Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-11
PARENTS ARE EXERCISED
Homeopathic Society Takes Action
on the Cases.
T HE LATEST CO
CA S E S

that the number of cases Is not decreasing.
The scare at the Peabody School last week,
together with the exaggerated repor 81
made, caused great deal of uneasines5
among the parents of the pupils in the
school building, and many parents are yet
Keeping their children from school. In
schools in other sections of the city there
are cases of the same disease, but, so far
as the health officials know, there has been
no scare similar to that at the Peabody
building. The disease is by no means con-
nned to any particular section, for the
cases reported are scattered IN all direc-
ions. including the county we'll as the
city. Alarming reports, especially about
certain school buildings, have been circu-
lated, and most of them, 1t has been shown
were without foundation. Persons who are
quarantlned because of cases of the dis
ease in their houses are entering loud COM
plants about the operation of the law as
wei as the rules in the various govern
ment departments. Health Officer Wood
Ward, however. believes in the strict en-
forcement of all laws and regulations in
tended to prevent the spread or the dis
ease. and in no case does he waive he
operation of the law
In cases where there are nersons in the
houses with patients who have the disea Sc
the department will disinfect clothing and
other articles and give a bill of health after
the proper examination is had
Last month the record shows there were
~ cases OF diphtheria and II deaths, while
th's month so far 25 cases have been re-
ported, and there have been deaths.
Revolutions Adopted.
At a nesting of the Homeopathic Medical
Society of the District of Columbia held
last evening the existence of diphtheria in
the city was the topic, and 1t was the
OPINION of all of the members present that
steps should be taken to suppress the
spread OF the disease as far as possible To
THIS END the following preamble and resolu-
ton was unanimously adopted:
whereas for six years past there have
Deen large number OF cases Of diphtheria
IN the District. and many of them fatal
cases Il mas caused much warranted alarm
ON the part of our citizens; and
w hereaS there does not seem TO have bean
any concerted plan devised to arrest the
spread OF the loathsome disease. it is deem
ca expedient that some effort be put forth
10 at least try and discover the cause of the
continued presence of this disease in ON,
community: and
Whereas In number of our school build
lnss water closets and the play room are
placed in the basement of the building
which is prejudicial to the health Of
scholars and teachers; and it ts the opinion
of many medical authorities that another
source of spreading disease is in the COM
mon use of school books fin the lower
grades) furnished by the government. as a
school book one day may have been used
the day before by a child just coming down
with scarlet fever or diphther!a therefore,
be it
Resolved. That the Homeopa thic Medical
Society Of the District of Columbia appoint
a committee of five to act In connection
with the health officers of the District with
the purpose of securing thorough investiga-
ton or the sanitary condition of the public
schools. and. if found necessary, to make
report. with such recommendations as
can. with the approval of the Commss. on
ers. be presented to Congress
And, further, that a copy of these resolu-
lions be sent to the Washington board of
trade. with a request for their CO. opera ION
Drs. K kingsman. W. f. King r. a.
Gardner, w. F. Corey and Z. B. Babbitt
matter in charge. and confer with the
health officer.
Peabody school.
Health Officer Woodwards statement to
the Commissioners, already referred to.
was made in response to inquiries concern
ing the scare at the Peabody School. The
particular communication answered was
that of Mr.. Daniel Curry as is shown in
the letter to the Commissioners. which
reads follows:
referring to the letter of Mr. Daniel
Curry, dated the It'll instant, calling atten-
tioh " tIlS apprehension existing among
the parents and families of children attend
ing the Peabody School. on account of the
great number of cases of diphtheria which
nave developed among the pupils l have
the honor to submit the following:
Since the 18th ultmo there have been
reported to this department seven cases of
ciphtheria among the pupils attending the
school building referred to, during which
PERIOD there have been reported from the
entire District, in all, sfxty-two cases
Twenty-Five of which were In the north
eastern and southeastern sections of the
District. and prior to that and since the
opening of the school year, forty-nine case q
sixteen of which were similarly located
w nile TIE number of cases reported from
the building referred to is therefore nm
usually large, 1t must be remembered tina
this building accommodates about 600 mn
piis' as against four to five hundred in
attendance at the average building n
must also be borne in mind that during tho
p1 resent season there Is an unusual Dreva
fence OF diphtheria, not only in this civ
put IN other places. Those rooms, which
mere was reason to believe were most
likely TO be infected have been thorouph11,
disinfected. since which there have been no
new cases developed, the cases referred
10 by Mr.. Curry as having deveIoped since
.me lunisatlon having occurred among
pupils VINO were not present at school after
that time. "A'ei
"A general sanitary inspection of the
building shows it to be, when taken az n
AAoie' III a iedSoHdDly SOOQ condition, Tho
hushing apparatus of certain water closet
IN the basement was not operating proneriv
at the time of the inspection, which has
Deen duly brought to the attention OF the
inspector of buildings. Some of the rooms
winch nave been made by partitioning off
parts of the Railways. are not nronerlu
lighted or ventilated, and the room uhioii
mas been made on the top floor by a simiIa -
process Is entirely unfit for use. both as 70
location, light and ventilation. None ~
these conditions, however, are such 40 n
cause diphtheria, nor would they. excent IN
the most indirect manner, promote tho
spread of the disease. The chief danger in
sucn instances as the present lies in the
contact direct OF indirect, between those
VINO are well and those who are suffering
from any contagious disease. This occurs
OF course, through direct contact with m.
plis having unsupported cases of diphtheria
or through indirect contact, as through the
common use OF drinking cups water closets
school books. etc: also through the con,
tact in the cloak room of the outer clothin q
Of the children.
1T will be seen. therefore, that to q cor.
tain extent it is impossible to guard
against infection except by certain ralicai
changes in the management Of the schooIa
and in the construction Of the school buId.
ings. Much might be done wttnout this
If 1t were possible to appoint a corps of
inspectors to visit each school daily 81 &c
to exclude those whose symptoms were
sufficient to warrant 1t. Much might aIao
be accomplished by the enactment Of q 10 u,
10 80