SURVEY OF HEALTH CONDITIONS 
IN 
ALACHUA COUNTY 
FRANK V. ;£HA£PgfL, M.D. , DIRECTOR 
»0$Tp HEALTH UNIT 
FLORISA ijjS® BOARD OF HEALTH 1 
Alachua county is situated in about the geographical center of the 
state. It is hound on the north hy the Santa Pe River which separates 
it .from Columbia County and by Union and Bradford counties; on the east 
is Putnam County; while on the south it is partly separated-from Marlon 
County by Orange Lake. Levy County is to the southwest and Gilchrist 
Co\;nty bounds it on the west. The county has a total area of 906 square 
miles and the land is mostly flat, with.the exception of an area in the 
northwest which is quite rolling. The county contains many lakes, part- 
icularly in the southeast; the larger of these, being: Lake Orange, Lake 
Lockloosa, Lake Newmans, and Lake Micanopy. There are also many swampy 
areas, the most of them being along creeks and around the lakes. The 
largest of these.is Paynes Prairie which, is about 3 miles south of Gaines- 
ville and extends east and southeast, appears to be continuous with Lake 
Orange and Lake Lockloosa, This prairie stays in a. serai-flooded condition 
practically.all of the time, and .contains a number of small streams. It 
is quite, hard to find any. definite' figures or. estimate the size of this 
prairie but it -appears, to be from one-to four or five miles wide and at 
least ten miles in length. Dr. T, H. D,. Griffltts has made the remark 
that this is one of the most prolific breeding places for mosquitoes of 
which he has any knowledge; * . ■ . . 
The county has a white population of 20,046; a colored population 
of 16,360, or a total population as- of 1936 of 36,406. 
Gainesville is the scat of the University of Florida, The county 
seat is Gainesville, with a population, as of 1935, of 12,274. Of this 
number, 7,104 are white and 5,170 are colored. It is situated pract- 
ically in the middle of the county and serves as the trading area for 
a very large territory. 
■ • v • 4 • - • • ' 
There are 4,820 pupils in the 20 white schools of the county and 
3,451 colored pupils in the 49 colored schools. 
In 1935 there were 2,998-illiterates in the county, or 8,23 per- 
cent, i ■ , . . ■- 
Alachua county has a total assessed valuation of approximately 
$5,000,000.00. The only bonded debt for which the entire county is 
responsible is for the Alachua County Hospital in the amount of 
$90,000.00. The general tax rate averages for the county as a whole 
about 25 mills. This varies slightly from 23 to 29 mills in various 
districts. Some districts also have a higher millage because of taxes 
for certain roads and schools which they have built. 
This survey made at the request of 
the Alachua County Medical Society. 
Dr. Thomas A. Snow, President. r The income, for the majority of the population is derived front 
truck farming. The county as a whole has a rich, sandy soil and the 
usual crop S', of corn, beans, potatoes and tomatoes grow in abundance. 
A little citrus-and tobacco are also grown. There are 2,264 farms with 
and area of 239,830 acres. There are 4,639 people engaged in farming 
and the crops at the last agricultural census were valued at $2,273,794.00. 
Within the last few, years another industry has sprung up in the raising of 
tung oil trees. A very large acreage, which centers around Gainesville has 
been planted. Mining, forestry and fishing employ about 200 people, and 
the naval stores industry is quite important. 
The livestock industry is valued at $958,767.00 and the value of 
the dairy products per year is $165,495.00. 
There are.47 manufacturing establishments, practically all represent- 
ing some type of lumber industry. Eleven hundred and eleven people are 
engaged in manufacturing and the total value of the products manufact- 
ured in 1935 was $4,680,673.00, .... 
The county has good paved roads to practically all parts of it. 
There are 8 incorporated cities and towns in the county, which, with 
the mayors and the population of each, are as follows; • 
City 
Mayor 
Population 
Gainesville 
Hal C. Batey 
12,274 
High Springs 
Dr. P. D. Weeks 
1,864 
Alachua 
George - Dukes 
865 
Newberry 
L. B. Granchy 
766 
Waldo 
L. B, Alexander 
703 
Mi.canopy 
■ J> R, Mountain 
725 
Hawthorne 
D, H, Mathews 
600 
Archer 
Monroe Venable 
576 ALACHUA COUNTY 
Political Control 
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: 
Oscar H. Thomas, Chairman Gainesville 
John P. Ambrose Waldo 
B; T. Martin High Springs 
Ca C. Sherouse Hawthorne 
W. J. Whitehurst Archer 
SHERIFF: Mr, J* P, Ramsey Gainesville 
COUNTY JUDGE B, D. Hires , . Gainesville 
COUNTY CLERK Bill Evans Gainesville 
■ - •1. ♦ • 
County Superintendent 
Public Instruction - Horace Lotrouer Gainesville 
COUNTY FARM AGENT, Fred L. Craft .. Gainesville 
STATE SENATOR . - R, L, Black Gainesville 
REPRESENTATIVES ■ ; Mr, Bryant ■ Gainesville 
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE , ... Mr, C. A. Lee, Jr. Secretary 
JUNIOR CHAMBER OF i , ' ‘ . 
COMMERCE _ W. St Arnow, President 
H. B. Sobol, (Attorney) President-elect 
term begins 6/l/37 
DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF 
DISTRICT BOARD OF 
SOCIAL WELFARE Mrs. Puma DeWitt . 
AMERICAN LEGION . : B. J. Otte, Commander Gainesville 
Dr. W, E. Whitlock - High Springs 
NEWSPAPERS: Gainesville Sun (daily) Editor - L, C. Pepper 
Alachua County News (weekly) Editor - J. K. Hall 
High Springs.'Telegram 
RADIO STATION • WRQF - Gainesville (State owned) There are 26 white and 2 colored practicing physicians in Alachua 
county. Their average age is 51 years. 
