REPORTS OF COUNTY HEALTH OFFICERS.

ADAMS COUNTY.

I made a careful inspection of the county infirmary and outbuildings the last of November, and found the sanitary condition in every department of the institution to be as good as could be expected under the existing conditions. The main building has been built several years and has about outlived its usefulness. As it is, it lacks all modern facilities and conveniences with which similar institutions of more recent construction are equipped. It is, in fact, thirty years behind the times.

The number of inmates at present is 38; 28 males and 10 females. Two deaths have occurred at the infirmary during the past year, both males.

The building is a regular fire-trap, the means of controlling a possible fire are wholly inadequate, and it is very probable that in the event of a fire occurring in the infirmary at night quite a number of the inmates would perish.

The brick building which serves as a place of detention for the feebleminded and insane inmates is a shame and disgrace to the county, it being also used as a storeroom and for a milk and butter house. It is one of the most unsanitary buildings that any one could conceive of.

The only remedy that is at all applicable to the present condition of the county infirmary is the erection of an entire new building, with all the modern conveniences, together with proper drainage and the best means of heating and ventilating.

The county jail is in fairly good sanitary condition, but it can be improved by better drainage.

The schoolhouses are, for the most part, in good sanitary condition, with the exception of about four. Of these four, much need not be said, as they are in anything else but a good sanitary condition, and the remedy for them is the building of four new ones.

The general health of the people of Adams County has been fairly good. We have had more typhoid fever than we should have had if more care had been taken to remove the cause. We also have had some diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, and are now having several cases of smallpox in a very mild form. There have not been any epidemics.

I am pleased to say that, as a rule, the physicians of Adams County are very prompt in sending in their reports of births, but are a little slow in reporting contagious diseases. I am satisfied, however, that this will be remedied in a short time.

Respectfully,

H. F. COSTELLO,
Health Officer.

BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY.

The sanitary condition of the above-named county during the fiscal year ending September 30, 1900, as disclosed by a careful survey, shows the county to be in a fair sanitary condition, except in the neighborhood of a few sloughs, ponds or bogs, which could and should be drained for the benefit of public health, but when I brought the matter of draining them to the attention of the County Board of Health they, upon the advice of the county attorney, decided that application must be made by the parties to the Judge of the Circuit Court.

The county asylum, county jail, courthouse and orphans' home were all found to be kept clean and in good sanitary condition.

The schoolhouses were all, or nearly all, put in good sanitary condition prior to the opening of the public schools in September, 1900.

During the year there has been no epidemic of contagious and infectious diseases in this county, although there were reported 180 cases of contagious diseases, and this, no doubt, is short, as there were some cases of measles not reported when no physician was in attendance. Typhoid fever prevailed to quite an extent in the eastern part of the county, with here and there a case in other parts of the county.

There were reported several cases of scarlet fever and some diphtheria, both of which appear to have been of a sporadic character; if not sporadic, then endemic.

There were two cases of illegal interment in the county that came to my knowledge. The coroner was notified, and he exhumed the remains, held an inquest and reported as the law requires.

There were reported, during the year, marriages, 201; births, 528; but I can only give correctly the deaths for ten months, which were 317. the same ratio for the year will give 387 deaths, which is rather a large mortality for what is being called a healthy year.

The above may not be exactly correct, but it is as nearly so as I can possibly make it. I watch the papers and take note of all births and deaths, and do all I can to promote the health, happiness and prosperity of the citizens of Bartholomew County.

J. S. ARWINE,

Health Officer.

BLACKFORD COUNTY.

In presenting my annual report as Secretary of the Blackford County Board of Health, I think that I can safely say that from a sanitary point of view this county can be voted among the best in the State. It is thoroughly drained, not a swamp or frog-pond to be found in the county. It affords the purest and best drinking water, which the inhabitants obtain from deep driven wells. In a few years the dug well will be a thing of the past in this county. Blackford County is the backbone of the natural gas belt; each and every home is, or can be, supplied with an abundance

of gas for domestic purposes at a very low price, so that the occupants can keep their houses clean, dry and at an equal temperature. This county is known as the Oil Klondike, by reason of the fact that so many farmers have become immensely wealthy by the finding of oil on their farms, thereby enabling them to build good homes for themselves and families and keep their surroundings in good sanitary condition. Before the lapse of many days this county will be dotted with a myraid of derricks; drills will pierce the secret reservoir and spout fabulous wealth from an oceanic pool of oil which underlies the fertile soil of this, the garden spot of Indiana.

