The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-02-16
30 ARD OF HEALTH
Report of the Condition of the City for
the Last Twelve Months

the Last Twelve Months
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council: The health of the city for the
past twelve months has been excel
lent:
Births-3S.
Deaths-35.
Scarlet fever-S cases
Typhoid fever-6 cases
Measles-3S eases.
Diphtheria-32 cases.
Pella graz eases.
Smallpox cases.
The above is the nearest to a cor
rect report of vital statistics that this
office has ever made. No arrests for
failure to report births and deaths
were made in the past year but the
threat was made in real earnest in
January, 1911, and is just possible that
that is why so many cases have been
reported. The board hopes to do even
better in 1912.
Your health officer feels that this
work should be done by some live
citizen of Ocala not a physician. Many
cities are doing it that way.
The board has met in executive ses-
sion but three times this year. Once
mans Club and a member of the Aux
Hilary Hospital Association, they in
spected the city market in detail; once
to inspect the dumping grounds near
Taylor pond; and once to inspect liv-
cry stable which was giving trouble to
the neighborhood on account of it's un-
sanitary condition.
Smallpox panics have been our
hands in localities, and naturally the
citizens of these localities come to the
board of health for advice and assist
ance, although in one instance our
county commissioners were appealed
to for help.
The county commissioners conferred
with the city board of health in this
case and the latter were able to do all
that was necessary to relieve the sit
uation-the panic
Martel Citra, Sunmerfield, Fort Nc
Coy and Burbank each have had trou-
BILE with cases of smallpox. The pest
house is what each plaintiff thinks is
the only thing needful, but the pest
house is not only unsatisfactory in ev-
! cry way but is a failure scientifically.
| Vaccination is the only solution of
the problem and this is the position
which the board takes in every case.
/ In the spring we had some cases of
diphtheria among our INDECENT popula-
/ ton, and the board asked the city
council to provide antitoxin free. This
the city council did.
The state board of health on being
advised of the action taken instructed
your local health officer to continue to
call on the state board for the anti
! toxin for INDECENT patients whether for
Ocala or Marion county. So there has
been no expense in that department.
The city needs an inspector of dairy
and market products. Many diseases
come to US through these channels,
and most of these are preventable.
Some members Of the board from
time to time Inspected the dairy of Mr.
Jack Camp and not only pronounced
the system and methods good but get
ting better. This is an entirely new
enterprise and was constructed at nc
little expense and care.
Health day in the calendar of the
Woman's Club fell on April 4th. Two
local doctors and one dentist prepared
articles on the physical examination
of public school children, and a min
lister gave a lecture on the subject.
On that occasion the health depart
ment Of the Woman's Club secured DR.
Young, assistant state officer, who lee.
tured interestingly on prevalent dis
eases and their prevention. They also
secured film of moving pictures
showing the habits Of the house fly.
Anti-typhoid vaccination is gaining
ground. This is as you know a pre-
ventive treatment of typhoid fever, and
in the past year it has been used il
Oca1a many times. The treatment l.
practically harmless. The results re
ported from the United States arm,
i statistics are little short of miraculous
| Pellagra has appeared in Ocala t.
| the extent of seven cases. Two wer
| sent to the Chattahoochee insane asy
| 1um on account Of their demented con
dition, three died and two are unde
treatment. The disease cannot be pro
nounced contagious, since it is rar
that two or more cases occur in tn
same house OF family, but there i
some difference of ouinion on tina
point
Birthstone Year