The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-08

in the department OF pathology will
give practical demonstrations OF morbid
anatomy at the Army Medical Museum.
at the Government Hospital for the IN
sane and at the city morgue.
Prof George NJ Kober, the secretary
and treasurer OF the school. VIII lecture
Oh sunlight, air. climate. water, soil.
food. the sanitation Of dwellings. in
Gliding heating, lighting. ventilation,
and drainage
Prof William c. Woodward. Health
Officer OF the District OF Columbia. will
deliver lectures relative to sanitary or
GaEization. vital statistics. municipal
control Of communicable diseases, the
disposal OF dead bodies. OF sewage. and
other city refuse. To each student will
De afforded an opportunity to become
Practically familiar with municipal and
sanitary administration.
Science VS.. Prayers.
At the introductory address given az
the opening OF the school, General
Sternberg gave a concise history OF the
bUhonic plague. which devastated Eu-
rope several centuries ago. In the cpl
demic OF 1856 some Of the italian cities
suffered loss OF many thousands OF
persons. while Rome comparatively es-
capped. The smaller mortality OF the
city has been ascribed TO the sanitary
measures instituted by Cardinal Gas
taldi- up to this time General Stern
berg declared. prayers had been the
chief dependence for the arrest Of pes
thence, but this enlightened preIate in
stituted a method Of combating the
plague and other infectious maIadies
which, with increasing knowledge and
experience IN the use OF scientific pre-
ventive measures, has given US the mas
terry Of these pestilentiaI diseases. and
has been the principal factor in the
extinction Of bubonic plague from the
civilized countries OF Europe"
Flies as Carriers of Infection.
General Sternberg has for many years
insisted upon the part played by flies as
carriers Of infectious material. and there
is good reason 20 believe that the bacillus
Of bubonic plague may be transmitted in
the same way. Until recently, however,
the attention OF sanitarians was so firmly
fixed upon the demonstrative transmits
sion Of cholera and typhoid fever through
AAAN agency OF communicated water OF mix
that other modes Of transmission were
overlooked or at least moderated. Nor
tality rates in towns and cities through
out the civilized world depend to a large
extent upon the purity of the water sup
ply and the efficiency of the system OF
sewage disposal, and the constant i'm
provement which is shown by the NOR
tality statistics OF England and other
countries which have made the most
progress in this direction is undoubtedly
largely due TO these two factors.
Life Average Heightened.
IN contradiction of the belief express
ed by many as to the lack Of progress
made by medicine as compared with sur
gerry, statistics prove that the span OF
human life increases with every genera
ton. In the sixteenth century the av-
erage was somewhat less than twenty
years At the present time. as General
Sternherg proved. IL is more than twice
as long. and during the last twenty-five
years the average duration Of life has
been heightened about six years.
For the present the headquarters OF
the school will be at the Emergency
Hospital where things OF interest to doc
tors and surgeons are happening every
day.