Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-05-09
TO the Honorable Board OF City
Commissioners:

70 the Honorable Board of Cit
Commissioners:
Gentlemen: The year 1910 belnl
the first full calendar year durinl
which the city has been under tn
commission system OF government,
have the honor to present repOr
of the work of the health department
for that Year.
General Health.
There has been no serious epldem
les of contagious diseases during the
year and although the number (S0)
of cases of typhoid fever may appear
large, they did not all belong to the
city. Thirty-two Of the cases con
tracted the disease away from here,
but were brought to the city for
treatment.
Typhoid fever was responsible for
four deaths and all other contagious
diseases for ten.
Notwithstanding the small number
of cases and deaths due to prevent
able diseases, the deatfhr rate is still
entirely too high, and, as can be seen
by reference to the table of compare
tive mortality, is higher than in most
of the large cities in this country
and abroad.
There has been a slight improve
ment in the death rate compared
wit hthe year 1909, but it will re.
quire a much lower rate for the year
1911 to compare favorably with other
cities.
Average Age at Death.
This, although not the same nor as
reliable a guide as the expectation of
life, should be of value in estimating
the increase or decrease of the aver
age longevity.
In 1905, with 60 deaths, the average
age at death was 1873 years. In 1910,
with 100 deaths, the average age at
death was 30.2 years. In 1908, in the
United States, registration area, the
average age at death was 37.9. What
ever explanation may be given for the
high rate of mortality in our city, it
is difficult to account Of the average
age at death being lower and gradu
ally decreasing.
The death rate appears to have in
creased rapidly during the past five
years and as, from statistics available,
this appears also to be the case in
otheH cities in our state, the atten-
ton of the state board board of health
has been drawn to the matter.
Causes Of Death.
1t is gratifying to be able to show
very low death rate from consump-
ton. This disease which usually
leads in the cause of death, is fourth
in the list in our city. The high
death rate from pneumonia is prob.
ably due to physicians reporting this
as the principal cause of death, when
it is often the secondary or contribu-
tory cause.
As all deaths are, and have been
for the past fifteen years, registered |
in Bismarck, the death rate win ma
turally appear higher than in some !
cities in the state, where no attention
IS paid to he vital statistics law, or
where the returns are improperly or
incorrectly kept.
Births.
These are better reported than be. !!
fore, but, as is the case generally, it
appears to be impossible to get an
accurate return of all births.
Public Health Laboratory,
A branch of the state public health
laboratory was established in the city
IN October, 1910, and has been of
great service in controlling contagious
diseases, especially diphtheria. 1t has
also been a great saving to the city,
as by being able to make prompt
diagnosis it has not been necessary to
60 to the expense of quarantining sus.
pected cases.
This laboratory is state institu-
ton, under the charge of the state
However, when estab-
lished, there was not sufficient funds
to carry on the work of branch labor
atories, but with the assistance of
the city and the local medical society.
which has paid the rent of the rooms
occupied by the laboratory, provision
was made to carry on the work until
an appropriation could be secured
from the legislature. In addition to
the usual laboratory work, the bac
teriologist in charge has acted as
milk inspector, the city paying the
salary. This has been a very salts
factory arrangement, and in addition
to the work of the milk inspector we
expect to have the services of an off,
cial Of the United States bureau of
animal industry to make the tests for
in milch COWS in the
city.
Water Supply.
Frequent examinations of the city
water have been made, and when
thought necessary our citizens have
'een advised to boil all drinking wa
er. The Missouri river water is of
rood quality and, as rule, free from
disease producing germs As the
country and watershed of the river
.ets settled, there is more danger of
pollution and il cities and settlements !