Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-13
estimated. The public bath and washing

washlng places, each with its separate drying
80 600 baths, and the washing and drying Of
the clothes of about 2O,oO0 persons. Since then
other establishments have been opened and are
in successful operation in different parts of
London. The number who have availed them
selves of the penny baths is incredible, while
the arrangements for cheap washing and dry
ing of clothing are most complete and accessi-
BILE to all That the bath should find place
among the regular occupations cannot be ques-
toned. Itisreally of greater consequence and
more general utility than any species of manual
or gymnastic exercise. In our country the ina
pOrtance of public baths has been time and
again insisted upon by sanitarlans. In Boston
they have been in use for a number of years,
and extensively patronized by all classes. In
New York the accommodations for public bath
ing retDOt in proportion to the demand. At
tention, however, is being directed to its I'M
portance, and it will not be long ere this great
sanitary measure will receive the consideration
il justly merits. DIR. Stephen Smith, one of the
most distinguished sanitarians of the age, in re-
ferring to the value of public baths, especially
to the districts in New York occupied by ten
ant houses. saws:
1.-THE maintenance of public baths in such
numbers and so distributed throughout the city
as to enable every inhabtant to battle during
the afternoon or evening, would greatly mit-
gate the effects of high temperature: 1, by
directly reducing the temperature of the body;
2, by maintaining a diminished temperature
through the increased evaporation from the
surface, which would follow through cleansing
of the skin. These measures, if faithfully and
edy the insanitary conditions which are quick
ened into such fatal intensity and activity dur
ing the hot season of the year; and our summers
thus be made, If not as healthy as any other
portion of the year, at least as healthy as the
summer towns and resorts whittier We are wont
to flee"
Few cities require public baths more than our
own. With superior water advantages the poor
could be furnished all the benefits of bathing
their persons and washing their clothes at an
expense merely nOmina. IL is to be hoped the
la,si LAT will an Of
Gent importance to the sanitary interests of the
District TO introduce some measure by which.
under direction of the Board of Health or
otherwise, the advantage OF frequent bathing
may be secured, at tritng cost, to our incrcas-
EUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS.
1t is greatly to be regretted that the monthly
mortIary statements of the board have been so
meagre and defective in that precision so eS-
sential 70 the completeness and utility of such
reports. This is due TO the absence OF any law
compelling the physician in attendance to COM
municate the existence OF disease and death.
and to the loose provision by which the board is
informed of deaths, their causes, and other
qualifying conditions. The best interests OF
humanity demand that there shall be, at what
ever cost secured, the most complete periodical
statistics Of births, marriages and deaths, care
fully classified, and recorded in such form as TO
be instantly available. Comparative estimates
of public health, carefully prepared, including
the causes operating at different periods to pro-
duce certain diseases, constitute a most IMPORT
ant basis of preventive sanitary operations.
Not only Is this demanded in sanitary view
but for the requirements OF law and the ends OF
public justice. Indeed, no subject opens more
comprehensive field of useful inquiry. or NAV
lead 10 II ore important results.
Careful investigations into the operations
of other health Institutions throughout the
country made recently by a committee OF this
board, confirm the opinion expressed OF the ne
cessity of a more perfect system of vital statis-
tics than that at present existing. The able
and exhaustive report, just publisho |, contains
the following allusion to this subject:
Your committee are thoroughly impressed
with the Importance and necessity OF the es-
tablishmtnt, III connection with our own board.
of a bureau of vital statistics. including record
of births, marriages, deaths, bUrals, transfers
and removals, inquests OF coroner. causes OF
disease, death ratio, and the like. and recon-
mend that suitable legislation be requested of
the Legislative Assembly covering this sub
ject."
1T is certainly most desirable that some Iecis-
lation should be had at the pending session OF
the Assembly by which more perfect system
OF vital statistics may be secured. In this con-
nection, ii is especially urged that no burials
shall be authorized within the District OF Co.
lUmbia without permit from the Board of
Aealth previously obtained, the application for
the same in every instance setting forth the
name, age, sex. country, disease causing death
of the deceased, and any other information es-
sential to q complete mOrtuary report.
QUARANTINE.
Certain quarantine regulations are also i'm
peratively demanded to prevent the intrOiuc-
ton of infectious contagious diseases into the
city from abroad, whether by land OF water
The want of suitable legal restrictions has been
more than once apparent during the prevalence
of the late epidemic. Persons afflicted with
small pOx have come, unchecked into Wash
towns and cities, Al the serious risk or our own
inhabitants. No enactment at present exists TO
prevent the constant repetition of such danger
Gus invasion of the District. Both land and
water communication should be properly
guarded against the inrOad OF contagious dis
eases, and proper quarantine regulations at
once adopted as a part OF the essential macnin-
cry of the board OF health.
The location of slaughter houses IN cities has
long been recognized among the prom; nent
Causes of unhealthfUlness and disease. In some
OF the European cities abattoirs have been CON
structed beyond the municipal limits where
alone animals are slaughtered for market. In
these the most careful provision is made to
secure entire cleanliness and freedom from
offensive and injurious Odors, the protection of
the community against unsound or immature
animal matter (includlng blood under the same
roof. An extensive abattoir, at immense cost
is now in process of construction near Boston
where all animals intended for the city markets
will be slaughtered. This abattOir, req hired
by legislative enactment to be built under
direction of the Board of Health, has been ap-
prOpriated by the butchers themselves, who are
constructing il at their own expense, but under
the direction OF the health organ of the city
Similar buildings must, sooner or later, be con-
structed in every CITY. Such structures cannot
lAll 70 result most auyantage0usly IN removing
the ,,rcnsiYe and perniciOus Odors which ema-
nate from sail slanghtering establishment
badly regulated, ana -. furnishing. for the
butchers themselves, at one point, anu at mou-
crate cost, all necessary appliances for the sue
cessful prosecution OF their business.
DISPOSITION OF NIGHT SOIL, GARBAGE, ETC.
Experience has proved that the prompt and
y..SS.,er removal Of night soil and garbage can
not be effected unless the Board of Health is
allowed to exercise entire control in the direc-
ton OF its agents. The same remark applies to
the cleansing OF streets and alleys, and the gen.
eral removal Of filth from thor6ughfares ami
private premises. Such control of these i'm
portant sources of offense and insalubrity
obtains in other places, and Is quite indispensa-
BILE. 1t is therefore earnestly requested that
some legislation be had looking to "A more
effective disposition Of this important division
of sanitary labor.
The transfer and final disposition OF night
soil has always been an object of much sanitary
interest, and invariably attended by no smah
trouble and expense. The board has giv,n the
subject unusual attention, anG in few OF the
cities is the ementltious matter So thor
oughly disposed OF, and with so little Otfense as
in our own. The same may be affirmed of
garbage and dead animals. These nuisances
are all transferred, under one contract, and by
the same means of transportation, to a point
down the river, eight miles from the city limits.
This whole work is accomplished at an expense
to the board OF S20, 900 per annam, or S54I9 per
In Va "a Of