under the influence of different kinds of food, drink, care, etc. Such possible variations have to be allowed for in testing or fixing standards of quality for each ingredient of normal milk. For some reason the average quality of milk furnished to consumers in this city is lower than in most cities throughout this country where similar tests have been made and records kept. That the element of dishonesty enters as an explanation of this fact, in part, is beyond doubt. Whether this explanation fully accounts for the fact or not, time and continued inspection will determine. An improvement in quality has been noted since the inspector began his work, and I would invite your attention to some of the recommendations he submits as a result of his observations.

Owing to the fact that a large number of cows are kept in the city, and in many places very close to the homes of people, the board passed a rule limiting the number and distance to be observed in keeping cows within a certain specified portion of the city. The rule also specified certain requirements as to stables-such as tight floors, manure pits, etc. No test of this rule has yet been made, partly from the desire to allow sufficient time for all affected to accommodate themselves to its provisions and partly from the hesitation of the police prosecutor to begin action under the rule. There are many poor people who will be inconvenienced, or even prevented from keeping cows by this rule, because they have not sufficient space and neither the milk produced nor the air breathed in such places is compatible with health. Therefore, and for the comfort and freedom from offense to the neighborhoods where cows have been kept, such a rule was deemed necessary.

In the field of sewering and plumbing, under the oversight of this department, it may be safe to say that the work of inspection and results in the character of the work done has been better than ever before in this city. This has come from the increased number of inspectors employed, and from a better understanding of the ordinance governing such work. The people of the city are depending more and more upon the inspection afforded by this department, and a considerable portion of the inspector's time has been occupied in examining "suspected buildings," with a view of determining the condition of plumbing and sewering. It is a question whether such service should be rendered gratis or not, for it often happens that an opinion expressed by the inspector is made the excuse or basis for property transfers, abrogation of leases, refusal of rent or other changes, while the question of danger or safety to health was but a subterfuge. If a fair charge was made for such service, it would assist in preventing attempts to so misuse the department.

The brick main sewers of the city, with their laterals, have all thus far been constructed to provide for "sewage" and "soil drainage." With the latter object in view porous brick have been used, which, if admitting soil water into the sewer, may permit the escape of sewage water into the surrounding soil. Whether this method is wise and safe is now one of the important questions in relation to future improvements of this character. That there is danger of any general soil pollution from this source throughout the city cannot be regarded probable, but the possibilily that certain districts might (in time) be thus rendered unhealthy, is worthy of consideration.

The scavenger work has been prosecuted during the year with all the means and force at hand. It includes the removal of dead animals, the cleaning of vaults and cesspools, the removal of garbage and house-offal. The removal of dead animals by the Newburg Fertilizer Company, has been accomplished in a fairly acceptable manner. The contract under which this work is performed is peculiar in that the city receives compensation ($1,000.00 per year) for the privilege of gathering dead animals! The works of the Newburg Fertilizer Company, which for years have been located within about half a mile outside the city's boundaries, thereby causing offense to people living near them, have now been removed to near the "eight-mile lock," far enough away, possibly, to relieve the residents of the city from all offense from that source.

The cleaning of vaults and cess-pools has been conducted as heretofore, with the improvement of using air-tight barrels or casks in place of tank wagons. As this work

is done exclusively at night, and as in many places there is no room in yards for wagons, the use of barrels, with the care now exercised, has resulted in (almost entirely) freeing the city from offense in this branch of scavenger work. The cost to the citizen remains at $2.25 per cubic yard.

In respect to garbage and house offal there has been no systematic gathering, but a place of reception, and regular removal has been maintained. That there should be a well equipped and organized system employed for the gathering of such material throughout the entire city cannot be doubted. Next to the water supply, there is probably no more important sanitary question before the people of this city than the disposal of house offal. It will cost a considerable sum of money to accomplish it, but money cannot be spent to better purpose. The epidemics which prevail from time to time in most cities are usually the result of a disregard of very obvious causes. Among such causes the decomposition of house offal in close proximity to the dwelling places of the people is, perhaps, the most common and most potent. Therefore, it is the part of wisdom to meet the evil and overcome it, before its natural results are experienced. A regular, house to house (daily, semi-weekly or weekly) visitation of a scavenger cart for this purpose, with penalties for failure to deposit the offal in proper vessels and proper places, is about the only satisfactory method of dealing with this material.

