The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-13
INSPECTORS BLAMED
Health Officer Reports on
Market Conditions.
NEED MORE AGGREsSIvENEss
DIR. w. c. Woodward Submits Recon-
mendatiOns for Enactment of Leg
structiOn of Markets and stores,
and Also for an Increase in Forces.

District. in a report on the sanitary con-
dition of the markets, commission
houses. and stores. submitted TO the Com
mlssioners yesterday. says that. in his
opinion, the inspectors Of his depart
ment have failed to properly enforce the
regulations compelling cleanliness in
these establishments.
AS the result of a personal investiga-
ton. Dr. Woodward submits a number
OF recommendations providing for an in
crease in the inspection force Of the
health department, and the enactment
Of remedial legislation with regard to the
construction OF markets and stores 10
the end that inspections may be made
easier and the presence Of dirt made
manifest to the buying public.
A reply is also made to the recent crit
icism of Assistant Secretary Of Agricui-
ture Hay.
Inspected at Wrong Time.
In reference TO the inspection of stores
and markets. DR.. Woodward says:
Among market stands and among
stores. some were found satisfactorily
clean, and others palpably dirty. but too
many We're neither one nor the other.
And almost uniformly places dirty or in
the doubtful class would have been found
clean. it was represented, If inspection
had been made at some other time. But
fixing d fair standard Of cleanliness upon
the basis of observations In the various
places inspected, 1t cannot be said that
taken as a whole the markets and stores
examined showed a proper conception Of
cleanliness and Of sanitary requirements
on the part Of the prOpTietors. nor on the
part of the inspectors Of the health de-
partment.
1T is true that some markets and some
stores are infested by rats. To no one
is this more Objectionable than to those
engaged IN business in such places. and
no one would be more willing than they
TO adopt in their own interest, any ef-
fective remedy that may be suggested.
The remedy that has been adopted in
some places, viz, the installation OF cats
on the premises, is. Of course, liable 10
be Objectionable. but as between a few
cats and innumerable rats, most persons
would doubtless favor the former.
Sale of Meat.
While the greatest stress is laid by
the Department OF Agriculture upon the
conditions surrounding the sale of meat
yet as a matter OF fact there is. 1 be-
lieve, less danger in connection with the
sale of this article than in connection with
the sale Of fruits and Of certain vegeta-
bles and other articles of food The ex-
pOsure Of meat 10 air under ordinary
city conditions hastens decomposition,
whether the air be that of the street. or
that of the market, OF the store. But,
like exposure tends, too, to spoil fruits
and vegetables.
IF we are to be consistent, therefore.
we must insist on the cleanliness OF
fruits, vegetables, &C, that are TO be
eaten uncOoked, quite as much, II not
even more, than upon the cleanliness OF
meats; and with the disappearance Of
market stalls on Louisiana avenue, sales
direct from farmers wagons at markets,
or from hucksteTs' wagons on the streets,
would be a thing Of the past. So, also,
would be the exhibition Of such fruits.
vegetables, &c, in front Of grocery and
provision stores.
And any evidence that would justify
such a radical reform would lead neces-
odi4ig " AInANcl AEAVAAtA cA5B ia AAaC AECA
ing. handling. and selling Of meats, fish,
fruits. vegetables, bread, butter, &c,
within markets and stores. For certainly
the danger OF street vending, II there be
danger, is only relatively greater than
that incident TO vending in markets and
stores. and the remedy should so 10 the
root of the evil In order TO determine
whether the evidence warrants a revo-
luton in the prevailing methods Of sell
ing gOcds a careful analysis must be
made of the evidence submitted.
AIInys Undue Alarm.
What is said here has not been said
with any purpose Of justifying or ex-
cusing uncleanliness, but only with a
view to allaying the undue alarm that
has resulted from what has been pub
lished concerning the markets and stores
of this District. II. however. it has tended
TO show that absolute cleanliness, in the
commercial handling of food stuffs is not
essential to good public health yet it
must be admitted that in the interest of
decency, cleanliness must be insisted
upon. We may seek greater cleanliness
for its own sake. but not with any buoy
ant hope of reducing the death rate.
From my examination of the markets
and stores in this city, am confirmed in
my opinion that the food inspectors in
the service of this department are with
out a proper conception of the duties
which they are called upon to perform.
Many dealers viii be no cleaner than they
have to be. and it has been the duty Of
these inspectors TO keep the establish
ments of these dealers clean. In this, l
believe. they have failed.
While the existing laws and regula-
tons, if properly enforced. are sufficient
10 secure the cleanliness of markets, pro-