The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-26
CITY MAKING NEW LOW
RECORD FOR TYPHOID.
First Ten Months of This Year Show
Remarkably Little Mortality
From This Disease.
PROBLEMS OF ANNEXATION
Riclimond's Supervision of Milk Sup
ply Will Immediately BE Extended
to New Area-Lack of Sewerage
Presents Serious Problem.

- +.
Known far and wide as tho city that
Is free from typhoid. Richmond prom
,ses this year TO lower still further the
lew mortality rate from this disease
which has given II high standing among
american municipalities. The lowest
tSphoid rate In the history OF the city
was In 1912, when tine mortality from
this disease was 1873 per 100000. TN
less unforeseen mishaps upset present
calculations. the typhoid mortality rate
for 1914 Will be not more than IT,
approximately 10 per cent lower than
tho lowest rate SO far recorded
FAST TWO YEARS LOWEST
CITY HAS EVER KNOWN
up to date we have had only six
teen deaths from typhoid this. year"
said Chief Health Officer Il. c. Levy.
last night III Is the smallest number
for the same period OF any year on
record. Compared with this number.
tho same period in 1912, which regis.
tered tho lowest typhoid rate In the
city's history. lad twenty two deaths
from this disease.
The gain Is all the more gratifying
when 1t Is borne In mind that the past
Two years have given Richmond the
lowest mortality from typhoid recorded
ty the Board OF Health II there are
no more deaths from this disease tho
rest OF the year-and 1t is not too m uch
&c hope that there will not bc-our ty-
Ihoid rate for the year will be 11.s.
This. of course. would be a wonderful
record. III we average for the rest OF
the year the death rate of the past ten
months. the rate Tor the year will be
l4.l. which will be just 26 lower than
the extraord nnrily low record Of 1912"
Three factors chiefly, said Dr. Levy,
are responsible for the steady decline
In the typhoid death rate and particu-
larly for the good record of this year
q gnf 10 s.
facilities to sections hitherto without
that service. supplanting primitive and
dangerous sanitary arrangements
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
FOLLOWS UT EACH CASE
The second factor. he said Is tho
rigid rule of the Health Department TO
Follow up every case that is discovered
and to SEQ that In every instance in
structions for treatment and precau- 3
tons arc carried out to the letter. Third
IN the list OF causes. said Dr. Levy. ia
the pure milk supply. Not single
case OF typhoid, he said. has been traced
10 impure milk since the inspection sys-
lem was inaugurated.
The excellent condition of the water
this year, said DIR. Levy, liz a fourth
factor. While at least two death,
from typhoid last year were traced TO
impure water. this year not single
case Is chargeable to 1t. The wafer
'ehS peeH projected Dy CnlOrine treat.
ment. effectively eliminating danger OF
infection. -
1t Is only necessary to look at the
records FOR few years back" said DR..
Levy, 20 see the progress that the city
has made liz dealing with this disease
For the twenty-six years preceding
the reorganization OF the Health De-
partment In 1906, the average annual
death rate from typhoid was IT'S per
loo'ooo During the past five years, the
annual death rate per 100000 has been
2O2 In the twenty year period
referred to, the lowest rate In any one
year was 43.5"
NEW PROBLEMS
ARISE FROM ANNEXATION
The Health Department. has for the
past few weeks given attention to the
new health problems that will confront
IL when annexation takes place on No
vember D. Several OF tho suburbs no.
tably Ginter Park. Highland Park,
North Richmond and Barton Heights,
are well provided with sanitary con-
veniences. and have good sewerage
facilities. No trouble is expected by
the department. from these sources.
a. considerable portion of the new
territory, however. according to DR.
Levy is virtually without drainage or
sanitary facilities. except of the most
primitive sort and IL is these condi-
uons and their menace to the city,s
health that the department fears
The Board of Health. which meets
In regular session tonight, will take
up the question OF drafting a table Of
Its needs in view of annexation, to be
presented to the Council 1t Is re-
garded as likely that q modest emer-f
gency appropriation will be asked to
enable the department to extend all
possible protection to the new territory
that stands in need OF it.
The new territory can wait until IT
is more thickly settled for the full
benefit OF municipal convenences," said
DIR. Levy, but Ii cannot afford to trifie
with its health. The health of a com
munity is paramount. 1t Is directly
related to the health of the city Of
which 1t is part. When one suffers
the rest suffers" d.
bishop Turtle to French.