The morning times., 1896-05-10

Branch flats and the prevalence OF mala
rial disease in East Washington, We, at
first glance, may believe that the influence
OF the flats for evil Is but slight. But when
We realize the enormous number OF cases
Of malarial disease which occur for each
case of death from such disease We readily
realize the enormous amount of sickness
these flats are responsible for.'
What is the proportion OF the cases
of sickness TO the number OF eaths,
doctor?o
Wei, have no figures TO show conclu
siveiy, but would think one death in 100
cases would be a heavy death rate"
so that If there We're fifty deaths from
malarial diseases that would mean 5000
people Sick from maaral causes?'
Exactly" replied the physician.
EFFECTS ON OTHER DISEASES.
Returning TO the subject of swamp
lands" said Dr.. Woodward, lit is gener
ally recognized that the development and
progress of consumption is favored by
low, damp soil in a damp atmosphere.
Such conditions are favorable also In The
case of rheuma tism and the frequently re-
sulting chronic heart failure. These con
ditions prevail in an ideal form In the
Eastern Branch rats. While the ERECT or
the flats on other diseases can be much
less easily detected. il is sure, neverthe-
less that certain persons living In the
vitiated atmosphere bound to prevail i'll
this neighborhood are more liable TO de-
velop all forms of disease than those living
III more wholesome atmosphere. Such
! diseases as typhoid fever, dlphtheria, ana
all lung troubles in general will result indl-
rectly from exposure 10 this pestilential
atmosphere.
But aside from the sentimental part OF
the question sickness means more TO a poor
Y docs h, [ means
aud attention which must be secured for
the patient at any cost. II may he the
head OF the family who is i'll, and then
the burden is exceedingly hard TO bear. III
is a class like this that the Anacostla flats
| affect. Again. such sickness IS loss TO
the state. The body polite loses the value
of the mans labor. and from the standpoint
! of political economy. even. something should
| be done and done at once.
I'VE have urged immediate action on this
| matter in our department and If words oil
ours could bring II they Would be spoken
| in the loudest tones. You cannot place the
necessity OF the abatement OF this nuisance,
at once. In too strong terms If you can
| find language strong ana harsh enough &c
describe the situation you are fortunate.
| Physicians who have been connected with
| the public institutions in the neighborhond
of the Eastern Branch also speak out IN
| words of warning. DR.. ]. Ramsay hewitt,
| in reply 10 a communication sent by DR..
! woodward 10 him regarding the sanitary
! condition OF the AnaCOStia river. with spe-
cial reference to the locality contiguous 10
the smallpox hospital, says:
DR.. NEVITT'S VIEWS.
My knowledge OF the AnaCostia river and
| its sanitary environments is limited 10 that
portion OF the river which forms the
eastern boundary OF the Washington
Asylum. The river proper al this point
| consists OF narrow, tortuOus Channel,
| which winds its sluggish course through
marshes, which give off at all seasons OF
the year noXious odors from rank vegeta-
! ton. These marshes extend on both sides
| OF the channel for a considerable distance
and at low tide they are plainly visible
! They extend almost uniformly from the
| nnsylvania railroad bridge to Benning's
| Bridge. Decidedly the largest marsh area
! contiguous TO the city exists in the Ana
! costa River, and stamps it undoubtedly
as being the most unhealthy environment
! OF our city. Where marshes OF such mag
/ nitude are found the malaria OF that local
! it, is directly due to their existence.
, "While connected with the Washington
i, Asylum Hospital during period of two
| years. ample opportunity was Offered FOR
| stud wing the close proximity of the marshes
! to that institution, together with the effect
upon the inmates OF the same. Through
| out the year, with the exception OF the win
ter months, many cases OF cbills and fevers
| were reported. This was especially the
| case with lloSe who lived at the place, few
escaping the malady.
I'm conclusion, permit me to say that
from my knowledge Of the disease and OF
those clements which are known to be
productive of it, / consider the existence
| ofthe swamps sufficient cause for the preva
lence of malaria in the eastern section OF
the city,
FIGURES TO PROVE 1T.
Dr. c. NJ. Hammet, health officer, s"mf
time ago made an exhaustive report or
the subject Of the reclamation of these fla tS
| and their relation to the public health. IL
this report is found a tabuated statemen
showing the number Of deaths from al
causes in that portion OF the city known
| East Washington, compared with the tota
population of tie District, and giving TIT
| annual death rate. To this has been addcC
the deaths up TO date.