PHYSICIANS: 
Name Address 
Dr. T. A. Snow, President Gainesville 
Dr. H, M. Merchant, Secretary Gainesville 
Dr, J, E. Maines * Gainesville 
Dr, W, C. Thomas Gainesville 
Dr. G. C. Tillman Gainesville 
Dr. J. L. Summerlin - •• Gainesville 
Dr, E, H, Andrews Gainesville 
Dr. J. M. Dell, Sr. (Florida Farm Colony) 
Dr, J. M. Dell, Jr. Gainesville 
Dr, M, H, Depass Gainesville 
Dr. W. T, Elmore *. . .*■ Gainesville 
Dr, Wilhurn Lassiter Bainesville 
Dr. DeWitt T, Smith . ' Gainesville 
Dr. R, B. Summit! Gainesville 
Dr. C. F. Ahmann Gainesville 
Dr. Alva T. Cobh, Jr. . , (Florida Farm Colony) 
Dr. Fred Mathers (University ,of Florida Infirmary 
Dr, H, I, Preston - . Melrose 
- ■'< ‘ Dr. I, G. Dailey . . Micanopy 
Dr, G, M. Floyd Hawthorne 
Dr. B, M. Bishop . . , Archer ■' • 
Dr, S. P, Getzen Newherry 
Dr, D. C. Witt , , . / ’ Alachua 
•* Dr. J, A. Goode , Alachua 
Dr, W. E. Whitlock' • - High Springs 
Dr. P. D, Weeks High Springs 
; r ; - 
COLORED PHYSICIANS; ; Y . . . ' 
Dr.' R. B. Ayer , r : . Gainesville h 
Dr. Julius A, Parker V . . /' , Gainesville 
DENTISTS": ■ : ’ ' *; • ; . . ■ ; ■ ■ , * 
Dr. C, G. Mixson, President •: Gainesville 
Dr. R, L. Bowman, Secretary Gainesville 
■Dr. J.D.L, Torch Gainesville 
Dr. Donald Morrison Gainesville 
Dr, G. W. Schwalbe Gainesville 
Dr. J. R. Emerson Gainesville 
Dr. S. A, Hussey, Sr. Gainesville 
Dr, S. A. Hussey, Jr. Gainesville 
Dr, Harrison High Springs 
Dr. F. B. Stephens, M.D., D.D.S. Waldo 
Dr, G. B. Tison Gainesville 
COLORED DENTIST: 
Dr. Dubose Gainesville CITY OF GAINESVILLE 
MAYOR COMMISSIONER: Hal C. Batey 
CITY COMMISSIONERS; Dr. J. M. Dell, Sr. 
E. H, Winston 
• n . 
R, B. Livingston 
, . . . J...M, Sutler • 
CITY DIRECTOR OF 
FINANCE ; : j Clarence A. O’Neill 
CITY MANAGER R, .T, .Hargrave ■' ■ • • 
CITY HEALTH OFFICER; Dr. L. W. Lassiter 
Chief of Police W, B, Gaboon 
CIVIC CLUBS 
Rotary Club .. ' Ballard Simmons, President 
John Scott, President-Elect 
Kiwanis F. 0, McIntosh • : 
Lions . , • William Ettelstein, President? 
Lawyers Club , . . •; 
Womans Club Mrs, W. R. Carroll, President 
Mrs. A, C. Brown, President-Elect 
Parent Teachers 
Association P, K. Yonge School, E, A. Clayton, President 
East Side School, Dr, Donald Morrison, President 
CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS 
MAYOR: Dr. P. D. Weeks 
COUNCILMEN; Mr. W. J. Priest 
Mr, A. E, Summers, Jr, 
Mr. B, H, Rimes 
Mr. A. V. Benson 
Mr, J. A. McArthur 
CITY HEALTH OFFICER Dr. W. E. Whitlock CIVIC CLUBS 
Rotary Club A. V. Benson, President 
Womans Club • * Mrs/ Knight, President 
Parent Teachers ' 1 * • 
Association Mrs. W. *H. -McNair, President 
NEWSPAPER: : High Springs Telegram 
AMERICAN LEGION: Dr. "W* B. Whitlock 
. - V ‘ " . » ‘ 1 ' 
' .. e* • ' 
... Yv . r •; - 
■ > CITY OE -ALACHUA 
. * * ' „ V 1 >. ■f 
CITY MANAGER; H. H-." -HoBBs- 
COUNCILMEN; <• -' • Mr. George •■Dukes, Mayor 
Mr. W. H. Enneis 
Hr. F. M. Eddy The county at present has no health setup of any kind except 
one white and one colored WPA nurse, and their work does not seem 
to meet the approval of most of the physicians of the county. The 
city of Gainesville'has a part-time health officer, one nurse, one 
director of sanitation, who is a doctor of veterinary medicine, a 
food inspector,■ and two men doing some work;in mosquito control. A 
general clinic is operated three times a week hy the health officer 
with the assistance of the practicing physicians who serve at reg- 
ular intervals. It is well operated, and they want it to continue. 
Any type work’ can be done, either at the clinic or by sending them ; 
to the hospital'. The city appropriates $1500.00 for the maintenance; 
of this clinic.' There is one'general County hospital. This instit- 
ution has 65 beds with a daily average of about 25 patients.. The 
cost’per patient per day is estimated at $4.00 and the county -comm- 
issioners each month appropriate $600.00 for the care of indigent 
patients. There are no facilities for taking care of communicable 
diseases, and are only taken in under certain emergencies. The 
University of Florida has a well equipped infirmary of 45 beds which 
is approved by-, the. American College of Surgeons. The Florida Farm 
Colony, a state hospital of 518 beds for the care of feeble-minded 
and epileptic children is also located at Gainesville. 
VITAL STATISTICS 
The vital statistics afe collected by 11 local registrars who■ 
are assisted by 10 deputy registrars located at the most thickly 
populated parts of the County, The local registrars are paid 25(f; for 
each registration sent to the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The names 
and addresses erf these registrars are as follows: 
LOCAL REGISTRARS: 
Registrar 
Deputy Registrar 
Address 
Dr. W. Lassiter 
Mrs. T. M. Cheves 
Gainesville 
Mrs. Kat e’Ryals 
Mrs. Maude Westbrooks . 
High Springs 
Mr. L, N.’Pearce 
Mrs. L.-N. Pearce 
Newberry 
Mrs. Belle Dailey 
1. A, Dailey, M.D. 
Micanopy 
Dr. F. B. Stephens 
Mrs. Addie Stephens 
Waldo 
Dr. G. M. Floyd 
Mrs. Clara Floyd 
Hawthorne 
M* C. Harper 
Leo A. Harper 
Archer 
F, B. Stewart 
H, F. Preston, M.D. 
