The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-06-16


and have been furnished with water
mains, and frequently in the oldest and
most thickly populated parts of the
city.
In regard to the disposal of gar
bage, conditions in most cities were
unsatisfactory. The most sanitary
way of disposing of garbage is prob
ably to burn it. About half dozen
of the cities investigated had inciner-
alton plants and as a rule these plants
were working in a reasonably salts
factory manner-and if they were not
it was generally because the work of
collecting garbage for burning was
subject to political influences with un-
favorable results. In the great ma
jority of cases the garbage is dumped
on vacant lots, frequently within the
city limits and sometimes not far from
the heart of the city.
Ordinances for inspection of milk,
meas and perishable provisions We're
quite general, and It is clear that they
are being enforced with Increasing ef-
fectiveness every year; but successful
work of this kind depends mainly upon
three things; freedom from political
control, competent and particularly
courageous board of health and a
strong public opinion in favor of thor
ough enforcement of the work.
Coming now to the consideration
of some special points, the following
| is quoted fro mthe annual report for
1910 of the department of health of a
city or less than 100000 inhabitants
and the capital of one of the leading
states of the Union: There are 1000
shallow wells in this city and the pol
luton of these wells is assured by
5000 vaults. There are 5000 homes
in the city, 5000 of which are not con-
nected with city sewers or water mains
for sanitary purposes. The sewer and
water systems fthis city have cost
the taxpayers approximately $4,000
900. This means that the public ex-
penditure of $4000,0O0 for sanitary
purposes is utilized by one-third of
the population and the benefits which
should be derived by the community
are lost. Since 1902 the typhoid fever
mortality of the city has been high
lcompared with that of other cities. In
1908 it was 46 per 100000 of population,
while the average of registration cities
lof the nation was but 24.6; in 1904
this city's typhoid rate was sc, while
1.-THE average registration cities was "a );
in 1905 this city, SS.4; with average
cities, %; in 1906 this city, 95.6, av-
erage cities, 34.2; in 1907 this city,
1917; average cities. 91.7; in 1908 this
city, 35.1, average cities, 25.S; in 1909
this city, 32, average cities, o. in
1870 the typhoid mortality rate in
this city jumped to 81 per 100000 Of
population
In large city in the south one of
the great public markets was visited
and the conditions were simply re-
voting. Great quantities of meat,
vegetables and more or less over-Tipc
fruit were displayed in an open mar
Iket extending for two blacks, with no
kind of protection for the perishable
provisions. Never were such swaIms
of flies seen before. In one case big
!, piece of meat was so covered with aies
: that it was really difficult to make out
what it was. Fortunately. move
; Iment is on foot to have this. market
done away with All public markets
of the kind ought to be abolished. It
: is impossible to maintain sanitary con.
ditions as long as such things exist
z On the other hand, in the city of Mont
} gomery, Alabama there was evidence
+ of quite satisfactory enforcement oi
: the ordinances for screening meats and
} lperishable provisions. Not only were
: screen doors required at the entrance
} of the market but screens over the ia
: dividual displays of perishable food
} Fruit stands on the streets were furn
2 ished with cases with screen doors
9 and during the summer months nj
e fruit was allowed to be exposed fol
+ sale without proper protection. The
: fly is one of our most deadly enemies
/ and the protection of meats and pro
r visions from its fatal work is abso
Y lutely necessary if the public is to b.
F; protected from contagious and infec
J. tious diseases.
f Zone city was found to be il mos
excellent condition in practically ever,
J, respect as far as what could be don'
n by city authorities in applying meth
r DDS of modern sanitary science. Saw
: annah, Ca. is the city referred to- Fh
n city has in its head of the board 0
S health, DR.. Brunner, an unusually car
n able man and a man whose energy an,
e courage in enforcing the health regula