There has been very little sickness in the county during the last year. A few cases of scarlet fever, measles and diphtheria, originating sporadically here and there, also a few cases of typhoid fever, of a very mild form, have been reported. Two cases of smallpox developed at Montpelier, but by the prompt action of the City Health Officer (Dr. J. C. O'Day) and the assistance of the attending physicians the disease was prevented from spreading.

The county infirmary, courthouse and county jail are in good sanitary condition.

The schoolhouses in the rural districts, also the city schoolhouses, are in first-class sanitary condition.

Hartford City has a population of 8,000, has a good sewerage system, and the city waterworks supplies the inhabitants with pure and wholesome water obtained from deep driven wells.

An ordinance, passed by the Hartford City council last February, compelled all school children attending the city schools to get vaccinated. The result was every school child, old and young, was vaccinated; also the teachers and a great many of the older citizens were vaccinated.

Montpelier, with a population of about 4,000, has a good sewerage system, and its city waterworks supplies every home in the city with good and pure water at a very low cost. All the school children attending the city schools were vaccinated last spring, in compliance with an ordinance passed by the Montpelier City Council, and enforced by the City Board of Health.

Not one bad result occurred in the county from vaccination.

The physicians of this county, as a rule, are progressive and lawabiding citizens, and generally send in their reports promptly to the proper Health Officer, in compliance with the law.

W. N. CRONIN,

Health Officer.

CLARK COUNTY.

VISITS AND INSPECTIONS.

I have visited and inspected the books of my subordinates in office, the schoolhouses and public buildings in the following places: Borden, Memphis, Sellersburg, Henryville, New Washington, Nabb, Charlestown, Clarksville, Port Fulton, Claysburg and Jeffersonville. In all of the above

places the books of the deputies and secretaries were correctly kept, except at Henryville, where they did not just understand how it should be done. I helped straighten the books and gave some instructions, which I am sure will prevent further mistakes. I found some of the schoolhouses and surroundings in good condition, and others fair. At Memphis, Henryville and Nabb the waterclosets were in bad condition. I called the attention of the newly-elected trustees to the matter, and I am pleased to report that at Memphis and Henryville conditions have been corrected. As yet I have no word from Nabb. Sellersburg and Port Fulton have greatly improved their sanitary and health conditions, as well as the comfort and beauty of their towns, by thorough drainage, by improving streets and sidewalks, and by a general clean-up. The spirit and enterprise of the people are commendable, and their health secretaries wide awake.

Charlestown.-The report received from the health secretary last May concerning the sanitary condition of the schoolhouses in some respects was not good. I am pleased to state, however, that later I found many of the defects corrected and everything in fair condition. The health secretary is doing his duty. They have three first-class church buildings, beautiful for situation.

Jeffersonville.-It affords me the greatest pleasure to announce that on the incoming of the twentieth century and the year of our Lord nineteen hundred one, the "pig pen" was found empty, and the "hog" banished, by an act of the common council of the city. The sanitary condition of the city is fair. The Deaconess and Mercy hospitals are well kept, in good sanitary condition, and are doing a very commendable work, under the management of a corps of very efficient nurses. The orphans' home, located in this city, is a credit both to the city and county; the sanitary conditions are good, with twenty-five healthy, happy children, well cared for. Too much praise can not be given to the efficient matron, Mrs. Harrington, and her assistant, and the noble women who compose the board of directors. A room well located, well ventilated and lighted, has been converted into a beautiful, well planned, well furnished hospital, about completed.

County Jail.-On the last day of the year there were thirteen prisoners confined; of this number three were females. There is always more or less sickness among them, mostly venereal diseases and chronic alcoholism, wounds and bruises. There should be some provision for the very sick, where they could be isolated and treated. So far as I have been able to see, the inmates are humanely cared for.

The County Asylum for the Poor.-At my visit to this home of the unfortunate poor there were twenty-six inmates, thirteen of whom were females, and eight of the whole number are persons returned from the insane asylum. They appeared to be more imbecile than insane. There were no acute cases of sickness, but several chronic cases, and a few are feeble from old age; six had died during the year. I heretofore called attention to the wooden part of the buildings. It is hoped that in the near future the county will find itself in a condition to provide as comfortable quarters for its poor as the State does for its criminals. I would say the general care of the inmates and sanitary conditions are as good as could be expected under the circumstances.