Evening journal., 1922-06-14
ESTIMATE COST
OF CITY HEALTH
Per Capita Expenditure of
80 Gents, Survey of
Service Shows
SPEND % CENTS FOR
GARBAGE DISPOSAL

| III - NJ nanny, president OF the
! Board Of Health. has received from
the Committee on Municipal Health
Department Practices, of the Amer
| lean Public Health Association, a
! summary of the public health SER
! vice in Wilmington, which shows
the cost per capita for the mainte-
nance of the local service, garbage
and refuse disposal; points TO some
Of the failures of this city to keep
abreast of the times in the public
health service. but on the whole.
makes a rather creditable compare
tive showing for a city of its size.
The report closes with a statement
that 1t is obvious that the amount
Wilmington spends per capita. sis an
insufficient appropriation to maintain
even the most elementary public
health service" and recommends
that money should be provided for
public health education" The re-
port Is as follows:
Wilmington, Delaware, has pop
ulation of 11O.16S people. occupying
1887 acres, or at a density of ISL
per acre. The total per capita tax
valuation is 1854, the average for
the third group OF cities being 1870.
The Mayor and Council admins
ter the city government. The Mayor
appoints the Board of Health of four
each for a two-year term. The board
must include two physicians, one
plumber and one business man. They
receive salaries of 500 each. The
health officer or secretary of the
Board 70 Health is appointed by the
board. the position not being IN
cluded under civil service. There
are no qualifications required. He
may be removed by the board. AL
though the salaries are specified by
the Council, the appointments and
of subordinates are made
by the board. The board also Is.
sues rules and regulations for the
department. The board has broad
powers in epidemics. The health Of +.
icer, who receives a salary of $1,000, .
mas three divisions under part-time ,
,hiefs to deal with communicable Z
diseases, tuberculosis and infant hy-
siene.
"Of the total expenditure of the
80 cents per capita, 16
.ents is spent for health purposes
nd 23 cents for garbage and refuse
disposal.
Good regulations of the State De-
'artment of Health are in effect but
he very high case mortality of ty-
hold fever 3O.69o, of diphtheria,
2 %, of scarlet fever, 1873 %, indi-
ate incomplete reporting and delay
n diagnosis. one bed is provided
or the hospital care of acute COM
nunicable diseases for each 324O of
population.
There were recorded 112 deaths.
'ases are not recorded locally but
re sent to the State Board of Health.
ilxteen beds are available, all being
n constant use. There are FIVE ses-
ions Of the State Department clinic
ach week. where 2s7 new patients
yere treated in the year Six arrests
nd convictions are recorded under
ne anticipating ordinance. There
no authority for compulsory segre-
alton OF the tuberculous.
These are reported by number
nd II necessary. by name and ad-
ress. later. These were 102 cases {
: gonorrhea and 90 OF syphilis re-
orted in the year. One state ven
zeal disease clinic is in operation.
here is authority to isolate infected
ersons. Sex offenders are held at
le workhouse for treatment, II In
cted.
The entire work in this field is
me by the State Reconstruction
ommission. OF the 2702 births
% were attended by midwives, 80
whom are licensed. but for whom
ere is no supervision or training
per cent. of the births 4
are in hospitals. These were cared
r at the flve infant welfare clinics 4
81 children under one year Of age 4
"A some expectant mothers. HI
"This is provided by the Board 4
Education. One medical inspector
one-fourth time. and three nurses
ailable for the care of $4,000 pub i
school children. Nothing Is done
the parochial schools. There are
ported to have been 64l2 examlna-
ms in the year including the ex-
,ination OF the chest. Twenty-four E &
cent. of the defects were re- #H
r+ed as corrected. The ratio OF sz
rses to pupils is two to 10000. Ell
q annual expense is given as "a 55
its per pupil. Working papers
, issued by the Labor Commission
Delaware on medical examina-
n. which is repeated on change
occupation. There were 1877 GER
Gates granted but there is no rec
of the number rejected. Hz
'Reports of occupational diseases
sent to the State Health Depart Ez
Mt. but there is no activity in this
by the city health department
work falling under the Labor
nmission of the State. Ez
The service is specialized and
supervision decentralized. There
ratio of 1914 nurses per 100000
the population. the school depart
Mt supplying three, the Visiting Es
rse Association. six; the Tubercu-
IS Society. one and the State au-
rites. seven. ##
There were 995 chemical exami- EH
ions OF milk sapmles, the bacter-
,gical tests being made at the
te Laboratory, where also all d. ##
,ostic work is done. except that e
the release Of diphtheria pa
ITS. Hz
There were reported to have been #s
Il inspections OF milk depots, the #z
Ter being Inspected once a week. H5
4