National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-11
WHAT WE EAT AND DRINK.
4 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF TEA,
SUGAR AND COFFEE.

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4 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF TEA,
SUGAR AND COFFEE.
MEETING a THE BOARD OF HEALTH LAST
/ NIaHT-DR. VERDI AFTER DELETERIoUs
4 FooD-REsULTs OF HIS EXAMINATIONS
THE GUANo INSTRUMENTATION OF
THE Law ON VITAL sTATIsTICs-aEN-
ERAL BUSINESS
The members of the Board Of Health, after
fortnght's suspension Of business, resumed
their labors last evening, and held q special
meeting at their rooms Prof. John NJ. Lang
ston president pro tenn in the chair.
Il Mr.. Msrbury, from the finance committee,
reported bills amounting to 81 ,933.6S; which
were approved and ordered to be paid.
The weekly statement of mortality was sub
mitted for the week ending August 8, showing
total deaths Co. males 40, females Al; adults
81, minors 60; of which 81 are under two
years Of age; Of that number A were colored.
The following is e synopsis of the operations
of the health office for the two weeks ending
August 8; Nuisances reported, 9eS; referred,
27S; sbated, 7l2; referred TO the commission
ers, 90; sewer notices issued, 100; official no.
tees, 40; dead animals removed, 500; citizens
complaints, rs. Marine products-Inspeetious
Il, $40 punches fish, $50 bushels oysters, 81
sturgeon, 81 900 Gratis, III, 500 clans: condem-
nations, 8, 800 clans, $3.50 crabs, 100 punches
fish, 162 pounds beef, 10l pounds veal, SO
pounds mutton, 10 pounds pork $40 pounds
bacon, pounds sausage, 1725< dozen cucum-
bers, 1S4 squashes, AZ dozen corn, 90 heads
cabbage, II eymlings, 10 bushels beets, 81
bushels beans, bushels peas, % bushels to-
matoes, peck pears, peck apples, 81 quarts
blackberrles, 404 cauteloupes, 1SA bushels
1 peaches, 1.468 watermelons animals i'm
pounded, SS7; redeemed, ~; killed, 314
amount realized, sST 80; privies cleaned, 1,497.
The health officer informed the board of the
delivery by the Odorless Excavating Company
of three hundred alright barrels, branded
'B. of H, for use in transporting nightsoil,
| which were ordered by the board il June last.
| After inspection he found them in good order,
of the size and description previously used by
the company, and receipted for them. He
also stated that the barrels of nightsoil are now
conveyed down the river each morning intact,
and not dumped until they reach the proper
place. The empty barrels are returned the
same day to the Wharyes at 8 and Seventeenth
streets.
NUIsANCEs.
The following were declared nuisances and
the health officer ordered to nbate them: The
five frame shanties and premises situated on
Tenth, between Q and streets northwest, the
property Of VIM. Cook, having improper drain
age, filthy yards, no water supply or fire pro-
lection, and over crowded. The frame house
and premises situated on Pennsylvania avenue,
between Twepty-fourth and Twenty-ffth
streets northwest, the property Of Mr.. Salter,
having leaky roof, rendering the walls damp
and the rooms unhealthy, leaky priYy box, no
water supply or fire protection, and being be-
low grade. The frame house and premises,
No. 1544 Nfth street northwest, having i'm
proper drainage, leaky root, no water supply
| or IRE protection, and IN bad sanitary eondi-
ton generally. The frame house and premises,
No. 736 Eighth street northwest, no drainage,
water supply or Ore protection, in bad sanitary
condition generally, and unit for human habL
tation.
