National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-10
HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
Address m DIR ANTES


DR.. Ames of Massachusetts delivered a highly
interesting and instructive address before the
students OF Howard University last evening on
SANITARY Science" The address was preceded
by an organ voluntary and singing by the
students. The doctor commenced by a reference
TO the composition and peculiarities Of the atmOs-
phere. We are coming to understand better and
better the qualities and possibilities Of the atmos
phere. Many things tend to its publication: of
these the woods contribute largely, and this
knowledge is being utilized in the use ofmuch
and certain kinds Of wood in the construction of
hospitals. Ozone, an electrical property of air
contributes to this result cubic inch Of which
will purify 100000 cubic feet OF air. Man has
much to do with the subject Of the publication of
air, his very physical processes rendering it i'm
pure. Escaped gases are source of much ILL
health; prominent among these for its subtle and
dangerous character is sewer gas. Because of
this the very luxuries of a home are often the
cause Of sickness and death. Misplaced and i'm
properly constructed or located pipes connecting
directly or indirectly with the sewer pipes and
supplying dwellings with water, &c, are often
the means Of introducing disease and death into
the family. Gases from night-soil, containing so
large a percentage OF sulphuretted hydrogen,
are another source of dire evil. The doctor
here spoke Of his experience in Milan, where
breathing unconsciously for ten minutes atmOs.
phere thus poisoned, he narrowly escaped death
This experience was repeated in Paris and in
RumfOrd, England. Untrapped sewer pipes are
another source Of disease. The rs" traps In such
common use are poor projections against the
escape OF the dangerous noXious gases.
SUSPENDED MATTERS
are to be carefully guarded against as thew SOW
the seeds of death-claY, silica and its COM
pounds, seeds, debris Of vegetation, poliu, fungi
street sWeepings, salt, smoke, cOal-dust cereals
slaughter-hOuses. The materials in the air from
these sources furnish a fruitful cause for public
unhealth. Washington having the most efficient
health board in the country, with the most per-
feet system Of sanitary operations, yet maintains
within its borders the most gigantic and horrible
nuisance conceivable, and which exists nowhere
else, viz: the system OF keeping boxes for the de-
constantly their poisonous gases to the certain
detriment and positive injury to public health.
The trades furnish sources of unhealth. Here
II is gratifying to remark that the practice of any
steel grinding, once so prevalent IN England,
and which was q prominent feature Of Reade's
Put Yourself in His Place" has given way to
the more healthful and less Objecti nable
method Of wet grinding.
Sanitary science as a science is beginning to be
understood and appreciated. knowledge of the
conditions essential to good health carries with il
so many and important consequences that It is
imperative upon those possessing it to enter
earnestly upon the work of its dissemination.
But while we are educating the people to a
proper appreciation of the subject. efficient, or
ganfzed effort must be directed to the prevention
OF disease and the abatement Of existing null
sances.
This organization should possess-frst, thor
ough knowledge Of sanitary ma ters; and second,
ample power, arbitrary it may be, to prosecute in
the interests Of public health.
At the conclusion of the address, Prof J. N.
LangstOn, president OF the university, introduced
DR.. p. T. Keene, health officer CT the District Of
Columbia, who made neat speech in his own
felicitOus style, which was listened to with deep
interest. He. promised to deliver q lecture be-
fore the students at an early day.