Melrose 
W. J. Evans 
M. A. Evans 
Island Grove 
N. L. Mathews 
None 
Campville The -registrars estimate that their registrations are from 
75$. to 95% effective; one or two of them claim 100$ hut this is 
probably most nearly .approached in Gainesville. All of the birth and 
death certificates of all of the registrars were gone oyer and tab-, 
ulatod personally by the surveyor and with a few exceptions appeared 
to be rather completely filled out. Two or three of the registrars 
admittedly cared very little about doing the work.and the resulting 
negligent attitude reflected itself in the careless- manner in which 
their certificates were filled out and their records kept. The copies 
which they had on file very often omitted several very important items 
and the causes of death would not be acceptable.-to- Bureau of Vital 
Statistics. If, and when corrected death certificates were issued, 
thare, was no indication that these changes had been made in the copies 
kept on file by the local registrars. This probably accounts at least 
in part for the discrepancy in the figures for various birth and death 
rates which follow and which were tabulated directly from the copies 
on file with the registrars.,, and the more correct figures obtained, from 
the Bureau of Vital Statistics which follow on page 13 . 
BIRTHS Aim RATE PER 1000 
ALACHUA COUNTY 
White 
Colored 
Total 
Year 
Number. 
Rate 
Number Rate 
Number . Crude 
Birth Rate 
1934. 
'312, . 
16.1 . 
297 13 k 3 
609 
16.6 , 
1.935. 
356 
H.8.: 
367- 22.4 
t 723 
. 
19.8: 
1936 
339 
17.0 . 
326 20.0 
, 665 
r . 
18.0 
DEATHS AMD DEATH IUTE PER 1000 
White 
Colored 
Total 
Year 
Number 
Rate 
Number Rate 
Number Crude 
Death Rate 
1934 
• 292 
14.,3 
340 . 20lS 
632 
17.3 
1935 
241 
12.1 
301 18.2 
542 
14.8 ■ ' 
1936 
254 
12.7 
234 ‘14*3 • 
-488 ■ 
13! 2 BIRTHS - INFANT DEATH RATE 
ALACHUA COUNTY 
Year 
Color 
Births 
Infant Deaths 
Rate 
1934 
W 
312 
18 
57.7 
c 
297 
14 . 
47.1 - 
TOTAL 
609 
32 
52.5 
1935- 
w 
356 
14 
39.5 
n 
U 
367 
29 
78.8 
TOTAL 
723 
43 , . 
59.4 
1936 
w 
339 
20 . . 
59.0 
c 
326 
14 
43.0 
TOTAL 
665 
34 .. 
52.7 
STILLBIRTHS - RATE PER 1000 
ALACHUA COUNTY 
Year 
White 
Rate 
Colored 
Rate 
Total 
Rate 
1934 
14 
41 
23 
77.5 
37 
60.7 
1935 
15 
42 
19 
51.8 
34 
47.0 
1936 
12 
35.4 
25 
76.7 
37 
55.6 
MATERNAL DEATHS - RATE PER 1000 
aLACHQA 
COUNTY 
Year 
White 
Rate 
Colored 
Rate 
Total 
Rate 
1934 
2 
6.6 
3 
10.9 
5 
8.9 
1935 
3. 
8.8 
2 
5.7 
5 
7*2 
1956 
o • 
0 
, , 3 
10.0 
3 
4.7 BIRTH records 
ALACHUA COUNTY 
Year 
Color 
Delivered "by 
Physician 
Delivered hy 
Midwife 
Total 
1934 
■ w 
284 
28 
312 
c 
24 
273 
297 
Total 
308 , 
301 
609 
Percentage 
' 
50. 5 
49.4 
100 
1935 
w 
325 
31 
356 
c 
31 
336 
r 367 
Total 
356 
367 
723 
Percentage 
49.2 
50,8 
100 
1936 
> w 
300 
39 
339 
n 
• w 
34- : 
292 
326 
Total 
334 
331 
665 
Percentage 
50.2 
49.8 
100$ 
1937 
w 
115 
15 
130 
c 
. 8 
: • 117 
125 
Total 
123 
132 
255 
Percentage 
48.2 
51.8 
100 
DEATH RECORDS 
ALACHUA COUNTY 
1934 
Cause of death 
White 
Number 
, ;Rat a per 
100,000 
Colored 
Number 
Rate per 
100.000 
Total 
Number 
Rate 
Malaria 
B 
40. 
19 
126, 
27 
74.1 
Cancer _ 
12. 
60. 
8 - 
49. 
20 
54.6 
Unknown 
10 
50. 
34 ' 
209 ’■ 
" ' 44 
120.2 
Apoplexy 
25 r 
125. 
31. ■ 
190. 
56 
153.8 
Cardiac' (all forms) 
;'60 
,300. 
52. 
316. 
112 
307.7 
Pneumonia, lobar 
•17.■, 
85. 
21 
129.3 
38 
104.1 
Pneumonia, hroncial 
19 
95. 
8 
49. 
27 
74.1 
Nephrit is 
10 
50. 
20 
122. 
30 
82.2 
Accident (all kinds) 
18 
90. 
21 
129.3 
39 
106.5 
Puerperal 
2 
10. 
3 
18.4 
5 
13.7 
Stillborn 
17 
85. 
25 
153. 
42 
115. 1934 ' 
WHITE 
COLORED 
T0T.A 
.L 
Causes of death 
Number 
Rate per 
100,00Q 
Rate per 
Number 100,000 
Number 
Rate 
Influenza 
2 
10. . 
0 
0 
2 
5.5 
Prematurity 
4 
20. 
4 
24.5 
3 
21.9 
Castro-Intest inal 
5 
25. 
0 
0 
5 
13.7 
Tuberculosis (all forms) 
8 ... 
40. 
17 
104 
25 
68.5 
Syphilis • ; 
0 
0 
4 
24.5 
4 
10.9 
Infant deaths 
18 
90. 
14 
85,6 
32 
88. 
Pellagra 
2 
10. 
7 
42.8 
9 
24.7 
U remia 
3 
15.. 
5 
30.8 
8 
21.9 
Septicemia 
4 
20. 
0 
0 
4 
10.0 
Miscellaneous 
43 • 
240. 
47 
237.5 
95 
260. 