The health officer submitted letter from
Mr.. @. W. Cunningham, oVerseer engineers
Office, giving List Of the garbage collectors
and superintendents that have been IN the en-
ploy Of the District; with the addition Of these
men the board has now tWenty-four men en-
pioYed In tho garbage service, which Is consid-
erod full sufficient for all purposes. The gar
bage men were temporarily placed under the
charge Of the sanitary inspectors,
The health officer submitted Q copy Of his
letter 10 DR.. B. T. Craig, chemist Of the board,
relative 10 maximum fertilizer stored In and
sold from the place Of business Of @. J. King
solving, No. e16 O street northwest; also his
report Of analysis Of Q sample furnished; also
Q copy Of the letter 10 Dr.. Craig, forwarding
forty-seven samples Of articles OF food selected
from the stock Of diherent grocers within the
District Of COLUMBIA for his Gnalysis. These
samples were selected and sealed at the several
stores and Q record made Of them in the health
office. Other samples will be forwarded in q
few days, that the variety may be complete.
No report has yet been received from the
i chemist on this subject. The following Is DR..
Craig'S reply on the subject Of
"AAxIEUM FERTILIZER :"
Dr.. p, T. Kssns, HsGItk 0tiosr, WaskisgtSS, DC:
the Sample nsU Of MsIiRum FSrSar aabmisisd
to me as chemist Of the board, with the view Of
Determining the probable effect of thssmSnAtiOns
hnd Il to contain 50 per cent. Of organic matter
| small portion Of which consists Of salts Of am
matter, dried and partly dsoORposed. The nj.
eroscope shows the presence Of dried blood and
placed some Of It In the hands Of q professional
microscopic Of high standing, whose report will
communicate to you when received.
The emsnAtions from this fertilizer so far as
they are chemically recognizable consist OF butyrIc
and yaleriRnic aoids-the butyric acid predominant
ing. The character Of these examinations is partly
caused by the fact that the mixture contslnAsui-
phuric acid-phosporic acid-Whleh.retainS the
alkaline products Of decomposition and set free
4 the acids.
Ofthe offensive character Of the emanations thus
produced there can be no doubt, but with regard
70 Its effects on health, question may be raised,
are produced, and yet the process or manufacture
from which they originate is found not to be un-
whOssOnS to any HsTkSd extent may BE- as
health is to be presumed unless direct proof can
taken by the hygisnish In such cases may DO
illustrated by the example Of animal food, GER
tain kinds Of which are consumed while in an
actual state Of decomposition. Experience has
shown that in particular cases this may be done
without mischief but, as general rule, It is very
properly unlawful to sell for food any substance
which has commenced to decompose. 1 would, in
conclusion, state, a. my opinion, that in prepar-
ing this fertilizer sufieient means have not been
taken to prevent offensive smell, and that It's con-
dition is such that danger from It 10 health may
be reasonably apprehended.
The communication from the chemist was
fled until he completes his labors and submits
a report.
The registrar submitted q statement that the
superintendent Of the Presbyterian cemetery in
Georgetown, D. c., on the % instant received
the remains Of Elizabeth Nichols and Catherine
Blake for interment, without burial permit
from the bureau of vital statistics.
Also, that he was credibly informed that
Mr.. George Clendening, superintendent Of
GlenEood cemetery, did on the Sd instant re-
ceiYe the remains of Harry McDuell for inter-
ment, without permit therefor being first is
sued from the proper office.
The registrar also submitted correspond
ence between 8. c. BUsey, n. D., and himself,
in relation to registering his name and address
at the Office Of the registrar, and his reasoCs
for refusing to comply with that request.
The entire report from the registrars Office
was referred to the ordinance committee for
examination and report.
| UNwHoLEsoME FOOD.
/ Dr. Verdi said that he had taken great inter
est personally in the subject Of unwholesome
food, and the remarks that he should make
on that subject were merely for the purpose Of
furnishing information to the members. He
had employed the services Of a competent
chemist to make an analysis Of few articles
of food, but the names of the owners thereof he
should reserve TO himself, and also wished It
understood that this examination had nothing
to do with that ordered by the board.
The following is the report submitted by
/ Demetry Mindele6, who made chemical and
microscopical examination Of 10 specimens of
tea, sugar and cofee
| GREEN TIA.
No. /, retail price 4l45 per pound. No. s, retail
price Sl.T5 per pound.-Both the above articles
are sold under the name OF gunpoWder tea, and in
/ appearance they are OF . blush gray, very uni
form IN eOlOr and the RhnDe o THAR nlObular