The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-17
VIOLENT DEATHS
WERE NUMEROUS
Twenty-one Reported During
the Month of May
HEALTH OFFICER REPORTS
Low and Unhealthy Places In the City
Are Being Filled and Drained.
Better Quality of Fruit
Suggested.

City Health officer r. B. Hardness has
made his report to the mayor and alder
men for the month of May. In his report
he touches upon a number of interesting
questions affecting the public health in
Birmingham. The deaths during the month
of May Just passed exceeded those of last
year by thirty-eight
The report Is as follows:
Birmingham, Ala, June 16 1906.
To the Honorable Mayor and Aldermen
City
Gentlemen--I hand you my report for
the month of May:
The death rate for May has been high.
The mortality from tuberculosis, ceubro,
spinal acute and intertinal disorders
among children and from violence have
all been contributing factors.
The work of filing and draining ponds
and low places that afford breeding places
for mosquitoes has been pushed and will
be continued.
Tenement Houses.
Throughout our city are groups of very
poor tenement houses that are very close
ly crowded together. These districts have
heretofore been very poorly provided with
toilet facilities, there being frequently
only one water closet to half dozen or
more houses. The women living IN these
houses take in great deal of washing
and the large amount of waste water that
is thrown out around them has been a
source of great annoyance. The council
has recently passed an ordinance pro-
viding that these quarters shall be con-
nected with sanitary sewers for carrying
off waste waters. This will go a long way
toward improving our sanitation
Fruit Stands.
The time-honored custom of allowing
fruit dealers to keep their wares exposed
to dust and flies comes under suspicion
when looked at from a sanitary stand
point Much of this fruit Is broken and
overrpe and as 1t Is frequently eaten I'M
washed, this is probable factor In pro
ducing disorders that are prevalent dur
ing the hot summer months Ii may be
well at this point to again call attention 10
the inexcusable practice of throwing fruit
meetings.. among other waste matters, Into
our streets and cutters. This matter has
been frequently alluded to. and while we
have received every assurance from the
police authorities that they would take
measures to control this practice, 1t still
continues and the Offenders nave so lar es-
capped punishment.
There is not a more important clause
in our dairy regulations than that which
provides for the report of every case
of Illness occurring in the family, or
among the employees Of every dairyman,
or milk dealer. These parties are warned
that they will be held to strict account
for any violation of this ordinance that
comes under our observation
Communicable Disease.
Diptherla--white 6. aTack O. total s. to-
tai May 1908, a.
Scarlet fever-Whlte 5, black 0, total .;
total May, 1905 3.
Observation-Disclosures 2, black l, total 3;
total May, 1905. 0.
cerebro Spinal Meningitis-Whlte A.
black 10. total IA; total May. 1905, 3.
Chicken Pox-White @ black l. total );
total May, 1905, /.
Typhoid Fever-White 10, g noh-resi-
dent5, black o. total 10; total May 1905, 8.
Live Births-Whte 40, black %, total
II total May, 1906 76.
still Births-Whlte 4, black 8, total 10;
total May, 1905 Is.
Total Brths-White SO, black 70, total
81. total May 1905. "a.
Deaths Occurring During May-White
81, black IS, total 125; total May, 1905, 81.
Deaths From MISUNDERSTANDING .,
black 10. total Is; total May. 1905, 10.
Deaths from Cerebro Spinal Meningitis
White 4, black Q, total 10; total May
1906 3.
Deaths Due to Violence--White IL, black
., total q.
This includes four cases OF morphine
and one case of strYchnine poisoning vi
the deaths from violence, four are known
TO have been brought in from without
the city for treatment.
summary for sanitary inspectors re-
port for May: =.
.t,.t.. lah y
I.'l,tia,, rocorded .........22C
Houses Placarded ...................'....
Houses Fumigated ....................'..' Ia
Arrests -. -. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Convictions 80. ......''s,.' '''.''
Respectfully submitted.
r. b. HARDNESS,
City Health OFFICER