necessary now
than ever before that your health off,
Ger impress on you the sanitary neces-
sity for Immediately selecting a site
for a new public cemetery.
The county authorities have begun
great work in draining the lands west
of the city. and in a few years these
lands will be thoroughly drained, and
but one menace to the health of the
western section remains-Laurel Grove
Cemetery"
In his report DR.. Drummer refers to
the work being done by the United
States government, makes reference to
the good to be derived from the ma