Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-29

and DIE. Bliss and Verdi and Mr.. Marbury
present.
DR.. Verdi, from the sanitary committee, re-
ported that the storing of guano at No. SIC q
street northwest was a nuisance injurious to
health. The committee had found there fer
tllizer composed OF crushed bones, guano and
chemicals, y hieh emitted gases and foul smells,
poisoning III, air, and they recommend its
abatement, an that speedily.
Mr. Narbury Urged q more thorough investi-
CATION, ard recommended that the subject be
Teferred TO a chemist for report 70 whether il
was injurious to health. He had noticed some
of the finest SPECIMENS of manhood who had
worked in this material for years, and was at a
lots to know why 10 is injurious 20 health. 1t
would be unwise TO take action without con-
DR.. Bliss said If there were healthy men work
ing in this material ii did not prove il TO be no
nuisance. Who would say that night soil was
Let q nuisance, and yet some of the finest look
ing men be had seen were scavengers, brought
in almost continuous contact with IL? This
place was situated right In the heart OF the city,
and near by there was large establishment
material Is injurious to health, wOUld be the
sufferers. be contended that when the health
OF the community demanded it was their right
and duty to interfere, ard he was satisfied thai
he gases, when evolved from the guano were
a nuisance.
Mr.. Marbury move that the report be laid on
the table for the present, and that specimen
be sent to the chemist for aysis; agreed to.
IEsFECTION OF FOOD RECoMMENDED.
DIR. v eTdi, from the sanitary committee TO
whom was referred the subject OF aduitsrated
tees, &c, submitted report on the subject
recommending that bureau Of food Inspection
be established; that a member OF the board be
IT'S chief, and that Competent person for chem
cal analysis he employed, and IN 3t ALI the
necessary apparatus be pure hased for the tests,
examinations, and experiments that the Chsm-
ist and inspector of food be under the imme-
date direction of the chief of said bureau, and
report 10 him all their operations, and that he
report 20 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
50 600 tor the fiscal year ending June 81, 1875,
and that all rules and regulations for this ser
vice be hereafter presented to this board for is
sanction and information.
DR.. Verdi addressed the board at considerable
length in support of his recommendation. He
said the proposed plan was a comparatively in
expensive one. While they secured the Dis
trict to find nuisances, chase and capture stray
animals, and rate deaths, births and marriages,
yet they suffer unwholesome food 20 be sod
openly to the public. The loaf of bread left 10y
the baker would often, If inspected, be thrown
to the dogs; the milk is often a mixture Of
water, milk and chalk; the candy is often
poisoned by lead, copper, arsenic or other
home 10 seek yigor in a healthful meal. 'fThs
Eavory green pickle adds a little copper to your
pleasure, the vinegar q little sulphuric acid tie
fayory coffee plenty OF chicoIy, burnt beans,
China tea so many unexpected substances that
have never seen japan or China as would amaze
you. A glass Of wine does cheer the heart, bat
be not too merry, for lead, bitartrate of potash,
catechu, cherry, laurel and water love its COM
pany so well that you seldom hnd wine that does
not hold one or two of them in coDipaniOnship.
II you prefer ale, you will have TO do with
occulus indicus, capsicum, qusssia, wormwood,
nUx vomica, and pay dearly Tor your preference.
a little spice, such az cayenne pepper, viii
sharpen the taste of your food, stimu late your
appetite, provided red lead, vermilion or bisul-
phuret of mercury have not cOnnved to spoil
your relish. Custard and egg powders do
often serve as pleasant adjunct to
chromate of lead or tuneric will adj
nothing TO its digest!bility or salubrity."
He refers to ''tricnina spinalis," ana asks,
% How T. e flesh OF man can be turned into u
mass of living worms, tsrturing him TO death"
a moUthful or undercOOked polk meat has done
this many time, and volumes nave been writ
ten TO describe this disgusting and appalling
disaster, sickness, or death. Americans are
poTk-eaiing people, and a few hundred dollars
spent in mIcr0scOpical examinations OF suspect
ed pork would protect from this danger our own
citizens. Other parasites that infest the lower
animals find their way il the viscera OF man.
The cystueric of the veal and beef, liberated
from their little sac in which they are contained
by Lasticat.on, OF by the dissolvlng power OF
the gastric juice, pass into the human intes-
tines, Xix themselves by their little hooks, aud
quickly grow, joint after joint, In a tapewOrm.
There are but a few physicians indeed who have
Lot had some experience with this interesting
and loathsOme parasite. a microscope would
detect those minute sacs in the flesh of
protected from the invasion of the dis
gushing and unwhOleSOme interioper. That
we cannot do everything at once, because
We are restricted in our means, is no excuse for
CUr doing nothing. We have done next TO no.
thing in the way Of inspecting food. It is not
only at the butchers stall or at the fish wharf
thar principally unwholes0me food is TO be
found. You will find 1t in greater proportion
and In more dangerous Kind in the elegant
stores that bear the golden inscription OF the
grocer, in the confectionery aud ice cream
h L.
CliuklIg OF the glass re-echOes the merry greet
ing OF reunited friends and the mutual express
sion OF courtesy and good fellowship. And even
the inspection OF meats that is nov made under
the orders OF the board Of health is only super
hCial examination of the naked eye or the Olfac-
tories, which any intelligent man can do with
ont its assistance. The microscope, that won
9erfpl Instrument that reveals knOWled and |
truth at every glance, is not used-a neglect
hardly COM atible with the IretentiOns to sci
ent1c learning OF some members of this board,
Lei 1s not go TO the world or to Congress aud
ay that we inspect and prevent the sale OF un-
holesome food according 10 law, for we as
.uIedly DO not" He closes by urging il as a
duty imposed on them by Congress 10 prevent
ne sale OF unwholesome food. !
Dir. Marbury opposed the report, because 20
carry IL into successful operation would entail
II expense of perhaps SO, 900. He did nat wish
I commence unless IT could be made success,
md did not think that there was any prospecf |
u making it 90 without entsi!iGG An expense far
oeyond what ',sy were ss'- :, insure at this
anne. He had reason TO believe that there /
ere adulterated teas, liquors, &C., and yet |
" Washington lie healthy, and the boast is being |
made continuously. He did not think that |
here was SO much poisoned food as the report |
you'd indicate. Physicians should be able to |
ay that sickness comes from poisoned food, but |
Re had not heard OF case. He did not think |
hat there was a health board in the United |
states who employed chemist for such a pUr- |
-ose.
DR.. Bliss said that since the last meeting he |
:ad been reading up on the subject, and his |
news had undergone a change. He believed |
hat a chemist could be employed at but |
rIting cost; they could 60 forward, and if adult
.rated articles of food are found, then the pow,
IFS Of the bureau could be extended. 1t was a |
necessity, and they could, at a very small ex- |
Dense, ascertain whether or not there was much |
Prof Langston favored a much more thorough |
of food, but feared the creation OF a |
bureau would cause q jar. He believed the OBJ |
ect could be accomplished through the health |
officer.
After some further debate DIR. Bliss moved a.
4 substitute that the report be laid temporarily
IN the table, and the health officer instruct the
OF food TO collect from the business
houses OF the city teas, sugar, &c, and submit
the same 10 the chemist OF the board for analysis
and report; adopted.
TIE MANCRR QUESTION, ETC.
Prof. Langston, from ordinance committee,
reported on the subject OF allowing manure in
.