Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-11
HEALTHY YEAR
IN ROCK ISLAND
Forty-six Gases of Contagion,
Considered Remarkably
Good Record.
TOTAL OF 2ss DEATHS
Incarceration of Municipal Refuse Is
! Recommended by Health Com
missioner A. N. Mueller.

Dr. A. N. Mueller, city health com
missioner, in his annual report to the
city council, says:
The past year saw the inauguration
OF an entirely new board of health nm
der an ordinance originated by Mayor
McCaskrin. This board consists OF
TOUR local practicing physicians, includ.
Ing the commissioner of health and
the mayor and chief of police. Numer.
GUS meetings have been held and much
time and careful consideration has
been devoted to the promotion of the
oetterment OF the health and the safe
guarding or the lives of this commun-
lty. The members receive no COM
pensauon, being prompted to do this
work by humanitarian motives, and
are therefore entitled to the sincerest
thanks and should have the hearty CO.
operation of the public That much
good has been accomplished goes with
out question, and as the following re-
port will verify. Wherever the city
ordinances have been found deficient.
the board has recommended additions
and changes, and the council has con-
CURED in them. Among these are the
following: Ordinances preventing the
promiscuous distribution Of drugs;
regulating the manufacture and sale
of ice cream; relating to the keeping
OF chickens and other fowl; relating
to the disposal of stable manure, and
relating to the care of meat, poultry,
vegetables and fruit and foodstuffs.
The general health Of the city has
been fairly satisfactory, especially on
comparison with the records of our
sister cities, and considering the hand
leap OF a lack of funds to property
execute the departments plans. Our
appropriation of $4,000 was one of the
smallest of any in several years, and
because of this it was necessary to
curtail many important duties, such as
garbage collection, alley cleaning, etc
No Epidemic of Contagion.
We have had no epidemic of any
contagious diseases, no smallpox now
for almost three. years, and only a mod
crate increase in the number of ty-
phoid fever cases. Regarding the lat
ter, number of wells and the city
water have been analysed, and found
to be at fault. The public was instruct
ed to boil all water used for drinking
purposes. The new filter, now in
course of construction, will eliminate
the most dangerous factor of contain
nation. tuberculosis, or what is pop
ularly known as consumption, has a
strong hold in this city. This dreaded
disease will always be present until
the public is thoroughly aroused to
the danger of the violation Of hygienic
and sanitary principles. The medical
profession, assisted by the public press |
and public spirited organizations, is
now in the midst of national crusade |
against this white plague. The public |
is being taught methods of prevention, |
as well as the proper care of consump- /
tives, and the outlook is very bright |
for its control At this date Rock Is |
land and Chicago are the only cities |
in the state to take advantage Of the |
Glackin law, whereby cities may levy |
a 1 mill tax to establish a public tuber-
culosis sanitorium. This proposition /
was, through the board of health,
placed on the ballot at the spring mu,
nicipal election. 1t carried by ma
iority of nearly 1000.
Money Available Next Year.
Before another year is passed The