1935' 
, WHITE 
COLORED 
TOTAL • • 
Causes of death 
Number 
Rate per 
100,000 
Rate per 
Number 100,000 
Number 
Rate 
Malaria 
6 
30.' 
3 
18.4 
9 
24.7 
Cancer 
15 
75. 
7 
43. 
22 
60.4 
Unknown 
3 
40. 
20 
122. 
28 
79.5 
Apoplexy 
28 
140." 
■- 34 
209 s- 
62 .. .. 
170. Q 
Cardiac (all forms) 
41 
205. . 
33 
233. 
79 
217. 
Pneumonia, loher 
12 
60 
15 
92. 
27 
74.1 
Pneumonia, "bronchial* 
17 
85: 
9 
55.2 
26 
71.3 
Nephritis * 
5 
25.: 
22- 
135. 
27 
74.1 
Accident 
13 
90. 
24 
147. 
42 
115. 
Puerperal 
3 
15. 
2 
12.2 
5 
13.7 
Stillborn 
17 
85, 
22 
135. 
39 
107. 
Influenza 
2 
10., 
3 
18.4 
5 
:1;3.7 
Prematurity 
6 
30. 
13 
79.7 
19 
52. 
Gas't ro- Int e s t inal 
2 
10. 
7 
43. 
9 
24.7 
Tuberculosis 
4- 
20. 
13 
79.7 
17 
46.7 
Syphilis 
0 
0 
3 
13.4 
3 
8.2 . 
Infants 
14 : 
70. 
29 
177.2 
43 
118. 
Pellagra 
3 
15 
3 
18.4 
6 
16,4* 
Miscellane ous 
37 
185. 
35 
215. 
72 
196.7 
Uremia 
1 
5. 
1 
6.2 
2 
5,5 
Septicemia 
1 
5. 
1 
6.2 
2 
5,5 
Typhoid Fever 
1 
5. 
0 
0 
1 
' 2.7 1936 
WHITS 
COLORED 
TOTAL 
Cause of death 
Rate per 
Number 100,000 
Number 
Rate per 
100,000 
Number 
Rate 
Malaria 
1 
5. 
1 
6.2 
2 
‘5.5 
Cancer 
13 
65. 
7 
42.8 
- 20 , 
54.6,. 
Unknown 
10 
50. 
' 21 
129.3 
31 
85.2 
Apoplexy 
18 
90. 
30. 
185. 
48 
131. 
Cardiac (all forms) . 
42 
210. 
34 
209. 
76 
208.4 
Pneumonia, lobar 
15 
75. 
20 
122. 
35 
96. 
Pneumonia, bronchial , 
20 
100. 
6 
. 36.7 
26 
. 71.2 
Nephrit is 
6 
30. 
18 
'110. 
24 
65.8 
Accidents 
27 
135 
8, 
49. 
35 
96. 
Puerperal 
0 
0 
3 
18.4 
3 
8.2 
Influenza 
2 
10. 
2 
12.2 
4 
10,9 
Stillborn 
12 
60. 
29 
177,2 
41 
112.2 
Prematurity 
8 
40. 
§ 
49. 
16 
43.9 
Gas t ro- Int e s t inal 
8 
40. 
7 
42.8 
15 
41.2 
Tuberculosis 
4 
20. 
5 
31.2 
9 
24.7 
Syphilis 
1 
5, 
3 
18.4 
4 
10.9 
Infants 
20 
100. 
; 14 
85,6 
34 
Pellagra 
2 
10. - 
2 
12.2 
4 
' 10,9“ 
Miscellaneous 
34 
170. 
12 
73.5 
46 
129. 
Uremia 
4 
20. ' 
1 
6.2 
5 
13.7 
Septicemia.- 
2 
10 
1 
6.2 
3 
. • -,8.2: ' 
Typhoid Fever 
0 
6 
1: 
6.2 
1 
2.7 
Diphtheria 
2 
10. 
0 
0 
2 
. 5,5 
1937 
WHITS 
COLORED 
TOTAL . 
Cause of death 
Number 
Rate per 
100,000 
Number 
Rate per 
100,000 
Number Rate 
Malaria 
0 
‘0 
1 
6.2 
1 
2.7 ' 
Cancer 
7 
35 
2 
12.4 
9 
.24*7 
Unknown 
2 
10 
10 
62. 
12 
33* - 
Apoplexy 
10 
50 
15 
92. 
25 
68.5 
Cardiac (all forms) 
14 
70 
8 
49. 
22 
60.4 
Pneumonia, lobar 
3 
15 
24 
147. 
27 
. 74.X 
Pneumonia, -bronchial 
4 
20 
1 
6.2 
5 
13.7 
Nephritis 
1 . 
5 
0- 
0 
1 
2.7 
Accident 
7 
35 
5 
31.2 
12 
32.8- 
Puerperal ' 
1 
5 
1 
6.2 
, 2 
p.5 • 
Stillborn 
9 
45 
12 
73.5 
21 
.57.6 
Influenza 
0 
’0 
1 
6.2 
1 
•2.7,, 
Prematurity 
2 
10 
8 
49. 
10 
27.5 
Gas t r o- Int e s t inal 
2 
10 
0 
0 
' 2 
5.5 
Tuberculosis 
3 
15 
5 
31.2 
8 
21.9 
Infants 
3 
15 
5 
31.2 
8 
21.9 
Pellagra 
0 
0 
1 
6.2 
1 
2.7 
Miscellaneous 
5 
25 
10 
62. 
15 
41.2 
Diphtheria 
0 
0 
2 
12.4 
2 
5,5 State Board of Health 
BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS 
Jacksonville, Florida 
BIRTHS FOR ALACHUA COUNTY. FLORIDA, 1934 - 1936. 
YEARS 
1936 
1935 
1934 
Births 
666 
688 , 
649 
DEATHS FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA, 1934 - 1936. 
YEARS ; 1 
1936 
1935 
1934 
DEATHS 
' • 495 
■ 462 ' 
547 
INFANT MORTALITY - DEATHS OF INFANTS UNDER ONE YEAR: OF 
AGS BY COLOR FOR ALACHUA COUNT'/,1 FLORIDA, 1934- - 1936.' 
1936 
Total White Col, 
1935 
Total White 
Col. 
1934 
Total White 
Col. 
