USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 19
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In July, 1868, smallpox became epidemic in Oakland. The council at once passed an ordinance creating a board of health and vested the same with full powers to do everything possible to prevent its spread. Under an arrangement with the county the cost of procuring a pesthouse was equally divided between the city and the county, and the expense of maintaining the same was paid in proportion to the number of patients, the pesthouse being purchased and main- tained for city and county purposes.
In 1869 the Alameda County Medical Association was reorganized and a year later the State Medical Society was founded. In 1871 the American Medical Association assembled in Oakland, which fact drew wide attention to this locality. Dr. J. S. Adams began the practice here about this time.
145
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
In 1870 the first board of health was established in Oakland and Dr. T. H. Pinkerton was appointed first health officer, occupied the position for four years and was succeeded by Dr. Sherman. Dr. J. B. Tremley died here early in Decem- ber, 1890. He came here about 1870, was a member of the Alameda County Medical Society and at one time was its president and secretary. Orran P. Warren and Charles J. Draper, doctors of Oakland, were elected trustees of the Eclectic Medical Society of California in November, 1874. In January, 1875, the Alameda County Medical Society elected the following officers : E. Trevor, president ; E. L. Jones, vice president ; C. S. Kittridge, secretary ; H. P. Babcock, treasurer and librarian; W. Allen, H. P. Babcock and T. H. Pinkerton, board of censors. At this date the society numbered twenty-six members and held monthly meetings at the health office. In February and March there were scores of cases of typhoid fever or typhoid pneumonia in Oakland and it seemed almost epidemic. There were three cases in one house. The physicians were puzzled and reticent. Many persons contended that the city water was the cause-was impure. This view was no doubt correct, though the cause of that disease at this time was so little known that even yet many presumed it was due to. the miasma arising from the flats in the southern part of the city. The disease was probably due to the excessive dry spell in the winter of 1874-75 when little or no rain fell for many weeks. There were six weeks of dry weather which included the whole month of December and during that period there was far more sickness than ordinary in that month. Then came a big rain and complaints ceased, but again dry weather came and with it a deadly return of various diseases. The board of health warned people to avoid the water of wells throughout the city. Doctor Sherman was health officer, he laid the source of the epidemic to the wells.
The California Eclectic Medical College was organized in 1878, under the auspices of the board of trustees and faculty of the California Medical College, with the following officers : J. P. Webb, president ; Doctor McRae, secretary ; C. C. Mason, first vice president ; M. F. Clayton, second vice president ; J. H. Bundy, treasurer. The College building was located on Clay street, between Tenth and Eleventh streets.
Of the 76 zymotic cases in 1880, 20 were from typhoid and typho-malarial fevers; 13 from diphtheria and croup and 14 from cholera infantum. The total number of deaths from zymotic diseases was only 2.16 per cent of the whole. The mortality per cent from all causes was as follows: 1875, 13; 1876, 14.19; 1877, 14.17; 1878, 13.32; 1879, 10.64; 1880, 12.91. The highest mortality from zymotic diseases from 1875 to 1880 inclusive was 4.14 per thousand in 1877. At this time health reports of children in the public schools were made. During 1880 the greatest fight was made against privy vaults and cesspools. It was formally announced that filth was the cause of the increase in the death rate. Smallpox was epidemic this year-an importation from China; a total of 21 cases resulted, of which 4 died. Quarantine prevented its spread. E. H. Woolsey, M. D., was health officer and city physician at this time. This year the total number of deaths in the city of Oakland was 452, less than 13 in each 1,000 of population. The number of deaths from zymotic diseases was 76. The health department called attention to the importance of constructing intercepting sewers at the earliest practicable moment in order to check the ravages of zymotic diseases, also to the importance of connecting home closets with street sewers and the danger of
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
using ordinary water from city wells. This death rate was a marked decrease from the two previous years. At this time a sanitary survey of the city was made.
The July report of the health department showed a marked increase in the number of deaths from zymotic diseases. Five died of diphtheria, 5 of typhoid fever, 4 of cholera infantum-in all 23 died of zymotic diseases. . The annual death rate at this time was 17.05. In August, with the population of Oakland estimated at 38,000, the death rate was 15.78 per 1,000; in September it was only 13.26. The city was one of the healthiest in the country.
