Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-20
THEY WILL STOP THE SMELL.
Georgetown Medical College Authori-
ties Make Good Promises Rnu-

As published in yesterdays STAR. the MEN,
bers of the faculty of the medical department
OF the Georgetown university have promised
to do all in their power to render the dissect-
ing rooms on II street, between 9th and 10th
streets, as little Objectionable as a dwelling
house. DR.. G. L. Magruder, dean of the faculty,
last evening sent to Health Officer Townshend
letter in reply to the notice of the 18th inst,
with reference to the sanitary condition of the
building. The letter says
THE ventilating apparatus of the building
consists of large central shaft through which
ascends the iron smoke stack of the furnace,
so connected as to be always hot, and hence
creating an ascending current of air on the
shaft. The registers of the various rooms
open into this shaft, which therefore sucks out
from the rooms any air which they may con-
tain. When the fire is not burning in the fur
mace the ascensional current in the fue is pro-
d1ced by means of range of gas jets (Bun-
sen burners). 20 -.r,,,-,..
The advantage of this system is, as YOU are
aware, constant in-draft from the windows
toward the shaft, no outward current from the
windows being possible when the shaft is in
operation. The appended report of Mr.. Paul
j. PelZ, the architect who designed the system
will explain this to you more fully. On Satur-
day evening, the 18th instant, an exhaustive
and careful test was made of the ventilating
apparatus by Prof. Marvin, of the United States
signal office. and Mr.. PelZ, using for the pur-
pose an air meter. There were present Dr. B.
q. Pool, of your Office; Messrs Dent and Her.
bert, who constructed the heating and ventila-
ting apparatus, and Others The report of
Prof. Marvin and MIR. PelZ is herewith enclosed.
By 1t you will see that when the full power of
the ventilating shaft is exerted the air in the
dissecting room is completely removed every
fifteen minutes 1t is discharged into the upper
air above the level of the surrounding build
ings. This was no extraordinary or unusual
effort of the ventilating apparatus, but with
the fire in the furnace lower than usual the
temperature of the room being below seventy
degrees Fahrenheit.
so far, therefore, from this being an lily
ventilated room, it is one of the best in the
city. Even were noXious gases generated in
it they would be Immediately carried out and
discharged where all the ventilating pipes of
the city sewers discharge-above the roofs of
the houses. The suggestions of Mr. Pelz for
increasing this most effective ventilation have,
however. been carried out. The faculty are
fully aware of the grave nature of the charges
that have been made with reference to the
building. II any cause for complaint has oc-
CURED it is believed to be not in any way con-
nected with the ventilating apparatus, but from
lnattention to duty on the part of those en-
trusted with the sanitation of the premises.
The most scrupulouS and constant care will be
takento see that no cause for complaint here
after exists. You are doubtless aware that
many popular errors are current with regard
to the sanitation of room of this character.
Any noxious gases arising from the decomposi-
ton OF animal matter can be instantaneously
destroyed by the use of proper disinfectants.
Nor need these disinfectants be themselves
odorous. 1t is therefore, quite possible to con-
duct the operations absolutely indispensable to
anatomical study in medical college without
| in any way affecting the health or offending
the sensibilities of the most fastidious neigh
bors. 1t is the intention of the faculty to Sc
cure this hereafter, and. in order that both
yourself and the public may be satisfied that it
| is SO, you are respectfully requested to have
the premises carefully inspected by an author
lied officer at least once a week while the dis
secting room is in use."
Accompanying the letter is a communication
from Paul j. Pelz, the architect who designed
the building His specifications, he said, were
carried out except in one or two particulars
The ordinary fish-tail burners, he said were
used instead of the Bunsen burner He recon-
mends several notifications in the ventilating
| apparatus.
The result of tests is given by G. F. Marvin.
of the United States signal service. He states
that the current of air in the ventilating shaft
without the gas being lighted and with only the
furnace cylinder to create heat was 1873 feet
| per minute, and that the air in the dissecting
room would be changed 28 times per hour.
| With the gas lighted the velocity of the air
current was 200 feet per minute, and the air
was changed AZ times per hour. The tests in
other rooms and halls was with similar results.