The question of abolishing all ice ponds within the city was brought forward in the common council early in the summer. The ordinance prepared for the purpose, after receiving the indorsement of this board, failed to pass. An attempt has been made to prevent the use of all ponds where sewage is known to enter, and prohibit the use of ice from all others within the city for domestic purposes, or in any way from coming into contact with food (or drink) substances. This will involve a constant watch both upon those who sell and deliver ice, and those who use it in (meat and fish) markets or in open vessels, inside boxes and coolers. Many samples of ice (from these ponds) which have been mcited and tested by me, have left a residue which undergoes rapid decomposition, with evolution of offensive odors. In most instances the sources of such material are easily determined, but in some, no other source than the washings from fields, yards, gardens, streets, etc., could be found. It is enough to show that the water is not purified in shallow ponds by freezing, and that enough albumenoid material from fields, gardens, etc., may find its way into such ponds to afford abundant opportunity for the process and the products of decomposition. Thus both the ice formed from such water and the sediment deposited where these ponds are created, become sources of danger. And although the ice may not be used for or in connection with food or drink, wherever it melts a sediment or residue is left to decompose; and wherever such pond is created the deposit left, when the water is drained off in the spring, gives off poisonous gases and germs.

Among other topics of interest, the diseases of domestic animals and the condition of the dressed meats brought here from distant points, have been investigated to some extent. One point in connection with the present methods of transporting dressed meats by "refrigerator" cars, is, perhaps, worth recording, and may serve to explain some of the losses to consumers of such meats. The degree of refrigeration reached in such cars, or in the cooling rooms of slaughtering establishments, while it retards does not prevent decomposition. Bence the statement commonly made that such meats do not keep well after removal from such cool places. The cooling process as practiced and shipping in cool air, prevents a detection of the changes taking place in the meats by the sense of smell, appearance, etc. A thorough washing of the meat fibres with water, alcohol, ether, etc., will often result in obtaining products of decomposition from meats prepared and transported by so-called approved refrigerating methods. Too much dependence upon such methods may become an unsuspected cause of severe, if not fatal illness. Of course, thorough cooking modifies some of the dangers in such matters, but some of the products of decomposition are not rendered harmless by any amount of cooking.

The somewhat rapid growth of the city since the last federal census, renders it diffi

cult to determine the exact death rate of the city during the year. There have been 4,414 deaths reported, which, with an estimated population of 235,000, would give a death rate per thousand of 18.78+, exclusive of "still-born." No epidemic has prevailed, and aside from deaths among young children during the summer months, the illness of the year or number of deaths would not occasion remarks. The mortality among young children (during hot weather) remains the greatest of drawbacks to city life, and the most persistent problem sanitarians have to meet. It remains unsolved, either in the full explanation of its causes, or in the application of measures for its prevention. Had there been as many deaths from yellow-fever, diphtheria, small-pox, typhoid-fever, any of them or combined, as from "cholera infantum," our citizens would have deserted the place. But from familiarity, we tolerate and accept as inevitable.

A complete renovation of the small-pox hospital has been made. Old bedding has been destroyed, and new purchased; walls have been painted, washed and repaired, with the result of improving the accommodation for this class of cases very greatly. No cases of this disease have occurred during the year.

MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS.

Milk Permits.

Persons who sell milk are required, under an ordinance of the city, to purchase a license therefor.

There have been issued, during the year, 1,128 of these licenses.

Slaughtering Licenses.

During the year 111 licenses were issued to parties desiring to slaughter stock, dress poultry, or render fats; for each of these licenses a fee of $10 was charged.

Permits to Remove Bodies.

There were issued during the year 294 permits to remove human bodies from this to other cities, for which no charge is made.

Privy Vaults.

Permits were granted, without charge, for building 1,020 privy vaults during the year, in accordance with the plans adopted by the board.

There has been moved about 10,500 cubic yards of night soil from the city, for which a charge of $2.25 per yard was made.

COLUMBUS.

DR. F. GUNSAULUS, Health Officer.

GENTLEMEN: In accordance with the requirements of section 2,136, I again have the honor to submit to you a report of operations and work accomplished in the health department for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1889, thus giving you the first complete report since we inaugurated a system of records of births, marriages and deaths.

It will be seen by reference to table No. 2 that the annual death rate in our city is 13.14 for each one thousand inhabitants, as against 12.72 for each thousand for the year preceding. This slight increase is easily accounted for when we take into account the

large increase in population during the last year, and that we have figured the per cent. on population of 93,000.

DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND REFUSE.

Perhaps the most important subject that has engaged the attention of boards of health and sanitarians for the past few years, and will be for years to come, is the proper disposal of garbage and refuse. It is a question we, in this city, will have to meet, as it is fully time that Columbus had passed out of the village custom of filling up holes and low places with garbage and refuse matter. The mere transfer of such accumulations from one portion of the city to another, is not cleansing a city or disposing of garbage and filth. Most of the cities are now consuming their garbage by fire, using various furnaces or crematories. The destruction of garbage by fire is not the latest and best solution, however, of this important problem. Garbage contains so much that is valuable and that may be utilized by proper treatment, that to totally destroy it by fire, has been truthfully called by one, Economy of extravagance.”

The system that is considered most perfect and most economical by the sanitarians in this country is known as the "Merz method." During the past year the city has paid out six hundred dollars for dumping privileges. It seems to me it would be well for this board, in conjunction with the proper committee of the city council, to investigate the different methods of disposal of garbage and refuse, for, as I have said, it is a problem we will be compelled to meet ere long.

CITY ARCHITECT.

As a measure for further guarding against disease and bringing the death rate to the minimum, in my opinion, a city architect should be added to the list of officers, whose duty it shall be to inspect and approve of all plans of residences, business blocks and factories, the owner or employed architect being required to submit all plans to said city architect and to be examined by him with respect to plumbing, drainage and their general sanitary aspect. This recommendation is not deemed necessary because of the lack of knowledge on these sanitary points on the part of employed architects, but arises from the fact that architects generally are controlled by the owner or contractor of buildings and can not be presumed to give the matter that attention that its importance demands, only so far as their employers may specify.

PLACING OF BODIES IN VAULTS.

This board should, in my judgment, confer at once with the trustees of the various cemeteries and ask that they pass the necessary rules prohibiting the placing of bodies which have died of contagious diseases, in public vaults, where people are admitted daily, as it is certainly a source of danger in spreading contagion.

"HOUSE TO HOUSE" INSPECTION.

Nine officers of the sanitary force were directed on the 4th of December last to make a regular and systematic inspection of all houses and buildings in their respective districts, the main object being to report to the office, on blanks furnished for the purpose, the precise sanitary condition of all premises, particularly as to drainage, the location of vaults and wells, and the condition of the cellars and basements. Then, with a view of finding the number of persons occupying houses, tenements, flats or blocks, the officers were directed to call on every family and procure the number of adults and children, and in this manner have secured quite a complete census of the city, whether parties Occupying any premises were owners thereof or rented, it also stated in the blanks, and in this manner has been brought to light quite an interesting fact-that Columbus is on a par with any other city in thrifty trades-people, mechanics and well-to-do citizens.

The tabulated statement of the inspection herewith submitted makes an interesting study for any one having a taste for such statistics, and especially should this be so with our citizens, as the table gives a fair exhibit (as fair as any set of men can procure) of Columbus as it exists to-day.

The inspection was concluded on the 4th of March last or exactly three months from the time of commencement. This, in connection with the regular sanitary duties of the officers, kept them extremely busy during the winter months. But the results attained amply justify the labor and expense incurred.

Average number of people in each residence building--54.

Below are given some of the more leading features of the statement.

BUILDINGS.

The table shows 18,871 buildings within the city limits -1,630 of these being buildings occupied exclusively as stores, factories, ware-houses, shops, church edifices, schoolhouses, etc. and the balance, 17,241, being occupied by the population of Columbus. Of these buildings 6,609 are occupied by the owners and 10,632 by renters. There are but isolated cases where houses are over-crowded by inmates. The average number of persons occupying each piece of residence property is 51. The second ward again shows up in the lead of persons owning their own property-914 to 730 renters. Again, the eleventh ward follows-630 occupying their own property to 1,010 renters. The other wards follow in about the order specified in population above.

WATER SUPPLY.

The city furnishes water to 6,781 buildings and residences, and the remainder, 11,728, are supplied by either spring, filtered cistern, dug or drove wells. From this it will be seen that a fraction over 31 per cent. of population uses the city or hydrant water.

SEWERAGE.

There are 3,871 buildings in the city perfectly and completely sewered, the drainage from all parts of premises being thorough; 7,740 buildings with only partial sewerage—