The steamer Newbern, Captain Rogers, arrived here late in September, 1883, with five cases of yellow fever on board. The vessel came from Guaymas and Mazatlan. Health Officer McAllister immediately placed the vessel in quarantine. The Pacific mail steamer San Blas arrived in port late in October with three cases of yellow fever on board and failed to notify the health officers of that fact. About half a dozen officers boarded the vessel without knowing that such was the case. There were 65 persons in the cabin, 37 in the steerage, 69 in the crew and 2 customs officers. The sick were placed in a barge and the well passengers were boarded on the old hulk China until danger was past.
In November, 1883, Mr. Hayes of the city council offered a resolution to the effect that as the city water was muddy, dirty and otherwise unfit for domestic use, the city should not be required to pay for it, in accordance with the terms of the contract with the Contra Costa Water Company. It was referred to the committee of the whole.
The medical and dental department of the State University graduated seven dentists and eleven physicians in November. Among the former was Miss Maria A. Burch, the first lady dentist on the coast. The Homeopathic Hospital Associa- tion in November passed a resolution asking the superior court for permission to mortgage its property for $3,500 with which to pay the debts of the concern.
In 1887 smallpox spread over the city and thousands were vaccinated. Eight persons died of the epidemic. Late in February, 1888, there were here a few cases of diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, smallpox. At this time Oakland barely escaped an epidemic of the latter disease, which came later. From December I, 1887, to April 1, 1888, the smallpox scare cost Oakland $4,759. The 50 cent vac- cination ordinance of 1880 was still in force and this item was the largest on the cost list. Dr. D. D. Crowley and his assistants vaccinated about 4,000 patients during this scare period. Dr. Crowley refused to make his claim or the cost would have been much greater. During the smallpox epidemic of 1888 vaccina- tion was made compulsory and physicians were paid a fee of 50 cents for each person vaccinated. The smallpox hospital was called the Pesthouse. When this was full the surplus unfortunates were housed in the annex called The Farm. Mrs. La Ford was the nurse in charge; she slept in her chair ready for any sudden call.
During one month in July and August, 1888, the board of health reported 34 cases of diphtheria, 17 cases of typhoid fever and I case of scarlet fever. Twenty- nine of the cases of diphtheria were traced directly to improper sewerage. Many spots in the city were declared nuisances, including Lake Merritt, which for many years had been used more or less as a cesspool and had a coating of filth around its border. Health Officer Crowley said: "A nuisance which is now manifesting itself to a considerable degree and will hereafter be followed by zymotic diseases,
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
is that of Lake Merritt." At this time the board of health was doing heroic work to improve sanitary conditions.
Oakland thus had a timely warning. The death rate had been for some time steadily increasing with exceptions. No longer could the city point to its low mortuary list and claim to be the most healthful city of the country-not until it was such in fact, made so by an efficient sewer system. Neither diphtheria nor typhoid fever was raging here, but both were alarmingly prevalent.
There were twenty-two cases of diphtheria in Oakland in July, 1888, and the health department gave warning that the disease might soon become epidemic unless checked at once. They stated that the disease was more deadly than smallpox, but less understood. The board recommended a marginal sewer along the edge of Lake Merritt and several main sewers to be connected with it so that sewage could be carried to deep water and the pipes could be flushed. The doctors agreed that filth was the cause and bad sewerage a correlative one-that unsanitary conditions prevailed in many portions of the city. At this time zymotic diseases were better classified here than ever before and the health department was better fitted to wage a successful war against disease. On July 11-12 there were reported twenty new cases of diphtheria in forty-eight hours. No doubt there were many other cases not reported. Doctors Woolsey, Crowley, Agnew, Todd, Adams, Pinkerton, Liliencrantz, Bradley, Agard, Burchard and others were busy during this crisis. Doctor Woolsey remarked at this time, in view of the care- lessness of the people generally in regard to health measures, that "some day the city would wake up rotten and do something." The sanitary inspector reported that "Complaints have come into the office from all quarters, and especially from East Oakland, the water front and Watt's tract. It is a common thing to find sewage running into the street. The Watt's tract district is in a bad condition. Hundreds of houses are not supplied with city water and as a consequence there is not proper flushing. Harlan street is still without a sewer and the people continue to sewer into the street. Abatements of such nuisances in East Oakland are only temporary owing to the lack of satisfactory public sewers. The Twelfth street sewer empties into the estuary and the sewage is washed into Lake Merritt on every flood tide and forms a deposit there. The dumps are disease breeders. The plumbing law is unsatisfactory." Doctor Crowley said : "These localities (named in his report) owing to their unsanitary conditions are breeding sickness and death. We have for over a year shown the necessity of completing the Main Lake sewer and preventing the oozing of sewage into the marsh. We have asked for a Com- merce Street sewer, but the property owners object and they are dying off one by one." Dozens of locations in the city made serious complaints to the same dreadful effect. The board of health finally recommended to the council a survey for a marginal sewer along the east boundary of Lake Merritt.