46 13 
33 
50 17 
33 
Rate •' ' 
* . ‘ * ' , 
• per ■ :' ' _• 
1000’ 
71.5 
83. 
DEATHS FROM DISEASES OF PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH AND THE 
PUERPERAL STATE FOR ALACHUA COUNTY,Florida. 
, YEiiRS 
1936 
1935 
1934 
,L DEATHS • 
8 
4 
* 4 
STILLBIRTHS FOR ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA', 1934 - 1936. 
YEARS 
1936 
• 1935 
' 1934 
STILL- 
Blrths 
' '44 •' 
’45 
4*7 EPIDEMIOLOGY 
There are no records of any kind available in the county which 
would give any idea, as to the prevalence of communicable diseases in 
the area. No morbidity figures are available and no thorough investi- 
gation of communicable' disease is made except the little which is 
possible by the district medical officer of the State Board of Health. 
As stated elsewhere, no isolation hospital is available and no 
systematic immunization program is carried on. 
The last work in the county schools appears to have been done 
by Dr. Tom Morgan while he was district medical officer in this district. 
As far as can be ascertained, the Gainesville City Health Officer appears 
to be quite active in the control of communicable disease in that city. 
He tells me that he has ordinances covering these matters and gets 100$ 
cooperation from, the city law enforcement agencies. 
TUBERCULOSIS 
For a short time at least, one of the EERA nurses was assigned to the 
work on tuberculosis in the county. There is a record on file of some 125 
or more active cases of tuberculosis but apparently nothing has been done 
about controlling it except . to a certain extent in the city of Gaines- 
ville. 
MATERNAL AND INFANT HYGIENE 
There are 42 midwives practicing in the county. Of this number 
only 28 are licensed and registered. The two WPA nurses in the county 
apparently spend a good portion of their time in an effort at supervision 
of the midwives. Classes are held each month for them and frequent visits 
are made by the nurses in their homes. No infant hygiene clinics are held 
but the nurses make an effort to visit the homo of each new-born giving 
such help and instructions as they can. The midwives do not notify the 
nurses when deliveries are made, but at each meeting midwives are required 
to bring their birth certificate books and the names of the infants are 
taken from these. Midwives delivered 1131 infants from January 1, 1934 to 
March 31, 1937, or approximately 50$ of all deliveries. Only a small per- 
centage oi the deliveries by midwives are white. Another activity of the 
WPA nurses is the home hygiene classes taught by the colored nurse, Rosa 
Woodson, to groups which have been formed by the home demonstration agent. There are 20 white and 49 colored schools in the county. Only , . 
Marion County in this State has a large number of colored schools. Two 
colored schools were visited. Both were large schools, one a brick, and 
the other a frame building. The sanitary facilities were in good condition 
and quite adequate. The lafge'st of the colored schools is in Gainesville, 
and they are connected with' the city sewerage system. Six white schools 
were visited, and all of these schools had deep well water supply and 
fairly good type bubbling fountains. In most of the schools visited, 
however, it would not be. impossible for a child to get his mouth down 
directly on the spout. Mr. Zetrouer, Superintendent, informs me that 
.over 50 schools have'been given approved sanitation, and all 79 of them 
have a good water supply, 
* * - * * 
All of the schools visited and casually inspected from the 
outside, appear to be well-lighted and the rooms not greatly over- 
crowded, The county as a whole has no school physician or nurse. This 
service in Gainesville is taken care of by the city health officer and 
the city nurse. The county schools, as far as possible, have been in- 
spected by the FERA and IPA nurses and in certain localities examinations 
and immunizations have been done by the local physician, but this, of course, 
is not very intensive and is entirely inadequate. The last county-wide 
work was in 1935 by the District Medical Officer. 
ALACHUA COUNTY SCHOOLS (White) 
Place 
Principal 
Address 
Gainesville 
F, W. Buchholz 
Gainesville 
Arredonda 
Miss Eula McKinney 
Arredonda 
Fairbanks 
Joseph Nash 
Hawthorne 
LaCrosse 
L. C. Pridgen, Jr. 
La Crosse 
Archer 
E. J, Jones 
Archer 
Micanopy 
John W. Dew 
Micanopy 
Bland 
Miss. Dallas Matchett 
Bland 
Island Grove 
Mrs. Ida Pring 
Lochloosa 
Hawthorne 
J. Harry P. Thomas 
Hawthorne 
Alachua 
M, 0. Worthington 
Alachua 
Waldo 
L. W. Moon 
Waldo 
Rose Hill 
Mrs. Lee Oliver Thompson 
Gainesville 
Sante Fe 
Nrs. Nellie Gilbert 
Santa Fe 
Forest Grove 
W. Bruce Abernathy 
Forest Grove 
Bloomsdale 
Mrs. Pheriba Sparkman 
Hawthorne 
Windsor 
Miss. Eva Pearl Bryant 
Windsor 
High Springs 
Donald MacQpeen 
High Springs 
Haile 
J. W, Massengill 
Newberry 
Newberry 
J. C. Hill 
Newberry PARENT TEACHERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS: 
Archer Mrs. P.'L. Linderman 
Alachua Mrs, B. T, Shaw 
■ Micanopy Mrs. D. E. Dukes 
Melrose (in Putnam -County) 
Hawthorne Mrs. R. R. Morrison 
Waldo Mrs. Lester DeSha 
LaCross Mrs. J. Harris 
Gainesville ■ E. A. Clayton (P.K. Yonge School) 
Gainesville • Dr. Donald Morrison (East Side School) 
High Springs Mrs. W. H. McNair 
Newberry 17 
SANITARY SURVEY OP ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA 
By 
Geo. Catlett, State Sanitary Engineer 
WATER SUPPLY 
All of the eight incorporated towns of the County, except Micanopy, 
have public water systems. These are derived from deep wells. Regular 
bacteriological samples obtained from these and examined by the State 
Board of Health indicate . a safe water and no treatment has been applied 
to any of them. They hove the relatively high hardness as found in Florida 
ground waters. The supply at Waldo is owned by the Florida Power & Light 
Company; that at Hawthorne, by the Florida Public Service Company; and 
that at Archer, by the Maddox Iron Works. The others are City owned. 
