A Remarkably Low Death Rate—and Nowhere to Put the Fever Cases
Seattle's health officer reports 467 deaths in 1894, credits sewers for cutting typhoid, and asks for a small hospital for diphtheria and scarlet fever.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
At the monthly meeting of the board of health yesterday afternoon Health Officer Palmer's annual report was submitted. It is a long document and, in addition to dealing specifically with vital statistics, recommends that a small hospital be established for the care of diphtheria and scarlet fever cases. Dr. Palmer says in his report that 467 deaths were reported in 1894 from all causes as compared with 443 deaths in 1893. The annual death rate (population 60,000) was 7.75 per 1,000, as against 8.05 for 1893. It will be seen that the phenomenally low death rate of Seattle has therefore not only been maintained, but improved.
The report's survey of contagious disease found that 'the most notable fact in the history of contagious diseases for 1894 was the total absence of smallpox, whereas in 1892 there were 68 cases and in 1893 28 cases. This absence of disease has caused neglect in the line of vaccination.'
Typhoid fever deaths fell sharply. 'Whereas in 1892 there were 56 and in 1893 22 deaths due to typhoid fever, in 1894 there were only 19 deaths. This diminution in the number of deaths must be accredited to increased sewerage facilities.'
Scarlet fever cases were comparatively few, but the report notes that at present there is no place to take such cases. The doctor thinks a small hospital would be a benefit to the city and community in which the cases are isolated, and to hotels and lodging houses.
“The most notable fact in the history of contagious diseases for 1894 was the total absence of smallpox... This absence of disease has caused neglect in the line of vaccination.”
Seattle's 1890s health board was already using sewers and death statistics to market the city as exceptionally healthy, even as it lacked isolation space for contagious patients. The report's warning that smallpox's absence had produced 'neglect in the line of vaccination' sounds a familiar public-health note: success can quietly erode the precautions that made it possible.
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