The Washington times., 1894-07-17
VICTIMS OF DIPHTHERIA.
Controversy Between the Health Depart
mcnt and the Trustees OF tho
Calnrad Ornhaus, Home

Controversy Between the Health Depart
| ment and the Trustees OF the
| Colored Orphans Home.
An unpleasantness between the trustees o.
the Colored Orphans Home and the heath
| department has just come TO light, as also the
fact that from April 90 to June Is last twenty
one cases of diphtheria existed in the institu-
tion and that two of this number terminated
fatally.
| On June 26 last the board OF trustees held a
meeting concerning the prevalence OF the dis
ease and decided to lay the matter before the
| Commissioners. Secretary Pro TEN. H. NJ.
Hatch was directed to lay statement before
| the Commissioners.
In his letter he stated that on April 10 an
epidemic of diphtheria broke out in the south
wing OF the home, on Eighth street extended.
The managers, realizing the danger to the 100
Inhabitants Of the place. notified the health
officer of the facts. In few days or a week
health officer went out and pronounced ''the
sanitary conditions perfect" The house was
quarantined and the doctors contended with
the disease, which soon had twenty-one vic
tins, all girls.
About five or six weeks later when all were
convalescing, fresh outbreak Of the diseases
occurred. Another examination was asked
OF the health office. A second visit and a rig
orous examination was made, and ''the sec
ond expert said: Plumbing very bad; must
be thoroughly overhauled.' The plumber.
says Secretary Hatch, who was employed to
do the work found the ventilating pipes dis
connected under both closets, and the opening
into the sewer pipe under the bathtub entirely
uncovered. The workman was taken sick
with diphtheria and difficulty was had in get
ting man to complete the work.
ia To- orv,fo Ifata
an investigation into the facts. DIR. Charles
j. Osmun, who had been in charge OF the
matter, was ordered by Health Officer Ham
nett to visit the home and report on the
charges made on July s.
DR.. Osnun submitted his report in which
he says that on April % last three cases of
dIptheria were found to exist in the building.
he gave the necessary Instructions as to what
should be done. He found the building to be
In clean condition. The cases continuing
he wentto the place again in company with two
inspectors, one of whom Is considered an eX-
pert in plumbing. and made test with pep
permint, which revealed the fact that the hid
den plumbing work was out Of order, and the
authorities were so informed.
He states that but 10 cases in all were re-
ported-April 90, g; April %, l. April q. Q;
April 2s, l; April 30, 4; May l, 4; May %. l.;
June 2, 2, and June Is, l. and if there was
any subsequent outbreak OF the disease no
report he writes. "has been received
He again visited the establishment with B.
F. Peters, of the health office, and in their
presence the plumber referred to by Secre-
tary Hatch denied that he had contracted
diphtheria or that he had been sick single
day.
He also stated that DR.. Wilder, surgeon in
charge OF the establishment, told them
that the health officers had been diligent in
the performance of their duties. and that no
new outbreak of the disease had occurred,
but that it had been continuous from its in
ception to its conclusion, and that it spread
from one child TO another
Health Officer HammeIt indorsed Dr. Os-
nuns report as follows. Il have thoroughly
Investigated the complaint Of Ii. VI. Hatch.
secretary pro tenn. aud find the facts to be as
stated in the report of Medical Sanitary In
spector Osmun."
Commissioner Truesdell ordered that
copy of the report be sent to Secretary Hatch.