The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-28

on the Health Department. although no
effort has been made to enforce its pro-
visions, except in cases in which there
were complaints, or in which actual null
sance resulted from the presence of such
vegetation. II an effort is 10 be made to
enforce the law generally-and on its face
it appears to have been intended to be SO
enforced-a large appropriation Will be
necessary. Acting on that presumption.
an estimate of So 600 is submitted. II its
enforcement be limited in the future as in
the past, smaller amount, possibly $3,oCO.
will suffice.
The Contingent Fund.
by strict economy in the management
of the contingent fund of the Health De-
partment il has been made to purchase all
things absolutely necessary, properly TO be
purchased out of such fund. Any extern
sion of the pound service, or any more
rigid enforcement of the laws regulating
the sale OF milk and the manufacture and
salo of adulterated foods and drugs WILL
however, require considerable increase.
The increase in the pound service alone
for instance, will involve the purchase o.!
at least one additional vehicle, OF two ad
ditional horses, and of other stable para
phernaIia. An appropriation Of $4,000 for
contingent expenses is respectfully re-
quested
The appropriation for the maintenance
of the disinfecting service is insufficient to
enable the Health Department to maintain
it on a proper basis. The disinfection OF
premises is in most cases necessarily en-
trusted to the householder An increase
of from 5000 to $1,000 is respectfully rec
commended. A deficiency appropriation Of
$500 was required In 1S?S--99. notwithstand-
inc fcio IF lou in
no part of the appropriation should be used
for additional employees. 4 deficiency of
at least that amount is anticipated during
the current year.
Tho pound is at present located in the
roadway at the intersection of three streets.
The buildings were erected as temporary
structures about twenty years ago. Proper
facilities are not provided for the services.
but in view of the temporary character of
the present structure 1t is not deemed adj
visable to recommend an appropriation for
its Improvement. A new site should be
purchased and suitable buildings erected
In connection with such buildings, pro-
vision should be made for accommodating
the horses necessary TOR the use OF the
Health Department in the inspection, con-
tagious disease, and disinfeeting services,
which are now stabbed in rented quarters
or In livery stables. In securing site for
siderable tract of land so as to relieve
neighbors from the noise of impounded AMI
mails An appropriation is respectfully
asked for the purchase OF site and for the
erection and equipment OF buildings Tor
use as a pound and as q stable for the
Health Department
In connection with the management OF
outbreaks of contagious disease. especially
those of major type. it frequently becomes
hold r1aT n
ton for certain length of time pending
diagnosis and to keep those who have been
exposed TO infection in quarantine for a
period equal to the period of incubation OF
the disease to which they have been eX-
posed. At times il becomes necessary TO
remove persons from houses infected by
such diseases to temporary quarters in or
der to permit the premises to be properly
disinfected. During the past two years ac-
commodations for such purposes have been
maintained by rental. Such quarters con-
sist of row Of seven two-story, four-room
frame houses. They are not well adapted
to The purposes for which they are used.
and the expense Of rental is considerable.
The need OF suitable buildings for the pur-
poses above mentioned has been Increased
during the past few years by the increase
in the number of people living In apart
ment houses, the quarantine of suspects
and others in such buildings being fraught
with danger to the other inmates. The
District should construct suitable isolation
buildings. SO that proper accommodations
viii be always available. For the purchase
Of a site for such buildings an estimate of
SIG. 900. and for the erection and equipment
thereof an estimate of $4,000 are submit
ted.
The roadways in the enclosure CO..
nected with the new smallpox hospital are
OF gravel In wet weather they are fire.
quently in such condition as hardly to per-
NIT the passage of loaded vehicles. An
estimate prepared by the Engineer Depart
ment shows that the cost of paving them
with asphalt block would be $1,000. An APP
preparation is respectfully asked for this
purpose.
Road TO Pest House.
"Since the construction of the new small
pox hospital practically no improvement
has been made in the road leading thereto
Such road is one of the old driveways
which formerly led to potter's field and
the nurseries OF the Parking Commission.
The estimated cost of putting il in proper
condition is $3.50. An Appropriation is re-
spectfully recommended.
The District government is at present
without facilities for making general bac-
THEOLOGICAL analyses, and in this respect il
is behind most other cities of equal size
A archaeological library is now regarded
by sanitarians as almost, il not quite, as
essential to a properly equipped health de-
partment as is a laboratory for chemical
analyses. Such a laboratory should be pro-
yided, therefore, so as TO enable the Heath
Department 10 perform properly the duties
which devolve upon II.
THE appropriation necessary for the r.
lief of the poor, through physicians to the
poor. is not included in the estimates of
the Health Department, being properly a
part OF the charity schedule. The amount
allotted during the current year is for
twenty-five physicians to the poor, at 81
per diem. 5000, and for medicines. print
ing, and nursing. $3.50. / respectfully
recommend that the compensation OF ply
sicians employed in this service be in
creased from 81 per diem to $3.50 per an
mum. The change in the method of pay
ment from per diem to per annum will en-
able them TO take advantage of the rules
governing leaves of absence.
THE estimate for the cost Of maintain
ing the isolation wards at Garfield Memo
rial Hospital and at Providence Hospital
also should be included in the charity
schedule. as only persons unable 10 pay
their own expenses at such institutions
are treated at public expense.
81 respectfully recommend that in the
preparation of estimates for the expenses
of the District during the next fiscal year.
provision be made for the purchase of
sites and for the construction of public
baths, and for the construction and the
purchase of sites If necessary, of a sIfi-
Client number of public comfort stations
These establishments while of vital i'm
portance to the health and comfort OF the
community. and 10 that extent concerning
this department, have not been included
In the formal estimate of It's eYnenses he