New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-28
HYGIENE ON THE POroMAC.

Congress having adjourned. nerhRDs the talk IN
Washington about the insalubHty of that city has
abated-perhaps the Potter Committee confines IL
self 10 groans about the hot weather, which has
come NJ last 4 few weeks ago there was loud cry
over the condition OF the wooden pavcments.
saturated with water, full of holes, dangerous TO
man aud beast and eNhaling poison from every
square inch. The House District Committec-wo
do not know that anything came Ofit-callcd atten-
ton to the ponds Of stagnant neutrality-suspicious. Of
all manner OF flth-frum which offensive Odors
and deadly gases were constantly floating into
the windows of the Capitol, and having, doubtless,
an extraordinary effect upon tho minds and bodies
Of honorable gentlemen Possibly it was this
which sometimes spoiled their speeches, famed
their logic, mpcded their elocuton, demoral-
izod their rhetoric, and hurt their tempors. Per-
haps to the air may be attributed the recent de-
terioration Of Mr.. Coxs humor. There were times
when most Of the learned and eloquent members
seemed to have been breathing the laughing gas
was 1t because somewhere near the Capitol there
was an unsupported reservoir of nitrOus-OXide, at
intervals given out in damaging quantities 7
Tho reader may remember a line in one of
Tom MOore's Epistles, And what was Goose
Creek once. is Tiber now" TO which may
be added And what was Tiber once is Sewer
now the classic river having been built over and
forming part of the sewage system or want of sys-
tenn Over thus there has been also great groaning in
Washington. Sewer-gas is among the fatal Injuries
Of that oity-an unsupported guest IN some of the
most elegant mansions inthe best part of the Capital
The result Of all this mismana cement, bad drain
age, and general unpleasant swampnoss is best
stated in figures. 1t has always been rather
"a dying time in Washington. but last year there
were / 600 moro deaths there than in any year
previous. The sickness last month was said to
DO alarming. There was no pestilence, no cpl
domc, no contagious disease such as would have
sent members and their families skurrying home
10 save their dear liyes-only that dull, chronic,
halfappreciated mortality which told fearfully on
the figures when its total was summed up.
Those who died were perhaps more comfort
able than good many who did not
that is, il headaches and Institutes and
rheumatisms and dyspep5ias and fevers and agues
can make those who enjoy bad health" uncOmfort-
able The nation has vital interest in all this yet
what can the nation do about it These gentlemen
in Washington make or repeal our laws, impose our
taxes regulate trade transactions, and generally
care for our liberty and our pursuits OF happiness if
not for our lives. They ought 70 be in tho full pos
session of their physical and intellectual faculties.
IL Is no great stretch Of language to say that they
have sworn 10 keep themselves in good order They
have no business to be sick, if they can
help themselves; yet great many Of them, indeed
unite n remarkable number, are told, were lately
on the sick list and many left in far from robust
health. II may seem rather impertnent to tell an
elected law-maker that his digestion is not his
10 damage at his sovereign pleasure, but it isn't for
II belongs to his country. Every time he eats too
much or drinks too much, or, by any other irregu-
larity. dsarranges the sanity of his mind OF
body. so that he cannot attend intelligently
TO his official duties, no cheats the Treasury,
and deals dishonesty with the people of the
United States of America. The laws of health are
immutable No member can bring in bill for their
repeal or amendment One for their enforcement
nevertheless, would always be in order. Senators
and Representatives would find their account in it,
They don't want TO die tomorrow Theymostly want
TO be reelected. They have a future before them,
if they do not break down in the prime of life. If
there is any pleasure in being member Of Congress,
any honor yea, any profit, let them think of these
things when they come ogether again.
|
The prosecution Of Marvin, Foreign Office clerk,
for disclosing the terms of the Salisbury-Sohou-
10