The record-union., 1891-05-09
Tn WRETCHED CONDITION.
1t is No Wonder That Disease Reigns
at the Orphan Asylum.
The Health officer Makes a Report to
the Board of Notwithstanding
Inspector Election-Etc.

President of the City Board of Health,
he Immediately requested DR.. c. B.
Nichols, the Health officer and Secretary
of the board, to visit the asylum and re-
port to the board on its sanitary con-
dition.
AT special meeting of the board last
evening DR.. Nichols made his report:
IN wRETCHED CONDITION.
SAT the request of the honorable Presi-
dent of this board" said the doctor, 81
assisted in making a thorough inspection
of the property known as the Orphan
Asylum in this city, located in the block
bounded by Eighteenth and Nineteenth,
K and L streets.
This inspection was made primarily
at the request of the President of the
Lady Board of Managers of the said insti-
tuition. 1t consists of what is known as
the old and the new building-the new
facing on X and the old on l. street. In
the court or yard between the two build
ings, which is used as playground, we
found a small building, at the western
portion of the yard, few feet from the
main building on the north side. This
building contains twelve closets of an old
pattern, badly out of order. In some of
them the pans were broken, some were
without proper supply of water, and
none Of them in good sanitary order.
This building is low, and the ventilating
pipe rises from five to six feet above the
roof, carrying the odors and gases
directly into the sleeping apartments in
the new building, on the north side.
THE cesspool connected with this
building, as well as the new building to
the north, is within a few feet of the
main building, and portion of the
dome is above the level of the ground
The cover to the manhole was of, the
cesspool full and the odor coming from
the opening can be better imagined than
described. We next gave our attention
to the old building'-so called. Suffice
to say that the plumbing is old, out of
order throughout the whole building,
poorly trapped and not ventilated prop
erly. The bowls are of an ancient pat
tern, broken and entirely unfit for use.
The closets are next to the dining
sleeping-rooms and dressing-rooms.
NO VENTILATION.
'The ventilation of the rooms is so
poor that doors and windows have to be
kept open at all times-day and night
Some of the pipes leak and focal odors
are waited to all parts of the rooms with
familiarity not at all compatible
with good health and comfort. In
the old building we found every
thing to condemn and nothing to
praise, in regard to the plumbing.
In the eastern part of the main yard is
located another cesspool within a few
feet of the main building. On the north
side it, like the others, is above the
ground, open at the top, and full to over
flowing with its accompanying stencil
and Unsanitary surroundings.
The inspection of the plumbing in this
new building was more agreeable TO the
sense of smell as we'll as sight The
plumbing is in good order, joints well
protected, traps properly arranged, and
all well ventilated; but for the malodor-
Gus condition of the rooms, caused by
the cesspOols and closets in the yard, this
building would be in a good sanitary
condition. But it's environment sets the
seal of condemnation upon it's otherwise
pleasant rooms.
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
after due consideration we have ar
rived at the following recommendations
First-That the building in the yard used
for the closets be entirely removed. That
the buildings, enlarged, placed deeper in
the ground, sealed tight and covered
with earth. Second-That the whole
system of plumbing in the old building
be condemned and replaced by new sup
piled with proper system of ventilation.
Third-That the system of having the
closets and wash-bowls in rooms adioin-
my VIC ulllluS anu IOOIllS Is not
III accordance with good sanitary law,
especially in public institution, and
should be condemned. Fourth-That an
additional building of sufficient size and
properly connected be erected in which
TO place all the closets for the yard and
first and second stories of the old build
ing. That modern bowls of the best san
itary patents be adopted and some means
devised whereby an abundance of water
can be secured to flush bowls and dis
charge pipe. That the pernicious
system of boxing in the closets is
condemned as useless and deroga-
tory to cleanliness and good sanitation.
Fifth-That the hospital rooms should
be in a separate building and constructed
upon the most approved plans for modern
buildings of its kind, and so situated that
it will receive as much sunlight and
good air as possible to be obtained in the
location where it is built. SiXth-We
would kindly suggest to the manage
ment that the crowding of too many
children into one sleeping room is not
conducive to good health that the pre-
ton is paid to some of the principal sani-
tary laws.
PREVENTION THE POINT.
"In an institution containing the large
number of children they have to care for,
prevention is one of the salient points to
be sought after, which is embodied in
good light, good air and sufficient
room for sleeping accommodation.
/ should feel that this report was not
complete If we failed to commend the
managers and attendants.
''The duties devolving upon the officers
Immediately connected with the insti-
tuition must be very trying. But the
choice the managers have made in the
selection of a matron and in fact all the
attendants is to be highly praised.
THE management Of this small army
of children calls for standard of abil-
ity amounting almost to genius. and
that it is well and Systematically carried
out need only to be seen to be appreci-
ated. The children-many of them beau
ties-are clean, well clothed, happy, and
above all things well behaved and re-
spectful. The bedding clean, fresh, white
and bountiful; the rooms in perfect order.
and the supply of clothing for the little
tots refreshing to see packed away in
systematic precision, well cared for and
perfectly clean. All of which speaks
volumes in praise of the managers and
officers OF this most noble charity"
The report of DR.. Nichols was unani-
mously approved.
PLUMBING INSPECTOR.
President Tyrrell announced that the
next business in order would be the elec-
ton of Plumbing Inspector.
Secretary Nichols read a communica-
ton signed by several members of the
Master Plumbers Association requesting
the board in electing a Plumbing In
spector to select a thoroughly practical
plumber. They recommended that an
Examining Board be selected from the
master plumbers to examine applicants
for the position.
DR.. Gardner said he did not believe the
suggestion was practicable, as it would
entail considerable unnecessary delay.
The President said he thought the sug-
gestion good one.
Secretary Nichols was in favor of ex-
amining applicantS but thought the ex-