The. Gainesville public supply is derived from two wells and a series 
of springs. There is a 300,000-gallon ground reservoir and an elevated 
tank of 150,000:gallons capacity. There are 2,434 water connections, all 
metered. The average consumption is 1,100*000 gallons per day, with a 
• maximum of 1,500,000. In addition to thsHown, the University of Florida 
is served by the system,- Approximately 90$ of the population is served 
by the public water supply. 
The other -towns have a similar system with one or two deep wells and 
elevated storage. 
The water used by rural population consists for the most part of ; 
shallow wells, a large number of which are dug wells with buckets. 
SEWAGE- DISPOSAL 
Gainesville is the only community in the county that has a water 
carriage sewerage system. Disposal from:this system is through a modern, 
well designed Irahoff tan].: with a designed capacity of approximately two 
million gallons per 24 hours. The effluent from this tank goes to the 
low swamp area south of the- City known as nthe Prairie.11 Apparently this 
is taking care of the wastes without offense. The Imhoff tank- is well 
operated and cared for. The only deficiency is inadequate sludge drying bed 
capacity. » 
Sewage from the University of Florida is not discharged into the 
municipal outfall, but is discharged through a separate disposal plant 
into the creek. This plant consists of an Imhoff tank and trickling filt- 
ers. It is operated under the supervision of the University. In the unsewered sections of Gainesville and in the other communities 
in the County there are some septic tanks with absorption field, hut the 
large portion of the homes .are equipped with a privy only. A great num- 
ber of these are open back and insanitary. In the unsewered areas of 
Gainesville are numbers of insanitary toilets that need replacement. Under 
a previous City administration, box and can type privies were installed 
in place of the standard,State Board of Health pit type that is used satis- 
factorily in other parts of Florida and in other States. Box and can 
privies can only be dependable with a most efficient system .of scavenging, 
which experience has shown is impossible of attainment in practice. Sven 
if cans.are emptied regularly it seems impossible to prevent spilling of 
particles pf excreta, on surrounding soil. Fob this reason, the use of box 
■and can privies is almost obsolete in sanitary practice,;'" 
Recently the City has employed a Supervisor of Sanitation and.he. 
states that while it seems that little may be done regarding the sanitary 
facilities now being used, no new dwellings can be built; without being 
connected to the city,sewerage system of If this is not available, a septic 
tank must be. installed, and no new facilities may be installed unless app~ 
roved by him. There, is quite a lot of property where the- installation, of 
septic tanks, is,not practicable. Unless these have a fly-proof, sanitary 
privy they constitute a most serious menace to the health of the community, 
A WPA project has been authorized for Alachua County which it was hoped 
could be used for, cleaning up Gainesville and other towns. However, this 
project has never been worked, and a previous City Manager opposed its 
operation, building the standard privy constructed by the WPA. , ,. 
In riding around over the more rural parts: of the County, one is struck 
by the number of insanitary privies. Even many of the new privies, do not 
seem to be sanitary, and many of the poorer homes appear to have no privy 
at all. When we consider the insanitary privy as a factor in the spread 
of hookworm disease, typhoid and other disease of intestinal origin this is 
quite a serious condition. 
FOOD 
1 > • • i ■■ ■■ % ■ ' • • . • 
The City of Gainesville has a food ordinance, and one man has charge, 
under the sanitary officer, ’of-food and-market inspect ions. The workers 
are examined, and while most of the restaurants etc. ,! in Gainesville 
appear to be fairly clean, in some of them at least there is much room for 
improvement. The kitchens are poorly kept, dishwashing is poor, and in 
one the owner and waitresses-placed-unwashed glasses back on the rack to be 
used again. Conditions are even worse in the County outside of Gainesville. MALARIA MOSOJJITO CONTROL 
Records covering the period 1927 *- 19(54 show a death rate from malaria 
in Alachua County of 33.8 per 100,000. When it is considered that every 
death would represent 300 - 400 cases- by conservative estimate, it will 
be seen that malaria is an important factor in the county. In the Rail 
of 1936 the authorities of Gainesville and the University asked the State 
Health Officer for a survey of malaria mo’squito breeding in the vicinity 
of Gainesville, This was mode by Doctor .T, H. D. Griffitts, Louva G, 
Lenert, former State Sanitary 'Engineer, and Doctor W, Y, King, Senior 
Entomologist of the U.S. DepartmentJof Agriculture, co-operating. Quite 
definite areas of breeding were found in the vicinity of the University 
and the City, and recommendations 'made for. drainage measures. A WPA 
project for Malaria Control Drainage was sponsored by the State Board of 
Health, but this was not put in operation'until October, 1937. Since 
that time, 50 to'lOO men have been employed. The difficulty is that 
medical data in regards to malaria incidence and location of cases, 
usually supplied by a local health organization is lacking, and it is difficult 
to lay out drainage in the county to get the most effective results. The 
city has two men working under the : Officer in oiling and destroy- 
ing local breeding,- These colild bo; mo re. effectively employed if basic data 
were available* 
'MILK 
The City of Gainesville ’has ah ordinance which simulates the U.S.P.H,S. 
milk ordinance with the teeth removed, which greatly lowers its efficiency. 
All cows are tested for tuberculosis and Bang’s disease. There are no 
certified dairies. Quite a number of dairies over the county were visited 
and all of them reveal conditions which seem to me to betray an almost 
complete lack of supervision. In nearly’all’instances the attitude of 
the dairymen was most excellent. Some of the better ones decried the 
fact that it was sometimes several months^between inspections and many 
of the things they were doing incorrectly was .simply because there had 
been no one to tell them anything better. Dr. Morgan, the new sanitation 
supervisor, has been able to get around to the 21 dairies supplying 
Gainesville at least once but the several,,dairies supplying the other 
areas of the county are very poorly supervised and conditions are very 
bad to say the least. With two or three exceptions no.milk is retailed 
in restaurants or- other eating establishments in the original containers 
as it should beIn On© place the'cream was openly poured off before it 
was served to the consumer. 'There are two dairies supplying Gainesville 
which operate pasteurizing plants for their own supply, and one ice cream 
company has a makeshift pasteurizer whose efficiency is doubtful. The 
conditions over the county as a whole are bad and, as stated above, seem 
to betray an almost utter lack of supervision. There is no information 
obtainable as to the amount of milk consumed. DAIRIES WITH GAINESVILLE PERMITS: 
Ben Arnow * 
Barton Dairy 
E. N. Seville 
R. C. Blake 
A. B. Cellon 
•Miss. Rosa Crown * 
D. G.tEdwards 
Florida Agriculture * '• 
Experimental Station Dairy 
Florida Farm Colony 
M, T, Hartman 
Ray Haufler (Edgewood Dairy) 
T. 0. Highsmith 
M. A. Litchfield 
L, L. Goode (Mansfield Daily) 
Rf C. Padgett 
Carl E. Perry (Pasteurizing Plant 
L.- H. Robbins 
Mrs. W. A. Seay 
Lance Taylor 
University City Dairy 
(Pasteurizing Plant) 
Whitehurst Dairy 
’OTHER DAIRIES 
Dr, I. C. Dailey * Micanopy 
Pierson’s Dairy. Alachua 
Henn’s Dairy * High Springs 
Crocker1s Dairy High Springs 
West. Dairy ;J High Springs' 
. GARBAGE DISPOSAL 
All of the garbage is collected together and carted to a dump 
about one mile from town near the sewerage disposal plant and burned. 
There is no incinerator, and one should be installed.'* * / ‘ The surveyor' had occasion during 
December, 1937, to spend two days in the,county, at 
which time some of the dairies were again visited. As 
far as I could see, little or no improvement was notic- 
ed in conditions as they were found six months ago. 
The-handling of food in the down- 
town Gainesville eating places se.ems worse,- if anything. 
At the lunch counters of two drug stores it was part- 
icularly bad. One of :themV possibly serving as. many, 
noon lunches as any place in CainesVilie, should cert- 
ainly be closed' for the handling of food. The • 
could be kept clean, but It was dirty; and the foo.d and" 
eating’utensils were carelessly, handled. •. . . 
■ : i ■ •*» ' • i" ■ ■ 
- •;» i .■ \ 
Fob'example: -A glass was broken at the 
fountain- and two large pieces of glass were found by a 
customer in his drink.. fished around in 
the garbage pail to find the glass, and after only wiping 
his hands on an already dirty apron, used his hands to 
scoop up the upper part of the whipped cream and ice 
cream on the chance that the glass was in one of them," 
Milk-here, as well.-as in other drug 
stores and restaurants, is still ’being poured from the 
original container before being served to the customer, 
rather than allowing the customer to open the .individual 
bot-tle. ’ ’ • . .. . , * 
F. V. Chappell-, -M.D. * 
Director, MobiletHealth Unit Page A. 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
by 
A. E. McCreary, A. B., M. D. 
Director, Central Organization 
District and County Health Work 
This survey simply reveals the usual picture of a community that has 
failed to recognize its obligations with reference to health, or to take its 
rightful place in the march of health progress. 
The worth of full time health service for all communities is now 
recognized by all health and medical authorities* The- necessity for special 
training of the personnel in administration and other phases of health work is 
recognized as a mandatory requisite of an efficiently operated health service. 
The old fashioned part-time health set up is as obsolete and as in- 
adequate to offer health protection in the present age as the outmoded volunteer 
bucket brigade compared, with modern fire fighting equipment*. 
The medical society in a Florida county addressed a communication to 
the County Commissioners in their county in which they closed with the follow- 
ing summary: "To summarize, we believe that this is the most important position 
in the county* The proper health officer can accomplish more than any indivi- 
dual doctor* Let us get a, man, properly trained, conscientious, and stand by 
him. If you decide on this, we suggest that you consult with the State Board 
of Health* If you decide on an improperly trained man, let us quit making a 
pretense, abolish the job and save the money*" This showed that the Medical 
Society was plainly disgusted with what to them was obviously useless pretense. 
It is obvious that the application of the.sciences of medicine and 
engineering to the problems of life and health are of great economic value 
to any community. 
It is difficult to appreciate why any community would subject itself 
year in and year out to. the continued ravages of preventable (diseases and the 
enormous losses of life, health, time and money* 
The cooperative health unit is supported by funds from local sources, 
from the State Board of Health, the United States Public Health Service and 
the Childrens Bureau of the Department of Labor* The unit is under the super- 
vision of the State Board of Health and this is simply to assure the use of 
uniformly accepted measures, of -public health procedure* Actual control of unit 
is placed -in the hands, of the local community, viz; the Medical Society and the 
County Commissioners with the State Board of Health acting in a purely advisory 
and supervisory role. 
The standardization of health units according to modern methods means 
recognition of the work throughout the State and Nation just as the efficiency 
of hospitals are recognized by their approval by the Council on Medical Education 
and Hospitals of the American Medical Association* 
The approval of this council means that the hospital has met the 
requirements for equipment as well as efficiency and competency of personnel. 
The Albemarle County, Charlottesville, University of Virginia Unit 
with headquarters at Charlottesville, Virginia is one of the highly appraised 
health units in the United States* This unit is operated on the budget shown 
by the reproduced letter from Dr. Riggin, Health Commission of Virginia. Page: B. 
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
Richmond 
December 19, 1938 
Dr. A,' B. McCreary, Director 
Bureau of County Health Work 
Florida State Board of Health 
Jacksonville, Florida 
Dear Doctor McCrearv; 
jin reply to your letter of December 10, I am giving you the • 
following information* 
. i i : 
Albemarle County has a population of S'ptirOxfmAtoly 44-000 ! 
including Charlottesville City, which has about 17,000. 
The University of. Virginia, located in Charlottesvillc,.- has 
an enrollment*'of bbbut 2500£ The Joint Health Department 
■was formed by an -agreement between those three local contri- * 
butiiig agencies. The total budget is $22,920, of which $7500 
iis contributed by the County Board of Supervisors; |>7500 by ; " 
.the iCi'ty Council of Charlottesville; $1500 by the- University 
•'officials; $5500 through the cooperation of the State Health 
'Depajrijment, and $920 by other local agencies. These funds ( 
are jhojndled locally by the City Auditor, 
j f ) 
The -personnel consists of one health officer, two sanitation 
officers, fpur nurses, and one clerk. The nurses are.assign- 
ed to iabout equal districts of the county and city. .One sani- 
tation officer does the dairy and food inspections, and the 
lothdr is on general sanitation. The health officer devotes 
jpert qf his time to the duties of Assistant Associate Profespor 
;of Public Health in the University School of Medicineo 
i i s * * 
* . L 4 . . . 
