Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-06

ed in the adjacent states. as authorized by
the milk law now in force. The figures
gwen In the report of the health officer in
dlcate conciusively the need of an inspec-
ton of these places: OF the cattle used
TOT dairy purposes and located within the
District, 80 per cent were found. upon in
spectlon, to be totally unfit for such use;
While of those in the adjoining states where
no inspection could be made but reports a.
TO the condition of the cattle are received
from veterinarians employed by the milk
producers, only 90 per cent were con-
demned.
of the applications for permits for the
maintenance of one or more dairy farms
within the District, where the premises
could be inspected. 40 per cent were re-
Jected In the case of applicants for per-
mission to ship milk into the District from
the ADJOINING states, which involves the
maintenance of one or more dairy farms
where no inspection could be made but in
regard to which the health department had
to be guided by the statements of the appli-
cants. in no instance were the premises re-
ported as being in such a condition as to
justify the refusal of tine permit.
Storage and Delivery.
In the matter of storing and delivering
milk serious defect seems to have been
met with in the absence of any provision of
law for the regulation of the temperament
before sale. The result is that chemical
changes begin in the milk before it reaches
the consumer, and materially impair its
wholesomeness and diminish its keeping
properties. Here again the small force al
the command of the health department has
seriously limited the amount of work that
could be done, and the inspection of daires
has been at the expense of the examination
of the milk il the laboratory, and of the
analysis of other commodities,
Inspection of Live stock.
The inspection of live stock has hardly
been sufficient to be of much practical
value, but it has indicated the need for ex-
tending this branch of the food inspection
service. As provision is made annually for
the inspection of live stock all over the
United States. under the direction of the
bureau OF animal industry, when 1t is to be
used for slaughter and shipment TO other
states than that of slaughter, argument APP
pears unnecessary to demonstrate the i'm
portance of work of this kind. The inaug
uration of such a service has met with the
approval Of the better class of butchers, as
it gives to the meat slaughtered by them
guaranty as to soundness as great as that
given under authority of the government
to imported meats: SO that IL is believed
that, in the interests of local Industries,
provision should be. made for the inspec-
ton of all meat slaughtered in this District.
Detection of Frauds.
Space will not permit more than a pass
ing comment upon the work of the health
department in the analysis of foods, drugs
and candy, with the view of detecting
frauds in their composition and the pres
ence of harmful ingredients. Work Of this
kind is in the interest not only of the
consumer, but also of the honest mer-
chant, who cannot enter into fair compe
tition with unScrupulJuS dealers in adult
terated foods ana other commodities.
In view of the showing made in the re-
port of the health officer as TO the needs
of the food inspection service, as outlined
above il is Recommended that the n
sion of that service be authorized by the
passage of necessary legislation for that
purpose. and by the provision of money
sufficient to meet the requirements set
forth.
AS stated in the report of the health
cfiicer, bill Is nov pending in Congress
I" remedy. as far as possible, the nuisance
OF black smoke and SCOT coming from the
chimneys of manufacturing establishments,
flats, office buildings, &c. which is rapidly
marrinS the beauty AMI cleanliness of the
city 1t is Hoped thai this bill will re-
come a law and that every citizen who is
interested in the observance of the clean
illness of the city will assist in securing its
passage.
For Minor Contagious.
Congress. at its last session, appropriated
10000 for the erection of two isolating
buildings, to be constructed in the discre-
ton of the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia on the grounds of two hos
pitfalls, and to be operated rs n part Of
such hospitals. for minor contagious diseas-
IS. Since the bill became a law the Com
sioners have communicated with all the
hospitals in the city regarding the loca-
ton of these buildings. and received per-
mission to erect buildings from only two of
them, the Homeopathic and Providence
hospitals. Measurement of the grounds of
the Homeopathic Hospital developed the
fact that there was not sufficient space for
the erection of the building and a proper
allowance for a neutral zone, which must
necessarily be maintained around a con-
tagious ward, and the Commissioners were
restricted to the erection of one building
on the Providence Hospital grounds. Ar
engagements have been made for the con-
struction of this building on terms which
it is believed are perfectly fair and lust.
ard which will be entirely satisfactory to
any one vino may have occasion to make
use of the building.
The Sewer System.
Too much Importance cannot be placed
upon the recommendation in connection
with the increase of the sewer system. 1t
seems unnecessary to multiply arguments
for its enlargement. A few facts which are
readily at hand are quite sufficient to con-
vince any one of the great Importance of
its extension both to health and life and
the Commissioners most earnestly desire
that the plans proposed may be carried ont
In the manner indicated.
Engineer CommissfOner,
The Engineer Commissioners report,
which follows the foregoing. was printed in
full in previous issue of The Star.
LIE Droit Y Holds n Meeting.
The regular monthly meeting of the LIE
Droit "Y" was held Monday, November
%, at the residence Of Miss Clear, 5is
Florida avenue northwest. After an in