The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-22
LOCAL MATTERS.

ella by the frat nahed gentleman, with the docu.
inenls accompanying HE annual message
Inc details Of this report possess much interest
AS the entire medical profession. and indeed the
community al large are more less interested in
correct and reliable returns of deaths and inter
ments, the Board resort to criticisms, with view
Of calling attention to the subject, and that they
| may be able in future to make reports worthy Of
our city and valuable statistics; and they ear
nestly suggest the hecSsoty Of legal require
tiieht from undcrtakers and practitioners of medi-
cine in relation to this subject
No returns Of either marriages births which
have taken place in this city giveni for the
reason that the number of these reported to the
Board during the past year. from the neglect Of
ministers and accouchers, arc SO far short of the
actual number which do occur that TO pubeh
them would be giving very false impression OF
the real number Though these are considered Of
primary importance by all who take the trouble to
think upon the subject, and though il is ncknow-
lodged that valuable material may be gathered
from accurate information of the number OF mar
riages and births, 80 much 80 that governments
have thought it worthy of their special attention,
yet those who the most interested, and have the
power 10 furnish correct reports neglect il alto
gether. If the Councils deem il important TO col
lect statistical knowledge these subjects, (and
the Board think it is importantly they must enact
laws to make it obligatory on ministers fthe gos-
pei and those who are empowered TO perform the
marriage ceremony to report marriages, and
couchers heads of families to report the births;
and the laws must be enforced We have no doubt
that, in the latter event. city, compared with
its municipal sisters, would not be found deficient.
From experience, derived from past observa
tions the Board are sustained in the conviction of
the value and Importance of vaccination, and il
justifes them in rciterating their former opinions
of the necessity of permanent vaccine institution,
and that by such establishment much money
will be saved TO the Corporation. No of small
pox has occurred within our city, or been reported
to the Board, sihcc the discontinuance of the vac
cine physicians. But like all large cities, are
constantly liable to have this disease introduced
among Us by sailors andforeigners; and hence they
| deem it very important that some permanent pro-
vision should be made by the City Councils for the
isolation and treatment OF such cases. With this
| view they would therefore recommend, as con-
nectcd with vaccine establishment, that there be
pest house erected and placed under proper and
permanent arrangements, so that it will be access
IDLE at all times for of smallpox, as well as
any other disease of an infectious or contagious
nature, which might occur at any season of the
year.
The attention Of the Board has been called to the
practice which obtains in some of the churches in
Our city, of receiving upon temporary deposit dead
bodies in their vaults, under their churches and in
! their church yards. At period when churches,
church yards, and vaults almost isolated, and
far away from the populous parts of the city, this
practice presented no serious objections; but
city spreads and increases in population and in
density, the Board conceive il presents evils which
they deem incumbent on them to notice; and
| T,li
the City Councils whether some action on their part
on this subject might not be appropriate, and save
much trouble and vexation in future. Several COM
plants have been made 10 the Board which lead
them to believe that, unless something be done to
arrest the practice, serious injury to property to
comfort, and health, will arise from its continu-
ance.
There IL in this report chapter on the subject of
alleys, CUTTERS and sewers. From the vigilant eff
forts of the members of the Board, aided as it has
been by the Mayor, the City Councils, and an eff
cient police, much we told has been done to-
wards effecting cleanliness; yet much has still to
be done. BY avniling ourselves of the natural ad-
vantages of the locality of city, by Disregard
ing obsolete laws, fixed opinions, and rigid con-
struction of old laws, and making our grades to
accord with common sense, founded scientific
observations, we will remove many Of the obstacles
way carry off all Offensive and unhealthy colec-
tions. II is with infinite pleasure that the Board
have noticed this spirit in Councils; contnu-
ance of the present judicous system of grading
and paving cutters and alleys, well as widening
the former, of encourag ng the extension of under
ground drainage must be attended with the most
salutary effect.
But defect exists with regard TO the construc-
ton of sewers. In the present plan their mouths
are left open, and arrangement exists to pre-
vent them from eliminating most offensive and
deleterious effiuvia. In a communication hereto.
fore addressed to The Mayor the b, ard suggested
method by which, in their opinion, the difficulty
thus presented might be obviated. 1t consists in
having either balancc-valve the mouth Of
every sewer, or the construction of what is termed
by plumbers goose or air traps. And here
will remark that, under the directions of the
Mayor, the the corner of Fourteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue has been arranged
according to this plan, with the most satisfactory
result.
In concluding the report, the Board express
their pleasure in announcing the heathfulness of
the city during the past year, and its exemption
from epidemic and contag ious diseases, with the
exception of the smallpox, which, however, pre-
vailed to a very limited extent, and was generally
confined to the most destitute class of society, who
resided in the suburbs Of the city, and who had
never enjoyed the advantages Of vaccination. One
single OF cholera occurred among us, and that
was a stranger from the West, who attacked
coon after his arrival, and died in about six hours;
though surrounded constantly by friends, attend
ants, and physicians, and in one of our most
crowded hotels. The number of deaths during
the past year exceed those of the previous by few.
But when we take into consideration that we
have growing population of between forty and
fifty thousand, beside large number of strangers
and sojourners, and when examine the table of
interments, it can readily be accounted for; and
with this increase tUe compare most fauorabiy
tch the hedlHiiest paris Of The toord. Our list of
deaths prove, too, the infrequency of deaths from
that class of diseases usually accredited to the in
fuence of climate and locality. In this respect our
city bas, within few years past, undergone
marked improvement.
JUVENILE DEPRAvirY.--A stout, good looking