Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-24
A SPICY CORRESPONDENCE.
Two Health Ofacers Talk to Each Other Over
a Case Of Diphtheria.

Two neoftn Oncers Talk to Each Other Over
a Case Of Diphtheria.
Last Saturday morning Mr.. J. N. Smith.
formerly of Frederick. Nd, died in this city Of
diphtheria, and his brother, Mr.. W. c. Smith.
went with the body on Sunday to his former
home to have the body inferred in the
Frederick cemetery, where he owns
lot but upon his arrival at that City he met
some opposition which gave him considerable
refused to allow the bo.y to 90
any further than the railroad depot
and there was nothing to do but to remove it
back to Washington junction. which was done.
In the meanwhile the heartbroken brother was
compelled to sit alongside the railroad track
and watch his brothers coffin.
Finally about o'clock In the evening a
hearse was procured and the corpse was
driven away to country cemetery, eleven
miles distant, and there about the dreary hour
OF midnight WAS lowered TO its last resting
place.
HEALTH OFFICER SMITHS LETTER.
Health Officer Smith was indignant about the
matter and without waiting very long he ad-
dressed Health Officer Hammett the following
letter:
II beg leave to inform you that the bodies Of
persons who have died without the limits of
Frederick city and county of contagious or
communicable diseases cannot be trans
ported through or buried within the limits
Of this city under any circumstances, whether
In hermetically sealed caskets or disinfected in
some locally improved manner. Thi.
and hope you will SO far
regard the same as not TO allow permits for this
kind of cases without advising applicants Of the
law. II you or your Office from any rea-
son, which I hardly think probable, would
desire in future to violate this law
attention to the Maryland state law, which
especially provides against the transportation
into its borders In any manner whatsoever such
bodies and makes the offenders, whether
they be the agents or abettors. amena-
BILE to indictment and severe pun
that it is my duty to see this lawfully carried
out and your interest to observe it. You may
have under the laws Of the District the author
ity to issue such permit as No. S5.773,
but II it, put into execution, trespasses
upon the laws of this state you must be held ac-
countable for the crime. l think the refusal
upon the part of this city to allow the body
Of J. N. Smith of your city to be re-
ceived within its limits yesterday will
effectually guard against n repetition. but
have nevertheless Thought it best to inform you
Of this matter to avoid consequences unpleas-
ant to You and me in the future"
HEALTH OFFICER HAMMErr's REPLY
and today he sent the following reply:
"iour communication dated August %. 1892.
is at hand. In reply thereto would state that
the law and rules governing the actions of
the health department of the Dis
trict OF Columbia are made by Con-
gress. Upon application at the health
office for removal of deceased persons within
or without the District ] am compelled to
comply with the request of the parties in con-
nectlon with the certificate furnished bv the
physician and issue a permit. We have
adopted precautions. however. TO provide
that persons dying of contagious disease be-
fore being taken out of the District or in case
OF public funeral, be placed in Theoretically
sealed casket.
II recognize the fact that your state and city
have the power to refuse to receive or allow the
transportation of persons deceased where any
suspicion exists that they have died Of con-
tagious diseases but, under the law of Con-
gress, as aforesaid stated, and the regulation
mits for transportation of dead bodies to the
point or points designated by rela-
tives of the deceased, and 1 there
fore respectfully inform you that 1 shall
continue to issue such permits until the time
that Congress or the authorities of the District
stop me from doing.
"This is a matter of law. and in giving the
permit for the removal of the dead nv jurisdic-
ton ends after transportation beyond the limits
of the District of Columbia"
Mr.. W. c. Smith called at the health Office
this afternoon to have the clothing and other
effects In his brothers room DESTROYED and also
complained of the treatment received while in
Frederick SUNDAY.