Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-17
The Sanitary Condition Of the
Washington Orphan Asylum.

Washington Orphan Asylum.
STATEMENT BY HEALTH OFFICER TowNsHKND.
District Of Columbia, Health Department.
WASHINGTON, october 10th, 1SI9.j
Editor Star:-It is far nom my purpose or
desire to enter into newspaper controversy
with any person respecting my official acts,
eumbent upon himself to agitate the subject of
my inspection Of the Washington City orphan
Asylum However, since be has given the pub
he lengthy g statement regarding the sanitary
reflects in some points upon my action, will
ask space to make plain statement OF facts in
regard thereto.
In the latter part CT last July an inspection of
this institution was made, and respectful let
ter addressed to the lst DlIectress, suggesting
CERTAIN changes snougn1 Necessary ior the I'M
Spouse to this communication, a lengthy letter
was, on the I'd Of August received from Mr..
the trust es, the remarkable healthfulness Of the
Institution, the ability OF its management, the
excellent sanitary condition in which it was
fopnd upon personal Inspection that day and
operate with the health officer to render it
faultless:" Hequesttoned the desirability of re
desired to be informed '.ho,o" they could be
isolated. Now, as MIR. H. is protested archi-
tect, considered the answering Of such ques-
ton entirely superfluous, and referred his letter
10 an inspector. with direction to confer with
him; conference was held and action looking to
the desired changes promised.
the morning of the 9th Instant when The ply
sician attending at the asylum called at the
health ofnce and requested that some Official
action be taken. One death from typhoid fever
had, he stated, just occurred, and several other
children had symptoms pointing to the same
disease; sewer gas being, as he believed the
he had several times invited attention to the
location Of these closets, and recommended
action looking either to their enclosure OF
Acting upon this statement / went, In
company with an assistant, and made personal
examination. the result Of which was that the
had been politely recommended In my letter OF
two months before, viz: The abatement Of q
nuisance, consisting of Improperly located
! am 10th to believe that "the trustees" coin
eide with Mr.. H. in his opinion as to the painful:
state OF excitement into which the community
this subject contained in your issue of the 9th,
and beg to express a doubt as to whether any
person, other than Mr.: H. himself, has risen up
In holy horror at the fact that an inspection Of
the Washington City orphan Asylum was
made
1.-THE trustees" may have considered it advls-
able to rush into print on this subject, but am
rather constrained to the belief that it is the
secretary who feels most deeply this terrible
The Washington City orphan Asylum is an
proud, and trust should be the last person to
cast any unjust reflection upon it, or any Of the
worthy ladies' and estimable gentlemen who
have founded, fostered and maintained 1t. and
in this connection l would request leave to
correct statement in Mr.. rs letter, which
fear was made more to enlist the sy mpathes of
the people against heartless official (?) than
for any connection 1t might have with the mat
ter at issue.
1.-The health officer he states. with his assistant
With her family Of one hndied and nf forty chi
dren and come friends had assembled
IF
The officer looked y, upon the scene for moment
t1utt in order to conduct him through his tour Of
inspection. Dr.. Butler preceded with the funeral
GDse ana the LITTLE one was consigned to rest
- To use mild term would state that Mr.: Fl:
just being assembled when entered the insti-
tuition, and stood patient and interested
locker on at the ceremonies; when they had
been conducted to the chapel, myself and as
sistant, were invited to go in and witness the
obsequies l readily assented and took seat,
fully expecting to remain until the close OF the
me shortly after was seated, and expressed
her readiness to proceed with us through the
building. l could not Of course do otherwise
than go with her, though she was assured over
her, and it was not my desire to take her from
her family at that time.
approval and certain confessions with which
am credited, it affords me pleasure to state that
the institution was In excellent condition, and
excepting the defects noted, reports of which
the the mind OF Mr.. Harkness) all was in COM
mendable order. The child which died. as Mr..
II. states, sin far of domitory,' had been,
however, was informed, removed there during
its illness from the wing In which the closets
referred to are located.
l think this is all need say on the subject.
did nothing other than my duty In this mat
ter, and that much propose to do in all in
stances, regardless of the sensitive souls who
go off, on very slight provocation, into parox-
ySms Of painful excitement.
Yours respectfully,
SMITH TowNsHEND, M. D.,
Health Officer, D. c