National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-09-18
BOARD OF HEALTH.
In,nection. of Foo6-vit.l a.,

Inspections OF Food-Vital Statistics,
AmsetinE of the Board OF Health was he'd at
their rooms last evening; DIR. G. o. Cox, presi
dent, in the chair.
The chairman Of the sanitary committee re-
ported that an investigation had been made o.
the water.clOsets in the Post Once Department
building, and they were found in condition
otherwise than they are without suitable ventila
tlon, some of them by reason OF this TACT Deine
exceedingly offensive No u, on the second moor
northeast corner of the building, was found es
pecially offensive. Immediate adjustment o.
ventilstiDg shaft, however temporary, should bs
made for absting the nuisance of No Il other
wise this closet should not be used. The com
mittee found disinfectants used which were tnef
fectual in overcoming the foul smells and noxou;
gases. The committee learned from conference
with the superintendent of the building, Colonel
Burnsides, that arrangements would De mace, 10
connection with repairs in process OF complexion
by the architect Of the building, Tor Ventlatng
the closets connected Herewith, aud thus aolte
the nuisance referred to. The committee state,
in justice 70 the officer in charge that tne genera
police Of the building is excellent. The location
and construction of the closets are by no means
favorable to health on the part Of those occupy
ing the building.
inspection. He SAID by generally bad condition
he meant the obnoxious gases, not the clean
illness, for that could not be improved upon
his duty faithfully The report was adopted
The special committee, TO whom was referred
the matter OF
FOOD INSPECTIONS
under the law submitted the following
!. That in their Judgment the Standard Of
quaIifcatiod for this service should be largely
scientific ana reliable; and it is the opinion of the
committee that the standard Of qualification
heretofore adopted by the board is too low, and
should be raised.
2 The committee recommend that there sbe
established a standing committee composed OF two
persons, to whom shall be referred all matters
pertaining TO the inspection of food, and whose
duty IL shall be to supervise this service of the
pnar I'd nf
recommending from time to time such action with
regard thereto upon the approval Of the Board as
will render this service thorough and efficient.
The committee submit further that this sub
iect is no. only one Of special Importance as far
as the interest OF the community generally is con-
cerned, but it is one Of great responsibility, and
should be conducted with care and wisdom, The
report was adopted.
Prof. DangstOn said the committee on ordinance,
upon the recommendation Of the registray of vital
statistics. offered the following amendments to
section six of the regulations of the board, viz:
Insert after the word health, in line three,
section six. the words. land when the remains of
any dead body is to be conveyed, transferred or
removed beyond the limits of the District of Co
lumbia it shall be the duty ofthe person. or agent,
or officer of the corporation having charge of the
conveyance transfer or removal Of said remains to
detach, sign and return the coupons attached to
said permits to the registrar of
VITAL STATISTICS
of the Board of Health aforesaid before o'clock
p. IN. of the Saturday following the conveyance,
transfer or removal of said remains"
The amendment was agreed to, and its publica-
tiOn ordered.
The registrar submitted a statement of vital
statistics this District for the week ending Sep
TENDER II, of which the following is synopsis:
Total deaths, 81; male, white, IL; female, 9;
male colOred, !; female. 6; minors, male, white,
Il: female, 10; male cUlOred, 10; female 2O under
one month old. Il; one year, IA: two years,
Is; between three and eight years, 80. Nativity.
District, Sc; of the United States %; of Ireland
4. and Of Germany 4. The principal causes OF
death were Group, l; whOOping cough, S; typhoid
fever 3; diarrhOea, 2; cholera infantum, 5; mani
tiOn 3: marasmus, Z; phthisis pulmonalis, Q; con-
WILSON'S, 4; paralysis, 8; trlsums nascenttum, 4;
congestion Of brain, 3; brOncho pneumonia, 2;
pneumonia, ?: congestion of lungs, 81 gastO enter
tits 81 old age, 3; drowned, /. For the same period
there we're 10 marriages. white and cOlored.
Bfrths, white, male, .; female, q; solored,
male, IS, female, 10; total, IS. The NOR
talfty for the week was 10 less than last
week, or a. the rate of 2SE per ], 900 per annum.
2T.5S per cent. Of the deaths were from Zymotic
diseases, 1884 from constitutional, 1857 from
local, SO4 from deveiopmentaI and LA from
violence. The rate of mortality Of the white
population was Ills per 1000 per annum, while
the mortality Of the colored population was $500
per 900 for the same period. Rate of increase
Of the white population by births over deaths,
5.42 per LOCO; while the decrease OF the colOred
population by deaths over births was 27.74 per
] 1000 per annHm.
William A. Beamer made application for a po-
sitOn.
The board then adjourned.