Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-11
S4NITARY CONDITION AND NEEDS
OF THE DISTRICT.
RerOrr Of the Health Officer.
ReFOrt of {

OF six persons. four being charged with the in
spection of alleys. streets lots, &c, who report
AL nuiSanceS and notices sent out and served
on responsible parties, and in case of failure to
abate the same, the case is referred 10 the At
torney OF the District: One inspector is detail
cd as the medical sanitary inspector, and one
as the inspector of meats, &C. He refers to the
fact that each OF the four sanitary inspectors on
street DUTY Is expected TO have personal knowl-
tge Oil the sanitary condition OF territory occll-
pied by 10000 persons. Strenuous efforts have
been made 10 prevent the
SALE OF UNwHoLRsOME FOOD.
and the. report calls attention to the fact that
those who sell diseased, decayed or other I'M
WhoieSome food or drink are not only liable to
have their goods cOnfiscated but also to a fine
OF IRON SO 10 $50. In addition to one man de-
tailed for the inspection OF meats, &c, offered
Ior sale In the market houses, commission
houses and provision stores OF Washington, two
privateS have been detailed from the MetrOpoli-
tan police force, one to inspect marine products
at the Washington wharveS and the other to
supervise the market, shops and wharveS Of
Georgetown.
GARBAGE AND NIGHT SOIL.
He calls attention TO the fact that garbage is
removed by contract, night soil by the EXcavat-
ing Apparatus Company, by the pneumatic pro-
cess, and the law prohibits its removal in recep-
tacles not alright. He refers to the laws and
garbage. the removal OF dead animals, &C. and
he says that the night SOIL garbage and dead
animals are removed to Broad Greek, several
miles below Alexandria, where they are utilized
by the contractor, the greater portion being
manufactured into fertilizers.
INFECTIOUS AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
To prevent the introduction and spread OF
contagious diseases it is made the duty under
penalty of from S25 to 5000. of the physician
attending any person who shall die of any such
disease to forward the death certificate within
elght hours after death. In a case of smallpox
1t is the duty of the physician and any good
citizen TO report Ii at once. The bodies of per-
sons dying OF contagious diseases are to be en-
closed in alright caSketS, and the keeper of
where diseases
Is required TO report the same under penalty of
from SO 10 $50. In case OF threatened epidemic
lhe health officer is authorized to issue such
orders or instructions and adopt such regula-
lions as ne may deem necessary. and when the
complete Isolation OF person affected with any
sucn dlseaSe the person being an inmate OF a
tenement, lodging or boarding house or hOtel)
cannon DE secured by other means, such person
must pe removed as speedily as possible to the
hospital for treatment. He enumerates the pro-
Visions or laW and regulations on the subject OF
contagious Diseases as also the duties OF the
poundmaster under the law: the law relating to
burialS. removal of dead bodies. &C
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS. DEATHS AND MAJ
RIAGES.
The registration OF deaths is so well made
that the records OF mortality are made perfect
In the registration OF births and marriages.
however, such perfection is not attained. Some
physicians do not report all births at which
they attend, and the neglect is not discovered
except in ease OF the chidS death. 1t is doubt
less i'll consequence OF this neglect that orr
tables Show decrease Of the population by
deaths over births. Some clergymen are also
careless in reporting marriages S0lemniZed by
them, and frequently have to be notified before
returns are made. The intelligent class OF men
composing both the medical and clerical profess
SIons should see the necessity OF contributing to
the perfection OF these very important records
by furnishing promptly all the required in
formation in each and every case. In this con-
nectlon he invites attention to the necessity
1Cr placing these records in fireprOOf building.
THE YELLOW FEVER
health flow
appointment the yellow fever appearing in the
Mississippi valley it became incumbent upOn
him to put forth his best effort to prevent if
possible, the Introduction aud spread of this
terrible disease, and the concentrated energies
OF his small force were brought to bear in ac-
comprising the removal OF any and every dis
cOVeraDle condition which might tend to feed
or harDOr the poisoned germs if transmitted
among us. The inspectors worked we'll ana in
a snort time improvements were noticed in
every direction; the alleys, which We're IN a
very filthy condition, were cleaned and thor
0ughly disinfected; vigorous measures applied
10 secure the abatement of inSanitary cOndi-
lions On private property; general diSinfectiOn
was ordered; nuisanceS OF long standing. such
as ponds OF Stagnant water. which from defect
In the law could not be abated at once, We're
temporarily, by the use OF diSnfectantS and
portions OF the city subject to overflow were
carefully Inspected and their condition mate
rally improved, and the citizens were called on
10 assist In placing the city in the best possible
CONDITION. While strict quarantine was not
deemed necessary, the hotel keepers and others
were requested TO notify the health Off ,er of
arrivals from the injected districts, and all per-
sons from such places were examined before
clothing was allowed to be unpacked, the cloth
ing being disinfected before the removal from
the trunks.
fortunately, the direful scourge did not
reich us. but its rayageS in other cities should
be a warning to us that no stone must DE left
unturned In the effort to remove from our cities
ana enVlrOnS every Stumbling block in the way
OF healthfulneSS. The medical faculty have
generally agreed that three conditions must
usually concur before there can be an epidemic
OF yellow fever at any center OF population
yk.:-FavOrable climate and temperature: loca
aids to propagation, such as malaria filth &c
ara the importation Of the germ. By the re-
cent epidemic in Chattanooga, Tenne Ssee, how
ever, we are shown but too plainly that when
an imported germ finds local situation that is
favorable no climatic conditions are needed:
Chattanooga Is one thousand feet above tide, in
limestone country, dry and cOOl-the very last
place where an outbreak OF fever might be
looked for. But the city was badly drained. tt
was filthy, II lad alluyial flats near by, subject
TO overflow; the germ was transplanted from
Memphis, the local aids were favorable, and
promoted its propagation, and Chattanooga
writhed under the terrible disease. We should
not rely upon climate entirely to ensure us from
visitation by any disease, but there Is ever i'm
perative necessity for taking proper sanitary
precautions, and it Is confidently believed that
Congress will provide for the proper care of the
sanitary interests of what should be the most
perfect city in every particular ON this conti-
nent.
THE POTOMAC FLATS.
First and foremost among the sanitary neceS-
sites OF the District OF Columbia is the improve
ment OF our river front and the abatement OF
that great nuisance the flats" or " KidNeu
bottoms" extending along the north shore of
the Potomac from the National Observatory TO
below the Long Bridge" and also those On
the Eastern Branch or AnacOStia river.
Extended comment on this subject is not
necessary. Every intelligent citizen is fully
aware OF the extent and influence of these
malallal marshes; these hundreds OF acres OF
swamp Which present to the eye during
the summer months a vast undulatfOn OF rank
vegetation and which during the fall furnishes
so many patients to the physician. Not ONLY
does the vast amount of vegetation which
springs forth fall and decay, but much of the
sewerage OF our cities is carried back from the
river by the tides and remains on these flats to
ferment and throw off its deadly effiuvia, Some
OF our sewers empty their contents directly
into the moraSs on the Potomac and the sedi-
mentary matters deposited can never effec-
lively be borne away by the tidal current.
The subject has been presented time and
again TO Congress, and numerous plans have
been suggested to abate this great nuisance.
but this Is a question within the domain of
engineering and the knowledge and skill of an
engineer is requisite to solve the problem.
Stirred to energy by the terrible experience
OF our southern cities an effort Is again being
made by some Of our prominent citizens to in
duce Congress to take decisive action at its next
session, looking TO the eradication OF this plague
spot from our midst. Let us all give this move
ment our earnest and hearty support, and trust