In January, 1889, the board of health found fault with their treatment by the city council; their recommendations were neglected. Dr. Crowley asked, "Why does not the council show its disposition to do what the board of health, which has given the subject a thorough study, considers essential. The cause is in Lake Merritt. For years people were allowed to drain their sewers into the lake until it was gradually filled up with a mass of sewage that has covered the bottom of the lake. Instead of a lake of pure water intended to flush the Main Lake sewer, it has become a big cesspool 180 acres in extent. Many other places are equally
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
bad. The city is completely surrounded by those death traps. There is nothing to prevent an epidemic." (Dr. Crowley, June 17, 1889.) "We are surrounded by disease breeders on three sides and on part of the fourth. On the east there are Lake Merritt (polluted with sewage) and the bare mud flats of the north arm of the estuary ; on the south there are the water front marshes on which the sewers discharge; on the west there are more marshes with sewers and dumps, and the same thing is true of the northwest. Therefore there is diphtheria all over the city. We do not desire to be classed as alarmists, but must make plain our sanitary condition. Last year there were a great many cases of diphtheria in Oakland. There will be a great many more this summer and fall. It is only a question of time when the disease will reach the proportions of an epidemic. An epidemic of diphtheria would give Oakland a black eye from which it would not recover for a quarter of a century. An issue of bonds is necessary to carry on the proper sanitary improvements." (Local paper, June 18, 1889.) The council took immediate action at this critical time, under the threatening prospect. There came appeals for proper sanitation from all parts of the city. Never before had the city been so thoroughly frightened and aroused as at this time. An ordinance ordering the construction of a "complete and effective system of sewerage for Oakland" was promptly and unanimously passed on June 17, 1889. At this time Dr. Crowley recommended the adoption of the crematory system for city garbage. The board of health asked for $30,000 for immediate use.
In December, 1889, Dr. George C. Pardee made an elaborate report on the quality of the water furnished by the Contra Costa Company. Doctor Wool- sey did not agree with the report and said that it was exaggerated and injuri- ous. Doctor Pardee said that the water was vile, that it was swarming with the rotting remains of animal and vegetable life, that when it was made less vile the zymotic death rate decreased, that when it was viler the death rate from zymotic diseases increased, that zymotic deaths were more frequent where there was the least precaution to free the water from impurities, that perfecting the sewerage did not reduce the zymotic death rate, that a poorly-sewered, well- filtered ward was not as unhealthy as a well-sewered, poorly-filtered ward, that the water was worse where the zymotic deaths were most frequent, and that over one-third of all the zymotic deaths in this city occurred around the dead ends in about one-twentieth of the territory of the city. The board of health passed a resolution requesting the council and the board of public works to take such steps as they deemed best to compel the water company to properly purify the water it delivered to consumers in Oakland.
A special committee of the board of trade, early in December, 1889, made formal report of its investigations of the sanitary conditions of Oakland. It made the following findings: (1) It may be safely declared that few cities are better situated for effective natural drainage than Oakland; (2) it may there- fore be safely asserted that the sewer system of Oakland is an exceptionally good one and requires no sweeping modifications; (3) the city has an exceed- ingly low death rate from zymotic diseases; (4) the chief source of zymotic diseases wherever it exists will be found to be imperfect house sewerage. The committee therefore recommended a bond issue to be limited to actual public needs as set forth in the report; also the deepening of Lake Merritt, the recla- mation of West Oakland marsh, the omission of the north arm of the estuary
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
pending the Government's decision thereon, the correction of existing sewer defects and the use of the new ship channel to convey city sewage to deep water. The report further said, "The city having thus disposed of this vexed prob- lem, adjusting the burden of sewer construction equitably upon the districts benefitted and bonding the city for general improvements only, in which all territory now or to be incorporated has an interest, the board of trade could properly suggest a hearty invitation to the adjacent territory to come into the city." This report was so different in plans from that of the board of health, that elaborate public discussion of the whole subject was renewed and continued for some time.
