Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-07-15
Sanitary Precautions I'm the District
TH3 HEALTa OFFICER TO THE PEOPLE.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
OFFICE OF HEALTH OFFICER,
WASHTNGT0N Jnlv TX 1870 |

4 WASuiNotONs July Id, lotS.J
To the People Of the District of Columbia:
| Measures are On foot to give the streets ant
ALLEYS in our two cities thorough cleaning ant
distinction, and would appeal to each house
/ holder iu the District o lend his or her assist
| aDce toward ERECTING our sanitary condition
! by cleansing thoroughly their private prem
ises. The following Information, taken from
an address of the committee on general santa
ton Of the Mississippi valley, is worthy Of the
careful CT 5idera,ion OF all at this time.
DRAINAGE.
| A thoroughly drained soil is all important
This should be secured where practicable by &
| complete system Of sewers or underground
| drains. If this Is not practicable superficial
| or surface drains should be properly located
and frequently i examined, to insure cleanliness;
| houses, cellars, yards and outouilding5 Is i'm
| perative, SO as to prevent the accumulation OF
| filth, garbage or masseS Of decOmpoSing organic
| matter SO prejudicial to health. 1t Is equally
| necessary that some means be devised for the
disposal OF the same, so as to render 1t harm
| less.
The prime conditions OF health In house
| depend upon cleanliness, pure air and ua-
polluted water; the prompt and thorough re-.
moval OF all refuse; and the perfect exclusion OF
all foul matters arising outside the house; Good
/ ventilation is absolutely necessary; Rooms
| should be frequently aired. and daily visit
is fruitful source of air-Dollution in dwellings.
/ Jealous attention should be paid to cellars,
| pantries and passages. Mold, dampness and
rays, free ventilation and lavish use of white
| wash are excellent Scavengers. The floors OF
| dwellings, should be frequently washed. Choose
| to be left open during and after the operation
| until thoroughly dry. The floors Of dwellings
| should always be raised from three to four feet
above ground, SO as to insure perfect ventila.
ton beneath, and the site should be higher than
| the surroundings, so as at all times to prevent
dampness or presence OF stagnant water.
WATER CLOSETS AND PRIyIES.
Foul Odors are natures signal OF danger.
Water-clOsets should be properly constructed,
kept Tree from odor and Away plentifully sup
piled with water. The waste pipes should be
wholly disconnected from all other pipes and
provided with Independent ventilation. They
should be so located as to avoid all possibility
house, Where p DRIVES are used they Should be
built above the ground with water-tight vaults
kept always free from foul smell by the liberal
the the use Of solution Of copperas. They should
be emptied at least twice year or Oftener If
the contents accumulate to more than one third
ings should be Thoroughly whitewashed and
the buildings should be so placed as to prevent
their exhalations from communicating the air
OF houses or polluting the sources OF water sup
ply from wells or c1SternS.
WATER SUPPLY.
"Water, next to air, Is the chief necessary of
life." We may even place 1t before food, be-
cause all food is largely composed OF it; and it is
the publication OF our houses and their sur
surroundings. Wells are the most dangerous
sources Of water supply, for few wells are safe
fore, be properly located, to avoid all po- Sible
risk OF contamination from their surroundings,
carefully built with elevated curbs and covered
tops. The water they contain should be eX-
am1ned at short intervals A simple method OF
examination Is by dissolving lump Of loaf
sugar In quantity OF the suspected water In
clean bottle, which should have close fitting
glass stopper. Set the bottle In the window OF
room where the sunlight Will fall on It, II
the water remains bright and limpid after a
use. But If it becomes turbid during the week,
] con- aims enough impurity to be unhealthy.
Such water should. not be used for drinking pur-
poses until 1t has been boiled and filtered; after
which it should be aerated by any simple pro-
cess, such as pouring several times from one
vessel into another In the open air. The addi-
ton OF a solution of permanganate OF potassa
will also serve, In most cases, to sufficiently
purify water for drinking purposes. Eight
grains OF the permanganate to one ounce Of
distilled or boiled water will make the solution.
Add one drop Of this to half pint of the sus-
pected water; If the red tint disappears in half
an hour, add another drop. For every drop that
loses its color In the half pint, there will be
from one,half to two grains OF organic impurity
In one gallon OF the water. II such water must
be used, drop In the pemanganate until the red
tint remains; the solution in this proportion is
Lot Injurious, nor does it taste unpleasantIy.
DIsINFECTANTs AND DKODORANTs.
More than half Of these agents are valueless
10 preventing disease, and dangerous as being
productive or false security. Heat and pure air
are the best OF all disinfectants Where other
agents are necessary, the following list will be
found useful :-Copperas can be used almost
anywhere, cheap and efficient; Especially
useful In prtvfeS, etc. Ten pounds in a patlful
OF water; q teacup In bed-pans, chambers, ETC.,
after being used. A quart day in privies.
urinals, etc, for ordinary purposes. In danger
discharge. The contents of privy six feet In
diameter and twelve feet deep, viii require
twenty pounds Of copperas to dislnfect It,
absorb, MIS-, and may be used adVantageousiy in
damp places, cellars, CUTTERS etc. They should
not, however, be used In drains, catch basins:
Sa ETC. NOR Where they are
AID obstruct the passages Charcoal is one Of
the best deodorants, Absorbing large volumes of
time or gypsum, and sprinkled freely In malodor.
Gus localities suspended In a basket, In cis-
terms, meat dairies, ETC., 1t tends to keep
the contents from absorbing foul odors. Char
the absorbed gases and renew its efficiency
Carbol1c acid and the coal-tar disinfectants are
only admissible for outdoor use, on account OF
able around stables, out buildings, etc. A gin
OF carbolic acid In q pailful of water may be
used to flush sewers, drains, etc, and in privy-
sufficiently well SAown not to need special
mention here, except to say that Its value Is
greatly Oyerrated. The addition OF strong vine-
gar or dilute sulphurlc acid Toll of viJr1oD ma
terally increases Its efficiency. Chloride OF zinc
may be used instead Of copperas, and has the
advantage OF neither bleaching nor staining
white or colored fabrics with which it may
come In contact On this account, it is espe-
cially useful in disinfecting clothing, bedding
etc. OF the large number of proprietary
preparations sold for disinfectlng purposes it is
not necessary to treat In this connection II
further Information is needed, consult your
sanitary officer or family physician.
IN GENERAL.
Should disease, however, in spite of every
reasonable care, break out in our midst, allay
fear and prevent panic, which is always sense
less, demOraliZDg the well and jeopardizing, to
an incalculable extent, the lives OF those who
may fall sick. " In a sick room, there should be
| wise heads, willing hands and loving hearts in
| the attendants, and thankful submission, with
common sense, In the patient"
The following general directions are useful In
| contagious or Infectious sickness:
, J, the Sick person should be restricted to one
ROOM or part Of the house separated from the
| other inmates. g Secure proper ventilation OF
| the sick room. without producing draughus
Smell Is an excellent guide as to the state Of
air; If the air is sweet, there Is but little dread
to be felt. 3. The virulence OF any poison which
causes the spread OF disease Is greatly Increased
| by concentration In close rooms, and decreased
| by dilution and free circulation OF air. t. The