Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-30
DANGER FROM PIPES.
THE INSPECTION OF PLUMBING MORE
NECESSARY THAN THAT OF FOOD.
So Says DIR. Oppenhimer, Who Thinks
Vegetables, Fruits, and Meats Might BE
Examined and Then Distributed.

The question of having regular inspectors
TO examine the food and milk sold in this
city is ono of no little importance and
fully merits the attention it ia now re-
ceiving. In nearly all cities Of any size
officials are appointed to analyzc and watch
the articles OF diet which are marketed to
the unsuspecting public, and by this care
and attention much unhealthfulness and
disease IS prevented.
DR.. W. T. Oppenhimor. president OF the
board or Health, was called upon yeSter-
day by representative Of the DTsP ,TcH
and asked 10 give his views upon this sub
Iect. he said that owing 10 his absence
from the city and other matters. no bad
given the subject very little thought. but
that one thing he would certainly advocate
would be the appointment of an inspector
| for plumbing. This. he said. was thing
which REQUIRED even more attention than
that which should be given TO healthful
and clean food, as pipes In houses ire
quently leaked or We're badly arranged and
emitted their poisonous and insaubrious
| fumes throughout the rooms and caused
| the atmosphere to become exceedingly I'M
pure.
WILL RECOMMEND THE EsPEcIrOy OF
PLUMBING.
The Doctor said that il was his idea to
recommend that the plumbing of every
| house should be inspected by the officials,
| should they be- appointed, 81 as 10 insure
perfect safety from this great evil.
| II had talk with Mr.. Boiling Superln-
| tendent Of the City Watcr-Works." sad he
| to the reporter, and we find that There
| are between 1909 and 5000 houses in this
| oft -tst1nn n huv.. frttt,.rfaat annlfanpaa qnG
| old-fash.oned water-pipes, and this Is in q
| great measure where the trouble les.
| Then there are q number OF families VINO
| have the fixtures III the houses but do not
use the city water. II Is only short time
| before water i insufficient 10 keep these
| clean. and the sewcr-gls l. ovapo-ated and
goes up IN the house.
Il shall suggest to Mr.. Boiling con-
| tinued DR.. Oppenhimer. " to compel every
house 10 be supplied with city water
| INSPECTION OF FOOD AND MILK.
| Referring 10 the inspection of food and
milk, the physician said that before this
could be fully accomplished it would be
| necessary to have an ordinance passed
which would require that all Of thest
articles should be brought to q
certain place before they were regu
| larly distributed for sale. In Other
| words, whore vegetables Are brought into
| this city from one point, milk from an
| other, and meat from still another. II
| would be a difficult matter indeed. for the
| officials 10 examine them all. whereas II
they were all scattered abroad from one oi
more specified points of distribution il
| could easily he done. OF course fruits
vegetables breadstuils, and meats Of al
kinds would have to be examined, anc
this, As every one can see, II no small task
| THE SYSTEM ~ NEW YORK.
I'm New York the inspectors Canl the-'
are large numbers Of them have the righ
10 c1niscate anything which they suspcc
| gs being impure or adult"rated. lhou
sands of pounds of eatabeS and gailor
after gallon of milk L. taken from th'
merchants when suspected and r.sid sys
TEN 81 eXaminltlon gone mt.
! DR.. Oppenhmer SAID that IN his oihcla
canacity ne too has the right to contiscatl
ANYTHING which ia suspects Gs being un
healthy ~ adulter4ted. but he cannot O
course * rcisc tins prerogatlye to any ok
tent. for his whole time would be taken NJ
in this manner.
HOW 10 DETECT iHPURc MILK.
The reporter asked the physician 70 ex
plain the process by which adulteratc'
milk j. examined. lie replied tnat thi
| experiment was accomplished with au IN
Strument called lactOmeter The princi
| ple Of the cOntrivance depends entirely
! upon the difference IN specific gravity be
! Ween water and milk. For instGnceit II th
| 7cfor.oter (Which IS made Of glass ant
something ike thermOmeter) ls place.
in pure milklt will float and stick upab0v
the fluid certain distance, very mucl
| after the manner Of cork attached TO
fshing-liue. II placed in the impure tui'
the instrument will sink greater dlstanc
under the liquid. and the proportion o
! adulteratiOn j. calculated by scales whlcl
indicate the amount Of water and ~ mllk
| When asked how eggs OF an advanced
ace might be tested, the Doctor smlle'
and rephed that the best method he knew
Was to throw them against wall.
Should Begin at the Markets.
promiuent physician who has given
| Great deal of thought 10 the subject saiC
Yesterday. in referring to the work Of IN
uroying the health conditions of the city
that that was thing which should be IN
drrtaken gradually and IN detail, and tina
the points 10 begin at were the markets.
| He was satisfied that these public con
veniences bred more germs OF disease tina
| All the nuisauces complained OF IN the clt
nut together.
HOW THEY ARE CLEAHsFD.
Tho process of cleansing was 10 was
ont the markets with hose. The vegetahl
| departments of the markets especlall
were hooded in by sheds. As cons,
ouence they were never dry, and tina
erearest of natural disinfectants (the sun
never reached them. A damp mephisti
odor peryaded them at all times, and wa
especially noticeable at night. Again man
Of the nnsold vegetables were kept over
night in damp. ill-yentilated collars, whet
| the process OF generating and aosorDlh
foul gases was constantly gong on.
SOURCE OF DANGER.
cleaning process frequently washed
, sheep's foot or some other remnant
animal matter INTO culvert or crack C.
under a box or something Of the sort whei
1t never becomes drv and where 1t was
constant source Of danger To health b
5 reason of the COMMUNICATING effects OF II
exhalations upon both vegetables an
/ meats.