The morning times., 1896-11-10
NEEDED SANITARY LAWS
Health Officer Woodward's
Rep.rt Points Them Out.
coNTAGIoN AMONG ANIMALS
1t Has Been Remarkably Scarce
During the Year-He Thinks
There Is Quackery in Veterinary
Surgery-Port Regulations Also
Necessary.

Necessary.
In his annual reportto the Commissioners,
extracts from which were published In
The Evening Times, of yesterday, Health
Officer Woodward reviews a great many
topics of more than ordinary interest
Touching upon the inspection of vessels
at this port, DR.. Woodward's comment
is:
'.The number OF vessels coming direct
TO this city from foreign ports Is not
large. 1t is necessary, however, for each
siIch vessel to be inspected and passed by
this department prior to entry at the custom
house.
lowing to the small amount of such
foreign trade and the absence OF any
serious results thercfrom heretofore, the
necessity for law regulating the in
spection and entry Of such vessels has APP
parenuly been overlooked and captains
of vessels upon reaching this port have
allowed sailors to go at large throughput
the city prior to inspection. Nor is there any
law To prevent such practice"
Legislation tn regulate the practice was
prepared, he says. but was not presented
to Congress, owing to the difficulty OF
perfectinE certain details.
CoNTAGIoN AMONG ANIMALS.
Contagious diseases among animals re-
ceive the attention of the health officer.
Four glandered horses were destroyed, he
says, and the premises disinfectcd 1nvesti-
cations We're made in twelve cases OF
dogs, alleged to have rabies, four OF which
Were genuine cases. Four cases OF hog
cholera We're reported
II is important, in DIR. Woodward's esti-
nation, that proper legisl atisn be Sc
cured to prevent quackery in the practice
I'll. ~
agnoses of certain contagious diseases of
animals, notably Glanders, rabies, and
trichinosis, may result disastrously to
the public health.
Respecting the abatement OF public
nuisances, the health officer says that in n
number of instances cases brought Were
nolle pressed.
The health department requested that
this be done in mi.ny cases, because OF the
almost uniform practice Of the conrt of
dismissing cases In which the nuisance
had been abated after the issuance ,f the
warrant, but before the case came 10
trial.
This practice he adds "is manifestly
to the dctrimenI of the service Of this de-
partmcnt. in view of the fact that 1t Is
required by law, in most instances, to al
low n the original notice a reasonable time
for the abatement OF the nuisance, and un-
such notice, abatement Is unrcasonably de
layed.
POLICE COURT DECISIONS.
.sSome embarrassment arises from the
absence of any written record of the de-
cisons of the judges OF the police court
Such record should be kept as to enable
the health department to be guided in
its operations by preceding decisions of
the court and for the information and
guidance of the public"
The revision ana codincatton OF the sani-
tary laws is necessary, DR.. Woodward says,
for thes,. reasons, among others Some oI
the statutes now in force have long since
become obsolete by reason of the advance
in sanitary science.
Others are, in whole or in part inopera-
tive because of the absence of penalty
clause, and many which an increased
suburban population demands should ap.
ply TO the entire District are at present
limited in its operations to the city and
its more densely populated suburbs.
DR.. Woodward suggests that in the worl;
of revising and undermining the existing
laws his department should be given
reasonable amount OF assistance. The
preparation Of a code of sanitary law
should be intrusted To commission. for
while sanitary considerations are OF su-
preme Importance, due regard must be
paid 10 business interests and the prin
ciples of law, lest in protecting the health
of the citizen we unnecessarily trench
upon his property and personal rights.
DR.. Woodward does not ask for an ap
preparation to pay such commission. He
| is lead 10 this determination. he says, be
cause Of the erection by the Washington
| board of trade, OF a committee to codify
| the sanitary laws of the District, and uf
! the existence in connection with the medi
1fs,t,- afrt. .av,Is h. V1.t
| ington Homeopathic Medical Society, of &
| committee on legislation. in which COM
| mittec the various interests are repr,
| sented, and all of which. it is believed
will actively cooperate In the work pro
posed.
| MORE CLERKS WANTED.
II is urged, however, in support OF the
| request of the health department for ad
| ditional clerical assistance, that such hell
would materially facilitate this work.
Bills now before Congress relating to tn,
| public health OF the district. are enumei
| ated as follows:
: To regulate the practice OF veterinar,
medicine and surgery, on House calendar
to provide street entrances to alleys, il
| the hands of the Committee on District
to incorporate the Washington Homeopathi,
Medical College, referred to District Com
mittee: 10 test the improved methods TO
| Vic uispOSdi VI hCWoSS oHu Watci
ton. reported adversely and postponed in
definitely; to prevent the spread of con
| tagious diseases in eile District, in hand
| OF District Committee; to authorize tn
acquisition OF certain real estate for the
purpose OF site for hospital for treat
ment OF contagious diseases, passed tn
Senate; to provide for the care of inebri
ates, reported adversely in the Senate; t.
provide for the adulteration Of candy, II
hands OF District Committee in House;
bill to prohibit cemeteries which will in
| terfere with street extensions, in hand
of District Committee of House; to regulat
cemeteries and the disposal OF dead bodies
in hands of House District Committee; +
| regulate privies, to Committee on District
There was also resolution, passed b
the Senate but not by the House, to in
quire into che propriety OF purchasing
Analostan Island, as site for hos
pital for contagious diseases.
An effort will be made by the Healt
Officer during the coming year to accom-
plish as much as possible in the prepara
tion OF laws necessary to correct defectiy
laws. and to supply deficiencies in tn
present code.
The work of the special committee, al
pointed by the Commissioners to investigat
and report upon the heating and ventili
ton OF schoolhouses, is referred to b
DR.. Woodward No formal report has bee