Evening star., 1900-12-03

cedentS, 3,S2o were white and Z.62S coloreo
No definite statement can be made, how
ever, as to the relative death rate in the
two races in view Of the fact that the fed
eral census has not yet reached point
where 1t will permit such calculations to be
made. The most regrettable feature Of the
reported mortality is the increase in the
number Of deaths from typhoid fever. The
total number # such deaths, 221, is not
large, yet it points to the existence of a
considerable number of cases Of this dis
ease which, being preventable. should not
have existed. 1t is hoped and expected that
the proposed filtration of the public water
supply will materially diminish the preva-
lence Of typhoid fever in this District, even
If it does not prevent it altogether.
Scarlet fever has been less prevalent than
during last year, but the number of cases
partment was enabled. through the agency
of the milk law to suppress an outbreak Of
the former disease, involving thirty-three
cases, due to milk infection. The wards
eases, which have been constructed in con-
neCtion with Providence and Garfield
Memorial Hospitals, have been constantly
occupied by patients suffering from such
diseases, for whom, prior to the existence
of such wards, no hospital accommodations
whatsoever were available. Many of these
patients were treated at public expense,
but some came from well-to-do families,
and sought hospital treatment solely on ac-
count Of the advantages offered by it.
Smallpox ha. been present during the
greater part of the year. The mild charac-
ter Of the disease and the repeated impor-
tation Of 1t from other places, have rem
dered its suppression difficult, and few
cases remain under treatment at the close
of the period covered by this report
The abolition of the box prvy nuisance
total number of such structures dminishcs.
Only 49, have been done away with during
the yea~. Difficulty has been experienced
in securing the abolition of box privies on
halOnpinp to
Of the absence of an appropriation enabling
the Commissioners to have such connec-
tions made and to assess the cost against
the property benefited. This difficulty has,
by a small appropriation for use during the
present f1sca, year. further obstacle Is
being placed in the way Of the abatement
of this nuisance by secret conveyances OF
property on which box privies exist. In
such cases no deeds are placed on record,
SO that the health department is unable to
discover either the name or the address of
the supposed real owner. the owner OF
record relieving himself from liability BY
filing with the district attorney an affl-
davit alleging a sale Of the property or by
going on the witness stand at the trial and
alleging such sale. The manifest purpose
of such transactions is the evasion of re-
sponsib:lity for the sanitary condition OF
premises in this District. 1t suggests the
advisabiity OF legislation requiring deeds
to be recorded within some specified length
Of time after they take effect.
Prosecutions instituted during the year
for violation Of the provision of an act To
prevent tho manufacture and sale Of adui-
terated foods anc drugs resulted in an
appeal IN one case to the Court of Appeals.
The court, however in an opinion handed
down on February 7. 1900 sustained The
law. the authority Of the health depart
ment with reference to such matters has,
therefore, been strengthened.
Inspection of dairy farms and of dairy
products under the laws enacted for that
purpose has been carried on as thoroughly
as the available inspection force would
permit. The general quality Of milk brought
into the District has, from chemical
standpoint, been good. There is, however,
need for the extension Of the inspection
service TO outlying farms from which milk
is shipped into this District. The sanitary
condition of the premises on which mix
Is produced, and the physical condition
Of the cows producing 1t, are Of vital i'm
portance to the consumer, and yet cannot
be satisfactorily determined by chemic Al
methods. The milk law needs certain
amendments which have been pointed out
in special report made during the year.
The inspection Of live stock is on an un-
basis because of the absence
of needed legislation and of sufficient in
spection force. The establishment of one
or two public abattors would solve the
problem in respect to this work. In the alb
sence Of such abattoirs, however, legisla-
tion Is needed to authorize the licensing of
slaughter houses and to regulate the hours
of slaughter. Slaughtering at night and on
Sunday, so as to avoid inspection, have
been reSorted to In some cases. and cannot
be prevented Under existing law.
In the preceding report of the Commis-
sioners 1t was noted tnat case involving
the validity of the act for the prevention of
smoke was pending in the Court of Appeals.
The opinion in this case was handed down
on May g. 1900, and fully sustained the law.
Prosecutions that were Instituted prior to
this test case have been discontinued, as in
nf of tiroo sin the. 4
legged offenses occurred it was believed that
no good results could be secured by contn-
uing them. Since the decision of the Court
of Appeals all reasonable effort has been
made to induce parties responsible for
smoky chimneys to adopt such measures as
were necessary to enable them to comply
with the law. In some cases such efforts
have been successful, but in others viola
ton has already been instituted and is now
pending, and others are about to be begun.
1t has been suggested that the smoke
law requires certain amendments, but N
view of the fact that its validity, and, to a
certain extent. its construction, have al
ready been passed upon by the Court of Ap-
peals, it seems undesirable to tamper
with it.
act to cause the removal of weeds. 5ut
without perceptible effect. The weed nuis-
ance Is so extensive that 1t has been impos-
sible to undertake more than to secure the
ISmOVdl VI WceuS upon complaint anu III
cases in which they were causing nuisance
in fact. No effort has been made to cause
the removal Of all such vegetation, as the
Inspection force at the disposal Of the health
department has been entirely Inadequate
for such a task, and as there has been no
to enable the Commis-
sioners to cause the removal Of weeds
from the property Of nonresident own
ers under the assessment system. Such
an appropriation having been made it
will be possible during the present
fiscal year to do someth ng toward remov-
Ing vegetation of this character from prop
erty belonging to non-residents. but until
the inspection force Of the health depart
ment is increased the law cannot be en-
forced generally. 1t has been suggested
that the removal Of weeds could be more ef
secured by requiring all owners
OF occupants of property to cut them and
carry them away on or before certain speci-
fed dates without notice. and authorizing
the Commissioners to have them cut in all
cases where the law has not been thus COM
piled with, without further notice. the cost
Of such work to be assessed against the
property whether belonging to residents or
1t is respectfully recon-:
mended that the legislation necessary to
secure this result be enacted.
The increased work done by the pound
service during the year has demonstrated
more forcibly than has ever been demon
strated before the necessity for a new