Evening journal., 1905-04-05
WORK OF THE
HEALTH BOARD
Annual Report of the Secre.
tary Gives Some Facts
About City's Health
GARBAGE COMPLAINTS FEWER

Secretary W. l.. Hamann Of the Board
of Health, has completed his annual re-
port. 1t gives some interesting facts con-
cerning the health Of the city during the
year ending December 81.
During the year there wereol266 COM
plants of nuisances of which "a were
found groundless and ordered discon-
tinued OF the remaining complaints. 104
were such as to require the. board to take
action; to direct 5i2 properties to make
sewer connections, lSS of which were
connected and la remaining unconnected,
caused by extremely cold weather setting
in and the cases were continued until the
spring.
During the year there were 40 fumi-
cations in the city and a number in the
country.
COLLECTION OF GARBAGE.
'The wisdom and advisabfity of 50 do
ing is very forcibly demonstrated In the
following complaints of the year 1903 and
to June 1904, when under the control O.
City Council, and the seven months Of
the year 19Oi when under the control Of
the Board of Health, the improvement IN
the SERVICE being over so per cent:
Number Of complaints, First district.
1903. Ssl; 1904. 1853; Second district. 1903,
$685. 1904, 167; Third district, 1903 81; 1904,
ISL; Fourth district, 19O3 27lS; 1904, 1852.
VERY LITTLE SMALLPOX.
''The city has been remarkably free from
smallpox during the year. there having
been but "A cases reported against 1853 Tor
tho previous year, and these scattered
through the first six months Of the year.
of these "A cases there were no deaths,
all having recovered. The cases We're
confined to fourteen whites, ten coIored,
against forty-one whites and one hundred
and twenty-five colored for previous
year.
"Dphtheria has been more prevalent
during the year 1904 than any previous
year in the history Of the board. This is
undoubtedly due TO an ordinance PASSED
by The council in the previous year, COM
pellIng the reporting Of and placard-
ing of houses wherein diphtheria and
scarlet,fever prevailed, under severe pen
atty for neglecting TO so report
There have been $40 cases reported
with 30 deaths for 1904, against 30 cases
and 80 deaths for previous year Of 1903,
or a percentage of 1915 for year 1904
against l77 for previous year 1903.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
There were So cases of scarlet fever
reported for the year 1904, with 8 deaths,
against 56 cases reported and 4 deaths
for the previous year 1903.
During the year there were IS cases of
] frss hot tod srsfff
over 80 per cent. of cases reported having
died. This is a ridiculous and farcical
condition due to neglect Of physicians TO
keep thoroughly conversant with the law
which directs that these cases shall be
reported, and general Indifference many
physicians pleading ignorance OF the law.
During the past year there were 169
deaths from consumption. Being classed
as one Of the principal diseases, as well
as communicable or infectious disease,
and so recognized by the U. S. Govern
ment and by almost all other Health De-
partments throughout the country, ]
would recommend that for statistical
purposes, consumption be classified with
the other contagious and infectious dis
eases now on the statute book to be re-
ported to this department
VITAL STATISTICS.
The total number OF deaths for the
year 1904 was 1i52, an increase over the
preceding year of 1903 of l5S. Based on
an estimated population Of 5000, we have
a death rate Of 17os in the one thousand
Inhabitants.
While there has been a very percepti-
Bile Increase Of certain contagious and in
fectious diseases with fewer deaths for
the year 1904 as against these same dis
eases for year 1905. the death rate has
been greater for 1904 than 1903
The principal causes Of death were con-
sumption and pneumonia, 1863 having died
from the former, an Increase of over
the previous year. and 1iS from pneumonia
a decrease Of Z over the previous year.
Tle deaths from infectious diseases
were lSA a. percentage 70 the total num-
ber-of Deaths 1851
During the year 994 white and 9s col
orsd marriages were reported. a total of
| l0g3 as against L. 301 ranorted for rrexioiis