National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-16
HOSPITAL FOR The PS0R.
WISE. ACTION OF Thu BOARD OF HEALTH
TIE APPEAL OF CITY PHYSICIANS
REGISTER OF VITAL STATISTICS
A RECONSIDERATION TO CONGRESS-



Deaths and Diseases.
A regular meeting Of the board
evening, DR.. Christopher u. Cox, the president,
in the chair; all the members present except Pro-
fessor Lsngston.
DR.. Coz, from the sanitary police committee, to
whom wasreferred the matter of the appointment
Of an analytical chemist and microscopic to the
board, reported:
The sanitary police committee, to whom was re.
ferred the resolution offered by DR.. Verdi at the
last meeting relative to the appointment Of q
chemist and microscopic, would respectfully re-
port that they have given the matter mature con
sderation, and while they are Of opinion that
such an appointment would be most desirable
yet under the present condition Of the finances OF
the board 1t is de- med inexpedient to incur the
additional expense necessarily incident to the
service.
But in view Of the paramount Importance OF the
food inspection service, we respectfully recon-
mend that Congress be asked for such an aDpro
priation as will enable the board to inauRurate in
proper and thorough manner the ANALYTICAL and
meroscoptcal examination Of food offered for sale
The report for the present was laid upon the
Mr.. Marbury, the treasurer, submitted bills to
the amount Of s4733 which were approved and
ordered to be paid.
Or. Bliss, OfIhe committee appointed to con suit
u,
upon consultation with them he was assured of
their hearty approval and support regarding the
establishment Of
HOSPITAL FOR THE POOR OF THE DISTRICT
in this city.
DR.. Cox, in this connection, moved that as thu
physicians tothe poor were in attendance their
suggestions upon the subject be received; which
read to the board the following: '''
To re Ho13ra6ls Board Of Health Of the District Of
GEnTLENEN: We, as physicians to the Door for
the District Of Columbia. have the honor TO an
pear before you this evening fer the purpose Of
presenting our argument fayoring the establish
poor OF our city. There is no class Of physicians
engaged in the active practice of the profession
hospital facilities felt in this city than ourseiyes
II is true, there are several hospitals located
here; but It is also true that not to single one
is strictly for non-resdents; Columbia hospital for
the treatment OF diseases peculiar to females;
Freedmen's hospital devoted to the colored race
all patronized, indeed sustained by appropria-
tons from the Treasury Of the General Govern
ment. The city Of Washington does not devots a
single penny Of It's revenues toward the support
There is, to be sure, provision made ut the
alms-house for the accommodation of a small
enty five in ALL In an Institution of that EfnS n
is impossible that proper facilities exist for cor
rect management Of sick cases.
OUR AINsHoUsE,
as you are doubtless aware, is so situated az
rather to aggravate than favor the recovery Of
extensive marshes, emitting unhealthy miasnnas
bordered BY the river and exposed to the strong
northwest winds which, in the cold season, sweep
across the plain with unmitigated violence
Aside from these sanitary reasons rendering this
an unfavOrable institution for the treatment of
our sick, there are others Of moral nature which
should be taken into consideration. The jail and
work-house on one side, the smallpox hospital
but few steps distant, the potters' field Imme.
a fnI u In IA and NhA
Are not these reasons sufficient to condemn the
selection of such site for hospital purposes?
The ward physicians appreciate and under
stand the prejudice attached TO the lastnamed
Of these objections, for It is with the greatest diff
fculty his patients can be induced to consent to a
transfer from their own miserable hoyels with sb-
soute starvation staring them In the face to this
the poor house, and yet 1t is their only RECOURSE
Applications innumerable are made daily 20 each
and every one OF us for admission to hospital but
when informed that We can only send them to the
almshOuse. they shake their heads and answer
no; we would rather remain where we are and
that exists, and one which nothing can eradicate.
We were recently informed that plans had
been devised for the Improvement of the hospital,
as they are pleased to term IT, enlarging its cana
city and increasing its accommodation
Even II this be true, the objections still hold
good; for what ply stefan or sanitary officer hsy-
consent for 9 moment to the locating Of hospital
at place like that?
