The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-21
WORST IN UNITED STATES

WORST IN UNITED STATES
 Birmingham today, with it's wonderful progress, it's marvellous prosperity, and it's general forwardness in most partic- ulars is, in one important point, the most backward city in the United States. Of the cities having population of be- tween 125,0O0 and 100000 Gin which class Birmingham is) your city heads the list of that group in its high death rate from typhoid--an entirely preventable disease From 70 to 100 people die here every year from typhoid, which gives this city a death rate of about 40 per 100000 popu- lation. We get reports in Washington on all cities, and Birmingham heads them all in it's class in the typhoid death rate
 Typhoid is a thoroughly preventable disease. By preventable is meant that it is within the power of every community to fix it's quota of typhoid fever deaths If you people of Birmingham want to get rid of it. fight it. It will take work and money to stamp it out It will take organized effort to put Birmingham where she has perfect right to be, and get without delay among the most healthful cities of America. There is no reason why this city cannot be the most health ful city in the United States. You can get rid of typhoid in any climate
 WALKER COUNTY LEADS
 Walker county in Alabama Is the most healthful county in the United States, due to the cooperation of the people This cooperation was secured by the awakening of the people to the importance of sanitation. Sanitation is good busi- ness proposition and it is a humane proposition. Your health department here is not nearly large enough to cope with the situation. and should be materially increased.
 The greatest single menace and source of infection in Birmingham is the 5000 unsanitary, open closets of your city That's where the flies come from to con- taminate your children at their play. That's where the infection gets into the well or spring up there where city water cannot reach. That is the pre-eminent source of infection of typhoid, and that's where the remedy lies. It is your health menace.
 BETTER GARBAGE CANS
 You need a greater health depart ment. and you need better garbage col lection. and you need garbage cans, Have any of you seen the garbage cans most people here use? It is by the most vivid stretch of the imagination that they are called cans; mostly leaky, broken old tin tubs they are, and some of them not so good as that. Here the flies find feast, and they find infection and they spread it. Every place where garbage collects In Birmingham should have real garbage can-one that is of metal and is airtight and waterproof, and closed tightly, with cover that fits. You need a sanitary inspection force that is large enough to see to it that such gar- bage cans are installed by all household CTS.
 "The question of forever removing the danger of typhoid from Birmingham is merely a matter of whether or not the people of Birmingham want to start movement to have it done. Sanitation is merely a matter of wanting it hard enough. It will come if you ladies will convince the voters that you want it and will have it. The matter is in your hands,
 Dr. Harrington of the federal public health service followed Dr. Lumsden and told the ladies of the sources and causes of typhoid, explaining the nature of the disease in detail. He was followed by Commi missioner Hornady, who indorsed all that Dr. Lumsden said. and asked the cooperation of the housewives of Bir- mingham in making the city better place in which to live.