Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-23
The Board of Health.
VITAL sTATIsTICs-THK DOG NUIsANCB-THH
oDoRLKss PRoCBss.

THE GOETUART REPORT FOB THE WEEK
ending september 10, was submitted, showing
the number OF deaths at 70-43 whites and a
colOred. Among the causes most prominent
were consumption, disrrhRa, cholera int antum,
pneumonia, typhoid fever, ana asthenia; deaths
certified by coroner 3, and still births. The
largest number OF deaths have occurred in the
the city bordering along the old filed up canal.
Next in order of mortality Is the Sd sanitary
division, embracing that portion OF the city
north Of the Potomac river and east OF
Sd street east 70 Boundary street. Referring to
this report, the registrar remarks ''thst the eX-
hibit does not refer to the rate Of mortality per
one thousand, but to the total deaths in the
several divisions without regard to the pOpula-
ton, that the board expect soon to be able to
show reliable census Of the several sanitary
divisions, with the diseases peculiar to each,
and the rate of mortality per one thousand in
said diyisiOns." Referring to the excess of
deaths over the preceding week C1), the regis
trar states the most prominent causes to be con-
sumption and dlaIrh9a- The mean temper
allure for the week ending September IL was
75.5, and the mean humidity 65.0}, while the
mean temperature for the past week was 71.4i,
and the mean humidity 50 s. 1t il an important
fact that although the reduction of the temper
Rturs during the week ending September 70
was nearly four degrees. the humidity was in
creased nearly IL during the same period, shOy-
ing that TO the latter must be attributed the
II ere ase IN the death rate from consumption
and diaTTt ga.
THE HBALTH oFFICER's REPORT
FOR the week ending September - was read,
showing 81 nuisaRces abated; dead animals re-
moved. Q; causes OF deaths Investigated, 6:
buried at public expenses recommend 3; loads
Of garbage removed, 81; marine products con-
dC mDed, 312 punches of fish; unwhOlesOme food
condemned, 3lj pounds beef, IS pork, q NUT
ten, 80 veal, i23 bacon, 10 bushels peaches; ami
mais ImloUnted, IL; redee med Is; killed %.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
PIemises at Hos Pennsylvs nia avenue, 1928
ard 1926 street northwest, and northeast corner
Massachusetts avenue aud Sd street northwest
were condemned, the same being in bad sani-
tary condition and danger to life and limb
communications accepting the appointment of
physicians TO the poor were read from Drs
A dams, Appleby, HAHN, stone, Bowen and
Little. Several applications for positions under
the board we're read and placed on tile.
memorial signed by about 200 persons protesting
against the appointment OF DR.. Adams a. ply
siCian TO the poor WAS received and referred to
the sanitary committee.
DIR. KEENB SOUND ON THE DOG QUESTION
DR.. Keene, health officer, submitted a report
on the pound service from June 18th to Septem-
Der 18th, showing the number of dogs impOund-
cd at ~ redeemed $50; killed, 1864; other AMI
mails impOunded, $40. He states that "careful
observation OF the working of this service, and
the sentiments Of the people on the dog Gues-
ton, convince me that the board or other An
thOrities should inaugurate some system of dis
posai OF the worthless ours that infes. the two
cities and make night hdeous, that shall not be
spasmOdic or confined 10 few months in the
year, but shall be more constantly operative
and so accomplish much more than under the
present ordinance, and without some of its OBJ
Jecticnable features. 1t is, believe, generally
conceded that the muzzlipg of dogs is not only
a great cruelty TO the animal, but even induces
the development of hydrOphObia. A law which
shan be rigidly enforced, requiring
license for every dog kept in the cities,
licensed shall wear q collar. his badge of re-
spectsbllity, having the name, residence and
number of license; that every dog found with
out any such collar shall be contraband and
liable 30 be imDOnnded and shot, would accom-
plish all the results desired. That the dog is
faithful, sfecticnate and valuable, and that the
kr0nr fOrr "A t.
are OF the strongest, cannot be denied. The
rude seizure and impounding OF these pets
companions almOst-excites Oftentimes feelings
of most intense opposition TO the present meth
Cd, While those who have no dog to love would
nave them all summarily disposed of no mat
tfr how. The MODE of execution adopted in
our pound, viz: by pistol and bullet. has proven
itself most effective and least objectiOnable. OF
the large number killed not ten uttered a cry
SO instantaneous was their death, while by the
process OF experiments the dogs were the VIC
tins, IN some of the cities, of the sensitive re-
coils I the thoughts OF their wrIthing agony,U
ALSO ON TIE ODoRLEss QUESTION.
Dr. heene also submitted a statement of the
practical workings of the Ordorless excavating
process for removing night-SOil the past wear
without emitting the DoXiOus gases. He states
that the apparatus and its applications when
properly adjusted and managed has accom-
plished its work 10 the general satisfaction or
the people, fulfilling its promise aud receiving
the Endorsement of all who have had occasion
TO compare 1t with the disgusting system it sup
planted. During the year the company have
cleaned some 40 900 boxes, and the COMPLAINS
OF lnattentiOn or neglect have been compare
lively very few. Recently his attention ma
been called to the fact that the work is now in
many cases, caTeleSsiV performed. portions of
the apparatus having become so worn or broken
as to no longer prevent the escape of Offensive
gases. Particularly is this the case with the
charcoal furnaces used, many of them being So
broken as 10 be useless, and frequentlC the coal
y not burning TO destroy the displaced gases
The threads or the patent shoppers on the hose
IN some cases are so worn that the shoppers fall
or and the material falls out.
1.-THE privies, also, in many cases are not
thoroughly cleaned; sticks, bottles, crockery
Sc., remain often in large quantity. The dso-
uorlzer ana l1slnfectant used by the company,
II distributed literally, is excellent but in some
cases II is found none is used, and in almost all
cases an insufficient quantity. Complaints have
OF late been frequent Of the discOurteOus man
Ier OF some OF the supeIintendents OF the work
his however, has been confined to one or two
superlntendents. A case occurred last week
where box was emptied by mistake, no rec
having been collected, and the man in charge
transferred the contents of another box with
the nrst, and then demanded his fee for remov-
ing II second time. The company, upon my
reference and Investigation of the facts
promptly dismissed the guilty superintendent
"These facts are presented as data for the
IN formation OF the board, tending TO show that
IN the main, and while the broom was new IL
swept sclean and was satisfactory to all con-
cerned, 1t is now somewhat old. and, should the
contract be renewed, the apparatus requires a
thorough renovation in the detail performance
OF the every day work in order that excavating
may be entirely OrdOrless practically as well a.
nominally."