Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-09-08
The Ni~ht-soiI Couuudrum.

THE BOARD OF HEALTH SCRATCHES ITS HEAD,
AND FINALLY GIVES 1T UP.
At an adjourned meeting of the Board of
Health on Saturday night, Mr.. Langston re-
sumed the discussion of the night-soil question,
and during his remarks criticised freely the va
Tieus plans proposed, showing what appeared
10 him TO be defects. He also read letter from
DIR. 5. n. Gale, of the Smithsonian Institution,
on the subject of disinfectiDg BY the use OF sui
pilates Of iron and zinc.
DIR. vKRDI's PLAN.
DIR. Verdi followed Mr.. LangstOn, and defend
ed the plan he had submitted of Theoretically
sealed boxes or cans. He exhibited a sample OF
can made of galvanized iron, with lid and ar
rargement for fastening attached. which had
cost but II, and showed its applicability and its
simplicity Of construction.
DR.. Bliss, after commenting on the spirit of
ridicule exhibited in the caption of what pur-
ported 70 be report of a meeting Of the Board
OF the importance of the subject In connection
with the reputation of this District as a healthy
locality; OF the diseases engendered by neglect
children, and the fatal Character of noisonops
gases from night-soil TO invalid adults and of
his extensive observations of the subject curing
his connection with the board.
THE PUMP SYSTEM THE THING
lie reviewed the plan submitted by DR.. Verdi,
ana pointed out what he thou hit to be defects
lie thought IT more impractical and really more
expensive than the people would be willing to
ADOPT lie was not welded to any plan or pre-
JUDGED against any, but willing to accept the
oest ana cheapest. The plan proposed and ad :
any expense on the city OF additional expense
to individuals, while the plan proposed by DR.
neIdl Is laid upon persons who have provided
themselves with water closets as well as upon
those who have not In speaking of
TIE BANEFCL EFFECTS OF THIS NUISANCE,
the doctor said he believed by the successful
abatement OF 1t the death-rate would be reduced
i've per cent. As to the utilization of night soil
for ferthZing purposes, it was a failure in this
country; and he had yet to learn of an indi-
yidual who had made It's manufacture success
In Baltimore, where night soil is collected and
delivered to the manufacturer at the expense of
the city, into fertilizers it has proved failure.
recommended by DIR. Gale, it is the most i'm
practicable submitted. The chemicals-sul-
pilates of iron and zinc-in the hands of igno-
rant men would prove a greater nuisance than
the one they are seeking to abate.
AN OBJECTION ANSWERED.
III the whole community were as intelligent
as Dr. Gale, his system could safely be intro
duced, but not with a population like ours As
TO the objection raised, that the pump does not
clean the boxes so thoroughly as do the scayen
gers, he contended that 1t does, and that expe-
the work would be more satisfactorily done than
by the old system. He claimed that the box
system would in many instances cost more than
the poor novels and shanties which the tenants
Mr.. Langston again explained nn><iews.
NONE OF THE PLANS PRACTICAL
Mr.. Marbury thought there were objections
to all the plans proposed, and none which had
been presented suited him. Even their ex-
health officer in his travels over Europe had
tailed to find one free from objections He was
opposed TO entaillng any more expense on the
people. This pump-plan presented this advan-
tage over all others, but II too has faults He
accorded to DIR. Bliss all praise for his long and
jealous efforts to overcome this nuisance; to
him more than to any member of this hoard
were the thanks of this community due for the
very excellent system of removal of night .oll
now in use in this District, which all acknowl-
edge TO be so much superior to the old dumping
system. He then gave his objections to the
pump-plan more in detail; the stirring of the
iecal matter creates nuisance; when witness
ing the experiment the other day the pIacing
OF the nozzle in the box and stirring it up had
MADE HIM DEATHLY SICK,
so great was the odOr. The pump failed to
exhaust all the fecal matter. The experiment
the benefit of the daylight, whereas, IN its
practical workings, the machinery had to be
rsed IN the darkness of night; would have to be
to localities difficult If not impossi-
bic to reach at all, up narrow alleys, Sc, and
in the winter time the frost would preclude the
use of the hose, and he did not believe the
contractors would be able to carry out their
contracts. He would have to vote against ali
the systems presented, and wait until something
better turns up.
THE WHOLE SUBJECT TABLED.
Here Mr.. Langston read the resolutions under
again prohibiting the continuance
September.
DIR. Verdi opposed taking a vote,
Mr.. LangstOn thought It folly to pass the
resolution until they had adopted plan to put
into use for the abatement of the nuisance. He
moved 1t be laid on the table at present, to be
DIR. Cox said the subject had been discussed
long enough, and the board ought to come to
some conclusion.
Friday next the final vote be taken.
Mr.. Langston's resolution to lay on the table
indefinitely finally prevailed, and the board
adjourned.