The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-25
EXHAUSTIVE REPORT
To THE Commission
BY DR.. CUNNINGHAM
Health Officer Takes Up All
Features of His De-
partment
MAKES NUMBER OF
RECOMMENDATIONS
Comparative Mortuary Statistics Are
Interesting-Urges Close Inspec-
ton of Diaries and General
Vaccination Campaign

In probably the most comprehensive re-
pert on health and sanitary conditions
ever made on the city of Birmingham,
City Health Officer DIR. r. NJ. Cunning
ham yesterday made public data he has
compiled since he was made city health
officer April /, 1914
Covering everything from a house fly
TO extensive drainage and sanitary sewer
systems DR. Cunningham report will
give opportunity for anyone who desires
to secure valuable information upon al
most any phase of sanitary or insani-
tary Birmingham.
DR.. Cunningham makes a number of
recommends lions in connection with the
report, the most important Of which in
his estimation is in regard to enforcing
sanitary sewer connections for all resi-
dences and entirely eliminating the dry
closet. The report declares that there
are S4s5 dry closets in Greater Birming-
ham. which constitute a greater menace
to the general health than any other
single thing.
Another subject to which considerable
space is given in the report is that OF
drainage. Dr. Cunningham says that
East Lake along Village creek, part of
wcodlawn, part of Avondale, all of East
Birmingham and all north of Village
creek to the northern city limits and the
eastern part of North Birmingham are
imperfectly drained and suggests the es-
Establishment of general system of drains
He also complains of local collections
of water in various parts of the city
irt he'd
sewers by reason of street improvements
or railroad work and recommends that
the commission take up the matter and
order the nuisances abated. The pools
are breeding places for the mosquito and
menace to the health, he says.
Wants Diaries Watched Closely
Dr. Cunningham devotes special atten-
ton to the subject of diaries and asks
that the commission employ two dairy in
spectors to look after the source of the
milk supply much more closely in the
future than has been done in the past
Milk, says DR.. Cunningham. of all foods
requires the most careful attention. 1t
is the most susceptible of incubation with
disease and not only the milk ITSELF but
the COW that gives tnar milk should be
under the strictest regulation.
Diaries ought to be inspected and
scored once month";, he says, "and the
findings given to the public. Mr.. Dun
can informs me that there are at this
time 40 dairies and 1899 cows which fur
nish dairy products to this city. recon-
mend that not less than two dairy in
spectors be employed and transportation
nj.
sity, says the report, but in no case
should her products be sold.
DR.. Cunningham also recommends the
. establishment of a hospital Tor the treat
ment of communicable diseases. He
points out that nowhere in Jefferson
county except in the homes Of he wealthy
can case of communicable disease
be properly treated and isola ted. The
county pesthouse he does not criticize ex-
cept by inference, saying that it is no
place for very sick person 20 be-
DIR. Cunningham devotes short para
graphs to the streetsfi alleys, food. hous-
ing conditions and similar subjects. The
streets are kept in fairly good condition.
Dut IN the alleys there has been consid-
cradle complaint in regard to the nom
removal of garbage. This is due, says me
report, to an insufficient force in the
street department. Dr. Cunningham asks
that this force be increased and that
the work of removing garbage be turned
over to the health department
Water Is Pure
The water supply of Birmingham DR.
Cunningham concludes after an inyestiga-
ton, is pure. Conditions IN the eating
and drinking places of Birmingham have
improved Housing conditions, especially
among the negroes. are not Of the best
and he believes that some steps should
be taken looking to the regulation or
the number of people living in a single
r. ON.
Dr. Cunningham says he realizes that
the establishment of a general system
of drains, the enforced connection with
sanitary sewers, and the carrying out of
his plans will require funds and knowing
the financial condition of the city he rec