Evening star., 1901-10-16
4 CENTER OF INFECTION
OF THE ANA
COSTA FLATS.
Treated by Surgeon General Van Rey-
pen In His Annual RepOrt-Locai
Naval Institutions.


Naval Institutions.
Surgeon General Van Reypen devotes
chapter of his report to the naval institu-
tions in this city. The Washington navy
yard is referred to as follows:
1.-The flats of the Anacostia river continue
to exert strong influence on the health
of this yard, as during the year 1900 from
an average complement of go persons
there were fifty-nine admitted to the sick
list with malarial trouble. This does not
include reappearances of the disease, but
simply represents those infected during
the year. This number has, however.
steadily decreased since 1885 when the
percentage was 90. In 1899 it was p
and last year not quite %. This factor is,
however, still sufficiently great to occupy
the most prominent place in consid aring
the health of the yard, and the influence is
sufficiently strong to attract attention TO
this yard as center of Infection for the
naval service, as men who have heen under
instruction here, when transferred to ships
and other stations, ere for long time
liable to rea,ppearances Of the disease.
Navy Yard improvements.
'In the sanitary condition OF the yard
there was little change during the year
1900. The level along the river front was
raised by filling in. and arrangements were
made for asphalting the dirt roads. The
main avenue has during the present year
been paved with asphalt blocks. and the
work will be extended to the other streets
SO soon as the laying of the new water
pipe system progresses sufficiently.
large number of trees are to be planted
along the streets and in various parts of
the grounds, including the section near the
river front Arrangements were also made
for an additional supply of fresh water by
greatly increasing the size of the yard
main. This was commenced during the
present year, and the work is now nearing
completion.
I'm the marine barracks considerable Inn
provement has been made by The introduc-
tion of steam heat. No change was made
in the two inner cells for prisoners The
circulation Of air in the cells is insufficient
and the influence Is reported to be prejudi-
cial. Five cases of measles appeared in
the barracks during the year, but the dis
ease was Of mild type.
"A regular recruiting station was esta-
lished at the yard in October, 1900, and dur
ing the remainder of the year 391 persons
were examined, of which number 118 were
rejected, four on account Of color blind
ness.
about 1000 workmen have been en-
ployed during the year in the various shops.
and the following cases Of injury received
Vulnus punctum, 80; vulnus incisum. 50:
vulnus contusum. SO: vulnus laceratun. 81 !;
stremma q; contusfo, 80; fractura. u; am
bustio ex Galore. 8, and iuxatio, 2. One
hundred and fifteen cases Of disease also
received emergency assistance.
Work at the Dispensary.
"In view Of the large number of men en-
ployed, the work at the disz ensary is nee
essarily more or less important. In the
report of last year attention was called to
the lack of proper facilities for giving such
fifSt-aid
operating room was very contracted and
difficult of access, and there was insufficient
space for the various duties Of the medical
department. AS there was available ground
in rear of the building, the construction Of
an addition was commenced on April 10 OF
the present year by the bureau Of yards
and docks, and has now been completed
The extension is built Of brick on a con-
crete foundation and contains two floors.
On the first floor is waiting room, bath
room, operating room, examining room,
store room and small ward. The waiting
room is thirteen feet eleven inches by nine
feet four inches and can be entered directly
through a door sufficiently large for the
admission Of a stretcher. This room COM
municates with the dispensary in the old
building and with the operating room, Cx-
amining room and bath room. 1t is pro-
vided with benches and also with hooks for
clothes and hats, and Is intended under
ordinary circumstances as a waiting room
for the enlisted men of the yard and for
ment. The bath room is tiled to the height
of six feet and Is provided with a shower
bath supplied with hot and cold water,
porcelain urinal and closet of improved
type. The operating room Is sixteen feet
by nine feet four inches. and can be entered
from the waiting room through wide door
and from the examining room. The floor
is tiled and also the walls to the height
of six feet. 1t has two large windows and
a porcelain sink provided with hot and cold
water This room has been supplied with
a complete outfit of glass and metal furni-
ture Of approved pattern. The examining
room Is twenty-one fee by nine feet four
inches, has windows and Is well arranged
for the physical examination Of recruits.
rhe store room Is eight feet by seven feet
and contains the necessary lockers and
shelves. The detention ward Is eleven feet
eight inches by eight feet. 1t is lighted
by two large windows and supplied with
two beds. The upper floor is employed as
quarters for the pharmacist. The entire
building is heated by steam from the yard
plant and well lighted by electricity, each
room having an Independent switch. The
windows are supplied with screens and
where necessary with awnings. Suitable
furniture and appliances have been provd-
ed for the various rooms, and the building
is now well adapted to meet all the medical
and surgical requirements OF the yard in
connection with the naval hospital Of the
station
The Naval Hospital.
10th street and Pennsylvania avenue south
east, he says:
"Only minor improvements and repairs
have been made to the grounds and build
ings during the past year. New iron fence
was placed at entrance and on terrace,
porch floor and timbers were renewed, wa
ter main repaired and partly replaced, and
two water filters installed. The main stair
case was painted and repairs made to
plumbing, plastering in basement hall and
bath rooms, gas fixtures and range. The
X-ray apparatus was put in good order, d
light stretcher was supplied for use in the
ambulance and number of mattresses
and pillows were cleaned and remade
1.-The cases of epidemic disease admitted
during the year included twenty-one of
measles, four of rubella and four OF
scabies. There were forty-nine cases OF
malarial fever received from the Washing
ton yard and marine headquarters
Marine Headquarters.
Regarding marine headquarters the
surgeon general says:
1.-THE quarters here are old and unsuitable