Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-24


Mr.. Shepherd, an inspector Of the health
Office, this morning visited the medical coli
iege building, on II street He wanted TO
zee whether the instructions Of the
health officer had been carried out Some
days ago, upon complaint from residents in
that vicinity Of disagreeable odors from
the building. Dr. Townshend, the health officer,
and Mr.. Shepherd officially inspected the prem
ises. As q result letter was written 10 the
college authorities suggesting some things that
might be done to improve the ventilation.
sufficient time having elapsed Inspector
Shepherd this morning paid another visit to
the building. He was accompanied on
his tour Of inspection by a STAR
reporter with q good nose for smells. The
inspector at once went 10 the dissecting room,
which, Of course, is the cause Of the whole
trouble. 1t is situated on the upper floor of
the back building and has windows on the two
sides and in the rear. The sashes are fixed on
p}vots, so as to swing out when opened. Mr..
Shepherd found that all the side windows had
been fastened down since his last visit so that
they could not be opened The neighbors had
complained that they saw more of dead bodies
IN various stages of dissection than was at all
pleasant and compatible with good appetites
and peaceful rest at night. The fastening OF
the side windows is the remedy adopted by the
college authorities for this cause of dissatisfac
ton.
THE MEANS OF VENTILATION.
Mr. Shepherd next turned his attention TO
the means of ventilation provided through the
ventilating shaft This is a square shaft
running up to the top of the building. large
register Is set in the wall near the floor which
opens into this shaft. Gas jets are kept burn
ing behind the registers to cause draft. Mr..
shepherd found that the old register had been
taken out and the opening cut for a larger one,
which, however, had not yet been put in place.
The new register, which was shown TO the IN
spector, Will have larger gas-burners. They
have also placed larger gas-burners in the
lower part of the shaft in the hope of increas-
ing the draft.
Mr.. Shepherd went down stairs aud poked
his nose around the vault and looked into the
back yard, and The STAR reporter trotted after
him, and as far as possible, in his unscientific
way, initiated the inspector. The colored jan
ltor, who accompanied the inspecting party at
respectful distance from the rear, regarded
the proceedings with the air of indifference
which only medical school janitor can as
sumo.
A SUMMARY OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
After Mr.. Shepherd had concluded and was
standing on the front steps bordering upon
the next place he should visit in search Of
STAR reporter stepped up and asked him IL the
college authorities had complied with the re-
quest of the health officer.
They are trying to improve the ventilation
OF the dissecting room, was the reply The
only thing they have done since our last visit
is to arrange to have larger register put in,
and also they have increased the size of the
burners in the shaft. The windows on the
sides have been fastened down. 1 don't see
that they have done anything else
did DIR. Townshend suggest ANYTHING to
improve the ventilation" asked the listener
Yes, the doctor advised that an opening be
made in the roof and the room be ventilated
in that way. But suppose the college people
think that the changes they are making viii be
sufficient to correct the evils complained Of"
Mr.. Shepherd rather expected that DIR. Town.
shend would come to the college building and
waited a short time. He then concluded that
the doctor might not come until late in the day
and started ON his rounds without further delay.