Year
Oakland population estimated
Deaths
Death rate
1881
25,000
28
9.60
1882
36,000
49
16.33
1883
38,000
48
15.15
1884
39,000
42
12.92
1885
43,000
51
14.23
1886
46,000
45
11.73
1887
50,000
57
13.68
1888
ยท 55,000
81
17.67
1889
60,000
66
13.20
In July, 1890, all the physicians of Oakland petitioned the city council to drain Lake Merritt immediately as a sanitary measure and said "The increasing deposit of mud in the lake is already a source of danger to the health of the surrounding inhabitants and by limiting its flushing capacity is a menace of dan- ger to the residents of the large district drained by the main lake sewer." This petition was signed by the following doctors: F. L. Adams, W. H. Blood, M. M. Fish, George C. Pardee, E. W. Bradley, N. K. Foster, Mary Whitney, G. H. Aiken, John P. Reiley, J. B. Trembley, E. H. Woolsey, A. H. Pratt, O. B. Adams, S. I. Shields, William M. Brown, John Fearn, O. B. Metcalf, Gray Smith, N. W. Knox, S. J. Kellogg, J. R. Bradway, B. A. Rabe, G. H. Stockholm, E. J. Sharp, A. J. Russell, R. S. Clason, A. M. Taylor, J. H. Wythe, W. J. Wilcox, T. H. Pinkerton, I. E. Nicholson, A. Fine, L. S. Burchard, W. F. Southard, George A. Lathrop, F. Kirckein, R. L. Hill, E. J. Overland, L. P. Hess, H. P. Van Kirk, J. H. Todd, Richard Cannon, E. M. Patterson, G. E. Brinkerhoff, George J. Augur, J. C. S. Akerly, J. P. H. Dunn, A. H. Agard, W. E. Hook, L. Webster, J. M. Young, A. Liliencrantz, A. G. Anthony, R. Harmon. It was estimated that 300,000 cubic yards of mud would have to be removed, probably at a cost of not less than 14 cents a cubic yard, or perhaps as low as 10 cents.
At the meeting of the State Medical Society at Los Angeles in April, 1890, Dr. J. H. Wythe, of Oakland, read a paper on "The Structure of the Blood Corpuscles and its Relation to the Practice of Medicine," and Dr. E. H. Wool- sey read three papers on "Treatment of Synovitis of the Knee Joint," "Treat- ment of Fraction and Dislocation of the Wrist," and "Re-section of the Elbow Joint."
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
The Oakland General Hospital was established early in 1890 and was prac- tically under the management of the Alameda County Medical Association. It was intended for the care of persons afflicted with all ills except those of a contagious character.
About the year 1890 Dr. F. E. Price began the practice of veterinary science in Oakland. In 1893 he was appointed by the board of health to inspect the dairies, meats, markets, milk and animal products generally in an effort to dis- cover the cause of the typhoid from epidemics. Soon he established the Oak- land Veterinary Hospital and secured Dr. R. A. Archibald as assistant. The latter had been connected with the United States Bureau of Animal Industry and with several veterinary institutions. In 1890 about seventy-five thousand dollars was spent on the sewers of Oakland. In 1889-90 the number of sewers built was forty-two, and in 1890-91 the number was fifty-six.
Late in May, 1891, the mayor appointed Dr. H. L. Bradley, a homeop- athist, on the board of health. This act was opposed by the allopathic mem- bers of the board, who declared the step was a dangerous innovation that would disorganize the department when eclectics, hydropaths, scientists and all other so-called medical schools should likewise be represented on that body. The mayor favored the appointment of a homeopath on the board, but encoun- tered such opposition that he relinquished the attempt. Previous to this time Doctor Selfridge, a homeopath, had been appointed on the board, whereupon all the allopathic members resigned, but were reinstated when Doctor Selfridge withdrew. In May, there were reported to the board of health twenty-one cases of diphtheria, four of measles, six of scarlet fever, four of typhoid and typhoid malarial fevers, four of whooping cough. Doctor Bradley, the newly appointed health officer was completely ignored by the allopathic members of the board. In June an election was ordered by the county board to determine the question of a sanitary district for the town of Lorin. Oakland Free Clinic Association met in Doctor Woolsey's hospital in August, at this time, after an existence of about two months. In June fifty-seven patients were treated and in July 101 were treated. Ladies were managers of this association. Mrs. M. W. Kales was treasurer and Mrs. J. M. Driscoll, president. The staff of physicians was as follows: Surgery-E. H. Woolsey, J. P. Dunn and E. R. Sill; medicine-H. E. Muller, C. M. Fisher and W. P. Mauzy ; diseases of women-J. H. Wythe, J. J. McCullom and M. L. Johnson ; eye, ear, nose and throat-G. C. Pardee and H. G. Thomas; dental surgery-T. W. Hall, W. E. Brooks and J. M. Dunn.
