The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-14
Thirteen Deaths With 121 Cases RepOrted-General
 Death Rate Low
MONTHLY REPORT OF
 HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Notable Decrease in Violent Deaths. But Five HOmicides During Month. Report of Milk Inspector Shows
 Dairies Are Up to Standard

That the death record for August from typhoid fever in Greater Birmingham is a disgrace to the city, Is the state ment of pr. R. M. Cunningham. city health officer, in his report to the city commission for the month of August. He states, however, that the mortality rate as whole. namely, white SIG, black 1925. total 12.56. Is much bet ter than the vast majority of the cities of the United States
 In regard to the dairy products he states that inspection reports show the dairies to be in good condition and that the statistics speak well for the dairy operators. Dr. Cunningham's re- port and the report of the milk in- spector follows:
 Dr. Cunningham's Report
 Honorable Board of City Commission
 CTS. City:
 Gentlemen: I herewith have the honor to respectfully submit the re- port of the health department for the month of August. 1y16.
 Mortality: The mortality rate for residents. white s.16, black 1925 total iN.Oo. IlllS IiidfiltdlHS tue tACelleHl death rate which is better than the vast majority of cities of the United States. Deaths from violence. acci- dental and otherwise. Is. Of this only five were due to homicide. During the months of July and August. 1914, there were 19 homicides, and during cor responding months of 1915 there were II homicides This is quite a reduction. There were 1S deaths from typhoid fe- yer. This is too much and is the stand ing disgrace of the city
 Communicable diseases: These are negligible excepting typhoid fever of which there were 121 cases-more than double the number in July A large percentage of these, however, con tracted the disease in July and were reported in August The department has no new theory concerning this disease, but calls attention to the fol- lowing:
 .."rhe germs of typhoid fever have to be swallowed to communicate the dis ease. They are swallowed with infect ed food and drink Epidemics of typhoid fever are usually attributable to drinking water. Next in importance is milk and next infected food. In con- nection with this I submit the follow ing synopsis of typhoid fever data for August.
 Water and Milk
 \ Water: 1O9 used city water, well, ? spring and unknown l.
 Milk: Of the 121 cases 53 used dairy sweetmilk, 19 private COW, Is store or milk depot, l drug store, restaurant. 26 none and unknown. There is much less danger of communicating typhoid fever in buttermilk and butter. Dur ing the months of June, July and Au- gust there were 216 cases of typhoid fever reported. There are 145 dairies employing 1929 cows. Of these dairies there were 103 among whose patrons no cases of typhoid fever was reported and in 42 among whose patrons typhoid fever was reported as follows: One dairy, 6 two dairies, 8; six dairies, 5, eight dairies, ?; twenty-five dairies. l. Total number of cases among dairy customers for the three months, 75. This means for the consumers of sweet milk only. Fifty-four or 25 per cent of the 216 cases did not use sweet milk. Three of these dairies have been re- ported as suspicious, and an effort has been made to improve the condition of these dairies It is my opinion that these statistics speak well for the local da1r1eS supplying dalry products to the people of Birmingham Epi- denies of typhoid fever due to water occur as much in winter as in sum- mer and as we have very little typhoid fever in winter 1 do not believe it is caused by the water. 1 again call at- tention to the large number of cases of typhoid fever occurring among the consumers of the products of private cows and milk depots.
 Distribution-Thirty cases were on tho South Highlands and the Southside. and IS on the Northside, to-wit: From Rail- road avenue to Eleventh avenue and from Thirteenth to Thirty-se streets Thers were II cases in West End and Elyton 12 in Ensley. Wylam and Fairview and 13 in East Lake. North Woodlawn and Gate City. The best record is in South Avondale and South Woodlawn, thres cases, and the next best North High lands and Norwood, four cases. It is rarely possible. of course, to trace a single case of typhoid fever to any par ticular focus of infection. The only method being obtaining statistical evi. dence that would point to a particular source and method of infection. l, there. fore, am still of the opinion that ths cause of typhoid fever in the city oi Birmingham are dry closets and flies Gen. eral health conditions of the city. asid, from typhoid fever. are excellent.
 'The report of the meat and milk in. spector and bacteriologist show that there were 4437 animals inspected and parts oi animals amounting to 39SS50 pounds Oi