The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-15
DR. CUNNINGHAM PUTSEMPHA ON
 TYPHOID SITUATION
Is Problem of Sanitation in Birmingham, He Says in Report for May, Issued
 Yesterday

"Typhod fever is the crux of Bir mingham's sanitation problem de- olares pr. R. NJ Cunningham, city health officer in making his monthly health report for May, submitted to the city commission yesterday.
 This is the reason pr. Cunningham is starting his movement against the house fly and dry closets, develop ments in which are expected within the next few days.
 The white mortality rate during the month was S.s4 negro, 21; total death rates, 1866. The white girth rate was 21.S7; negro, 1862; total, l,~19,S7.
 Dr. Cunningham comments upon the data of the report as follows:
 "The general mortality rate of Bir- mingham compares favorably with the general mortality rate within the reg istration area of the United States, and with the registration cities enumerated, the mortality rate for the month of Nay being lower than the general reg istration district and for those given for other cities and of Birmingham it. self heretofore.
  month there were 20 cases of typhoid fever reported and two deaths This is an excess of the incidence of typhoid fever for the corresponding month of 1914. The disease is the problem of the sanitation of Birmingham, and as here tofore reported and now insisted upon the incidence of typhoid in Birmingham Is due directly to dry closets and flies. The probability Is that there will be a larger number of cases of typhoid fever during the year 1915 than there was during the year t914
 The mortality rate from typhoid fever in the city of Birmingham is more than double the mortality rate for the general city and rural registration dis tricts in the United States It, therefore constitutes the chief sanitary problem l again urge with all the force of which I am capable the vast importance of providing sanitary connections for the dry closets in this city. With this &C., complished, Birmingham can justly boast of being the most healthful city in the southern states and of the vast majority of cities in the United States Hence. it is not only sanitary but an economic problem well.
 "rhere were three deaths from scar let fever and A cases reported durins the month of May, which Is a little more than half the number during the month of April. As predicted in ny April report the incidence of scarlet fever has greatly diminished. and prob- ably by the end of June or certainly of july will have reached the normal in cidence.
 From general observation is appears that there are more flies in this city at this time than Is usual at this season of the year. Great vigilance is being exercised by the department to abate the breeding places of flies Experi- ments made by the city with the traps recently bought demonstrate that if there were a large number of those traps distributed about the city the fly nuisance would be greatly mitigated
 An effort has been recently made to procure more accurate reports of births in this city. I have reason to believe that these efforts will succeed
 "A recent investigation shows that many of the mosquito breeding places have been abated and very few larvae were found, and none of the malaria conveying variety"
 The following shows the relative standing of the dairies inspected arc scored:
 W. M E. Matthews, 97.65; T. w. Rid de, 37.0s; Fuqua Brothers, S795; Win ford & Nix. S7.70; l.. F. Ingram. S5.e5 Hassell Brothers, SABA; A. J. BcCurry s355; J. M. Rally & Sons s3.25; J. W Reese s300; J. T. Graham s2.S0; Sher herd & Sons. s1.55; A. J. Payne. s1,2i F. T. Norris S2.15; Valley Spring: