The Columbian fountain., 1846-05-01

not been for the existence of this evil, the
population of Washington would have
been greater than it now is by 226 males
and 3l3 females, and that the value Of
property on Pennsylvania avenue would
have been one and three-sevenths per cent.
higher
! The next committee to report was the
Committee on Health. The ability of the
members on this committee was of itself
sufficient to insure report of great value.
The committee stated that they had made
as extensive and as minute researches as
their opportunities would allow. Some of
the facts they presented were truly appall-
ing. They showed conclusively that the
evil was inhaled at every breath and swal-
lowed at every meal and further, that the
construction of the human frame, and the
nature of the atmosphere, was such that
even the pores of the body were constantly
absorbing it, and that at every moment,
whether asleep or awake, and wherever it
might be, the body was continually becom-
ing saturated with the noxious dust
Here, one of the members begged to in
terrupt the reading of the report for sin
gle moment, to suggest whether, by remain-
ing always in bath, the evil might not be
avoided. The chairman stated that this
question would more properly be in order
when they came 10 discuss the various
plans of relief that might be proposed
The committee further stated that, for the
purpose Of obtaining the most accurate ba-
sis possible for their Investigations, they
had endeavored to find some individul who
would be willing to remain on the avenue
ten hours, and then submit to a post mortem
examination. They had not found any one
Of sufficient public spirit to afford them this
means Of Judging, though they had repre-
scented to several, with all their ability, the
lasting obligations such one would receive
| from his fellow citizens. In the absence,
then of actual experiments, they had drawn
their deductions with great care, and they
exhibited several drawings, showing the
condition Of the internal organs after living
for some time in an atmosphere of dust, (at
the sight of these drawings two members
fainted,) The committee also stated that ma
l,I |, L
tlon of serious injury to the eyes, throat,
and lungs in consequence of the dust Va
rious other items of information were pre-
sented, all tending to show beyond the sha-
dow Of a doubt the actual existence Of the
evil complained of, and its deleterious in
huence upon the health of our population.
The Committee on Weights and Measures
next reported. 1t bad been their province
to gather statistics and make actual meas
urement of the quantity of dust actually
inhaled and consumed. The report stated
that they had not been able to ascertain
with accuracy the precise amount con-
" puIii iiuDe w oIdU anu CUllU IN
the city, and therefore they had been COM
PEELED to take an average, and that even
this average would be rather theoretical
than an actual one, as doubtless those per-
sons who lived on the avenue consumed
more than those who were in the outskirts
Of the city. The committee had used
every precauhon to ensure accuracy. Thew
had closely examined not less than fourteen
individuals. One stated that he believed
one-half he eat and breathed was dust
others stated much less !; one being so low
as the one-hundredth part Between these
two extremes, various quantities were
stated, the average of which was the fifth
eth. The committee report, therefore, that
one-hltleth of all that the citizens of Wash
lngton eat, drink, and breathe, is dust.
To be concluded