Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-25
TIL Z HEALTH OFFICER
The Charges Against DIR. TOwnshend
and What He SAYS Of Them.

AS stated in THE STAR Of Saturday, Or. c. P.
Culver and Mr. "A. "A. Lipscomb have filed
charges with the Commissioners against the
health officer, DR.. Smith Townshend. The docu-
ment filed with the Commissioners says: 1T is
alleged that while in office he procured the
annuilment, from corrupt motives, of the con.
tract for furnishing virus to the District
of Columbia and then entered into a combina-
ton with physician OF this city--Dr. Ralph
WaSh-for the purpose OF securing and con-
trolling the profits from this important busi-
ness That they formed a corporation called
The National Vaccine Co. or (estabiishment),
no incorporation OF whicn, howeVer, AS OF record.
That their agreement was that DIR. Walsn
should be TIE active, known partner, and DIR.
Smith Townsneno should Ue the silent partner,
eacn to receive eq aal share of The profiIs
That they conducted the manufacture OF vaccine
virus in this city, which Was purchased Tor Lue
health Office under the order vi Dr. Townsnend.
That under MS suggestion the said Partners fur
niSied all the Vaccine virus used by the Disl
of Columbia Tor several years, and DIR. Town.
Shend received his snare Oh the prOnts. Finally
the Partners mad disagreement as To The
division OF their gains, which was submitted 10
arDitrii.iO That Messrs. X h. Elliott aud T..
4. W hite were chosen arbiirators, anu Owardeu
Or. Waisn) Tor his Interest in Tue National
Vaccine Co. or establishment. These facts can
be proven by Or. Ralph Walsh, No. 1873 New
York avenue; JOnn r. Ancona, 3Ul III street
northwest; Jonn n Dickson, No. 1909 Corcoran
street northwest; E; +. White, $50 Louisiana
avenue, ana OLners."
WHAT DR. TOWNSHEND SAYS.
The charges made against DR.. Townshend
have been made against him before at different
times, aud DR.. Towushend has always denied
any improper conduct on ms part. DR.. Town
snend said to-day to IA STAR reporter that he
had not received The charges rom the Commis
sloners. Ii he received any sucn Charges,
signed by responsible persons, he would at ouce
make tull answer 70 them. II am not AN
nuyed by the Charges he said. II am annoyed,
however, by the un npieaSant prominence ii gives
one aud the wrong construction put upon the
facts. 1t the matter comes to AN investigation,
l think the result Will ue that will be COM
mended for what / did" Toe ARRANGEMENT
with Dr. Walsh ior furnishing vaccine matter
was, il was stated at the health office, made
with the knowledge and CONSENT OF the Com
mlssioners, DIR. Iownsuend's purpose being To
secure a supply OIL vaccine virus, made under
his own direction, about the purity OI which
there couid be NO dOuDt. Such virus pur-
CHASED in the open MARKET, out ot Iunus sup
piled by the national board Oi health. whereSe Ser
IL could be obtained. aud tuere Were no con-
tracts made ana none annuIied. DIR. Town
Shend says the money inHoived did not amount
10 any thing, and that instead oi pronting by il
he is out pocket. After the District > needs
were supplied he nad drawn out Of the arrange
ment.
THE CHARGES NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH.
The charges presented against DIR. Townshend
are In the hands of Commissioner w Wneatley,
but have not been presented yet by him to the
Commissioners as a board. Dr. TOwnshend
will be Called upon to make a report respecting
the charges. Commissioner Wueatley said to-
day that tie considered the charges as not spe-
cIfic enough, AS they laied to Sci out that DIR.
Townshend had given the firm in which il was
said ne was silent partner any advantage over
other establishments, or paid more for The virus
luau i! could be bought elsewhere. Still,
Mr.. w Wneatiey said tue una. ter deserved and
would receive attention from the COmmis-
SiOnerS.