.The ’local Board of Health consists of one member from each of 
v ;the local contributing agencies. At present they are the 
County Manager, the City Manager, and the Professor of Public 
iHealth from the University. The health office is secretary 
!of the local Board of health. 
- •; v r • , c ••• .. 
,•If,ihdre is any further information you desire, please let me 
• ; know. \ '■ , 
j -i j i; V; 
;Witli kind personal regards. 
Sincerely yours, 
SIGNED I. G. RIGGIN:’; 
State Health Commissioner Pago C* 
TOTALS “ $20,000.00 .§4,300.00 §4,200.00 $11,500.00 
SIGHED SIGNED 
FOR COUNTY FOR STATE 
SIGNED FOR UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE DATE SIGNED 
It is agreed by all contracting parties that no personnel will bo employed that does not' meet with the minimal 
requirements laid down by the United States Public Health Service and further, thab no personnel will be employed 
which does hot meet with the approval of the Alachua County Medical Society and the State Board of Health and, 
furthermore, no program will be inaugurated which does not meet with the approval of the Alachua County Medical 
Society and the State Board of Health. . 
ST, 
(Department 
ITE FLORIDA (Division ALACHUA 
COUNTY 
PERIOD 
COVERED 
BY BUDGET July 1st, 
1937 - June 30th, 
1938 
Item Description 
Allotments 
SOURCE OF FUNDS 
• . > -- . * 
Other Agencies 
No 
• » 
12 months 
State 
County TJ,S,P,H.S. 
Name 
Amount 
1 
Health Officer Salary & Travel 
4,200 • ■ 
;' 
4,200 
2 
3 
Sanitation Officer 
Public Health Nurse ,r 
1,800 
1,800 • 
> ■ 
1,800 
1,800 . :• 
*■ 
- 
4 
Public Health Nurse ” ” 
1,800 . 
* - 
Gainesville 
1,800 
5 
Public Health Nurse " ” 
1,800 
600 . . , • 
School Board 
1,200 
6 
Public Health Nurse ” 11 
1,800 
* * ’ 
it n 
1,800 
7 
Stenographer-clerk 
1,200 
Gainesville 
1,200 
8 
Medical and Dental Assistance 
>, 
• •• ? 
9 
and supplies 
Contingent ; •' 
- • 
4,200 
1,400 
100 
Children’s Bureau 4,200 
•Gainesville - 1,300 
SOURCE. OF FUNDS: 
v '■ , - 
City of Gainesville 
$4*300 
. ... 
United States Public Health Service 
4,200 
* 
v- * 
Alachua County 
4,300 
‘ * . 
School Board 
Children*s Bureau 
.3,000 
4,200 
*, ■ 
— 
TOTAL $ 20,000 
'" • 
V " 
FLORIDA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH 
BUDGET FOR STATE OR LOCAL HEALTH PROJECT 
Date this Budget Page D. 
The above minimal budget was suggested as an initial step in Alachua 
County. This county•should have two sanitation officers, one to handle meat 
and milk and the other to do general sanitation work. Although only one sani- 
tation officer is included in this budget we feel that another can be added and 
still keep'the budget within $20,000* 
This survey reveals the glaring need of an approved health service 
and the.first recommendation is the establishment of a cooperative health unit, 
as nothing can or wifll be done about existing conditions without? on authorized 
and qualified full time .agency to further their solution* »*•. 
* * > • 
Vital Statistics should come through the Health Unit and be ■Checked 
and investigated. This would eliminate the statement that registrations are 
from 75% to effective* Read carefully the paragraph on Vital Statistics. 
Vital Statistics, is.the measuring rod or , speedometer • of public health progress* 
MATERNAL AND INFANT HYGIENE 
The fact that fully half of the deliveries for the past four years 
have been attended by midwives, when coupled with the maternal death rate and 
the number of stillbirths, is highly indicative of the necessity for super- 
vision by an active health department. There should be firm and positive con- 
trol of the activities of midwives. They should report the acceptance of 
expectant mothers as patients at least five days prior to delivery, and again 
to report immediately upon delivery to the health department so that the health 
department can exercise the necessary supervision. Naturally this statement is 
based upon the assumption that on adequate health service is to be inaugurated 
in Alachua County. 
EPIDEMIOLOGY 
The absence of records of morbidity as well as records of epidemio- 
logical investigations are simply another indication of the crying need for 
full time health service. 
1950 
1931 
1932 
1933 
1934 
1935 
1936 
Typhoid Reported 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
4 
0 
Deaths 
5 
1 
1 
2 
0 
1 
1 
Typhoid due to the fact that it is a long lingering illness is usually 
reported better than most communicable diseases yet this table proves that over 
the seven years period only five cases were reported to the Bureau of Epidemi- 
ology of the State Board of Health, while for the same period eleven deaths 
were reported* Of course it is obvious that the cases were not reported, were 
not investigated, and nothing was done to control the spread of the disease* 
It is estimated that there are from seven to ten cases for every death which 
would mean that for this same period there were more than seventy-five typhoid 
patients* Is it economy for a community to ignore such conditions? During 
this same period 165 persons died from tuberculosis while only 29 cases were 
reported* It is estimated that there are ten cases of tuberculosis for every 
death which would mean that there were 1650 cases of tuberculosis in this 
community while only 165 cases were recognized* The utter impossibility of 
control work under such conditions is obvious* 23 children had diphtheria 
during this period and eight died* Eight absolutely unnecessary deaths and 
23 cases of preventable disoa.se* Pago E. 
■The’ organization ci! an adequate health set-up to study and apply 
methods of control is obvious. What; would such an organization have- been 
worth to-the parents of the eight children, the relatives of the eleven typhoid 
victims, or the 165 who were silenced by the great white ,plague.- 
SANITATION 
Neglect has been as marked in this field as it has been in the others© 
When one sees the various channels of infection possible through badly sanitated 
environment, the marvel is not'that the disease rate is high, but that it is 
not even higher. The handling of food and milk is described in the survey. 
The United States Public Health Service Milk Ordinance sometimes referred to as 
the Standard Milk Ordinance when properly enforced assures a s.afe milk supply. 
Medical and engineering sciences have given Us the me-ans of controlling the 
conditions under which*we live. Public Health, is a purchasable product and 
any community can within certain limitations establish its own disease and 
death rate.