The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-13


between the spread or intantile par.
alysis and alley sanitation. caused
the talkfest 10 assume a broader
scope.
AS a result OF the meeting, a COM
mittee composed OF representatives
o. the three departments above
mentioned, and the recreation COM
mission, will meet in the mayors
Office, Saturday morning, 10 formu.
late plans for improving the general
sanitary condition OF the city. II
is proposed 10 select the most con-
gested district in the city, the ter
ritory lying north of Furest-ave., IN
the Fifth ward and clean il up, in.
side and out. The work, IL IL can
be successfully carried out, will be
gradually hroadened 20 include the
entire city, the statement having
been made that 90 per cent of res
idents in Detroit were careless
about keeping the alley in the rear
OF their premises clean. Commits
sioner Gillespie said that he would
detail from 10 10 so officers TO en-.
force sanitary measures and ordi-
nances.
The cleanup campaign will be IT.
augurated in the district that has
the highest tCbercular record. and
results will be carefully watched
by the health department.
Housing Conditions Are Bad.
DR.. Price declared Thursday that
housing conditions have become 4
serious menace in Detroit Faced
with the apparent and convincing
necessity OF immediate action, with
death rate from tuberculosis,
pneumonia and kindred ailments
that did not subs,de in Deuoit as In
other cities following the grip cpl
demic last winter. the board OF
health now proposes solution OF
the problem by the enactment and
enforcement OF IN adequate housing
code, similar 10 the ones N opera
ton in New York city, Grend Rapids
and Duluth, according TO the health
officer.
"Epidemics frequently strike with
startling suGdenness and find the
community entirely unprepared 10
withstand the attack. Sickness Oft
On prostrates the Individual be
cause of hygienic errors OF omis-
sion or commission the doctor de-
clares in the forthcoming Board OF
Health bulletin.
NO doubt the location. arrange
ment. and character OF occupancy
OF the nome exert more forceful
influence on the health Of the indi-
yidual than any other OF his environ
meuts. This is also true OF the
neighbors AMI those with whom he
comes In contact.
tuberculosis. bronchial pneu-
monia and pneumonia claimed 1854
victims during the first six months
Of 1915. Detroi, was unprepared
because of inadequate housing facil.
tiles to withstand the epidemic Of
these impure air diseases last win
ter. and for the same reason is
unprepared 10 withstand an intro
Guction OF infantile paralysis from
New York OF OF typhus fever or
malignant smallpox from the Me1i.
can border"
Bad housing conditions obtain,
the doctor say. in houses which
are poorly lighted, unyentilated,
damp, imperfectly drained in bad
repair, with uncleanly surroundings
and numerous other defections.-
Such houses are menaces and
dangerous TO moral and physical
health. social and personal. and pro
mote inebrity, Industrial inenciency.
dependence. poverty, disease aud
death
All the above conditions obtain in
Detroit the health oalcer declares,
and evidence is readily available
for anyone who cares 20 sLbstau-
tiate this.
The percentage Of population Nv.