National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-04
THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
SANITARY HISTORY OF THE CITY
FOR THE LAST TEIR,

EVAh Lib 1-1oL Il L-1Ds
ANNUAL REPORT OF TIT 49,, ~,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TsflSs OF 80 i1i
INTEREsT-AN ABLE AND COMPREHEN-
sTvE PAPER-NEEDED LEGIs LATIOS-RE-
VIEW OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE
HEALTH BOARD.
Since the organization Of the Board of Health
Of the District of Columbia, under act Of Con-
gress approved February %, ISL it has been the
honest endeavOr Of those composing it faithfully
70 subserve the great and important objects con-
fenplated in their appointment. Each member
has contributed time and energy without p~use
or stint and no pains have been spared 70 FehGer
the board q credit TO the creating power anu
3asting beneht 70 the community. Inc most
casual observer cannot fail to perceive the s1eady
and substantial progress which mas Oeen enecVeo
IN all that relates to the public hsalth. This is
aDDarent in the abatement Of grave nuisances
and the inauguration Of many wholesome reforms;
1he Thorough inspection and analysis chemical
.pd microscopic Of articles Of food; the precision
- disDatch exhibited in oficfal management
and clerical duty; the increased zeal and efficiency
n the corps Of sanitary inspectors; the compile
tjon and practical application Of more perfect
system Of vital statistics; the establishment Of
intercourse with the health authorities Of Europe
bvvhich valuable information Of the management
Of health boards abroad and their results are
rendered available: the organization (under the
authority Of the District COmmtsstonersl OF an
Sfheient and economic mode OF providing tor the
medical care of the destitute poor, and BY many
other evidences q advancement In practical
hyglSsnTe S recognz,nr as one of the chief elements
of success the fostering care and liberal support
Of Congress in providing pecuniary means ana
aDprOpTiate legislation, cannot be unmindiul OF
the singulsrly prompt and candid alu renueFeu
by the community al large
THE sECRETARY's REPORT.
The report Of the accomplished secretary OF the
board disclOses the manner In which the wore Vi
his office has been conducted. Inc sec
rotary refers to the inauguration Of corresponds
euce with the Governments Of Europe upon sun
1ects Of sanitary science, and some OF Iie ~
treating the important health interests VI III
eiRn countries are presented in full. Inc CORES
Dondence already filed embraces an immense
amount Of most valuable matertal-bOOks, pam
IbletV and MISUNDERSTANDING much light on
subeobYgien and giving IN detalleG LoLn t thiS
character UtrOlled by European commissions ~ ny
means by EhieI internal organization anu 6 S
This great mass OF useI-- ,,---.... ,,-,.i
tutes but small part Of what 4
from foreign sources Year amer Se9 PROMISE sci
ieeted facts must become more valuable and sGs
az a library Of usef1f Similarly EnoWied &c, Tie
practical Importance of which can scarcely be
estimated. The letter from Dr. SerOpyan is full
Of interest. From IL we learn that the Board VI
health Of the Ottoman empire located at OOIl-
stantiDople, is mixed one, composed Of dele gates
Tepresenting each Of The foreign Powers estaJ-
iished near the Sublime Porte. Two things i'm
press in this connection: First, the inadvi ga
bility Of frequent changes in the peTSoHH- ~ of
boards Of health when fully established and in
good working order. This efficient Ottoman
board has been in existence thirty years, wit no
alteration in its membership, except such as may
have Deen occasioned in the diplomatic relations
Of the Governments represented IN Turkey. The
second significant feature Is the independence of
The board in its administration even Of the Gov
eminent itself 1t makes its own appointments,
!digmissals and disbursements, and exercises sole
and UndisPuted control over general and dOmes-
tic quarantine.
Nor IS less interesting the dispatch OF Mr. Della
PLANE, Charge d'4tdfTcs Of the United States at
Vienna. By II we learn that the sanitary service
II Austria embraces everything which directly or
remotely affects the public health, including hos
pitfalls, general and special; baths, public and prl-
Tate; the Mythology Of the country; the enforce
mGnt Of laws respecting endemtcs, epidemics, dis
eases OF cattle, quarantine, vaccination, pOisons,
mCdicaments, and tie regulation of apothecaries.
I: also applies to the inspection Of the dead, in
terments, exclamation, streets, roads, sewers,
sinks, standing water, cattle and meats. To these
may be added control over fOundlings, deaf mutes,
iUnatiCs and idiots, and provision against the in
gress and spread Of contagious diseases. These
Mr.. Delaplaine's letter, which has been cOnsid
cred Of sufficient for publicati0a entire
IL the report Of the secretary.
TREksURER's REr1RT.
