Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
Question Of Alleged Insanitary Condition of
johnson Public School.
commissioners DO Not Admit That
Health Office View

While the District Commissioners are not
defending the Smead system of heating and
ventilating, as established in the johnson
public school in Mt. Pleasant, it is under
stood that they do not agree with the con-
tention Of he people of Mt Pleasant and
| Columbia Heights that this system alone
! has rendered the school building insanitary.
The system is employed. it is said in thirty
or more other public school buildings in the
District, where it IS claimed to operate sat
isfactorily. 1t is explained. however, that
the dry closets are not a part of the system
in all of the other buildings in which il has
been placed. Neither is the health officer
defending the Smead system, it being re-
ported that he believes some other system
of heating and ventilating should be en-
ployed in the District public schools.
In his report for the fiscal year ended
June 80 1897. DIR. VIM. c. Woodward, the
District health officer. said. among other
things: The system of feating and ven-
tilating which has been for years in gen.
eral use Ghe so-rallcd SmeaI system) Is
not. in the Judgment of has department,
satisfactory. Back drafts occur. which,
while detrimental TO proper ventilation at
all times. are absolutely dangerous when
the ventiating system is connected with
the privy vaults as is the case in many of
the school buildings now in use. 1t mas
Deen recommended DS lnlS department,
March IL, 1897 that steps be taken looking
toward the replacement of all such vaults
by properly constructed water closets. 1t
is earnestly hoped that this recommended
ton can be carried out without delay
Report by Chemist.
In this annual report of his Dr. Wood
ward incorporated a report made to him
by Prof. ]. D. Hird. the District chemist,
upon the heating and ventilating of school
buildings. In this report Prof Hird, after
referring to the Smead system, said: In
conclusion, therefore, it must be conceded
that the best system of yentilating build
ing is by means of a fan, and although this
method may be a little more expensive, yet
this item should not be considered when We
take into consideration the health and COM
fort of the children. So far as, the dry
closets are concerned, think it was mis-
take that they We're ever introduced, and
would recommend their removal at the
earliest opportunity
The District Commissioners have direct
ed that the contents of the vault at the
Johnson school be removed, and that
the receptacle and the entire building
be thoroughly dislnfeCted. While the Dis
trct authorities do no. above stated, de-
fend the Smead system, as operated at his
school, it is understood that they take the
position that as there is no unusual number
of cases of illness among the children at
tending the other school buildings where
this system is employed. the unusual sick
ness atnorS the pupils of the Johnson school
cannot, therefore, be wholly attributed to
the Smead system. This position is also
said to have been taken by the health de-
partment officials, and in this connection
some criticism is being made of the re-
ported action of several physicians who
have attended pupils of the Johnson school
afflicted with scarlet fever.
Period of Development.
1t is stated that medical authorities place
the period during which this disease may
be contracted from an infected person from
four TO six weeks from the development
of the disease, the majority of the author-
ties. it is said, fixing the period at six
weeks. The first case of scarlet fever
among the pupils of the Johnson school
during the present school year is said to
have been reported to the health depart
ment by the attending physician, October
II. Just two weeks later, it is said, the
physician in charge of the case reported TO
the health department the recovery of the
patient. The latter, a boy of nine or ten
years of age, it is reported, was thereupon
released from quarantine, and it is claimed
that few days later he appeared on the
street and associated with his playmateS,
just four weeks too soon. in the reported
opinion of the majority of the medical au-
thorities. Another case among the John
son school children is said to have been
reported to the health officer November
p, the chilis recovery being reported to
that official by the attending physician, so
it is said. the 4th of this month. Still an
other case among the Johnson school pu-
pills is said to have been reported to the
health department November "a, the de-
partment being rotifed of the patients re-
cOvery by the physician in charge of the
Case, it is claimed, the Sd Of this month.
Communicating the Disease.
1t is said that person suffering from
scarlet fever commences to peel from
twelve to fifteen days after the develop
ment of the disease, and that the peeling
continues from two to three weeks. Dur
ing this peeling period, it is stated per-
sons are much more likely to contract the
disease from tie afflicted person than at
any other period of the Illness, and 1t is
understood that in these cited cases 1t is
the belief Of the health department Off
Gals that the sick children were released
much too soon, end thus endangered the
health of children with whom they came
in contact. 1t is because of these alleged
facts. so it is reported, that the District
authorities feel that the charged nsanitary
condition of the Johnson school building
should not be held entirely responsible for
the spread of this disease among the chill
dTeu attending 1t.
Smalls Flowers.