The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-09-15


such as smallpox, choieraI and yellow
| fever, is only necessary at long inter-
walls. For this reason 1t is believed to be
advisable to make separate provision for
| the enforcement of each of these acts.
| The appropriation of $4,000 for the en-
forcement of the act last named is nee
| essary so as to provide a fund which
| would be available upon the outbreak of
| any of the diseases mentioned in that
| act, so as to permit the vigorous man.
agement of the necessary measures of
quarantine and disinfection In the begin
| ming to avert an. outbreak of considera-
BILE size. The emergency fund, from
which the cost of such service has been
heretofore paid, is subject to too many
| drafts to render it safe to rely upon 1t
| for this purpose.
1.-THE continual increase in the work
| of the health department, including the
| pound service, renders 1t necessary that
there should be an increase in the appro-
| priation for contingent expenses. An es-
innate for that purpose is, therefore,
| submitted.
1.-The health department is at present
| prepared to disinfect movable articles
| which have been exposed to scarlet fever
or diphtheria 1t is desired, however, to
extend the disinfecting service SO as to
include the disinfection of the premises
| upon which either of these diseases has
occurred. Such work cannot properly be
done by persons without training or ex-
perience. 1t should be properly done,
however, in the interest of the public. 1t
is, therefore, believed to be an object for
which the public money should be appro-
priated, and an estimate made therefor.
1.-THE pound is at present located in the
roadway at the intersection of three
streets. 1t is primitive structure, origi-
nally designed for temporary use only.
Some of the horses in the service of the
health department sre stabbed there; 9TH
ers are stabbed in rented quarters. A new
pound is needed, and the time is rapidly
approaching when the removal of the
present structure will be necessary In or
der to open one or more of the streets
referred to. 1t is believed that with the
erection of a new pound provision
should be made for stabling all of the
! horses, so as to relieve the District gov
eminent of the rent of the stable. The
estimated cost possibly appears large.
! but when ii is remembered that it will
be necessary to purchase a large piece
! of land in order to prevent the annoyance
! of neighbors by reason of the barking of
| dogs and TO properly inclose it with
! substantial wall il will not appear ex-
| cessive.
| Provisions for Vaccination.
| 1.-THE original estimate for the abate-
4 ment of nuisances was based upon the
! creation of a standing appropriation for
! that purpose. AS, however the policy
| adopted at the last session of Congress
was to make an annual appropriation
| the estimate this year has been cor
respondingly reduced. The money so APP
| propriated is in the nature of an emer-
gency fund. It may all be necessary or
may all revert into the Treasury.
Provision should be made for the vac
cination of the INDECENT portion of this
community. a sanitary measure and
not as a measure for the relief of the
poor. An outbreak of smallpox is
! greatly limited. and may even be averted,
! II the community has been well protected
| by vaccination. 1t Is proposed to use
/ the money estimated for under this head
| ing to pay for actual work done, not
| in the form of salaries, but on basis
/ of the number of persons vaccinated.
The District government is at present
without facilities for making general bac-
/ THEOLOGICAL analyses, and in this respect
| 1t is behind most of the cities of equal
size. A meteorological laboratory is now
regarded by sanitariums as almost, If
not quite, as essential to a property
equipped health department as is a labo-
ratory for chemical analyses. Such a
| laboratory should, therefore. be provided
| to enable the health department TO prop
erly perform the duties which devolVe
upon it.
THE expenses of the medical relief OF
| the poor under the supervision OF this de-
| partment is not included in the estimate
submitted. having been heretofore uni
| formly and properly included in the char
ity schedule. The allotment last year was
for twenty-five physicians to the poor at
$50 per month each, $500; and for medi-
niT init inc ctr flSn Iii II
of $1,000. In view of the fact that the
| entire amount collected for medicines,
etc, was not expended, 1t has been sug-
gested by the superintendent Of charities
| that there should be allowed $1,000 for
| the maintenance of the entire service
| during the current year. / have the honor
| to recommend that in the estimates now
under consideration provision be made for
the employment of twenty-five physicians
to the poor at $40 per month each. $40 $50.
and that 5000 be provided for medicines
printing, nursing, etc. The item for nurs-
ing is new and is submitted for the pur-
| pose of enabling this department to pro-
vide suitable nurses to assist the physi-
clans to the poor in proper cases in the
treatment of such patients as come under
their care.
Isolation Wards.
AN estimate for the cost OF maintain,
ing the solating wards to be erected dur
ing the current year at Garfield Memorial
and Providence Hospitals should also be
included ir the charity schedule, as il is
only persons unable to pay their own eX-
pensas al such institutions who are to be
supported there at the cost of the public
THE item which has therefore been
submitted providing for the cost of de
stroying combustible waste has been
omitted this year from the estimates of
the health department. The need for such
an appropriation is not less than it has
been heretofore. but such work comes
more properly under the supervision OF
the street cleaning department. and as
that department appears to be interested