CHAPTER III.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF LOS ANGELES.

Of interest as showing the wonderful advancement in methods, due to the almost marvelous increase in population and material development of the last several decades in Southern California, should be a resumé of the growth of the Health Department of the city of Los Angeles. From an admirable historical sketch in the annual report of Dr. L. M. Powers for 1904, we have gathered the following facts:

The first record we find referring to the sanitation of the City of Los Angeles is as follows:

To the Honorable Town Council:

It being one of the principal duties of any municipal body when it sees that an epidemic begins to attack the community, to enforce cleanliness, fumigation and similar measures, I respectfully suggest that you instruct the Syndic to spend three or four dollars in causing all the heads and remains of cattle as well as the dead animals that can be found, to be gathered into a heap in the borders of the town and set on fire at the hour of six in the evening, to be thoroughly consumed and the air purified. Also that you admonish the people to keep their premises clean and sweep in front of their houses and on no condition to throw any garbage, filth or offal of the cattle they slaughter in the streets. Also that the work on the zanja be pushed to an early completion, because our citizens who live further below are suffering greatly for lack of water, which is also one of the causes why the epidemic lasts so long. making these recommendations, I beg of you to give them your immediate consideration.

Los Angeles, March 27, 1847.

Signed: JULIAN CHAVEZ.

In

Los Angeles, March 29, 1847. The foregoing proposition having been submitted to the Honorable Town Council, at its meeting held today, it was resolved that the Syndic be authorized and instructed to make the expenditure as suggested for the purpose of cleaning the city.

JOSE SOLAZAR, Ygnacia Coronel, Secretary.

Again we find in city records for July 27, 1850, a resolution of the Common Council declaring it the duty of the police to attend to everything touching the comfort, health and adornment of the City. On August 8, 1850, under police regulations we find the following:

Article 6. On Saturdays every householder shall clean the front of his premises up to the middle of the street, or for the space of at least eight varas. Article 7. No filth shall be thrown into zanjas, carrying water for common use, nor into the streets of the City.

On April 2, 1853, the City Council passed an ordinance concerning the making of bread, requiring the use of good and wholesome flour, and uniform size of the loaves, etc.

On February 28, 1855, the Common Council passed an ordinance regulating the conduction of a city slaughter house or corral and requiring a monthly fee or rental for the use of the same and the disposal of the offal in such a manner as not to be offensive. Also created the office of stock and meat inspector, who was to give a bond of $500.00 and to receive fees for inspecting

stock as follows: For neat cattle, 50 cents per head, and for sheep, goats and hogs, each 75 cents.

In 1868, when the county hospital was only in name and the Sisiters of Charity were paid per capita for the care of the indigent sick, and the police force consisted of the Town Marshal and one policeman, and the board of health, the Mayor and two councilmen, appointed by the president of the Council, an epidemic of smallpox occurred and Dr. H. S. Orme was appointed health officer at a salary of $10.00 per day, to care for smallpox patients and look after the sanitary conditions of the City.

In July, 1868, the main building now existing in Chavez Ravine and known as the pest house, was built jointly by the City and County, for a smallpox hospital. Smallpox was quite prevelant, many cases occurred among the Indians who were employed to pick grapes in the city and vicinity. These Indians when first attacked with the fever would often plunge into the zanja or river, and then lie around the banks until they were picked up in a critical condition or perhaps dead. The mortality during this epidemic was great. The Sisters of Charity with self-sacrifice and regardless of their health, rendered most faithful and efficient service during this epidemic. Vaccination was enforced as thoroughly as possible and the disease was ere long eradicated. In 1869 Dr Orme resigned. Here is the following resolution:

Mayor's Office, City of Los Angeles, June 30, 1869.

Dr. H. S. Orme:

SIR-I am instructed by the Board of Health of the City of Los Angeles to return to you from the Board of Health, their warmest thanks for the efficient manner in which you discharged your duties as Health Officer and attending Physician at the City Smallpox Hospital.