What we wish this evening. gentlemen, is to
pier few suggestions as TO the possible estso-
lishment Of
AHosPITAL SUCH AS WE REQUIRE,
and as We feel assured that a way has been found
by which this long-felt and much-desIred object
may DC gained, provionY the sympathy and CO.
is behalf One great difficulty confronted us on
The outset In the consideration Of this subject,
suspected that the city would not consent 10
furnish means sufficient TO erect q building ad-
squate TO our wants. In this emergency the
oLDARMoRY BUILDING
occurred to uf. We have carefully examined and
Sixth and B streets southwest, and And thar by
The judicious expenditure OF q few thousand dol
lars it could Be fitted up to admirably answer
TIE building is large land capacIous, we'll ven.
Hated and we'll lighted, supplied with both
water and gas,
CENTRALLY LOCATED AND EASY OF ACCESS
from all parts Of the city. In fact, It would be
IspSsd for hospital purposes b bet,sq sasntd In
our wants. Possession OF this Building. ft n
presumed, might be obtained If proper action be
two hundred Of our sick could be Comfortably
lodged and cared for within its wallis The cost
Of the improvements for hospital accommod ations
and to no less than len thousand dolafs IL wiz
be necessary that
A THOROUGH HOSPITAL FORCE BE ORGANIZED,
physicians, surgeons, assistants nurses, cooks
Sc. The Commissioners, we arc Informed. have
consented TO appropriate the necessary funds for
the completion OF these designs. Why could not
this money be made available, and be devoted to
the purpose Of putting the Armory building in
condition for the reception of our sick? We
think that were this subject properly presented
TO the Honorable Commissioners they would ae-
knowledge the propriety and business Of our OBJ
ect, and probably consent TO transfer OF the
already contemplated to the I'm
provement Of the building situated on the corner
of Sixth and b streets southwest.
Once this hospital be established, or in a fair
way to become certainty, we can and will ap-
peal individually and collectively to the pubIic
Tor assistance 10 sustaining It, and we venture 10
.sy that there viii not be found single indl-
Ttdual who will hesitate to acknowledge the
Worthness and business Of our object, and con-
ribute literally toward its support.
And And now gsntlsnsn having briefly stated the
.ubIect over into your keeping, praying that YOU
may seriously consider our appeal
IN BEHALP OF THE SUFFERING POOR,
md give It the beneft Of your sympathy and
earnest efforts, believing that should Won under.
axe to labor In its behalf, successful issue will
There is no object which would reflect greater
'redit, meet more hearty appreciation from the
yenefai Poone, more cordial sympathy from the
poor than the establishment upon firm basis Of
hospital Of this kind under consideration.
(signedI g9IN !. BRACkEET, M. D.
II. Z. LRACH, NJ. ID.
Q. V. N. CALLAN, NJ. d.
E. A. ADAMS, NJ. d.
]. W. LITTLE, NJ. d.
d. h. HAzES, NJ. ID.
J. +. X. APPLEBY, NJ. ID.
Dr. Bliss moved that Q. committee OF three, of
" hich the president Of the board should be one,
be appointed for the purpose Of efiectng plan,
Dc to locality, &C., Of building for this purpose
The motion was agreed 10, and Drs. Cox, Verdi
and Bliss appointed as such committee.
The report for the week ending Saturday, DC
tober 9, Of the
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS
was then submitted, Of which the following 10
synopsis: Total number Of deaths, o.; white, male
ID female, 10; colored, male, 8; female s; minors
white male G. female, Q; colored, male Il; female,
i; under one month old, white. 4; colored, s. from
one month to one year, white, 8; colored, 7; from
one to two years. white, 8; coIored, 3; above two
years, white /; colored, 2; above five years, white
j; above ten years, white, 3; colored, 2; above
twenty years, white, 8; colored, 1; above thirty
years, white, 1; colored, 2; above forty years,
white, 2; colored, i: above ffty years, white s;
above sixty years. white, 4 colored, 8; shove sew.
enty, white, !; colored, ]. OF these IS were
natives Of the District Of Columbia, 3 Of the
United States, 8 Of Ireland, Of England, Of
Germany and Of Scotland. The principal causes
Of death were: Diphtheria, j; whooping cough, 8;
erysiplas, i; typhoid fever, 8; typho mAla-
rial lever, 2; diarrhes, s: dysentery, i; cholera
infantum, 2; syphilis, 1; rheumatism, !; phthisis
pulmonalis, II; tsbes mesenterica, 8; tuberculsr
iaryngitis, /; meningitis, l; commissions, (in-