The Washington times., 1903-10-27
Surgeon General Sternberg,
in Address to American
Health Association, Crit
cises Local Shortcomings.
ALLEY HOUSES H0TBEDS
OF VICE AND DISEASE
Cause Excessive Mortality
Rate-Implied Censurc on
Pubic Health Service for
Yellow Fever Epidemic.


Health Association was opened this
morning in the banquet room Of the
New Willard Hotel with about 200 mem
hers present The meeting was called
10 order BY DR. Walter Wyman. presi-
dent. and the opening address was made
by Gen. George NJ Sternberg. Surgeon
General. L. S. A. retired. The morning
session was most important. including
as IL did announcements by the local
committee Of arrangements for the en-
tertainment Of the members: the report
of the executive committee by DR..
Charles q. Probst. secretary; election
OF members to the association. and
many important reports of special in
vestigations as well as papers giving
conclusions.
among these was notable the report Of
the committee on animals diseases and
food. by Or. D. z. Salmon. chief OF the
Bureau of Animal Industry. Washing
ten. ID. c.; report Of the committee on
car sanitation. by DR.. Granville p. Conn.
chairman. president State board OF
health. Concord. y H; paper on
Transportation Of Persons Sick With
Transmissable Diseases" by DR.. j. y.
Hurry. secretary State board of health.
indianapolis. Ind; paper on Car SanI-
tation in the Republic OF Mexico" By
DR.. Juan Brena. zacatecas. Mexico.
General SteInberg's Address.
General Sternburg in delivering the
address of welcome spoke briefly OF the
association as an important factor In
promoting the welfare Of the people OF
the United States. not only from a sani-
tary point OF view. but also in the
way OF national prosperity. He said in
his communication that the prevention
OF disease and the saving OF valuable
lives contributes TO the material re
sources of the country and greatly in
creases the value OF property in regions
subject to invasion by epidemic dsseasef.
or 10 fataiendemic maiadies He de-
ciared that the great prosperity Of the
Southern States during recent years de-
Ponds largely upon the fact that they
have been protected from invasion By
yellow fever. he called attention to the
epidemic Of 1873. which caused a loss OF
3l5VeA,W0 TO New Orleans alone. and
more than 800 000.0oo to the entire sec
tion invaded.
General Stcrnberg said: Having now
an exact knowledge OF the method bv
which yellow fever is transmitted. its
prevention has become comparatively
easy. and sanltarians have no longer
any fear OF the recurrence Of extreme
epidemics Of the disease within the
limits OF the United States
He explained that this portion Of his
address was written some time ago. and
ne had been surprised to learn OF the
present epidemic in Texas lie declared
some one had been responsible. and
though he did not directly condemn the
present administration of the Public
Health and Marine Hospital Service, the
ff~t.r
demnatory.
After brief eulogies Of deceased mem
oers. General sternberg said:
Local Santa Conditions.
Although cholera and yellow fever
and bubonie plague arc no longer feared
~ sanitariana We have not vet con-
quered our endemic filth disease. typhoid
fever; and tuberculosis still claims near-
" 10000 victims annually within the
limits Of the Urited States Until thes,
and other widely prevalent Infectious
diseases are practically stamped out. our
seif-imposed task yin not be complete.
and even then Il viii be necessary TO
enforce constantly the lessons gained bv
past experience 70 prevent return To
insanitary conditions and the penalties
IN the way Of sickness and death which
are inevitably aasoeia-ed with such con-
Icons
IN ashiaeton there is stin much Ia
be accomplished Ia tho way OF saulfar,
improvements. the necessity FOR which
is generally recognized. Our sewer svs-
ten is incoEn-siste and In the ALLEYS OF
the city there are many houses which
nave 10 scWer connections and no wa
Ter supply EXCEPT from a street h.
drant
Breeding Places Of Disease.
THESE aHey house. oecypicd nr,,,.
paiy by the more ignorant class OF inc
colorsd population arc usually ,,,er-
crowded AID are fhe h0t-bods - Vice
immortality. and disease.
The high death rate from f,-nbots
Fever tuberculosis and diphtheria. and
ne excessive infant mortality among
ms claf5 of the population give to the
N1ts'1n's Capital "a mortality rate which
does not compare GivOratiy with that
OF many other cities ia illg country or
OF the great capitals OF Europe
a law for the condemnation OF in
sanitary houses is urgently needed our
sewer system should be- pushed 20 conn
pietion and our health departrusnt
should have the authority and the mon
~ necessary Tor the sanitary rccIams-
ZION ~ thtSe plague spot which disgrace
our otherwise beagtiful and healtbflII
city. We are dependent upon the CON
eress OF the Emitted States for the Iesls-
iation and appropriations necessary TO
accomplish these results. md we ear
nestiy appeal 20 you. individually and
az an association. 10 use your influence
IN behalf Il this important sanitary
work
New Members Elected.
New members were elected as fol-
lows: Charles p. Noat. lsurIingfon
VT. William c. Tucker New YORK.
Alexander j. Douglass, Winnipeg. Mani
toba: James j. Russell. Augusta. Me
William VI. Crane. Cincinnati. Ohio.
Milton L. Hersey. Montreal. Canada; r
r Brush. Mount Vernon. y. Y; clark
". Dams. Cincinnati p w Sylvester.
-Ale2andria. La. Thomas Powell. Los
Angeles, Cal: irving Fisher. New
Haven Conn: Jacob l.. Ludlow, VIM
ston salem. y. c.; Leonard f. Spencer.
Wausau. Wis; J. W. Mclaughlin.
Washington. d. c.. John = Anderson,