The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-21

H&<lLSlt denote that the city is becoming
unhealthy, but rather that ii is
increasing in population rapidly. and that
the number of deaths increases naturally
as the city grows.
In 1902 there were recorded at the Health
Boards office 2492 deaths, while for the city
last year there were 1904 deaths. OF course
this includes those who died from all
causes. 1t is said that, when it is considered
that there are 100000 inhabitants here, this
is in just proportion. 1t is doubtful if there
is 4 town in the United States correspond
ing in population TO Indianapolis that has
| better sanitary conditions than this. In
| 1902 the percentage was IL per 1000 while
at the present time it is 10 to LOCO, which
| is considered very low for a city that has
grown as fast as this one has, The general
sanitary conditions here are good. and. with
the complete sewer system, make it al
most impossible for this to be an unhealthy
city
Authorities say that the most essential
element in what constitutes a good sani-
tary city is pure water supply. 1t is in
bad drinking water that typhoid fever gets
its start, because the germs of this disease
must be swallowed to be effective. During
| last year there were 457 cases of this disease
|
ninety-six of them resulted in death. This
| is considered low percentage when the
kind OF weather we had last summer and
fall is taken into consideration. 1t is con-
tended by physicians that the atmospheric
conditions could not have been more favor
able than they were during the warm
months of last summer for this dreaded
disease. The water that is furnished by the
| &c thor frOv oil
or from filter beds of this company, which
can hardly be improved upon. One we'll
| known physician says:
| There have been at various times some
severe criticisms of the water company,
but will say that the water furnished by
this company could not be better Indian
| apolis is not only blessed with pure water,
| but it has it in abundance"
a Journal reporter the other day went
digging among the statistical records of
! the Health Board, and found some very
interesting facts concerning death records.
| Under what is called general diseases there
| were SIS deaths. This class includes tuber-
cuosis, from which there were $50 deaths
last year; the year before there were 341.
| AS this seemed to be quite an increase, one
| OF the health officers was consulted.
NO REAL INCREASE.
GAS far as the increase is concerned he
| said, there has been none, for the number
of inhabitants has increased accordingly.
| This would necessarily increase the number
| of deaths from tuberculosis. This disease,
| however, will be on the decrease in a few
| years, which is attributable to the fact that
we will be better able to cope with it. You
understand that it is wholly a germ disease.
and it is worthy of notice how compare
lively few cases of consumption develop in
the parts of our city where the people live
under good healthy hygienic conditions
who are intelligent about sanitary matters.
and who appreciate the real value of keep
ing things free from dirt or anything per-
tanning to filth, and whose houses conform
at least to sanitary requirements, which
modern houses are TO be greatly commended
of to-day tends in this direction. Now, take
this city, for instance. Along the northern
parts of Capitol avenue, Illinois and Merid-
ian streets and that part of the city to
College avenue-and / could name other
portions of the city which are equal to
these in sanitary conditions-in most any
direction, in fact, any place where there
is plenty OF open space between and around
the dwellings, where houses are built ac-
cording to modern plans, where they are
well drained and well ventilated, with nu-
merOus windows which are large enough
to admit plenty of sunlight and fresh air.
you will find that it is very seldom a case
of consumption will exist under these cir
cumstances. But you will find that the
greater number of cases of tuberculosis
opposite conditions prevail. However, as
far any great increase in this disease is
concerned, there has been none"
The most interesting facts from this in
vestigation were brought out concerning
the sudden deaths resulting from heart dis
ease In 1902 there were 1S2 death returns
from this cause, and last year there were
| 215. The ma jortiy of such deaths is caused
| by organic heart trouble, and il is found
that most of the victims are seventy years
of age and over. This condition does not
exist in indianapolis only; readers of the
| newspapers from other cities often notice
the headings of He Fell Dead in the
! Street" Merchant Dies at His Desk"
| Died in n Street Car" etc. 1t is said that
| such deaths this have been increasing
in the last two or three years, and have
| become numerous that the newspapers
| of the larger cities have place for such
| notices unless the victim is we'll known or
when the circumstances are startling in
In this city there has been no large in
| crease in deaths resulting from this disease,
| but il has been sufficient to have particular
notice taken of it. 1t is an interesting ques
ton whether any cause contributing TO an
! increased mortality set down TO heart dis
ease would not increase the mortality in
/ bronchial and pneumonia cases. since i'm
these a weak heart is the danger most
| feared by the physicians. Other diseases
directly affecting the heart and the sooner
| proving fatal are nephrtis and Bright's
/ disease Last year there were 100 of them
twenty-five of the former and seventy-five
| of the latter.
CAUSES OF HEART DISEASE.
AS to the causes of the increase in heart
disease the physicians and health officers
differ There have been several periods in
the last three years in which there were
epidemics of grip and influenza. the effect
of which is VIGOROUSLY TO leave a good
many weakened hearts. There is also the
scapegoat for all sorts of ills of the flesh
the faster pace" at which we are now sup
posed TO live. But the doctors and the
Health Board officers agree that there is
another cause. which, if not chief, is at
least among the principal contrbutory in
luences in the increase in the fatal disease
of the heart. The cause is the drug store
habit
1T is difficult to trace an increase of this
kind down to any direct causes" said one
of the health officers. But. in my opinion
the origin of a great number OF these cases
Is the habit people have acquired In the
last three or four years of running TO the
drug store whenever anything is wrong