Respectfully, W. G. DRYDEN, Secretary.

It seems from 1869 that Drs. Pigne, Dupuytren, T. C. Gale, and J. H. McKee, served as health officers at different times. Dr. J. H. McKee was elected Health Officer on June 25, October 15, and again December 31, 1874.

On April 11, 1873, the City Council passed an ordinance creating the Board of Health to consist of the Mayor, President of the Council and two members of the Council to be appointed by the President of the Council. The salary of the Health Officer was $50.00 per month, and he was to be appointed by the Board of Health, subject to the approval of the City Council.

On August 9, 1874, the City Council passed an extensive sanitary ordinance providing for free vaccination, reports of births, deaths and contagious diseases, etc., and another resolution regulating the prevention of nuisances and providing for the public health, etc., including a section prohibiting the sale of adulterated milk.

On June 22, 1876, the Council passed a resolution fixing the Health Officer's salary at $75.00 per month. March 1, 1877, the Council passed an ordinance repealing ordinances of July 11, 1873, and August 1, 1874, pertaining to the creation of the Board of Health and prescribing the duties of the Health Officer, etc.

In 1877, a report was made to the Council that one Mrs. Dominguez had broken quarantine because of the want of food. The Council authorized the Health Officer to supply food to families in quarantine for smallpox.

Again in 1878, the Common Council passed a resolution relating to the health of the City of Los Angeles, to prevent the spread of contagious diseases by providing quarantine regulations for the incoming trains, etc.

On January 2, 1879, Dr. Walter Lindley was elected Health Officer; at that time there was no Board of Health and the City Council elected the Health Officer. Dr. Lindley inaugurated the system of free vaccination of children attending the public schools and succeeded in securing the passage of an ordi

nance prohibiting the handling of swill and garbage through the streets between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. He established the system of registering births and deaths, and secured a sewer system for the main streets; he also made an annual report of the transactions of the office. Dr. Lindley's report made November 13, 1879, for the ten months previous to November 1, 1879, shows estimated population to be 16,000, number of births 223, and number of deaths 175, including still births.

Dr. J. B. Winston served as Health Officer in 1880-81-82, and made annual reports of transactions of the office with tabulated reports of deaths and births, etc.

In 1883 and 1884, Dr. T. C. Gale was Health Officer and made annual reports of the work performed in the office and tabulated reports of deaths and births, etc.

In 1885 and 1886, Dr. J. S. Baker served as Health Officer making several reports of smallpox and diphtheria outbreaks, also an annual report for the year ending November, 1886, in which he recommends the building of a filth crematory. The number of deaths during this year was 454, and the number of births, 438. Of the 454 deaths, 120 were caused by consumption, 12 died from typhoid fever, 15 of scarlet fever, 7 of diphtheria and 14 of pneumonia. The report shows the amount of sanitary work performed during the year, and accompanying the report is a tabulated report of deaths.

In 1887 the City Board of Health consisted of the Mayor, W. H. Workman; President of the Council, L. N. Breed, and J. Lovell, J. Frankenfield and M. T. Collins, members of the Council. Dr. Martin Hagan was elected Health Officer; Dr. George L. Cole was Assistant Health Officer and Acting Police Surgeon. When the city was on a boom, rapidly increasing in population and extending in territory, an epidemic of smallpox set in. The Health Officer reports that vaccination was vigorously enforced, and as many as 30,000 people were vaccinated within a period of four weeks.

In 1888, the Board of Health consisted of the Mayor, W. H. Workman; President of the Council, J. F. Humphrey, and James Hanley, M. T. Collins and E. A. Gibbs, members of the Council. Dr. J. W. Reese was elected Health Officer, Dr. J. J. Choate, Dr. Fenner and Dr. Thompson were the assistants. During this year the epidemic of smallpox was stamped out. The Health Officer made an annual report of work performed and recommended the appointment of at least three additional sanitary inspectors, a market inspector and a plumbing and drain inspector.

