That year "[t]here were so many cases of typhoid fever that the health officer could not investigate them all" and "hogs with cholera were being sold for human consumption.

Health inspections were required for all people engaged in food preparation, as were general physicals for drivers of vehicles for hire.

A child welfare division was empowered to inspect any home where children were being raised, and also could provide poor families with free milk.

[8] From 1912, garbage collection became a city function, initially utilizing a mix of landfill burial, incineration, and dumping from scows.

Since 1981, the department is under county administration; the City retains direct policy and funding control over the Seattle Services Division.