National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-29
HEALTH BOARD MEETING.
ESTABLISHMENTO OF FOOD INSPEC-
TION BUREAU PROPOSED.

ported on the subject OF storing guano in GER
tain storerooms and warehouses; that 1t was
injurious to health, and that it should be
ab2ted at the earliest possible moment.
Mr.. Marbury thought the matter should be
more thoroughly investigated before hasty ae-
ton was taken. He believed that It should be
referred to a chemist for an analysis, to report
positively whether Il was injurious to health.
He knew individuals who had been employed
in It for years; they were brought constantly
I'd contact with It, and he defed them 70 PICK
ont finer specimens of manhood than they WERE
If there was anything unhealthy about gusno
thew would certainly show evidences OF II; he
had done business near one Of these establish
Inenta for wears past, and was compelled to
confess that he was yet unable to discover any
unwhOlesome results from the traticilg In
this fertilizer. There was house IN George
town, near the market, where kind OF guano
was sold that he believed unhealthy; for II
contained q mixture Of fish bones; but the
others did not come under this head. me
men in this business have Just laid In their tuu
stock, and probably S5Oo,000 was invested In
IL, He thought It unwise TO take this action
without securing more convincing proof as TO
it's being a nuisance.
DR.. Bliss commended that the board had been
careful not to interfere with any legitimate
business only that when the health of the
coynizance OF it. He was satisfied that the
gases involved in this guano when sgttated
were a nuisance, and should be sbated.
The report was laid on the table until an ex-
animation could be had by the chemist Of the
board as to the gases involved, and an analysis
of the same could be submitted.
DR.. Verdi, from the same committee, re-
norted back the report recommitted to them on
the inspection of food, which has been pre-
viously published in THE NATIONAL REPUBLI-
CAN, with the following amendment:
FOOD INSPECTION.
That bureau of food inspection be estab-
lishcd. that a member of the board be its chief,
and that q competent person for chemical and
microscopical analysis be employed, and that
all the necessary apparatus be purchased Tor
the wanted tests, examinations and expert
ments: that the chemist and inspectors OF
food be under the immediate direction of the
chief of said bureau, and report to him all
their operations, and that he report to the Board
of Health; that the sum to be expended for
this work, aside from the pay OF the present
INSPECTORS Of food, do not exceed 81, 900 for the
fiscal wear ending June 80, 1873.
In support Of his report DR.. Verdi made a
br ief speech. During his remarks
DR.. VERDI SAID:
The baker leaves his loaf of bread at your
homes that, if inspected and analysed, would
evil to them. The cup of milk that you put TO
your batty's mouth Is often q mixture of water,
milk and chalk The candy that you bring
home to gladden. the hearts Of your little ones
is often poisoned by lead, copper or arsenic, in
the well-kuoWn form Of Prussian blue, carbon
ate of copper, carbonate Of lead, ehromates Of
lead, arsenite Of copper, and various other
poisonous combinations, 10 secure the attractive
ieds, yellows or greens.
Wearied and exhausted, you return to your
home to seek vigor in healthful meal. The
sIyory green pickle adds little copper to
ySur pleasure, the vinegar little sulphgriC
sdd, the faYory coffee plenty of chickory,
burnt beans, acofns and crumbs Of bread, and
your Japan and China teas so many unex-
peded substances that have never seen Japan
or China as would amaze you. A glass Divine
doe, cheer the heart, but not too many; for
lead bitartrste of potash, catechu, cherry
laurtl water love itA company so well that
seldom YOU find wine that does not hold one OF
two Of these ingredients In compauionship. II
youprefer ale, you Will have TO do with eoeulus
indiels cspiscum, quAssia, NORWOOD, null
vomea, and pay dearly for your preference.
A little spice, such as cayenne pepper, VIII
, sharptu the taste of your food, stimulate you
, appetite profided red lead, yermillion or oisul
! phuret II mercury have not eoDptYed to spet
your relish. Custard and egg powders do otter
, as q Pleasant adjunct to your dessert after {
light med, but chromate Of lead or turmeri
. will add lothing to its digestbility or salub
) rity. -.
