The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-04
TYPHOID RATE HAS BEEN
CUT IN HALF, SAYS LEVY
Compares Conditions Mt Present With
Those at Time Department
Was Reorganized.
CITY MAKING GREAT STRIDES
Pure Water, Pure Wells, General En-
tension OF Drainage System and
Sanitary Inspection Are Steadily
Lowering Disease Rate.

Chief Health Officer L. G. Levy said
yesterday that tho typhoid situation is
improving In Richmond. and pointed
to the record for the past seven months
OF this year as proof So far in 1914
there have been Just sixty-siN cases
OF typhoid reported, with nine fatau-
ties. There were two during tho
month OF July, which would seem 10
indicate that the Richmond Board Of
iieaith has the situation well in hand.
Nhcn YOU come to comDare tbe
showing made by the Board Of Health
In 1914 to the situation in 1907" said
III. Levy. you get some idea of the
work accomplished by the board In
l9c' the population of the city was
/ l",4l3. That year there We're 100
cases OF typhoid and twenty deaths in
the first seven months. In 1914 with
Il population Of 1857. there have been
slXty-siN cases of typhoid and lust
nine deaths from that disease in the
same time.
The Board of Health introduced its
present system of scientific research in
1907 In 1908 there was an increase in
the number OF typhoid cases. POI be-
INK reported, with twenty-four deaths
In 1870? the board began It's special
study of typhoid. That year there
were 2i7 cases and fourteen deaths.
The next year the result OF the work
OF the board was apparent, for in 1910
there were only 40 cases ana eleven
deaths. In 1912 there were eighty-four
cases and ten deaths. aud in 1918 there
were 116 cases and eleven deaths
Plumbing improvements, sanitary
inspection and the moro general intro
ductior OF modern sewerage have had
much TO do with tho Improvement in
the typhoid situation" concluded DR..
Leavy. In spite of the increase of
population. the number OF cases and
fatalities due to typhoid has been
steadily diminishing."
RATE HAS DROPPED WITH
EACH FORWARD STEP
Beginning with the complete re-
organization of the Health Department
in 1906, Richmond has been making
steady strides in the matter OF pub
lie health. notwithstanding its annex
alton Of outlying and badly arranged
territory, which might have been cx-
pectcd to increase the average rate in
many diseases.
The general introduction of sanitary
inspection OF the milk supply was the
first successful step taken. Richmond
has what the National MIX Commits
sion has described as the hest city
| milk supply In the United States. and
liz already moving 10 make it even bet
tor through the introduction of the
tuberCulin test.
After some delays. Richmond SO
cured abundant supply of clear water.
Those who do not appreciate the value
and Importance to the city OF the set =
Ting basins would be fully convinced
! by return TO the methods of a few
years Of pumping raw river water di =
rcctly into the mains.
More than 100000 has been cx-
pended OF immense trunk sewers in
the present corporate limits, and a
large sum is now being spent In in l.
stalling a sewerage system for South
Richmond which Will make that sec
ton one of the best drained communi
ties In this country. With each of
these great forward steps the baron
eter OF the city's health conditions
the typhoid death ratc--has showed Il
decided downward tendency.