Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-06
Report on Sanitary Condition of the
Public Schools.
COMMITTEE OF HOMEOPATHIC SOCIETY
Recommendations Made for the
Improvement of Methods.
S Z G G E STED EFORMS

At the regular monthly meeting of the
Homeopathic Medical Society of the Dis
trict of Columbia, held las. night, the re-
months ago to investigate the sanitary
condition Of the schools was received The
committee was composed of Dr. Richard
klngsnan. chairman; DIR. F. A. Gardner,
DR.. u. b. Babbitt, DIR. Alice Burritt and
Dr. w. F. Corey. The report is as fellows:
our committee appointed to investigate
the sanitary condition of the public schools
Win reference to the cause and spread of
mphtheria and other contagious diseases
has made thorough examination of every
school building in the District The inyes.
ugation was under the immediate SUPER
vision of DIR. W. C. Woodward the health
officer of the District, VINO very kindly
AIDED the committee in it's work in every
way possible. The committee correspondent
with some of the leading cities in the conn
Try with a view TO obtaining information
as 10 the best methods of heating and ven
ti!ation, as well as to the kind of water
closets used in school buildings in other
cities As result of this Investigation W.,
ma that our own school system and build
lngs and our methods of heating ventila-
tlen ana privy facilities are among the
best, for which the PEOPLE Of the Distric1
are to be congratulated but still Changes
can De made that will improve the sanitary
ooholtlon or Our schools very materially
Inc committee is indebted to Mr. Militia n,
Il. Powell. superintendent of public scbooIs
Tor valuable statistical information fur
nished.
Report and RecOmmen dntions
After careful consideration OF all the in
FORMATION obtained upon this subject. your
committee begs leave to submit its Peport
and recommendations as follows:
AT Tue instance of the committee,
careful examination was made of the closet
facilities afforded the pupils in the various
public school buildings in this District.
Inese accommodations were found to be as
follows: ~ W -'
Buildings provided with water closets
located in yard, Is; located within building,
IL; total, ~.
Buildings provided with accommoda-
ions other than water closets located in
yard, county schools having box priyies
Il; located in buildings, Snead system of
dry closets, 50. total, ST. Grand total 49,
-, An enort was made to study the effect
~ any, OF these various methods of excreta
disposal upon school attendance but the
data collected in reference to the latter
subject did not permit of such analysis as
would JUSTIFY Definite statements. 1t NAV
be accepted. however, in the Judgment Of
your committee, without question that no
danger can come to the pupils of the school
buildings, or to those living in the vicinity
by the immediate removal of all excrefa
from the premises by means of proper
sewer connections. while the retention of
euch material IN the building or about the
premises certainly may be, and, in the
opinion OF majority of those competent
TO speak upon the subject. actually does
constitute a source of danger to the occu-
pants. Its dissipation into the atmosphere
oy means OF currents of air or otherwise
may reasonably be objected to by those liy-
ing in the vicinity.
Your committee. therefore, recommends
that wherever practicable water closets be
substituted for the dry method Of excreta
disposal now in vogue. Such water closets
should be preferably located outside of the
main school buildings, in properly heated
annexes- III. however, by reason OF cost
or otherwise. il be necessary to locate them