The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-07-13
Meeting Of Beard Of Health.

The City Board of Health held 6
| meeting Wednesday evening, Pres
ent:, DR.. j. G. Spann, President
DR.. Van Telberg-Hofman, DR.. s. c.
Baker, Mr.. W. Nj. Graham ane
Health Officer Reardon. Absent, Mr.
D. W. Cuttino.
DR.. JIG. Spann, Dr.. Van Tslberg'
Holman and DR.. s. G. Baker commit.
tee on conference. with Chairman R.
F. Haynsworth of committee on pub
lie works of City Council, III regard
to enlarging Turkey Greek, reported
that the committee mad met with AL
derman Haynswosth and discussed the
proposition to widen and deepen the
canal, but that Engineer W. L. Lee
had surveyed the canal and did not
find sufficient fall to guarantee the
deepening Of the canal. The canal is
being thoroughly cleaned out, how
ever, which will considerably increase
the depth and width, as it lad not
been cleaned in several years. 1t was
decided to wait until further informa-
tion could be secured in regard to an,
other route, viz: towards Rocky Bluff
Swamp, for draining the, water from
that section of the city.
Health Officer Reardon called at
tention, to the practice of the county
authorities in bringing sick prisoners
from the county chain gang, and
keeping them in the county jail in
Sumter, which practice he contended
is not only an injustice to the other
Drisoners. but a menace to their
health, and nuisance to the prison
ers, besides being a distinct source of
infection to the City of Sumter; par
ticularly in cases of tuberculosis,
typhoid fever and other infectious
and contagious diseases. He contend
ed that it is the duty of the county
authorities to build separate hospi-
tai. annex to the Jail, safely construct
ed and with view to sanitary regu-
lations, for keeping sick prisoners,
or to build, this hospital at the poor
house. He said he could not keep
the Jail in cleanly condition, nor
could the sheriff or the jailer. do so, if
sick prisoners are kept there, especl-
ally as there are no conyenlences for
isolation or treating the cases along
up- to-date sanitary methods. Luna
tics are also often kept there for days,
and they are a nuisance, as it Is I'M
possible to keep. their cells clean,
and in consequence the Jail is in q
foul smelling condition very often,
despite the efforts of the authorities
to keep the place clean. Supervisor
Seals has no other place at present to
send sick convicts, and it is not his
fault. He does the best he can under
the circumstances. The matter was
thoroughly discussed, and upon motion
of Dr.. Holman, the committee on
inspection of public institutions and
the health officer ere-instructed to
look into the matter and recommend
to the county authorities what kind
of building to construct, and to re-
port to board of health at next meet
ing what has been done.
The health officer reported that
there had been fewer cases. OF typhoid
fever this year, and less sickness OF all
kinds, than in several years previous.
The general sanitary conditions, in
the absence Of a sewerage, are as
good as it is possible to maintain
them. No complaints of mosquitoes
have been made so far and efforts are
being made to keep them down. The
drainage of the city has been consider
ably improved by City Council, and
other public improvements looking to
a. better sanitary condition have been
made by City Council. Statistics
show that Sumter's death rate is
lower, comparatively speaking, and.the
health of the community better, than
most cities in this, State. The board
of health still thinks shat sewerage
system should be put in as soon as
possible, owing to the building OF
hundreds of new residences and places
of business, the increasing population
and the consequent increase OF sew
age.