Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-06-16

ADJUSTMENTS, &C. ro.NIcgT

ADJUSTMENTS. &C., TONIGHT
SToTr's HALL. First Ward.-The ladies
who are holding a fair and festival az this
place axe not exclusive, but extend a cordial
Invitation 10 all-ineluding remote Suburban
residrnts-to give them call. Go.
EAST WAsHINGToS IN Pr CHURCH, Navy
fard--Those who prefer the East To the West.
and who have an idea that the pretty girls are
all down towards the Navy Yard, will n they
call Al the ladies fair and festival at this
Church, have their preference confirmed
CANIERBURY.-Pickpoc are generally IN
De avoided. but this Il not the case with the
.female PIckpocket of Washington, at the
Canterbury, where crowds nightly assemble
Without unnecessary alarm as TO the safety of
their pOcket-bOoks.
THE FEvEE IN THE JAIL.-rhe following is
the rrpoIi OF Surgeon Reyburn in reference 10
the disease now prevailing in the Jail:
BueOu Refugees. Freedmen, and Abandoned
Lands, headquarters Asst Commissioner District
Columbia, Washington, June "a, IS66,-GeneraI;
In compliance with instructions received, I
nave the honor TO state that / visited the
United States Jail, Washington, ID. g., on une
ID le66, and respectfully present the following
report OF the sanitary condition and facilities
Tor the treatment of freed people now suffering
from typhus fever in that institution.
Typhus fever being disease which Is always
produced by impure air and bad Hygiene
My inquiries were first directed to the causes
which produced the present epidemic, and
which are believed to be rs follows, viz:
LIST. The oyercrowding of the prison. This
building cannot properly accommodate over,
al the utmost. its present number, which is
one hundred llOO) prisoners, yet, i am jim
formed that the average number of prisoners
has been for several months past over two
hundred, and has frequently largely exceeded
that number.
2d. The faulty constrn elton Of the building:
there being no arrangement for carrying of the
impure and vitiated air, nor ara there any wa
ter closets in the prison; consequently portable
sinks have 20 be used, which are kept in the
corridors and are emptied night and morning
Sd. TIE entire absence of any hospital for the
L. 20 lob -
and one which requires prompt remedy: a.
Il is now, the sick and well are mingled to-
gether, and the disease is rapidly spreading
among tine prisoners and attendants.
4th. The diet of the prisoners is sufficient in
quantity but the quality is defective; larger
proportion of flesh meat and vegetables shoaId
BE- issued.
Two meals per day are given the prisoners
They receive their breakfast at : a. m. and
their dinner 81 p. m, and consequently re-
main eaca day eighteen hours without food.
The cells and corridors We're found TO be
ClPSu. and The Wardens and attendants seem
attentive TO their duties, and probably do all
that Is possible under the unfa vsrable circum-
stances under which they are placed.
Finally. this institution, rs ii has been here
tOfOre managed, Is a disgrace to modern ciylliza-
ton and should be amended forthwith: and by
the gross neglect OF the most ordinary sanitary
and hygienic rules, which is everywhere ap-
parent, ViruIent and contagious disease has
been generated which may devastate the entire
community. Very respectfully. your obedi-
EFT servant, ROBERT REYBURN,
Surgeon U. =. Volunteers,
Surgeon in chief District of Columbia Bureau
X. r and A. i.
The above report was transmitted TO the
Secretary of the Interior with the subjoined
endorse ment.
Headquarters 4SsiStoRt Commissioner d. e. b.
TSGH Refugees. Freedmen and A. L.-Respectful-
" referred 90 the Honorable the Secretary of
the Interior Complaints of the bad condition
Of this IaIl bave reached these headquarters
from other sources and the Surgeon in charge
has requested this Bureau to assume the care
Of freedmen who have contracted typhus fever
there. Prom the report of the chief medical
officer of the Bureau of this District, il would
seem that radical changes are demanded in the
construction OF the building. / would reSpect-
fully request that the attention of the proper
authorities be directed also. TO the statement
that the prison has been overcrowded. As in
the presence OF a contagious disease, and du-
ing the warm season this course must prove
especially destructive TO life.
e.. II. HOWARD, Brevet Brig. General.
Assistant Commissioner.