In August, 1891, the board of health stated that action was needed at once to improve the sanitary condition of the city. Doctor Woolsey said the water was good, but the air was bad, especially near the sewer outlets. Doctor Wythe said the odor arising from the sewers had been a standing menace of corrup- tion and disease for many months and that if the city were broadly awakened to the evil wrought it would not hesitate at the expense of a remedy. A motion was carried requesting the board of public works to take immediate action for the improvement of the sewer system and for the disposal of garbage. The annual death rate for July was 14.4. The public schools were declared to be in sound sanitary condition, though ventilation was not what it should be. The board resolved that the passage of garbage through the streets between 6 o'clock a. m. and 6 o'clock p. m. was a public nuisance. In response to a petition to that
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
effect the county board late in August, ordered an election to be held in the dis- trict between Oakland and Berkeley on September 12th, to determine the question of the formation of a sanitary district within the county of Alameda to be known as "sanitary district No. I." At the election it was ordered that a sani- tary assessor and a sanitary board of five members should also be voted for.
"The greatest menace to the public health is the sewage draining into and the garbage dumped upon the West Oakland marsh. The next greatest fault of our sanitary condition is the sewage deposited along the marshes and shores of our southern water front. Another evil which threatens the welfare of the vast population within our borders is the filling up of Lake Merritt which ere long will be incapable of flushing the main lake sewer without which this con- duit would become in its entire length a festing cesspool."-(Health report [Dunn], February, 1892.) Doctor Pardee denied the conclusions of Doctor Dunn and said the marsh was covered twice daily with salt water and the filth there if there was any from the dumpings could be prevented. He declared that the board of health had repeatedly requested the council to prevent the dumping and to improve the sewers, which they had not done of the several years of urgent entreaty. "We are making a fight for health and against the hearse," said Colonel Irish in 1892. It is probably true that Colonel Irish did more for the improvement of the sewers and the health conditions in the 80's and 90's than any other man. He took the position at all times, as did the board of health, that the sewers were the cause of the epidemics of zymotic diseases and thun- dered his opinions through the newspapers and from the rostrum on all occasions.
A case of leprosy was discovered here in May, 1892, by Health Officer Dunn. The victim was sent to the San Francisco hospital. A little later another case was found.
At a meeting of the board of health on November 10th, there were present Doctors Woolsey, Anthony, Muller, Bradley, Wythe, President Anthony and Health Officer Dunn. The latter reported cases of smallpox and Doctor Wythe declared that the only opposition in regard to the cases came from the physi- cians who were attending the patients, and that he did not care to be a mem- ber of the board and be hampered in his work by the medical fraternity. He then read the following statement addressed to the citizens of Oakland, which was adopted and ordered printed for circulation: "The Oakland board of health sees with regret a disposition manifest by newspaper articles and in other ways, to criticize unfavorably the efforts of the health officer of the board to protect the community against infectious disease. Whether from professional antagon- ism and jealousy or other motives, it especially deprecates the interference of physicians who ought to be guardians of public health. The duties of the health officer are onerous and delicate enough without being rendered more difficult by the opposition of physicians themselves. A majority of the members of this board have satisfied themselves by personal inspection of the existence of a mild case of smallpox in Oakland, and of the occurrence of an eruption resem- bling varioloid in certain persons exposed to the disease. The health officer with the concurrence of a majority of members of the board, and in perfor- mance of his duty, proclaimed a quarantine, which certain medical men of Oakland invoked the legal authorities to remove. Under these circumstances we submit to an intelligent public the question: What need is there for a
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