Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-09
OUR SANITARY CONDITION.
ANIMAL REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER
We are Improving i'm Healthfulnes -

ANIMAL REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER
We are Improving in Healthfulness
Health Offcer Smith Townshend presented
| to the commissioners this morning his eoort
! for the year ending June 80, $780, 1t contains
l69 closely written pages Of manuscript, treat
ing of twenty-five specific subjects. ana over
fifty explanatory tables, maps and charts &C
company Ii.
After making the usual Introductory remarks,
The dcctOr says:
The year has been one of unusual health
IulnesS Tor our people. Entire immunity from
d1sease In epidemic form has been enjoyed, and
the Affections common to mankind have been
dealt out to US with sparing hand When
comparison comes to be made With some OF our
sister cities OF the union. we must feel truly
thankful, and If the Efforts of this department
have contributed In the least toward effecting
the benign condition, cur humble labOrs have
been amply recOmpensed.
AS the recent census shows, our District
largely increased In population, wealth and in
dustry; so do the records OF vital statistics show
mat we are improving, In healthfulness. Our
mortality records are known to be absolutely
correct The figures OF population on wnic5
We have been basng our death rate during p pst
wars YEAR, are 81, shown to have been too small
our cities? The estimated population is
shown SHOW In many Instances to have
fa Of aRa md the
thereby placed far below Its real standing. We
nave ceen rating the deaths In each one thou
SAND OF our inhabitants higher than we should
and yet our showing has. In large majority OF
instances. compared most favorably with these
n!1ng 1a1se colorS. We have been made to com
pare, TOO, with many cities which have not law
10 enaD!e them TO secure full and correct
record OF deaths, or II they have laws they are
not properly enforced. We have been &C used
here Of rating our population too high. and the
goO0 showing made heretofore has been CUES
TONED On this ground. The truth.census puts
that jlbe to shame though, and shows that
instead OF rating too high we were leaving
count and showing death rate considerably
higher than 1t actually was. Taking these facts
into consideration, there Is certainly good rea-
son Tor congratulatiOn, and we can laugh at the
IDLE summer ruInorS manufactured by mouth
healthiulneSS.''
1olioWs: 25.5SI nuisanceS reported and abate1;
40,G64 pound OF meats. Is 942 bushels or frnts
ana vegetables, 1851 pounds OF fish and $50
bushels OF oysters condemned as unfit for food.
EXAMINATIONS and reports made on 2134 ciff
zens' complaints: orders issued for burial az
pubic expense In 591 cases; examinations made
10 tam local cause OF disease In y Cases.
2 l6O official letters written; 1854 official no
llces issued; 80 cases referred ito the attorney
Tor prosecution under the health ordinances.
26Z5 animals impounded: 4,33S dead animals
I.456 $50 tons OF garbage and ~, 153 barrels OF
night soil removed; 254 deaths referred to the
coroner Tor Investigation; 1920 permits for
Of oerla Al. issued and the Office work
BE notes that the drainage OF alleys by the CON
stIuction OF sewers is being pushed forward.
and as this work is accomplished the complaints
CT fOul doors will lessen. He notes that the
removal OF ashes is an important subject, and
no precision having been made therefor By the
authorities accommodations are to be found in
alleys and On vacant lots. and they became
receptacleS OF filth. He suggests that the au.
tEoI1ties take steps looking to the removal of
ashes especially from dwellings in the cellars OF
WHICH On they are often placed. Under the head
OF Defective Drainage he notes that many
houses In the suburbs are polluted by enlana.
lions fT0m UDdraiDed yards. Connections With
sewers nave been made in 1909 cases during the
year. Under the head Offensive Trades he
notices soap factories and quotes from his re
port OF last year. In one case proceedings were
taken In the Police Court, and the defendant
took the case 10 the Supreme Court or the
District in ceftiorari and there It remains
and we are as powerless as ever until some de-
cts1on IS reached He says: "Justiee cannot
conclusion. In about the same predicament
stands another case coming under this head
The refining of asphalt is an offensive trade,
described at some length 10 last years renorf
and one which has caused no end OF discomfort,
II not III health, among our citizens After az,
extended inquiry into the matter OF the asphalt
refining nuisances, and careful investigation as
TO results therefrom affecting the health OF the
people. IL was deemed best TO at least renuire
their removal from the most densely populated
seCGons, "here several now exist. Being
heaith ordinances, the parties were brought
before the grand jury and an Indictment found
against them. The indictment ends the story
here, as does the certiorar In the first case and
the responsibility for continuance OF these
nuisances rests not upon the shoulders Oh the
health department."
In speaking OF the garbage question he SAYS:
- | do not approach the discussion OF the sub
tttt with any extra degree OF pleasure. Indeed
have been so thoroug bly, disguised in ceaseiess
and III availing efforts to secure some improve
Inent In this service, that the very mention o.
he VOID is almost sufficient To nauseate."
Affer Teciting the past history OF this service
lie says: . III my last annual report dev0.ed
some little space TO remarks on the subject OF
gaI6ase; stating what had been done. good
deal that had lot been DONE and promising be-
ter things another year. / resolved when
another warm season approached If the neg.
lecf, carelessne5s, lack OF system, and d!sre
The service during the summer of 1879, should
continue, then l would at least use my best
Efforts TO secure some change"
My best efforts were used, but they failed to
secure the desired result / reported the exist
ing condition OF things to the Commissioners
and urged some action whereby relief might b.
afforded the people. The Commissioners We're
OF opinion that under existing circumstances
they could not improve service by making a
change, and was. of course, powerless TO act
further,
Now, however, / think an opportunity Il
afforded fer securing a change for the better,
and would urge with all the earnestneSs pos,
SiDlc Gidt III oc Hot altOWtu tC pass again. IL Is
generally accepted as fact that the contract
fCr This work was taken at too low a figure ID
enable contractor 10 comply With its terms
and pry expenses Now, If q sufficient sum is
appropriated for securing proper performance
OF the WORK the trouble may be avoided Ia
futuTe. j sincerely trust the necessity for an
Increased appropriation for collection and re-
moyal OF garbage will be urged upon Congress
at ne approaching session
He deVoteS some space to unhealthy houses
ard StaSnant water on lots, and says that the
sections proposed 10 be enacted i'll the ode on
these subjects were not legaZed He gives =
taole, showing what has been done elsewhere In
regard TO the latter subject.
UZder the head OF manure and its removal he
repeats the recommendation made last yea
tnat some place be selected as an Offal depot to
winch al which cause nuisanceS IN yards.
stables, &C, should be regularly carried. He
suggests II some point be selected OF the East
ern Branch. and all the offaI from streets.
yards, &C. be there deposited and used the
returns would soon more than pay for tue cost
lie says OF house sewers and defective plumbing.
The subject or house drainage sewer gas
ard detective plumbing was discussed at
length IN my last annual report, and the ap-
pointment or an inspector or plumbing, Clothed
WIN proper authority, was urged. The bill In.
trcduced In Congress providing for such An ON
GER passed the House OF Representatives. then
WUh slight amendment passed The Senate
ana being sent back TO the House went over TO-
want or time to reach il on the SDeaker,s
table. 'PeA"oi
Increased experience on this subject o,,vtn