Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-07

At the June meeting Of the council Of the
Sanitary League held in the board Of trade
rooms las. night, President r Ross Perry in
the chair and Mr.. John Joy Edison, secretary,
a number Of reports on important subjects were
submitted and evidences were given Of an in
creasing interest in sanitary matters among
citizens DIR. J. s. Billings, chairman of the
sanitary committee. reported back the PROPOSE
ton to make provision for garbage receptacles
part OF the building regulations, with rec
ommendation that action be taken. The
committee thought it inadvisable to incorporate
into the building regulations a sanitary rule Of
this character. The report was adopted.
THE CARE OF CHILDREN.
Mr.. B. n. Warner, from the committee on
Cooperation, made a report in regard to the
instructions given the committee to confer with
the Medical Society with reference 10 issuing a
Circular concerning tho care Of children. The
report said:
conference with Health Ohicer Hammett
developed the fact that pamphlet entitled
Law, Regulations and Instructions Relat-
Ing to the Prevention Of the Spread OF Scarlet
Fever and Diphtheria," has been issued by his
department. about 10000 copies df which have
been distributed grasuitously throughout the
District. Through the courtesy OF DR.. John s.
Billings. your committee has been furnished
also with copies of similar pamphlets issued
elsewhere. as also one with regard to the care
and feeding Of infants during the hot season,
prepared by the board Of health OF Baltimore
Corresponding instructions will be prepared
relative to Asiatic cholera
These several circulars of information and
Instruction will receive consideration by the
Medical Society OF the District of Columbia at
its meeting to be held tomorrow evening, SO
that a circular may be issued without delay by
the Sanitary League embodying the wisdom Of
our health department.. of our local medical
associations and to a considerable extent Of the
result Of experiences elsewhere.
Both the health officer and the two physicians,
secretaries respectively OF our local medical
associations. expressed themselves as heartily
in sympathy with the objects OF the league as
well as with the effect contemplated by this
report to secure a wider and better diffusion OF
information pertaining 10 the prevention OF
the outbreak and spread OF disease among the
people OF the Distric: Of Columbia We
recommend that the circular be distributed by
the police department if possible.
Mr.. Warner of the third. Mr.. Harbin Of the
fifth and Mr.. Gordon of the seventh districts
reported much interest and activity in sanitary
matters in their districts. Mr.. Warner said the
Commissioners had promised to look into the
matter OF improving the low parts Of his dis
trict Mr.. Hardin said that in his district in
East Washington, more cleaning up was being
done than had ever before been known. In nd
dition TO the work Of she health department,
citizens generally were taking hold. The Dirt
est place they had found, he said, was the cellar
Of the Eastern market
TIE WORK OF THE LxAorE.
DR.. Billings submitted the report Of the
special committee appointed at the last meeting
to consider tho policy Of the league in refer
ence to complaints Of nuisances- The report
was as follows:
After a careful consideration of all points Of
interest and after avery pleasant interview with
the District Commissioners the committee
of the opinion that il should not be the policy
Of the league to have Inspections made under.
its direction for the purpose of reporting
nuisances to the public authorities and stimu-
hring legal and official action thereon.
The main object of the league in its inspec-
tions is believed to be educational, and its
progress in this direction will be seriously in
terfered with il 1t is supposed that the gentle
men who act as inspectors for IL are seeking 70
find nuisances to be complained Of to the
authorities.
Where a serious nuisance is found which ia
undoubtedly dangerous to health a note should
be made Of 1t. and il IT is not promptly RENE
died il would be proper to report il to the
chairman OF the District committee, but in al
most every case where nuisance OF this SER
Gus character is found it will have been COM
planned of to or by the police, or by the in
spectors Of the health department.
IL Is recommended that all reports prepared
by the chairmen OF the local committees with
reference TO the condition of affairs in their dis
tricts be sent as promptly as possible to the
secretary Of the league. Those reports or parts
of the reports which deal with individual or
specialized dangers to health connected with
certain premises. and which should be at once
remedied. should te referred by the secretary
TO the chairman of the committee on promotion
for such action As he may deem advisable.
Those reports, or portions Of reports. which
deal with general conditions, the want Of sew
erage Of water supply or other matters con-
nected with the work of some one Of the spe-
cial committees of subcommittee Of the coan-
ell should be referred to such committee or
subcommittee. These references should be
made at once, without waiting to bring the
matter before the regular monthly meeting Of
the council. in order that. il possible. when the
reports are brought up at such monthly meet
ing they may be accompanied by a report from
the committee to which they have been re-
ferred. in order that il possible, when reports
are brought up at such monthly meeting they
may be accompanied By o report from the COM
mittee to which they have been referred as to
whether any special action is deemed expedient
necessary.
In our conference with the Commissioners We
have learned that the inspections made by the
health department are going on rapidly. and
that the worst parts Of the city are being taken
NJ first; and II does not seem probable that
any special aid from the league in this matter
OF house-io-house inspection will be desired by
the Commissioners, although they will be glad
to be informed Of anything specially dangerous
and needing prompt attention which may be
noted upon any premises by any member Of the
league
We have also learned, to our great sa.isfac-
ton. that, while the emergency fund at the
command Of the Commissioners for all pur-
poses Is a very small one, yet in the event
of an outbreak Of such disease as cholera
they would not hesitate to incur all the obliga-
tions which might seem necessary in order to
secure the most satisfactory care and isolation
Of the sick and the prevention of the spread Of
the disease; and. therefore. It does not seem
necessary for the league to take any steps look
ing to the providing of an emergency fund
We are satisfied that the District Commits
sioners and the health officer are fully alive to
the needs of the District. and are doing the
best that can be done with the means at their
disposal to secure cleanliness and proper water
supply and sewerage through the city If
cholera should appear here the local commit
tees can give great and important aid to the
District authorities. and it ia desirable that
they should be thoroughly organized to pro-
vide for such possible emergency, but 1t is not
probable that they will he called on for work of
this kind. and for the present it is considered
best that their reports upon the sanitary con-
dition of individual premises should. as a rule.
be referred to the committee on statistics, to
serve a. a basis for report upon the condition
of the city, which will have reference to the
general conditions prevailing in different