The report Of the treasr';,sr Is eharacteriZed by
fRi and oonscie1tiSas officer, and presents an ex-
bihit ri econoT,J the distribution Of the public
tnnSs vSicE cannot fail Of general approval IN
GcnJ ~ financial statement Of the board may
b0IdSy challenge comparison with the eXpendi-
fHfes Of similar institutions elsewhere. The
health machinery Of the District has been at as
little cost as possible, every dollar having been
made 70 contribute TO the sanitary wants Of the
people. According to the treasurer's statement
the receipts and disbursements are as follows:
Cash received from District Of Columbia
as Per legislative appropriation SO, 6S7 %
1874 deficiency $3.50 90
IS74..,..,.:,,...:.: .:..,..::.;...::.' 1000 90
act Of June q, I874.....,.....,......'' 5000 90
Making the total to be accounted for. S57,257 %
Per contra. cash expended as per legis-
lativo appropriation sIO,6s7 %
feiencyJ. amman. $3.50 90
Cash expended, act of June ., lS74.... I3,23S 20
Making total expenditure Of .s55, 4a5 IS
And leaving a balanceJn hand Of 8, 76lS0.
II is noticeable tina in no one year have the
combined legislative md Congressional apprOpri-
atoms for the Board q Health exceeded the sum
Of S6s, 600, an unusually meagre amount, in view
Of the vast work TO be accomplished. This is of
course, exclusive Of the deficiency supplied by
Congress, and rendered necessary on account of
the extra ordinary expenses in the suppression Ct
the smallpox epidemic,
EEPoRT OF TIE REGISTRAR.
This instructive and well-dIgested report,
furnishing results Of the bureau Of vital
statistics, over which the registrar presides,
and which Is sIn!ect to MS immediate
after derived from tie law of Congress, passed at
its last session, and already in successful opera
tiOn, which authorizes the Board Of Health to
make and enforce regulations to secure full
and correct record OF vital statistics including the
registration Of deaths and intermcnJ Of the dead
win be able to present what is so desirable, but
heretofore wholly impracticable-a comparison of
mortality from year to year, thus arriving at the
precise sanitary condition Of our Cities as we'll as
The relation Of atmospheric changes to the devel-
Opment Of cCTtGin maladies. r.
In the matter Of births the comparison is insti-
tuted betweenthe numbers reported under the
old and the recent system, showing that the whole
number Of births reported for the year was l,574
that 59S Of these were registered in the months
Of August and September, during which the new
law was in operation, and in the ten remaining
months, under the old plan, only 9S1 were placed
On record. This clearly demonstrates the differ
Rnce between a voluntary system and one Obliga-
LOry, conducted, under the sanction Of positive
legal enactment. The total number Of deaths re-
ported for the year ending 3Oth September, 1874,
is 1851, I.5S per 1000 Of the entire popul alton of
the District. OF this number the very small pro-
portion OF deaths IRON ZymOtiC diseases 65) indi-
tates the successful efforts Of the Board Of Health
IN diminishing the causes which give rise TO this
class Of malades, proving at the same time that
they are completely under the control of preYeu-
live sanitary measures, vigorously enforced.
In alluding to the GiarrhWal forms of zymOtic
diseases, usually so prevalent and destructive
total number Of deaths therefrOm as only 353.
1889 per cent. OF the total annual mortality. or
2-42 per 1000 Of the entire population. The larg-
est number OF deaths during the year have re
suited from phthisis pulmOnalis, pulmonary
cOnsUmpt0n,) the whole being 4G6, 1858 per cent.
Of the entire mortality, 200 per 1902 This Is 4
significant and suggestive fact. 1t is also worthy
Of remark that upon a careful computation the
number Of cOlOTed persons dying from this cause
fully duplicates that Of the white victims Of this
appalling disease.
Under the admirable health system of England
The percentage of deaths among infants has sensi-
bly, declined within the past few years, and It re-
qUires only the authority and means which should
be accorded all health organizations to enable
them to bring about similar results. One fact is
clearly deducible from the repOrt-that large
proportion Of the mortality to which have AL
iuded is due to causes under the control Of sani-
forced. The large infant mortality of Washing
ton and Georgetown, indicated by the tables, Is
due in other cities, to q neglect Of proper
hygfenic precautions. As already stated, bad
sewerage, nlthy streets and alleys, il-Yentilated
houses and impure or insufficient food are the
constantly operating causes which destroy our
cherished offspring. Responsible for this whole
sale slaughter Of the nnOcents are not only care
less and incOnsiderate parents, but ignorant and
who, animated by mercenary considerations, re-
fuse TO provide suitable means Of air and exercise
so essential TO infants or other modes Of cOntrbut
Ing to their physical sanity and development.
In TINS connection cannot avoid making men
ton OF Lhe superior sanitary advantages possessed
~ v ashingt0n in her public parks. squares and
reservations. Under the directing taste, energy
and skill Of the accomplished SUPERINTENDENT OF
Public Buildings and Grounds General o. E.
EQn INN varF1n1,