Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07

among both races. The decrease noted
in the number Of deaths from tuberculosis
during 1907 continued during the first SIX
months of 1908. The deaths from TINS
cause recorded during the first hall OF
1907 were 414. while the deaths recordeo
during the corresponding period og 1903
were only 800. Between these PERIODS
too. there has been no corresponding IN
crease in fatal cases of pneumonia OF
bronchitis. the former falling from Ho6
to 346 and the latter from los to a. On.
fortunately, however, the number OF
deaths from diarrheal disease among
children under two years Increased from
32 to &C. due doubtless to the earlier ad-
vent Of the heated season during the cur
rent year. The number of deaths from
typhoid fever diminished from ~ to -.
while the number Of cases rose from IL
to go
Psychological Laboratory.
The recently enacted law for the pre-
vention of tuberculosis requires the
health department to examine sputa from
persons suspected of having the pulmo-
nary or the laryngeal form of that dis
ease and has thus rendered necessary an
increase in the equipment Of that depart
ment for archaeological work. The
growing recognition Of the importance of
providing facilities in connection with the
health department. for the diagnosis OF
typhoid fever and for determining the
period of infectivity will soon render i'm
perative the extension of the laboratory
work Of the department so as to cover
that field. In fact such an extension mas
already been recommended by the public
health and marine hospital service:
When this shall have been accomplished
the meteorological work. of the health
department will cover the archaeological
control of diphtheria, of typhoid fever.
Of tuberculosis and of the ddsinfeeting
service generally. It can then without
great. cost be extended 40 as to cover
the archaeological examination of our
milk supply and of the water supply OF
our dairy farms and of our public and
school wells and such other bacteria
logical examinations as circumstances
may render necessary from time to time.
For that reason the Commissioners
strongly urge that a general bacteria
logical laboratory be established in con-
Control Of Milk Supply.
During the fiscal year 1908 milk was
shipped into the District Of Columbia
from 906 farms, G. Of which were located
in the District and the remainder. in
Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania anc
New York. or these farms, 904 were in
spected during the year, the total number
of inspections beinng 1888. For the pro-
cows were used.
The important place attributed to milk
as a carrier Of disease by those best pre-
pared to speak concerning the matter
fully justifles all that has been done for
the improvement of the milk supply and
calls for even greater activity. For that
reason, the Commissioners submitted to
Congress, through the chairmen of the
District committees, a draft of a bill de-
signed to extend the power of the Com
VITA init v>ofA To fh0 tvOl
Of the milk supply. This bill Is. 4s13
and H. r. 16O6S) was drafted by the con-
ference of experts called by the Commits
sioners to consider the Improvement of
the milk supply of this District and rep
resents. it Is believed, the most enlight-
ened thought upon Sle subject. 1t Is
hoped that it will be 0acted at an early
date.
Experience under the law relating to
the disposal of dead bodies, that was
first enacted January p. $685. and which
subsequently was embodied in the code.
has shown that in some respects it is
too stringent and that in others 1t fails
to provide remedies for now existing
evils.
For the purpose Of remedying such de-
fects as these in the law as it now stands
the Commissioners recommended appro-
pirate legislation Is. 4S19 III. r. 10000
which is now pending before Congress
and which the Commissioners hope will
Removal Of Weeds.
Provision should be made for the en-
forcement Of an act to cause the re-
moval of weeds from lands in the city
of Washington. District of Columbia. and
for other purposes. approved March 1.
1899, or it should be repealed This act
requires the removal of weeds from all
land in the city Of Washington or it's
more densely populated suburbs, four
or more inches in height. The owner Of
the land upon which the forbidden weeds
are located is entitled to notice. and If
he cannot be found. notice may be given
by publication. This requires the accu-
rate determination of the location of the
weeds with respect to lot and square and
the subsequent discovery of the name and
address of the owner of the land. Then
follows service of notice and subsequent
reinspection to see whether it has been
compiled with. In case of non-compli-
ance there must be prosecution in the
Police Court or the removal of the weeds
under the assessment system. or both
The law is silent as to the number of
weeds that may be permitted within any
given area.
If literally interpreted, two weeds each
Al inches high would form lawful basis
Interpretation as to the number and
height of weeds its universal enforcement
throughout the city and the more densely
populated suburbs would be so expensive
as to be practically out Of the question.
Unless the law is to be made susceptible
OF enforcement, either by making ample
appropriation for that purpose. or by
amending the law, or by both. it should
be repealed, as its presence on the statute
books under existing conditions accom-
plishes no substantial good and merely
tends to lead to needless friction between
the health department, complainants and
land owners.
Medical Inspection Of Schools.
There are in the District of Columbia
1888 buildings occupied by the public
schools as school buildings. In these
buildings are accommodated !, 1852 classes.
exclusive Of the normal and the manual
training schools. and IS. $50 pupils. For
the medical inspection of these pupils,
scattered as they are throughout the Dis
trict, but twelve medical inspectors have
been provided. During the year just
ended, these inspectors made 1856 visits
to the schools and seventy-three to the
homes OF pupils. Twelve thousand and
Twenty-Five examinatio of pupils were
made and in I. 100 instances the pupils ex-
amined were excluded for cause. OF the
examinations which were made, however,
termining whether a pupil who has been
absent for certain length Of time could
or could not be readmitted.
Pupils desiring to pass from the high
schools into the normal schools and those
desiring to graduate from the normal
schools so as to become teachers. and
persons applying for admission as teach