National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-09-29
BOARD OF HEALTH.

Their Meeting Last Evening" ;onsideration
of Important Matters-Ths Pavement on
Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Board of Health met last evening at their
rooms; DR.. Verdi, president pro temPore, in the
absence Of DIR. COX. All the other members were
present. The minutes of the last meeting were
read and approved.
reported bills to the amount Of so, which were
ordered to be paid.
DR.. Verdi, from the special committee to whom
was referred the resolution Of the Board Of Health
inquiring whether
WOOD PAYMENTS,
in Q state Of decomposition, and In such o broken
state as to allow filth to accumulate among and
under Its blocks, constitute nuisance Injurious
to health, report
i. That all vegetable and animal matter in
Bosfd Of asaS hSTs Been SecaTed nusances
injurious to health, and that the decomposition Of
wood spread upon the surface Of our streets can
2. That probably four ffths of the newIy.paved
streets Of our city are paved with wood varying
in kind, some having been even treated with anti
septics before being laid. That within three
years from the time they were laid every one Of
them gave more or less evidence Of very rapid de-
west and southeast, Third, Tenth, EleventhTweIfth
and K streets northwest, have decomposed 50 rap
idly as to give rise to mass Of dangerous putrn-
cation. Third, Eleventh, and Twelfth streets are
now, however, being paved with ssphaltum.
That on examination, your committee ind that
the durability Of wood depends upon its quality
and seasoning, but that four years Of exposure to
the heat and moisture will decompose the best,
and that the quick decomposition Of the wood
OF 1ep Per moi 80 ~ fSs
wood and the manner in which they were laid.
That those that were protected from capillary
were laid on sandy soil, we'll drained, have been
slower TO decompose, while those that were not
thus protected have decomposed with great
vent the motion Of dust, soon followed by the
sunny heat, has greatly accelerated the decom-
position Of some, particularly Pennsylvanis ave.
nue..
Now, in this connection, your committee would
respectfully suggest, that sprlnkling, unless i'm
the process Of fermentation OF Ith in the Streets
and therefore It should be absolutely forbidden
as process
INJURIOUS TO HEALTH.
The effect Of spriuklng is different from rain, for
while the former is Just enough to moIsten the
noxious materials without removing them, the
latter is generally sufficient to carry them of from
That your committee moreover find that the
broken surface Of payements above mentioned has
allowed the Judgment Of an immense quantity Of
animal and vegetable filth, impossible even to
calculate, between and under the blocks of wood,
not only greatly increasing the putrefying mass,
but adding to the rapidIty Of its decomposition
and infusoria develop, which, entering the atmo.
sphere we breathe, are poisonous,
ESeENDERIsG zYMoTIc DISEASES,
such as typhoid and malarIal intermittent fevers
dysentery, diptheria, &c. That, in consequence of
q condition so dangerous to the health OF our COM
munity, your committee recommend that the
Board Of Health memorabilia the honorable Com
missioners Of the District Of Columbia, praying
that so soon as a wood pavement gives Indication
of general decomposition it be renewed, and also
that the health officer be Instructed to examine
wood pavements from time to time and report their
sanitary condition, with view to condemn, as
quickly necessary, those that in the opinion Of
the board may be considered Injurious to health.
7. s. VERDI,
ID. W. BLISS,
]. NJ. LANGsToN,
Committee.
The report of the committee was adopted.
The following is a synopsis of the operations of
the health officer for the week ending Septem-
abated, SCI; referred to Commissioners rs; citi.
Eens' complaints, 81; official notices issued, 81
causes OF death Investigated, s; buriaIs at public
sicans to the poor ILL., cost of medicines furnished
SS7.47; local causes Of death from Zymotic dis
eases investigated: typhoid fever. 8; premises
found in unsanitary condition, 8; in sanitary
condition, s; tons OF garbage removed, 15O dead
animals reported and removed 40; privies cleaned
by the Odorless Excavating Company, lOT4
Marine products $50 punches fish;
2,s25 bushels oysters, 5,525 crabs, q sturgeon;
condemned, 525 crabs. UnwholesOme food cor
demned-459 lbs. beef, 10 lbs. veal, lbs. mutton,
IS lbs bacon, 10 lbs pork II lbs. sausage 30 egg.
plants, 81 doZ. cucumbers, 43j heads cabbage, 81
bushels tomatoes, bushels beans, 40 doz. corn,
.
bushels turnfps, bushel apples, 1856 water
melons, sbunches grapes, 161 cantsloupes, 8 bush
els peaches. Animals impounded, 13s; re.
deemed, 46; killed, &c. sold, l. died, amount real
lied, S5S
On recommendation of the health officer the
frame building and premises, No. 40 First street
southeast, and the frame building and premises
Nos. 2l13 and 21l5 L street northwest, being below
grade. having no sewerage, leaky roofs, render
Ing the walls damp and the rooms unhealthy,
being in bad sanitary condition generally and
unit for human habitation, were declared to be
nuisances injurious to health, and the health
officer directed to abate the same according to
law and the ordinances OF the board.
communication was received from the health
officer relative to q nuisanse at the Thyson house
northeast corner of Seventh and streets He
reports that to make a complete abatement Of
this nuisance, which continues to be most serious
q public sewer should be constructed on the north
side Of street, between Sixth and Seventh
streets, TO enable Mrs. Tbyson to connect and
drain her premises. The health officer asks that
the board, by special committee or otherwise
communicate with the honorable Commissioners
and urge upon them the necessity for the con-
construction Of this sewer at the earliest possible
date.
Several other communications were received
among them the applications Of DR.. q. B. Lab.
cher. for position as food inspector, and of Dr. w.
W. Young, as sanitary inspector. They were sew
orally read and referred TO the sanitary police
committee.
The board then adjourned.