Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-13
SANITARY SUGGESTIONS.
Important Recommendations.

morning for Transmission to the Legislature. II
is a well-written and carefully prepared paper
and on account Of the Importance of the sub
jects treated and of the recommendations of
the board, We lay it before our readers in full,
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
BOARD OF HEALTH,
WAsHINGToS, May eth, 1873. J
Hon. n. ID. Cooke, GOrernOr Of the District Of Co
SIR: / have the honor to submit herewith a
statement of the acts of the Board OF Health OF
the District of Columbia, since the rendition of
the annual report of December last, together
with certain suggestions and recommendations
considered important TO the sanitary interests
of the District.
1 have the honor to be, very respectfully,
yours, CHRIS. G. Cox, NJ d.,
President of the Board OF Health Of Dist. Col.
Report.
The first annual report OF the proceedings of
the Board of Health OF the District of Column
bia. presented to your Excellency early in De-
cember of last year, embraced a consideration
OF various sanitary topics, including the canal
nuisance, animals at large, unwholesome food,
small pON, sewerage, utilization OF night soil,
garbage, the cleansing and publication OF alleys
together with the code OF ordinances adopted by
the board, rules and regulations in regard to
small poX, regulations for general vaccination,
for the garbage and sewerage service; reports
of the superintendent of pounds, of meat in
spectOrs, Inspector of marine products, of the
health officer, OF the sanitary, sanitary police,
and ordinance committees, and of the treasurer
and chemist of the board. Every unprei udiced
mind. in view OF that annual exhibit, will ad
NIT that no neglect OF the health interests of
the District is properly chargeable to the board,
but, on the contrary, that its members have
been earnestly DESTROYS to perform their whole
duty, and have labored to that end as they be-
leve not witt t beneficial results.
1 have now the honor of presenting for Your
information and that of the Legislative Assem-
bly, the progress of health operations in the Dis
trict since the rendition OF the last report, in
r. tat n mi hate eff
to prevent the spread of smallpox and inter-
esting statistics connected Herewith a report
OF the receipts and dsburse ments OF the board
since its organization, and OF their present
financial necessities, together with such sug-
gestions as may tend To enlarge the sphere
of sanitary science, and contribute to the ad
yanced health and well-belng OF the cOmmu
ruy.
SMALLPOX.
The history of small pON as prevailing in this
city, has been fully described i'll the annual re-
port, and the exhibit of the health officer APP
peared to this communication marked "a"
The epidemic, which at first threatened to leave
its deadly traces in every part of the District,
has been successfully arrested and confined to
certain limits by the vigilance and perseyering
energy OF the officers having this subject in
charge.
ton OF the spread of small pOx have been found
to consist in isolation and raccindtiOR. The
former has been rendered as perfect as crcum-
stances and the provisions OF law would per-
practiced TO the largest possible extent The
vaccination of the population, exclusive OF such
persons as received attention at the Office of the
board, was cOnhded to the ward physicians OF
the city, under conditions imposed requiring the
most thorough scrutiny into the needs OF the
community in this respect, and their complete
protection by vaccination perseveringly prose-
cuted. How faithfully and efficiently the work
OF these medical gentlemen has been performed
Is eyinced by their full and satisfactory reports
to the board, but more by the stTikingly bene-
liz = a "a M
be said in commentator of the zeal and devo-
ton bestowed upon the task assigned them.
The work assumed no ordinary proportions, and
demanded no ordinary sacrifice and exerti0n.
To the offices of the ward physicians, We feel
convinced, Is due "a large share OF success in
shielding the District from the ravages OF small
pox. For these extraordinary services suitable
remuneration has not yet been rendered. Their
accounts, herewith presented, are regarded by
the board as exceedingly moderate and Just,
and early action OF the Legislative Assembly j.
respectfully urged, by which these physicians
NAV be compensated for the important duty
they have so faithfully executed. The Board
of Health has already assumed one-third OF this
Pecuniary indie bt6dness, to be paid out of the
appropriation made by Congress for the next
fiscal wear, and the aid OF the Legislature L.
earnestly Invoked to meet the remaining obi
CATION.
In order TO prevent the ingress of small pox il
is essential that the system OF vaccination thus
inaugurated shall be persistently sustained year
after year, since new population il constantly
being added to the District, and permanent resi-
dents require the test of reyaccinatiOn at uncer-
tain int rivals The board would. therefore,
suggest that an addition Of at least 500 per
annum be made to the present salaries OF the
ward physicians, in return for which they shall
he required (at least once a year, or Oftener,
should small pox prevail y to visit every house in
their respective districts, for the vaccination
and Tevaccination of all such as may be unpro-
tected, and to ascertain that those who prefer IT,
apply TO their own family physicians shall have
complied with the compulsory rule within
reasonable time.
Additional legislation is absolutely demanded
to enable the board still more successfully to pro-
tect our citizens against small pOx. AT present
the disease chiefly prevails in shanties and di-
lapidated houses where numbers are congre
gated, the surroundings of which indicate gross
neglect Of the common rules OF health, especI-
ally as respects ventilation and personal clean
illness. No legal authority exists to compel the
removal OF the injected from these lOca lions
and thus, IN many instances, they have una
voidably continued to operate as fOci for the
propagation and spread of the epidemic. In
order TO stamp out every trace OF a MALAY so
justly dreaded il is absolutely essential that the
board shall have authority to separate the
diseased from the healthy. Vaccination and
isolation once assured, small pOx will have no
longer a local habitatiOn i'm our midst.
Vaccination, Notwithstanding the newspaper
wisdom upon this subject, still commands the
confidence of the profession as an efficient pre-
OF the New York Board Of Health, during the
vast year, is strongly cOrobOrative this asser-
..;op III positively dfnr1ns tnat "amOng all
,S,,sa .rnn.s.,," vaccInated or re-vaccinated
none have fallen VICTIM to small pox in any
form while numbers have been sl,.cken with
il who refused to be vaccinated."
The efforts of the board to extinguish small
pOx have resulted in partial success only chiefly
for the want vi suitable legislation by which
isolation and vaccination could be made COM
pletely effectual-
1. In order to thorough protection of the com
munity every person exposed, from neglect Of
vaccination or re-vaccination, should be COM
PEELED TO submit to this important preventive
measure either at the hands of the ward physi-
clan, or the family medical adviser.
2. Authority should be vested in the Board of
Health to remove TO hospital all cases of small
pox, whenever in their judgment the public
safety may require such proceeding. OF course
a wise discretion should be observed, avoiding
conflict with suitable domestic arrangements for
isolation OF the sick, where the means of the oc-
cupant anu the capacity OF the dwelling justify
exemption from the rule. These provisions, il i
hoped, will receive the official approval of our
law makers, and that the board will hereafter
be fortified with ample power and authority to
control infectious disease, whenever it NAV
threaten or assume epidemic form. Every phy-
stefan and head OF family should be required to
report within "A hours any and all cases of small
pOx, or other infectious or contagious disorder
that may occur within the circle Of their inmates
or patients.
The following results in regard to small pox in
the District will be found interesting and sug-
gestiye: