Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-08
EV ENING STAR
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

ger be classed among the villages of this
I epublic its thistle-grOwn :" old fields have
long since been encroachcd upon by street ex-
tensions, and our friend, Col. W W. Seaton,
would be much puzzled now To catch trout back
Of ST. Patrick church. or shoot wood cock in
the slashes. As we have attained the rank Of
a city, we must always expect to become sub
isct TO those usual he It'll destroying influences
which are unknown to small populations
Washington has reached a stage Of progress
and prosperity which requires the interyen-
ton of strict sanitary regulations and the
adoption Of those modes of preserving health
which have been elsewhere attained by tardy
and often, too, painful experience. A system
may be adopted, before serious harm can
arise, and thereby, the old reputation for
health within our bOrders,' Re preserved
Let US not forget that the Republic entrusts
many precious lives to US annually and the
Councils should do all in their power, to give
them the natural blessings, which they enjoy
at home.
~ natural philosopher of great distinction,
IN conversation a few weeks ago, commented
on the very faulty administration in some par
ticulars and thought, that if our bad smells
were not eOunterbalanced by the purity of the
water, serious results to health might occur.
One If the most important steps towards put
ting this city in perfect sanitary condition,
'uld be the appointment of proper health
tioer. For years past, we have been content
'h the workings Of a cumbrOus machine.
timed the g Board Of Health, formed of an
eiual number of citizens and physicians.
A little reflection will convince any one
that this Board, unless in time of actual pesti-
lsnce, is worse than useless, that it really is
Al obstruction to improvement. The MEM
bcrs, taken from civil life are occupied with
their ewn affairs and besides have no precise
information on the subjects entrusted to their
care; whilst the medical portion have their
own professional responsibilities, which alone
are often too OnerOus.
The latter cannot really give the time, and
their colleagues often do not feel the force Of
the complaints made to them, unless the mat
ter comes home to themselves. Where there
are many concerned in the performance of a
duty, there is always individual apathy and
no good results ensue. To illustrate this-un-
der the present system. the sanitary cOndi-
ton of the Second Ward this summer, has
been most disgraeeful to any city A street,
which for twenty years has been opened, was
allowed to be a scavenger's depot, and mlny
hundreds CT feet Of their deposits, running
the whole length Of square, cast off poison
Gus exhalaiicns into the air, for months.
Another depot was selected by the mayor
himself, one square from this and touching
almost great thOrOughfare, and this added
to the decomposition Of unburied horses, on a
contiguous street, beneath a sweltering sun,
went on, week after week, without the 81, ht-
est Interference. So intOlerable at length be-
came this nuisance, that the mayor was most
earnestly appealed 10. He sent his board Of
health there, who informed him that they
smeIt nothing at the POudrette Factory
The writer called on a physician, one of the
board, who was ordered to view it, to urge his
careful attention, and to warn him that moth
ing could be smelt at the place itself, often
waen the putrid exhalatiOns were most often
siye at remote localities. This member re-
marked, that ii was perfectly unnecessary to
direct his attention TO it, as he had driven
through the stencil the previous Sht and
found IL 10 extend for several squares. The
exact words Of the report are unknown. bat II
was Of such character that the nuisance has
been allowed 10 20 on.
Now Immediately following that report,
there have been three deaths in localities
reached by this poison, when there had been
10 death before. The writer knows the vital
statistics Of the locality well, from years OF
medical experience. Now, was it not clearly
the duty of that member to have reported the
condition of the Mayors depot, as he bad ex
perienced it himself? And yet, was II done
Now, it Is maintained that these nulslnces
could not have gone on, under proper Health
Officer. He would have compelled the Mayor
20 take away his deposits from proximity to 4
great thOrOughfs;e; ne would not have allow
ed a street TO be male a manure heap; he
would have compelled the burial Of the putrid
carcasses: and why because it would have
been his duty TO Ecatch for HID,SSLf, the SAM
tary condition Of the city and Instantly, 10
correct all deviatiOns from the rules of health.
The duties Of a health officer DO not consist
IN seeing that the names of diseases are prop
erly spelled in the published monthly reports
of mortality, and perhaps our people may
nd that such Is the case, when il Is TOO late.
Let members of Congress drive along Four
teenth street, and observe 20 what cOntamlna-
tiOns they are subjected in this metropolis,
and perhaps the City Councils may have Tea-
son - regret that they had not paid any sum
10 a competent person for protecting their in
terestS, as well as the common health. }.
NATIONAL THEATRE-The corps Of Juvenile
night, az this establishment, and by their per-
fUrmaIces confirmed the public expectation
concerning them. They acted their several
parts in a manner which reflects creditably on
themselves and their instructor. We are no
enthusiastic admirers Of what are called
i'prUdi Zies," but must say that this corps have
~Ot been Over-rated Any one who should
-Kpeet n more extraordinary display Of dra-
iatic talent from children, would be unrea-
enable. Little George W. VI lrsh, aye about
I'VE years. astOnished the spectators, while his
sister, Mary. who, perhaps, has numbered
via as many summer, was at least as favor
a5,y received; and the two, together with their
e.. 1ticsl associates, shared the plaudits Of a
-, hted auditory.
- drama of MaZeppa will be performed
satn rla nJr