Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-22
THE SANITARY SERVICE.
Annual Report of the Health officer

900 papes OF closely written manuscript treatir.
of about 80 different subjects and also contains
over 40 maps, charts and tables. After some
preliminary remarks the report presents sy-
nOpsis showing at glance the nature and
amount Of
SANITARY WORK DONE THE PAST YEAR.
There were 1878 nuisanceS reported and
abated, 4,036 pounds OF meat, 2,s1O bushels OF
fruits and vegetables, 765 pounds of fish and
17s2s bushels Of oysters condemned as unfit for
food. Examinations were made on 22I5 citi-
ZenS complains, orders issued for burial in $40
cases; examinations for local cause of disease
were made In 1sl cases; animals impounded
5,397, dead animals removed GALS, tons OF garb-
age removed $780, night soil "a, 63T barrels
deaths referred to the coroner for stigation
3S2, permits for burial issued 1901.
ALLEY NUIsANCES.
There have been 453 cases in which alleys
nave been reported nufSanceS most OF them IN
thtckly populated neighborhoods, which are dbl
1cult TO keep clean owing to the amount OF Stops
thrown out. These alleys generally have dtop
at the mouth, to which waste water is diverted
by a surface drain, with but slight fall, and the
license TO deposit waste water there is an incen.
tN to throw out refuse, garbage, &C., ard OFT N
within "a hours after cleaning alleys they have
ceen found in a filthy condition. He suggests
that il sewers are laid the entire length o. the
alleys they could compel connections TO be made
tberewi it'll.
DEFECTIVE DRAINAGE.
There were rs nU'SanceS from detective drain
age mostly where the population has pushed
beyond tie line of sewers. and he refers to the
opposition he has met and the unreasonaDleness
OF citizens where they are called upon to make
drains, &c. The most fruitful source of impurty
of air in dwellings is the damp condition o. the
ground beneath and adjacent thereto which
often becomes saturated with liquid filth; or the
heap:Dg OF solid house refuse to be washed into
the soil by the rainfall. 1t is when such @ st ate
OF things exists that malaria may be sad 10 SUI
round dwelling. The absence of under drain
age is the primary cause of evil. and soil
aerated by under drainage would, to a ce tain
extent. oX1dtze the organic matters it contains,
ard greatly preVenG the generation OF mtaSme
Bad air tends to produce ScrOfula and conSump-
MA, frequently is the cause of Inflammation OF
the eyes, and adds to the spread of small poX
scarlet fever, measles. and the like and renders
the rapid cure OF wounds and sores work OF
great difficulty.
REFERRING TO THE SOAP FACTORIES
he says: "That these pestilential nuisances
should still he allowed to remain in the denSely
populated sections of our city, one within a
stones throw of the Patent and Post Offices
and another almost under the shadow of the
P1 esident'S House, is a stigma upon the capital
city in this advanced and advancing age of san
taly reform. The subject is fully covered in the
Gealth ordinances. but unfOl tunately for the
suffering citizens in the immediate vicinity of
these nlllSaDceS, decision OF the supreme Court
OF the District has rendered US virtually power
less to take further action without amendment
TO existing law He expresses the hope that
the needed legislation may be secured.
CARRIAGE.
Under this head the report refers to the fail
ure OF John McCauley, who took the contract in
August, 1878, which was turned over to H. Clay
Jones. and he says the work was not done sat
1sfactorily by the latter during the summer
months.
CONDEMNED BUILDINGS AND FILTHY LOTS
There We're condemned as unit for human
hab1tation 30S buildings which were either placed
in good condition or removed. 1t is from the
huts which sprung up from the remains of old
barracks and camps that comes the alarming
mortality among the negro population. He re.
fers to the many fire buildings now standing in
the place o. the novels displaced through the
agency of the health authorities.
FILTHY lots and lots containing stagnant water
foot up 545; and he refers to the difficulty of
abating the nuisanceS On lots owned by nom
residents, and calls attention to the necessity of
legislation on the subject.
THE REMOVAL OF MANURE
is next treated Of and he refers to the abatement
Oh TIE nuisance caused by the storage of manure
on James creek canal, near the Arsenal walls.
He says that the establishment d d manure de-
pot at some point on the river front is a SaLitary
necessity. He recommends that an appropria-
ton be asked for the erection OF depot for
Offal &C.
PUMPS AND PUMP WATER
are discussed, and the health officer notes that
an examination has been commenced and as far
as proceeded with the results have proven
very satisfactory. Much less organic matter has
been found in the waters than was expected
and he expresses the hope that the well water
viii be indicated, as he is "a firm flend of the
pumps, and would much prefer seeing meaSu pS
taken 10 protect rather than condemn Them
He then speaks of the Importance OF pure water.
and says that there are many cases where disease
has Teen traced to the water.
Iii numbers privieS far outStrfp every other
class OF nuiSanceS, and he says the box system
while open to objection, is far superior to tn
vault system and he thinks the good showing
our pump water over Baltimore is due to thi
fact.
House sewers, sewer gas. and defective plumb.
ing are treated OF at length and he refers to the
good done by the press in educating the public
on these subjects
FOOD INSPECTIONS.
In connection with the inspector of food he
urges the necessity for the establishment Of
abattOiIs AID the inspection of live stock prior
to their saughter-the last as the first step to-
ward perfecting the system in the prevention of
the sale OF unwhOlesome food, and he says until
we can control the great sources of supply and
absolutely prevent unSound meats reaching our
markets. the service Will not accomplish the re-
suits desired. He includes the report of the in
spector of fish, in which reference is made TO the
decreaSe OF the fisheries and legislation is sug-
gested to remedy this falling Off He says the SyS-
lem pursued In the inspection OF marine pro-
ducts is well nigh perfect.
''rhe sanitary improvements public schools
he discusses and refers to some OF the slgpes-
lions made In his former report having been
carried out, giving list of the school buildings
in which the improvements suggested by him
have been adopted.
THE CARE OF THE SICK POOR
he states was placed under nine physicians and
the system adopted has worked admirably, and
he asks an appropriation OF 81 900 to continue it.
Since March LIST they have been supplying the
sick poor with food, for which 50 1000 was set
apart, and the nine physicians, appointed as
above stated, have done this work. He suggests
that about $1,000 per year would meet the re-
quirements under this head
THE YELLOW FEVER SCARE LAST SUMNER.
He refers TO the people becoming frightened
here ON account of the yellow fever the feeling
being augmented by sensational reports being
circulated, and he says, mo danger was at any
time apprehended by this Office; the city was in