National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-04-29
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Vita, s.at;stiss-Ths Holmsad Cemetery.


The Board Of Health met at their rooms last
evening, Or. q. Q. Cox, president, In the chair,
and all the members present. s#. T.
Mr. Marbury, from the finance committee, re-
ported bills amounting TO q o02 IL, which were ap
proved and ordered TO be paid.
Dr. Verdi, from the special committee on the
muddy condition Of the Potomac water, reported
that interviews had been held with Gen. Melgs
and Gen. Babeosk IN relation to the matter, and
. more extended examination would be made this
week and the committee be prepared to report by
the next meeting. sla
In the case Of Herbert Brown, residing tho.
SOS oLstreet alley northwest. who died Of cerebro
spinal meningitis, (Infiammatory,) the health
ofheer reported that the premises were examined
and found in an unsanitary condition by reason of
filth in the house and surface saturation of the
yard from slop and rain water, there being no
sewer from the premises nor In the alley. The.
necessity for this sewer Is urgent, and has been
the subject Of communication with the engineer
of the District. The family have been notified Of
the character Of the disease, and instructed. =
Tns Fl the pend ss Ss and
were submitted, approved and forwarded TO the
District Commissioners for payment.
as Gd d
and referred to the finance committee.
" VITAL STATISTICS.
The registrar submitted o statement Of NOR
tally in the District for the week endiSg april
white, 3; female, s male cOlored, q; female, 10.
np ssH y SaS tnenfy years. thirty w
forty years MY years 4 sixty MY years, :; seventy
8 s,s Nsgss f II ias o. tne
many, l; Saxony, / The principal causes Of
death were: Typhoid fever, l; inanition, cancer,
iisn q BRAIN, cOnsusidns, i msniSsltiss !;
abscess, j; enterites, q hepatites, 3 jaundice 1;
o4ssy ssl he sseR was nofe Than LAST
week, or at the rate Of 1S.s5 per 1000 per annum
Decrease Of the population BY deaths over births
(reported) was or at the rate Of Is per 1000 per
annum; 6.l7 per cent. Of the deaths were from
Zymotic diseases, 34.4s from constitutional 5l.73
from local, 80 from deveIopmental, and LIZ from
violence. The rate Of mortality Of the white
population was H. ll3 per 1000 per annum, while
the mortality Of the co1ored Population was
crease Of the white population BY deaths over
births, .sQ4 per 1000, while the decrease of the
coiored population by deaths over births was ISL
is75 white 81 colored 43; total So or at the rate
Of 20. per LOCO per annum- For the same period
eoIored. Births, 81; white male, II; female, 10;
colored male, 16; female, II. -..
The subject. Of printing 200 copies of the regu-
lations OF the registrars office, Incorporating
therein the circular in relation to the transport
ing Of bodies through the city, and charging for
transcripts Of records, was referred to the 0rdi-
nance committee for consideration and report.
A Communication was received from General o.
E. Babcock, Superintendent of Public Buildings
and Grounds, stating that, as understand the
opinion Of Hon. Mr.. Birney, whenever the ground
occupied and known as the Holmead cemetery
ceases to be used as cemetery the property re-
verts to the United States, and should be taken
charge OF by this office. If am correctly in
formed, there are yet several hundred bodies re-
naming buried in said ground. So long as 1t Is
used as resting place for thsse remains / do not
that this office has the slightest control over
the grounds. There is no fund at the disposal of
this Office for the removal of the remains, and If
there was such fund there is no cemetery under
said remains. So soon as the Board Of Health, or
the authorities properly in charge Of the cemete-
ries OF the city, will inform this office that the re-
mains of the dead deposited in the Holmead GENE
terry have been removed, the office will assume
charge and control Of the said grounds; but SO
not consider II under the control Of this ofce any
more than any other property set aside BY the
General Government as cemetery
The letter Of Gen. Babcock's was transmitted to
the District Commissioners, together with other
correspondence in relation TO this matter, and
urging the necessity for some immediate action
on the subject.
A communication was received from H F. Tur-
ner Co., contractors for the removal Of offals,
asking that steps be taken to require house
holders to place the garbage in front Of their resi-
dences so as TO expedite its removal.
a second letter from the same parties was read,
stating that by reason Of not being able to remove
tho dead animals collected in the District by rail
they have boon unable 70 utilize the same for
iertiliZing purposes, and have Sustained loss ON
their contract for the removal and transportation
Of Oals Of aboat $1,000 and ask the board 10 take
such action as will result in making up said loss.
The board then adjourned.