In 1889 the new charter went into effect. Drs. Martin Hagan, J. H. Davisson and Jos. Kurtz, and Mr. H. E. Wright were elected members of the Board of Health, and Dr. Granville MacGowan was elected Health Officer. During this term they obtained an office in the City Hall, with the necessary furniture, etc. They established the system of monthly reports, adopted sanitary rules, and obtained the passage of a number of sanitary ordinances; established the system of placarding houses for diphtheria, scarlet fever and smallpox, and also took measures toward the betterment of our water supply by forcing the water companies to use covered mains between the sources of supply and the city.

In 1889, this Board took much interest in securing park facilities. Dr. MacGowan succeeded in securing the passage of a plumbing ordinance, which was to be enforced by the Building Superintendent.

In 1890 the Health Officer in addition to attending to the duties of Health Office, acted as Police Surgeon; at this time all cases of accident were taken to the Police Station and were cared for in the large open room in which the prisoners had their bunks. Dr. MacGowan succeeded in getting an appropriation of $600.00, with which he changed the old battery room into an operating

room, by having a cement floor put in, a large skylight made and the walls tinted. He also had an operating table and other necessary apparatus put in. This room, though small, made a very comfortable room for this purpose. Dr. E. A. Bryant assisted Dr. MacGowan in his duties as Police Surgeon.

After a great deal of trouble, and against great opposition, the Board of Health succeeded in establishing a regular system of collection of garbage, under the contract, and a crematory for the burning of the garbage was built. In 1891, Dr. MacGowan succeeded in having two new cottages built and the old pest house building repaired, so that it was storm proof and fairly comfortable. The Health Officer was instrumental in causing the construction of an outfall sewer, etc., to be built.

In September, 1892, Dr. MacGowan prepared an ordinance including the provisions of all ordinances which was twice recommended by the Board of Health.

In January, 1893, Dr. Granville MacGowan and Dr. W. W. Hitchcock, Dr. Jos. Kurtz and Dr. C. F. Gillingham were elected members of the Board of Health. Dr. L. M. Powers was elected Health Officer for the ensuing two years. The inspection of public buildings, including schools, was systematically conducted and reports made of the same. The office of meat inspector was created and the system of meat inspection installed. During this term, a new plumbing ordinance creating a Board of Examiners was passed and a plumbing inspector to act as assistant building inspector was appointed. This ordinance was revoked in November, 1893.

The inspection of the water and ice supply to the City which had been conducted by Dr. Granville MacGowan was continued.

The Board of Health adopted for the first time, written rules governing the reporting of contagious and infectious diseases, regulating the quarantine of the same, etc. Also secured the passage of an ordinance requiring the registration of physicians, dentists and pharmacists, midwives and medicine vendors.

A new plumbing ordinance was passed by the City Council. The old ordinances regulating the sanitary conditions of the city being imperfect and inadequate, a new ordinance, No. 2888, was passed by the City Council, including a new milk ordinance. During the fall a room in the attic of the City Hall, a part of the room used by the library girls for their lunch apartment, was secured for the purpose of a laboratory for the examination of milk. Dairy inspections and milk analyses were made by the Health Officer.

In January, 1895, the first case which received the antitoxin treatment for diphtheria was Thomas Hanlon, of 147 Hays Street, a patient of Dr. M. M. Cannon. The antitoxin, which was secured from the Pasteur Institute in New York City, was administered by Dr. L. M. Powers.

In January, 1895, Drs. S. S. Salisbury, E. R. Smith and Carl Kurtz, and M. L. Moore, were elected members of the Board of Health and Dr. F. W. Steddom was elected Health Officer.

