Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-11
TALKING OF CREMATION.
The Health Association Discuss ths
Cemetery Problem.

TALKING OF CREMATION.
The Health Association Discuss the
Cemetery Problem.
A REPORT FAvoRrNG CREMATION IN CASE OF
EPIDEMICs-rHE LoMB PRIZES AWARDED
INTERESTING PAPERS READ LAST MIGHT
MORTALITY FROM CONSUMPTION IN THE DIS
TRICT.
When the American Public Health associa-
ton assembled last evening DIR. ]. NJ. Toner, OF
this city, referred to the statements reported in
the papers as having been made i'm the conven-
ton respecting the mortality from consumption
In this city. One main factor, he said, i'm the
large mortality from consumption was the large
colored population here, composing one-third
OF the whole population. The colored people
suffered very much from consumption. An
other fact that had influence upon the mortality
from consumption was that this city was on the
highway of travel between the north and south,
ana many invalids journeying in search OF
health stopped here to die.
The president appointed the following special
committee to consider resolutions relating TO
Howard Taylor, Philadelphia; A. n. Bell, New
York: Henry b. Baker, Michigan: C. W. Chan
Carolina.
THE LoMB PRIZES AWARDED.
The first regular business of the evening was
the reading OF the reports of committees OF
award of the Lomb prize essays. These prizes.
offered by Henry Lomb, of Rochester were in
second prizes on the four subjects named. The
first subject was Healthy Homes and Food for
the Working Classes" DIR. Chancellor pre-
that the committee did not find that any of the
80 essays fulfilled the terms of the announce
ment, and therefore did not award the first
prize. The second prize was awarded to an
essay which. upon investigating the envelope
containing the name, proved to have been
Michigan. Hon. Erastus Brooks read the re.
port OF the committee on the subject "The
SANITARY SANTA Conditions and Necessities of
twenty papers submitted the committee
found none worthy of the first prize The
second prize was awarded to ID. +. Lincoln,
NJ d., OF Boston. DIR. Durgin presented the re-
port OF the committee on ''disinfection and in
divional Prophylaxis against infectious dis
M. Sternberg, of Johns Hopkins university, OF
baltimore. The second prize was withheld.
The fourth subject for which prizes were offered
and death in American manufac .ories and
workshops, and the best means and appliances
for preventing and avoiding Them" In this
through DIR. +. NJ. Hunt, thought no essay SUBJ
mltted worthy OF the first prize. They awarded
the second prize to the essay of Geo. H. Ireland
of Springfield, Mass.
MR.. LoMB MADE LIFE MEMBER
Mr.. Lomb, the donor of the prizes. who was on
the PLATFORM was introduced TO the audience
and greeted with applause. Upon motion of
DIR. Billings he was elected to life-mem bership
tnction. The president announced that the
money unexpended would be offered again i'm
prizes 10 be awarded at the next annual session.
SCHOOL HYGIENE.
Prof. ID. A. Sargent, of Harvard university.
Cambridge, Mass, presented the report of the
committee on school hygiene. The report gave
an account Of the reports collected by the COM
mlttee OF matters relating to school architecture
sna Sc isa M The committee sug
largely by personal observation, its MEM
bership shouldbe increased. A resolution that
the association should resume the practical
teaching OF hygiene i'm schools, and that the
committee be given power to increase its own
membership at will was referred TO the execu-
tive committee.
THE DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD.
DR.. John Morris, of Baltimore presented the
report of the committee on disposal of the dead
in paper, which the writer explained, was
chiefly digest OF the literature on the subject
for the current year. The general acceptance OF
the germ theory, he said, had materially infiu-
| enced public thought respecting cremation
Even those who did not favor cremation admit
the necessity OF reform in the present mode of
disposing OF the dead. Cremation, he said was
gaining ground in many countries in Europe
There were 1850 bodies dissected i'm the col
leges Of Paris yearly. The debris Ofthese bodies
were now Moderated by special order Three
hundred and ninety-six bodies were cremated
| in Europe during the past year. He gave an
| account of experiments made by French scien-
fists as to the effects of the decom position of
| bodies. A bill he said, had been introduced
in the Spanish cortes allowing cremation
The dreadful scenes in Granada during the
| cholera plague when hundreds of bodies re-
manned unburied tor years, had undoubtedly
Influenced the Spanish authorities. Cremation
was also advancing in Germany, where scien-
fists claimed that cremation was q safeguard
against the spread of infectious diseases. The
subject was exciting marked interest also i'm
Denmark, where sanitarians thought the bad
effect of cemeteries upon the health OF the peo-
demonstrated 10
also to a meeting held in London In April last in
which very effective arguments were advanced
of England, he said, proposed to dispose of the
dead by burying them with light shrouds i'm
wicker cofhns, 80 that natures process of disso-
have been cremated this year in England. He
agitation of this question in England. he said
had led to the formation OF a cemetery known
as the London Metropolis association which
had purchased 2 900 acres OF ground for ceme-
terry. purposes near London. The collins are
made of pulp or papier mache, which to all ap-
pearances is as solid and enduring the ordi-
nary coffin but in reality speedily dissolves
own country Dr. Morris said that the example
of such distinguished and enlightened man
as DIR. Gross had no doubt had marked effect
upon public opinion.
TYPHOID FEVER NEAR A CEMETERY
DR.. Kedzey, of Lansing, Michigan, in discus
sing the report referred to a terribly outbreak
of typhoid fever in the city Of Grand Rapids,
Mich, which was traced to an alley located on
low ground near cemetery, where the wells,
he believed, were contaminated by seepage
from the burying ground.
DR.. Robe said he had not yet had evidence
presented TO him that convinced him that any
case of infectious disease had ever been trans
mftted by decomposing remains In a cemetery.
WHAT DIR. MORRIS RECOMMENDS.
DIR. Hersch asked DR.. Morris whether he was
I'm favor of cremation.
DIR. Morris, who had not been able to read all
his report, owing to the expiration of his time,
said he recommended Incarceration in case OF
epidemics and battles. He confined his recon-
mendation to that, he thought as q repre-
sentative of a public body he should be con.
sentative.
Health Officer Raymond, of Brooklyn, asked
whether in the case of great number of deaths
in an epidemic provision could be made for the
rapid cremation of bodies
DR.. Morris thought that such provision could
and would be made.
DIR. Felix FOrmento, of New Orleans, declared
himself as in favor Of cremation and desired
the association 70 adopt a resolution favoring
cremation, especially in cases OF epidemics OF
contagious or infectious diseases.
THE DETECTION OF CRIME.
DR.. Allen, OF Massachusetts,, thought the only