The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-06-13


MAINS on II SrHrEr.-Yesterdsy we published
the facts concerning the discovery and subsequent
prompt removal Of putrid human remains, on II
between Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets In
rear Of the old medical college. We publish the
following communication ION this very subject)
CORPORATION, and the Metropolitan Police, though
they MAY act quietly, arc on the alert, and act
promptly IN all cases Of nuisance or matter that
may affect the health or convenience OF our oiti.
sons:
orrrcR sroHrrHnr OF BoARD or HlALrH,
wAsnIHaros, D. O, June 10, 1857.
Sin: In addition TO my two communications
Of this date, have further TO report, that this
afternoon my attention was called to the oondi.
tion Of the vacant lot adjoining the National
( Medical college on II street, between Thirteenth
and Fourteenth streets, formerly the Army Med.
zeal Museum, In which, upon examination, ]
found q nuisanee Of q most aggravated deserip:
tion, sufficient Of itself TO cause disease, and
which, without doubt, has exercised q potential
agency in tho production Of the endemic low
fever which nov prevails In that vicinity.
/ The nuisance consists Of q pit Of unknown ca.
paoity, in which portions Of human remains, &C.,
have been deposited, the decomposition Of which
has produced q stencil qnite perceptible at q dis
tancs Of more than $50 yards, filling the air 10 at
least that distance with most offensive odorsi the
eight covering Of earth above It bcng 30 impreg.
mated with foul gases as TO favor this and at the
same time to saiinate the water from rains, 80,
flowing over II into the gutter In the alley in the
rear Of the premises, and thence into the sewer at
. the corner Of Twelfth street, to such an extent
as to kill chickens, pigeons aud other animals
which drank Of IL. This lot was part Of the
premises attached TO and occupied for some years
I BY tho Army Medical Museum, and II Is fair to
assume that thesc debris were placed In their
present situation by subordnates connected
herewith. as II 10 hardly possible that response
bic persons could allow Of such pernicious no.
cumulation n they were aware oft
| The National Medical College took possession
Of their property, the building proper, without
the outhouses or the 3D. aeent ground, on the LIST
Of November last, and during the ensuing winter
course Of lectures there delivered, disposed In the
usual safe manner, Of all the remains Of subjects
used for dissection 10 the College. This assert
| Of my own knowledge.
In ascsrtaining t6e condition Of the lot in ques.
tion, and the character Of the dreadful nuisance
contained In Il, In consultation with DR.. Riley,
one Of the members Of the Board Of Health, from
the Second Ward, aud with the Ward Commits
sioner, took the responsibility Of directing the
scayenger Of the Ward to remove, during the
night, all the offending matter TO be found in the
pit, cautioning him, however, To employ large
quantity Of lime during the operation. In order
to thoroughly deodorixe and disinfeot II, thereby
rendering tho procedure safe, and without danger
to the adjoining inhabitants.
Perhaps l have Transcribed my authorityi but
the urgency Of the case allowed no time for delay,
and I therefore report all the circumstances to
you, IN the hope that tho action Of the Board oil
Health, by DR.. Riley and myself, and that Of the
Commissioner Of the Ward, will meet youi
approval.
| O. M. DOVE, NJ. D.
To His Honor, tho Mayor.
The nuisance has been thoroughly abated, vi
hayo ainea been infofmod
The following, concerning ,ewer In bad con
dition, shows that tho Mayor has an eye to The
health OF the city, and gives quietly, but will
due force, his commands 10 all such cases tina
are in any way brought to his notice.
OFFICE sEoR.r ARr OF BolEp OF HEALTH.
wAsHISGroS, D. G, June 10, 1867. :
Sin In obedience to your instruction, hav
to report that / yesterday examined the "sewe
commencing at tho corner Of Thirteenth street
and running thence southeast, to tho corner o
Ninth " as far as could do so, without bjectin
tho premises Of private individuals to annoyinI
visitation and inspection.
I ascertain that tho sewer Is on tho site Of |
former water ooursei that part Of II Is public
and the rest on private property, and belonging
to individuals. Except defective traps, partieu
larly those on all the corners OF Twelfth and
streets, tho public sewer Is in good order. Th'
water course going through private property Is,
, In some cases, walled and arched over-in others
Il Is simply covered over with boards In Covert
lanyard am informed that it is In the latte
condition, and is extremely defective. In Squar'
49, 1t Is covered, (wallcd and arched) except Ii
the alley way. whore II is asusual, boarded over
/ In this square there are six privicS, and traI
Immediately over and directly opening into th
sewer. In the square east, viz between an
. II, and Tenth and Eleventh, there are ais
4 privies and traps similarly located-the ale!
ways, also, being covered over with boards.
, am informed that other squares In the .yicinit
Il L., condition FaVaFda tn
! arrangement Of privios, traps, 40.
At the corner Of Eleventh and 7 a break hu
N occurred in the private sewer located at thI
y point, which keeps the cellar Of the property
:. q. bad condition, assisted by nuisance on II
adjoining property on street. The owner
10 this corner hasbeep notified BY the sanitary Of
IN GERS Of its condition, and he will no dou'
n promptly abste the nuisance now existing.
n As your inquiry into the condition Of u
A. sewer at this point was probably dictated by Il
N oxistence Of some cases Of low foyer which pr
vail In the vicinity, I have thought II proper
n make some Investigation into that subject in Ii
"A connection. The occurrence Of these cases
- the locality embraced with Tenth and Sixteeni
!. or Seventeenth streets, and y md streets, M
i urally suggests that there should exist sou
~ local cause for It's endemic visitation, and d
demolition OF the sewer at onoe very properly n
=, tracted attention. Within the range mentione
:, there have probably occurred from 80 to 80 case
y Of low form Of mild, continued fever, chief
0 among children, which has, as Is usual with tina
! form Of disease been slow In Its course, but no
fatal In its results, ono case Of death only-A
i adult-haying occurred. These cases have bes
generally distributed nearly equally within the
range mentioned-the next sewer being on
street, between Eleventh and Twelfth street
!, where the death happened. There have ocoa
sonaIly been seen cases Of this fever in other 10
caities, but they have been very slight and hay
" excited no alarm whatever,
TL.N kaa haan nuaa IneTI n N
ton for the prevalence OF this disease In the dis
% trict most severely visited there can scarcely b
y q doubt; but to what extent the agency OF thu
sewers Is concerned in its introduction Is anothe
! question.
l. In many cases they certainly require thoroug
cleansing, but II would hardly be judicious MOI
to enter upon the work. particularly as We hay
o an efficient substitute in their perfect disinfeC
70 ton, which can be successfully accomplished b
the united efforts Of tho corporation officials an
II by private property holders by n resort to II
It simple means pointed out In an able report
ID our Board Of Health, already published in u
N REPUBLICAN Of the 9Th and the IHieliigsHcer
y the 9th inst, which Is now being prepared 4
!. general distribution by order of the Board.
In view Of all the circumstances Of the cas-
would, at this time, respectfully suggest thi
Il all the direct openings into the sewers on priyR
81 property be clossd that the alley way and 9TH
t. uncovered parts Of them DO arched over; tn
TO tho traps mentioned, and others found defecti'
w be replaced by others more Efficient and tn
ut the whole system of sewers, not only here, b.
ID In all other parts of tho city, DO thorough
no and efficiently disinfeoted by the combin,
Efforts both Of the authorities and Of Il
oitiEeus.