National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-07-22
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Terrible Increase in the Death Rate.

Terrible Increase in the Death Rate
4 meeting of the Board of Health was held
at their rooms yesterday morning, DR.. Verdi
in the chair.
Professor ]. NJ. Langston, from the ordf
nance committee, to whom was referred the
petition OF citizens praying for the abatement
Of a nuisance in the shape of a slaughtcr-house
Oh h street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth
streets southeast, made a report, which was
adopted, recommending that the health officer
he directed to order at once the abatement of
any anf: all nuisanccs injurious to the public
health found upon the premises named.
Professor Langston, from the same commit
tee, reported, in reference to the recent COM
plant made by the health officer that the
Odorless Excavating Company had transported
tlie contents of q privy vault through the
streets in manner in violation of their con-
tract. The report says that the committee are
clearly of the opinion that the contents OF all
privy vaults, under the contract of the Odor
less ExCavating Company, should be trans
ported in air-tight barrels.
CENTRAL MARKETS OF PARIS.
A letter was read from Quartermaster Gen.
eral NJ. C. Meigs, of the following purport:
~ find the following formula in a report on
the situation of the great central markets of
Paris. These markets were full of foul smells,
and commission of architects, engineers and
physicians was appointed to study the best
remedy. They reported that the disinfecting
liquid of Messrs. Rousseau was better than
any other which they knew of. When diluted
with nine times it's weight of water, the dilu-
ton OF one tenth, and poured into a tub con-
tanning putrid meat, fish and entrails of
poultry, it instantly destroyed the smell, and
though stirred every day for eight days, no bad
smell proceeded from the substance in the tub
submitted to experiment. 1t also destroyed
the odor of very foul privy. In this hot
weather this is probably worth attention and
trial"
RoUssEAUs DIsINFECTISG FLUID.
"Thirty-ffye kilogrammes of chloride of zinc,
such as results from dissolving zinc in hydro
chlOric acid; fifteen kilogrammes crude glyce-
rine; one kilogramme picnic acid; a mixture
OF ether and essence to perfume the liquid;
LOCO litres of water. When used to be mixed
with nine times its weight in water"
The letter was ordered to be placed Oh file,
and the secretary was instructed to convey to
Gen. MeigS the thanks of the board.
THE ''HIDE-noUsE."
The letter of DIR. Bowen, complaining of the
''hide house on X sire t, between Sixth and
Seventh, was received from the Senate Com
mittce on the District, and ii was stated that
the health officer had notified the party to re-
move the nuisance, and the party had notified
him that lie Intended to contest the right OF
the board. 1t was also stated that the attOr-
ney had been instructed to commence legal
proceedings. One of the letters accompanying
The papers stated that the death of Mr.. Alex
andcr Ball was caused by this nuisance, and
that it has also caused the serious illness of
Miss Gordon, residing next door. The subject
was referred.
VITAL STATISTICS.
sThc report of the registrar of vital statistics
for the week ending July II was presented,
showing deaths 1870 more than last week
at the rate of $500 per 900 per anuum.
Decrease 10y deaths over births (reported) l2t,
or at the rate Of 10. 800 per l 900 per annum.
Decrease of white population by deaths over
births WAS 19.ii3 per 900 per annum: colorel,
60 .0S9 do Deaths corresponding week 1875,
9l-55 white, 80 colOred, or at the rate of
29.555 FER 100 per annum. Of the deaths
the past week there were rs whites, 81
colored-55 white minors and so colOred |
minors, 90 whites and 10 colored being
under five years of age.) OF the causes,
II were superinduced by heat, 81 from |
cholera infantum, IL consumption, IL apo |
pleNy, Ii congestion of brain, IN direct from |
heat,) 0 old age, poisoned, II infantic con-
Nulsions.