Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-09-29
hoard OF Health.
rrCATrSC WOOD PAYMENTS INJURIoC
To HEALTH.

rrCAGrNG WOOD PAYMENTS INJURIOUS
TO HEALTH.
At a meeting of the Board of Health last
night, Dr. Verdi in the chair, the
HEALTH OFFICERS REPORT
for the week ending September . was read,
showing nuisances a6ated. SCI; causes OF
death investigated. s; burials at public p,
Peuse recommended, s; patients trea' Il no
the physicians to the poor, H.; tons of psr
bage removed, 80; dead amin as rer,oTted
and removed, 10; privtes cleaned by o1or-
less Excavating Apps. ratus Coynpa1v ga
Marine products inS pected-675 punches fish
2,S25 bushels Oysts rs, 5,525 crabs, u sturgeon
Condemned, 80 crabs. Also reported a large
quantity OF unwholesome food condemned
Animals lrIpOunded, 13s; redeemed IS;
s5s.
PRFNIsFs Condemned.
Frame building and premises No 40 1st
street southeast, and frame buildings and
premises Nos. III and 21l5 l. street north
west, were condemned as nuisanceS aud
Health Officer Keene was authorized 10
cause their abatement.
DECAYING WOOD PAYMENTS REPORTED
AS NUISANCEs.
DIR. Verdi, from the special committee TO
whom was referred the resolution inQuIring
whether wood pavements in state OF de-
composition and in such a broken state as To
allow filth to accumulate among and under
Its blocks constitute nuisance Injurious to
health, made report that all vegetable and
amman maICer IN sCaLe Oh aec0npositlOn
have, by the ordinances of the board been
declared nu1sanceS, and that decOmpOsi ton
of the wood spread upon the surface of our
streets cannot be an exec ptiOn. That prObI
bly, fouT-fifths of the newly pavet streets OF
our city are paved with wood, varying in
kind, some having been treated even with
antiseptics before being laid. Tnat thin
three years from the time they were laid
every one OF them gives more or less evil
dtnoe of very rapid decomposition, but that
Per nSyIVanla avenue northwest and south
east, Sd, 10th, 18th, 18th, and h ST. eets. have
dtcOmpOsed so rapidly rs To give rise to a
mass OF dangerous putrefactiOn. Sd, nth and
18th streets. are now, however being repaved
with asphaltum. That ON examination the
committee find that the durability of WOOD
depends upon its quality and seasoning; but
that four years of exposure to heat and mOis-
ture Will decompoSe even the best, and that
the quick decomposition Of the wood pave
ments of the city depend not so much upon
wear and tear as upon the quality of the
wood and the manner in which they Were
laid; that those that we're protected from.
capillary absorption by a thick bed of dry
sand, or that were laid on sandy soil, well
drained, have been slower in decomposition.
while those that were not thus protected
have deCOmpOSed with great rapidity; also.
that the sprinkling OF water To prevent the
motion OF dust, soon followed by the solar
heat, has greatly accelerated the decOmpO-
sitiOn of some, and particularly that of
Pennsy lvania avenue. And, in this cOnnec-
ton, your committee would respectfully
suggest that sprinkling, unless Immediately
followed by sweeping, greatly adds To the
process of fermentation of filth in the streets,
al that therefore Il should he absolutely
lOIbluucu dS pTOCtsS luxurious 10 netlltt n.
The effect Of sprinkling is different from
rain. for while the former is just enough to
mOisien the nOXiOuS materials without fer
menting them, the latter is generally suffi
clent to carry them off from the surface.
That your committee find that the broken
surface of the pavementS above mentioned
has allowed the Judgement of an immense
quantity OF animal and vegetable fifth i'm
possible even to calculate between AMI
under the blocks of wood, not only greatly
increasing the putTefylng mass, but adding
to the rIpidity of its decomposition. That
from sad decomposition gases arise, and
fungi and infusOria develop, which, entering
the atmosphere We breathe, are poisonous,
eDgendering ZymOtic diseases, scch as typhoid
and malaTial feveTs, dysentery, diptheria,
&c. That in consequence of a condition SO
dangerous 10 the health of our community.
your committee would recommend that the
board memorable the District Commission
ers, praying that so soon as a wood pave
ment gives Indication of general decOm posi-
tiOn IL be removed; and, also, that the health
officer be instructed to examine wood pave
ments, from time to time, and report their
sanitary condition, with a view To condemn
as quickly as necessary those that, in the
opinion OF the board, may be considered ia
furious 10 health; adopted.