Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-09
BOARD Of Health.

IMPURE WATER - THE CANAL NUISANCE
DEFECTIVE SEWERS = DANGEROUS ILLUNI-
MATING oILs-ADDREss TO THE PUBLIC ON
sNALL-POx AND vACCINATIoS.
At the meeting of the Board of Health, last
evening. the Health Officer reported Is cases OF
SMALLPOX, ard deaths from same for the past
week. The report of the Sanitary Inspector
General was submitted stating that II nuisances
had been reported, IS of which had been abated
and were properly subjects for action of the
Board Of Health. He called attention to the
soap factory on q street, between 9th and 9TH
streets, again, and asked advice in reference TO
the enforcement of some Of the ordinances A
Complaint was received from a Mr. Ridgway
that night soil was being placed in a pit at Ka-
lorama; referred to the Health Oficer.
DIR. Verdi moved that each inspector be d.
rected TO submit eport to the condition of
his district, the number of houses, factories,
&c; which, after some discussion, was referred
to the committee on ordinances.
DIR. Bliss aiso asked If the board had declared
the canal a nuisance, and received an afhrms-
tive answer.
DIR. Bliss called attention to the fact that some
of the water Of pumps and public wells is said
10 be impure and injurious TO health. He
offered a resolution, which was adopted, direct
ing the inspector general to secure specimens
OF the water used for drinking and culinary pur-
poses, and submst them TO the chemist Of the
board for che mical analysis.
DR.. Cox read communication from yester-
days STAR, in reference to defective sewer con-
nections, and offered a resolution directing the
sanitary committee 10 inquire into the cOndi-
tien of the public and private sewers, and re-
port the best mode of improving them and pre-
venting then frsm becoming naisances injuri-
Gus TO health.
DIR. Cox referred to the horrible death fire. m
the explosion of coal oil, reported in The STAR,
and after stating that the frequency of such
accidents demanded that some measures should
be taken to prevent them, moved that the sani-
tary committee inquire into the qualities of the
coal oil sold in the District, and report to the
board for further action.
Mr.. Langston reported the bill of Messrs
Fisher and Harrington for legal services-S200.
and after de bate Ii was recommitted.
An advertise ment was ordered to be inserted
in the papers in reference to vaccination.
The president, DIR. Cox, read the following
address on smallpox and vaccination; and its
publication was requested:
"TO THE PUBLlC.-Whie small p0x has been
the scourge of other localities, our own District
has thus far remained comparatively exempt
from the loathsome malady. This il doubtless
due to the extraordinary measures adopted by
the Board of Health to prevent the successful
advance Of the epidemic. 1t can no longer be
disguised, however, that during the past week
indications of an increase of the disease have
been painfully apparent, calling for renewed
admonitions to the public upon the importance
OF personal protection. 1t has been clearly es-
tablished in the progress Of recent events that
vaccination, with pure matter, is a complete
safeguard against the ravaees of smallpox and
il is equally demonstrated that general revacci-
nation Is of vital importance whenever the dis
ease assumes an epidemic form. The theory
that the protective power of vaccination is
limited to q certain number of years is no
longer maintained, while the QuoDdam belief
in the pocked or strawberry" scar of q former
vaccination as evidence Of protection is equally
fallacieus. Hence, the only safe policy,
when smallpox prevails epidemically, is
revaccinaton without delay. 1 appeal,
therefore, to the citizens OF the District,
of all classes and conditions, to adopt at
once the only genuine mode of protection. The
ward physicians (who have Hobly responded to
the dc mands OF the bOard) will, il is hoped con-
tinue vigorously their efforts to effect the most
complete possible protection OF the poorer class
es. At the same time, the medical profession
generally is requested to urge upon their patrons
and friends the importance OF literal compli-
ance with the recommendations of the board
1t Is the intention, whenever a small pox case
occurs, to remove the patient, If practical, to
the hospital, or enforce rigid quarantine meas
ures, and to see that the premises and clothing
are properly fumgated and purified. 1t is es-
pecially desirable that every case of small pOx
should be promptly reported to the board, at the
time of its occurrence, that measures NAV be
imme diately instituted to prevent the spread of
the contagion. Physicians and others commu-
nicatiDg the desired information, are assured
that no publicity shall be made either of the
name or locality of the patient, the sole object
being to prevent by early effort the extension of
disease. CHRIS. q. Cox, M. D.,
President Of the Board OF Health,o