J In this maluer might 90 on almost indeh
, nitely, If spoke to Rmuse you, but the fac
4 that 1t ia true sDpals me into seriousness, an
into asking Of yVu the most solemn reflection
These are plain tSuths, proven over and sgai
by every analytica chemist who has su6Jecte
such articles of commerce and Of daily COZ
5 sumption to critical examination.
Mr.. MARBURY OPPOSES THE SCHEME.
Mr.. Marbury could not imagine what ha
come over the spirit Of his colleague, (Dr Bliss,
who at first opposed this report, and now slgI
It recommending more extended powers. 81
carry out the proposition made $1,000 o. sEO
900 would not be sufficient, and he was oppose
TO undertaking anything that bad no prospect
: of being a success. EVENT. SO 200 was all tina
was necessary thst sum is more at present tina
the board Is able to pg,
} He would not say that unHholesome sugal
teas, &C., existed, but did not think they did t
the extent claimed. Physicians ought to kno7
If their patients suffered from poisonous art
cles Of food, aDd as yet no complaint has eve
come from them Of that nature. Without sc
ing into any lengthy opposition on the subject
he put it on the practical ground that the boar
! could not afford 1t.
DR.. BLISS REPLIES.
, DR.. Bliss said that since the previous meetin
he had read considerable on the subject an
found the necessity for pursuing such courst
The employing Of q chemist would cost but III
tie. They could 90 forward with the investigI
ton and If they discovered these articles Rdu
terated the powers of the bureau could be II
creased. II little was found then the expens
would be eorrespondingly small.
He was not surprised at the opposition u
, proposition met, for that had been chronic wit
some of the members ever since the board va
. organized.
This work could be done with very trihin
. expense in the beginning, and the fact reVeale
! whether groceries and spirits are drugged {
! not. Mr.. Msrbury placed his objection on Il
ground Of expense, and asserted that there WI
not q health board IN the United States thi
: had q bureau for the inspection Of food 81
employed chemist to make the analysis tn
u work requires.
PROF. LANesToN's VIEWS.
Professor Langston was in favor Of mo-
thorough inspection of food, because he he
read considerable on the subject and was sati
fed of its Lecessity. But he thought the e
tablishing of a bureau, with O member Of Il
:, board as chief, would be liable to create q ia
q But that was mere speculation on his part. I
a believed the health officer would give the ma
: ter his undivided attention If entrusted to
care. They should 90 to work immediate
and inspect food; If health boards IN other citi
s we're not doing 1t they were negleeting the
: duty.
Dr. Verdi said In creating this bureau II
n idea was TO relieve the health officer, who
|, duties are now becoming srduous.
a DR.. Bliss moved that the report be laid ter
: porarily on the table, and offered q Eubstitut
. which was adopted, instTucting the health Of
Ger to instruct the inspectors Of food to cole
, from the business houses of the city teas, sugs
q &C., and submit the same 10 the chemist Of q
i board for an analysis and report.
!. Prof. Lsngston, from the ordinance commit
"a reported on the subject of allowing manure
!. bins in streets and alleys after the LIST Of Sc
NJ TENDER, stating that the ordinances Of 9
> board already cover this subject and furth
4. legislation was unnecessary.
Is REPORTS OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.
h Prof. Lsngston, from the same committt
a reported on the claims Of Messrs. Schouler q
s. Wn. Bowen for filing up lots, recommend
}" that the claims be paid, and that the boa
y. proceed TO collect the amount from the ownS
I'd Of the lots in legal manner. The report "
L adopted.
N Prof. Lsngston, also, from the same co
Of mittee, submitted an amendment to section
In of the ordinances, "Thst the court before Win
ID such conviction Is had shall have the power
re abate snch nuisances at the expense Of I
in owner Of the property" which was adopted
n, WORK OF THE HEALTH OFFICER.
a. The following is q synopsis Of the operate
Of the health officer for the week ending il