During this year the meat inspector was made also milk inspector. In the annual report the Health Officer says: "There were 152 cases of diphtheria reported to the office, twenty-eight of which proved fatal, showing the percentage of deaths to be 18.42: under the limited use of antitoxin, the death rate has been reduced from 25.03 per cent. last year, to 18.42 per cent. this year. Enough antitoxin has been used to prove conclusively that it has saved the lives of many of our children.” According to the reports obtained, antitoxin was used in about 50 per cent. of the cases reported.

In the report of dairy inspection, we see that there were five cows condemned and killed because of tuberculosis. The Health Department secured. the passage of an anti-expectorating ordinance.

In 1897, Dr. J. E. Cowles, Dr. John R. Colburn, Dr. M. L. Moore and Dr. S. S. Salisbury were elected members of the Board of Health; Dr. L. M. Powers was elected Health Officer.

The

The inspection of milk and meat was continued under difficulties. first eight months much of the time was consumed in settling the question as to who had the right to the appointment of the sanitary inspectors, the Board of Health, or the City Council. For three months pending the decision of the Court, we had two sets of inspectors calling at the office every morning, and there was also much trouble in securing the proper control of the street sweeping. During the fall a new inspector was appointed for street sweeping. The meat and milk inspector having resigned, one of the sanitary inspectors was appointed milk inspector and a practical butcher was appointed meat inspector, thereby creating two offices.

In the fall of 1897, Prof. A. J. Maclatchie, who was connected with the Academy of Sciences, gave the department much encouragement and aid in inspecting milk.

In 1898, with an appropriation from the Council of $50.00 and apparatus owned by Dr. Powers, a bacteriological laboratory was established in the attic of the City Hall building, and by February with the kind assistance of Dr. S. P. Black, the department was fully prepared to make diphtheria cultures and from that time on, serum tests for typhoid fever and examinations of sputum. and various other examinations for diseases in stock were made, and also bacteriological examinations of water supplied to the city were made from time to time.

In the latter part of this year an epidemic of smallpox was started in the city by a number of tramps or other persons infected in some of the railroad camps, and with the concealment of a case of smallpox in the family of a grocer. Tents and new cottages were constructed on the pest house grounds in order to accommodate the patients. The number of cases occurring during this epidemic and which lasted into 1899, were 121, of which 22 died. The most severe form of smallpox existed, being of hemorrhagic nature.

In 1899, Drs. J. II. Davisson, E. R. Smith, Wm. LeMoyne Wills and S. S. Salisbury, were elected members of the Board of Health. Dr. L. M. Powers was elected Health Officer. During the spring the epidemic was stamped out. Dr. R. V. Day and Dr. W. II. Fox assisted in this work. In 1900, but three cases of smallpox were reported during the year.

In 1901 Dr. E. R. Smith, Dr J. H. Davisson, Dr. W. W. Beckett and Dr. S. S. Salisbury were elected members of the Board of Health; Dr. L. M. Powers was elected Health Officer. During this year a number of cases of mild smallpox were reported. Dr. S. J. Quint was appointed Assistant Health Officer.

In many cases the milk was found to contain formaline and other preservatives, and the Department prosecuted many violators of the milk ordinance. Through the aid of the Court during the year 1901-1902, the nefarious practice of adulteration and substitution for milk was more or less stopped.

In 1901 when the plague was creating much excitement in San Francisco, the Health Department of Los Angeles City, to protect the City from an invasion of the dread disease, made thorough inspections of Chinatown for sick Chinamen or suspected cases of plague, and autopsies were made on all dead Chinese, Dr. S. P. Black being employed to make bacteriological examinations. in all cases. This kept up during the year of 1901, and at various times after that by the Department and Dr. S. P. Black and Dr. E. L. Leonard.

In 1903, Dr. W. W. Hitchcock, Dr. S. S. Salisbury, Dr. Milbank Johnson and Dr. R. V. Day, were elected members of the Board of Health. Dr. L. M. Powers was elected Health Officer, with Dr. S. J. Quint as Assistant Health Officer.