Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-13

1HE srsrENsiOS OF TIE SABBATH DELIVERY OF
ICE Greeted TO on TEE GROUND OF SANTA
TICS AND aEALTE-RTroRT OF AsPEcIaL CON-
MITE OF The MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The sanitary aspects of the non-deiivery of
icc o. SUNDAY was discussed in a lengthy report
which vas adopted at a meeting last evening of
the Medical Society of the District. At a pre-
viOUs meeting n special committee had been
appointed to coEsider this subject. consisting of
Drs. ;. c. Bussv. q. Wy:he Cook. d. l.. Ma
gruder. samuel 5 Adams ard Llewel.yn Eliot.
In addition to the adoption OF the re Jort taking
strong grounds against 'he SUSPENSION of the
Sunday delivery OF ice the following resolution
recommended BY the committee WAS adopted:
Resolved. That the Medical Society of the
District of Columbia. in this effort to secure
the continuous daily delivery of ice to the re-
tail consumers during the heated months of the
year. invites the support and cooperation Of
the Commissioners OF the District OF Columbia.
the health officer. the local press. the Sanitary
League and all other organizations and persons
interested in the matter
The report Of the committee states that the
resolution of the society creating the commit
tee sets forth the fact that the ice companies
Of the District of Columbia have united in an
agreement 80 suspend the delivery OF ice on the
Sabbath dav to consumers during the months
OF June, July. August and SCI ember. and in
stTucts the committee 10 inquire what. if any,
action the society should take in view Of this
combination.
HEALTH AND SANITATION.
"The limitation Of the investigation to the
months named confines the inquiry to consid-
e-ations relating to health and sanitation during
these months. and to the detrimental infiu-
ences. If any, OF the suspension of continuous
daily delivery o. ice to the consumers during
this period.
The committee. without dissent. has reached
the conclusion that such suspension of ice de-
livery ON the sabbath day during the period
named without ADEQUATE arrangement for the
convenient and speedy Obtainment Of supplies
when and By whom needed. will occasion
serious inconvenience to very many house
keepers; be detrimental 70 the health Of tina:
large class Of residents who are compelled to
remain In tire city durinS the summer months:
viii p~OlOng the duration and intensity the
suffering OF many cases of sickness. and viii
increase the number and mortality OF certain
classes of disease.
THE PZRus OF HOT WEATHER.
The arguments IN part presented by the re-
port in support of this conclusion are as fol-
lows:
The months named comprise the period Of
the year during which the highest mean and
maximum temperatures prevail III the District
OF Columbia and especially in the adjacent
cities OF Washington ard Georgetown. in which
nine-teDths OF the resident population reside
aud the floating population soJOurn. They
comprise also the period during which digestive
AID gastro-intestinai disturbances and diseases
are most prevalent and fatal.
1t would. then. seem manifest to ordinary
intelligence thar a limited. insufficient and ir-
regular daily supply of ice would unfavorably
affect the healthfulness and sanitary conditions
of any denseiy populated area In locality sub
Jet during the season of maximum and abnor-
NAL high temperatures to frequently recurring
Onto - e
''ihe customs. habits and circumstances of
life of this community have made Ice during
the suitry months a necessary Of life. Il is a
food, beverage and remedy in universal use
and Of pronounced value and most varied ap-
plicatlon IN the treatment of diseased condl-
lions. 1t Is. moreover. equally valuable and
necessary in the preparation and preservation
81 foods and drinks for the sick and well. It
has. In fact, become an indispensable necessity
IN the sanitation of person. health. food drinks
and sickness. In Its multItudinous utilities and
ready and Convenient application 1t has become
so widely and Familiarity known that even par
tial deprivation might become a calamity.
An ICE MACHINE IN EVERY HOUSE.
''As vet there has been no apparatus, proceed
ure or medicanent devised as an available sub
stitute. When-we hope IN the near future
every dwelling NAV be supplied with hygienic
lce-p-oduclng appliance we NAV bid defiance to
ice company combinations and throttle at the
A
to restrain and suspend this form of sanitation
Of foods. drinks and sickness
Two deliveries or the delivery of two DAYS
ordinary supply on one day will not fulfill the
requirements of the day following because of
the increased loss bv meltage and the lack of
arrangements IN most dwellings for the keep
Ing OF a double quantity. which necessarily in
creases the expense to the consumer. IL, as
stated by Nr. Z. VI. Willis. president of the
American Ice Company (see Washington Post
Arr rbof in, hull in h..
much more must il be in quantities Of five to
twenty-five pounds? And as the double
quantity more delivered on Saturday must
lose more by meltage and inadequate prepara-
ton for its keeping than the usual supply of
daily delivery, The inference seems reasonable
that the combination BY susDending SUNDAY
deliveries is seeking to transfer portion of
their loss in bulk 10 the small consumers so
that unGer the cover OF humanity to an over
worked class of employees NAV lie concealed a
saving tc the companies which in the aggregate
may be very considerable How much the
amount of saving from this source NAV be
augmented by the Sunday rest and deduction
of wages, II any, of the employees this COM
mittee has no means of ascertaining.
DISEASE DOES NOT RESPECT SUNDAY
"Ths Sabbath day presents no conditions
which exempt human beings from sickness.
Disease has no respect for days Of the week.
Neither fever, nor pain. nor suffering Of any
kitAu uesCTlptlOl, variety or grade ceases or
lntermits on SUNDAY to again renew itself on
Monday Babies are born. get sick and die.
emergencies arse. accidents happen and any
and all the phenomena Of disease may occur
with equal intensity and suddenness on Sundays
as on week days. Foods. drinks, beverages,
Inducements. medicines. physicians and nurses
are a. much needed on this on any other
day. Physicians do not claim rest because of
Sax days continuous work and loss Of many
hours OF sleep; nurses who have been impris-
Oned IN the chambers of the victims of nnalig-
rant diseases DO not run away from their duty
on sunday; the drug clerk is behind tine counter
all day Sunday; the milkman continues his
Sunday delivery, and the girl at the mineral
water fountain drags out her monotonous life
through the long summer Sundays. Why
then. should this one article, so useful to the
siek IN such "A variety Of WAYS, effective both as
preventive and as a remedy In disease, and SO
necessary in the proper preparation and preser-
walton Of other useful and needed articles, be
denied to them on the Sabbath day? In view Of
the fact that the family Is usually more con-
unuously at home Sundays than during
week days it would seem that the SUNDAY de
livery is even moreimportant than those on