Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-19
THE ODOR OF DEAD BODIES
Said to be Stin Perceptible in the
Vicinity Of the H-Street Dissecting
Room.


Said to be Still Perceptible in the
Vicinity of the H-Street Dissecting
Room.
MEETING OF THE MANAGERS OF ST. JosEPH's
ORPHAN ASYLUM - STATEMENTS THAT THE
NUISANCE COMPLAINED OF BY THEM STILL
ExIsrs-wHAr FATHER WALTER SAYS.
A meeting Of the board of managers of St.
Joseph's orphan asylum was held this morning
at the orphanage building on H street, between
9th and 10th stseets. Father Walter, the pastor
OF st. Patrick's church, is the president Of the
board, and among the members are Thomas L.
Waggaman, William Gait, John Green. John T.
Lehman, Geo. Bogus and Theodore Sheckels.
The important matter discussed was what
should be done in regard to the dissecting room
OF the Georgetown medical school, which is in
the adjoining building. The opinion of Father
Walter has been already given in The STAR,
and he is as much in earnest as ever in his
efforts to have what he considers an intoler-
able nuisance abated. The other members
were of the same way Of thinking, and it was
unanimously resolved
TO PRESENT THE MATTER TO THE GRAND JURY.
As one of the members said, all that will be
necessary is for the jury to visit the premises,
and they will condemn the dissecting-room at
once.
The managers were told by the sisters that
the smell complained of had been plainly per-
ceived since the attention of the health officer
was called to the matter. They we're asked if
1t was not the smell of carbolic acid. They
were positive it was not, but that without mis-
take the odor was that Of dead bodies
There is no use," exclaimed Father Walter,
In his earnest manner, "for the doctors con-
nected with the school to talk about remedying
the evils complained of. They can't do it, and
any one who examines the premises can zee
that their building is separated from the asy
lum building by space Of ten feet. The win
dows from both buildings look out upon this
space. The result is that the windows in the
chlldrens dormitories give
A FULL VIEW OF THE DIssEcTINa ROOM.
and the tables with the dead bodies. These
windows are left open. They have been left
open since the complaint was made"
ut is the old story" continued Father Wal
ter. when the complaint was made before
the doctors said that it would be all right But
1t was not all right and there is no prospect Of
its being all right. In other words it is no
place for dissecting room, and there is ample
evidence in support of that proposition"
HEALTH OFFICER TowNsHEND SAID
to STAR reporter this morning that if the
terms of the notice to abate the nuisance pub
lished in Saturdays STAR, were not complied
with in ten days from November Is. the date of
such notice, the case will be taken into court
and prosecuted the same as any ordinary
charge OF maintaining nuisance; but he
thought that the evil would be remedied be-
fore that time. Should it become necessary to
prosecute the case, a warrant will be sworn
out under section Il of the laws and regula-
tions relating to the public health. The Sec
ton. which covers a number of nuisances be-
sides the one charged reads as follows:
boiling fal fat
tallow, or lard; the crushing. grinding, or burn
ing of bones or Shells cleansing of CUTS; max
ing glue from any dead animal or part thereof;
making or boiling varnish or oil; making lamp
black, turpentine. or tar; distilling ardent al
coholic, or fermented spirits; storing or keep
ing scraps, fat, grease, or other offensive ami
NAL matter rendering trying out dead.
undressed, and unslaughtered animals. or any
other business or trade whereby noisome
stenches and odors and noxious gases arise or
are generated, within the cities of Washington
or Georgetown, or the more densely populated
suburbs of said cities, are hereby declared
nuisances injurious to health; and any person
who shall cause, erect, create, maintain, or
continue any such nuisance, and who shall fail
after due notice from this board, to abate the
same, SHALL upon conviction thereof. be fined
not less than ten nor more than one hundred
dollars for every such Offense."
The notice as heretofore published in The
STAR, defines the nuisance as 'consisting of an
used for the dissection Of human remains in
which foul Odors and noxious gases are gener-
ated and from which the same are disseminated
into the open air."
So far as the college being damaging to adj
joining property is concerned, the health Off
Gals say they can take no action.
WHAT DIR. MAGRUDER SAYS.
DR.. Magruder, dean of the faculty said this
afternoon that the building was inspected Sat-
urday by Prof. Marvin, of the signal service
Architect Pelz, of the Congressional
Library, DIR. Pool, of the health
Office, Messrs. Dent and Herbert experts
on steam heating and members of the faculty
and was found entirely satisfactory. Thorough
tests, he said, were made with air pumps. and
a satisfactory report made. This report
he said will be sent to the health officer to-
morrow morning.
Many changes, he said, had already been
made, and other changes will soon
follow. The number of gas lets will
be greatly increased. and the windows will
be SO arranged that it will be impossible
to see anything outside of the building Wire
netting will be put outside the windows to pre-
vent the boys from breaking the glass,
and canvas screens will be put inside. Here
after, he said, the public would have no
cause for complaint as the faculty will
leave no stone unturned until the build
ing has been made model one.
and the public can rest assured
that there will be no carelessness on the
part of the employees hereafter. The shaft.
he said. will be made large and
additional ventilation will be given the lower
rooms whence the odors arose few days ago.
Ill