Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-11-27
SANITARY WORK.
nnual RepOPt Of the heard Of Heal
WHAT HAS BFEN DONE AND WHAT Is
RECOMMENDED.

a
night the president. DIR. Cox. read the fourth
annual report Of the board, indicating the
variety and amount of sanitary labor ex-
ne , curing ne year h,s sept EN-,
sident remarks that 1.-The earnest zeal and
unfiaggipg energy which have hitherto dis
he found 10 have suffered no abatement, and
the results of its well intended efforts will, 1t
Is believed, compare favorably with the hy-
eienic achievements OF similar organiza.
Speak of the "rapidity with which the
public mind has been educated to the i'm
p3rtance OF sanitary discipline" he says:
than in our own have health requirements
been more esacting or more rigidly enforced,
at1 csr,alniy IN none OF equal extent has SO
the well meant policy Of the Board of Health
in promoting the most vital of human inter-
st more intimate ans eefivs
ton Of all classes in the great and good work
before u.s."
THE srcRErARY's WORK.
The president speaks in terms of praise of
the secTetary's report, and of the Importance
of the work intrusted to that officer, particu-
larry the correspondence already inaUgurated
with various sanitary organizations of
Europe, and says in reference to that matter:
alt is the intention Of the board to maintain,
an far as practicable, communication with
the various sanitary institutions of the civil
LIKED world, and TO collect and preserve in lis
archives published facts of value emanatirg
from the advanced organs of public health
elsewhere"
The Health Officer
The president refers TO the health officers
report, from which he takes the following
figures: Nuisances reported and abated dur
ing the year, i,511; value OF food condemned.
S17 0iS SO; animals impounded, 2.S91; garbage
removed, 6.155 tons: dead animals removed,
1914: premises severed, 1872; houses con
demned, 1913; ponds of stagnant water abated,
10; cost of medicines furnished the poor,
S2,123 40; number of bodies buried at the pub
n nfH 20
"that the people have been uniformly ready
and willing TO accept sanitary regulations
and conform to their requirements" and he
"again urges action upon the subjects of the
Improvement of alleys: concreting; introduce
ing of Potomac water; lighting and flush
ing" The manner in which the contractor
for the removal of offal has done his work Is
commended, and attention is called to the
great benefit OF doing away with the old sys-
tenn of might carts" ard ''slop CARTS"
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
HEALTH OFFICER.
he notices large number OF houses unfit
for human hahitation still remaining, and
the difficulty of causing satisfactory abate-
ment of these DuisaDces, and recommends
that some action be taken to relive the poor
owners OF houses left below grade in very
unsanttary condition by the filling OF streets
ard alleys. Upon the house sewer connec-
tons he dwells at some length, detailing the
alarming state OF our dwellings on account of
imperfect protection from sewer gases and
bad workmanship, and suggests the enact
ment of law making il a misdemeanor,
punishable by heavy penalties, for any
plumber or other person employed to place
in a dwelling house or hall or other building
where people live or cOngIegate, any basin
or other connection with a public sewer
which shall not be provided with such traps
or other contrivances as shall effectually, at
oil times, prevent the escape of sewer gas.
In commenting upon the abatement OF ponds
of stagnant water, he urges as an important
sanitary matter provision for the passage OF
sprirg and rain water through the old water
courses of Washington and Georgetown,
which are now being rapidly flied; calling
attention 10 the effects of this filing upon
the health Of inmates of houses built in such
localities.
The excellent general condition O. the
markets and groceries, and the efficiency of
the food inspectors. is commented upon by
the health officer, who insists that no salts
factory fulfllment of the requirement OF the
organic act can be accomplished before they
are able TO control the source OF supply, aud
recommends the establishment OF an abat-
tor. the inspection of milk, &c, In thehands
of wholesale merchants. He suggests as the
best way to rid the city Of the dog nuisance,
That all animals be licensed and collared,
entire year by the impending of all dogs
rot thus protected. He urges further iegiS-
lation for the prevention Of grazing and
driving cattle within certain limits He
notes that the pledge of the board to the Dis
trict Commissioners 10 reduce the expenfi-
ture for MEDICAL treatment and medicines for
the poor To IS. eco has been strictly complied
with, and that the average cost TO each person
treated has been Sc cents. He urges the ne
cessity for the establishment OF n general
charity hospital, and presents the following
subjects as requiring action:-1st. The inn
provement of the sewerage system. ID, The
Increased supply of Potomac water to the
highest parts of Washington. Sd. The con-
cIetirg, sewering and Lighting of the alleys
18th. The Improvement of the malaria gen
Grating river banks. 9Th. The removal OF
distractions TO drainage through the old
water courses. 9th. The abandonment or i'm
pTovement of the rented school buildings.
9Th. The Improvement OF the ventilators in
tie public department buildings.
THE NEED OF CHARITY HOSPITAL.
The president says: "The suggestion in
regard 20 the establishment of charity hos.
pifal is of much Importance. 1t is remark
able that In g city of SO large population
and that too the nations capital no general
hospital exists in which ell classes of persons
tuition constructed with strict regard to
hygienic requirements and embracing the
best modern appliances with ample provision
for the sick poor conducted under rigid SAM
which should no longer be deferred"
Vital Statistics.
The report of the registrar is next taken up,
ard the president says: "The ratio of births,
marriages, and deaths; the extent of disease
IN given population; comparative mortal
ity in different periods of life, and the infiu-
and occupatioSs nnon life and loo9syt I ares
among the important subjects embraced In
a well digested system of vital statistics.
registrar of the board indicates a vast inn.
provement in his department, although the
total registration Of births and marriages is
not so complete as desirable, the deficit In
such returns being rated at thirty per cent.
These deficits, he says, are the result of. the
ignorance of midwfves and the disregard OF
the law by the clergy.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BIRTHS REPORTED.
The total number of births reported dur
ing the year is 8 .915, of which the largest pro-
portion were white. The percentage OF which
births TO the white population is estimated
at $50, or 21.3 to 600; of cOlored, 3t04, or
at the rate OF 3l.0i 10 600; percentage of
births to the whole population, 2,447, or at
the rate OF 24.47 per coo.
THE CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGES
received and recorded during the year were
69I, not one-fourth, the registrar thinks, Of
the whole number solemnized.
DEATHS.
In the classification and analysis of death
returns the registrars Office has looked care
fully into the circumstances OF zymotic or
preventable diseases. Thorough investiga-
tiOns have been made into the local causes
likely to produce contagious or other mala-
dies with view TO their subsequent proven
tion; and the low rate OF deaths from such
diseases in the District affords ample evil
dence of the systematic and thorough SAM.
tary work achieved by the board.