The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-14

vaccine matter. The old volume does
not disclose for what purpose the pur-
chase was made. but it Is believed by
DIR. Murray TO have been caused by
the appearance of varioloid in the city
during the latter part OF 1SZ7-
In 1892 cholera was rife in Europe. and
it was feared by many that the dread
disease might be brought by infection
into the National Capital As a means
of warding of the disease, a treatise on
the causes and prevention of cholera was
prepared by the Board Of Health. and
submitted to The Board of Aldermen for
publication with a view to educating the
public. Despite these precautionary steps,
however, the disease made its appearance
in the city shortly afterward.
Cholera Is caused by general cpl
demic constitution of the atmosphere"
read the treatise. which was dated July .
1882 Some weeks or even months before
the appearance of distinctly marked chol-
era, diseases Of an analogous nature. but
are evidences of the general alteration
in the state of the air This epidemic
constitution of the atmosphere may be
seriously aggravated by local causes, such
as stagnant water exposed to the rays OF
the sun. foul cutters or sewers. hog
styes, foul cellars. foul kitchens or yards.
crowded and ill-ventilated places, I'M
cleanliness IN dress, &c.
Cholera Epidemic.
Within a month after the publication OF
the treaties, cholera was rife in WASH
ington. This is evident from the Health
Department records at that time The
Board Of Health was OF the opinion that
much Of the fruit, vegetables. and sea
food then sold in the city was Injurious
to health and likely to lead to new cases
of the dread disease so on August 9,
1892. the following was adopted:
Resolved. That the City Council be
recommended to take into consideration
the propriety of enacting an ordinance
to prevent the sale within the city of the
following articles for the term of sixty
days: Watermelons, muskmellons. canta-
loupes. cucumbers, green corn, pineapples.
peas, all unripe fruit, crabs, oysters. and
all other articles that in their opinion
may be deemed injurious to health"
The dread malady laid such a firm
grasp upon the city the Board of Health
finally concluded that the closing of the
liquor houses was imperative. Those
must. indeed, have been dreadful days
And not alone did the board believe in
the closing of ram shops. but in the
enactment of legislation compelling citi-
zens to keep sober. The story of this
proposed blow to the liquor industry is
told in an old resolution, which reads as
Resolved, That the city council be ur-
gently but respectfully requested to pass
a law as will effectively close all the
dram shops or drinking houses through
out the city. and to restrain as much as
possible Incorporate drinking for the
term of ninety days"
Was Some Sacrifice.
The records do not state whether the
recommendations OF the board were
adopted, but there was undoubtedly such
strong protest against the enactment OF
the legislation that the plan aborted. The
heroism of the liquor lover is some
thing sublime. How many men unques-
tionably opposed that plan OF the ancient
board of health on the ground that he
would rather die Of cholera than Of I'M
quenchable thirst for his ale, And where
is the true lover OF good spirits to-day
who would not rather sacrifice himself
upon the altar OF fatal disease than be
deprived for a term of ninety days OF
the privilege of indulging in the flowing
bowl?
The epidemic did not last long in Wash
ington, and on January ], 1893, a report
of the ravages of the disease was read
before the board. The old document
says:
Cholera first made its appearance in
Washington as an epidemic about the
middle of August its actual eruption
having been preceded for several weeks
by all the premonitory signs of its ap-
pearance, and by the occurrence of a
few sporadic cases. There is no cause
to suspect that the disease was de-
rived from abroad by any communica-
ton with the sick elsewhere. So far
from this, there is the most satisfactory
proof that it owed its existence with US
TO atmospheric influence. The
disease continued its ravages as an cpl
1emic until about the last OF September,
since which only a few sporadic cases
have occurred. The deaths during this
epidemic reached a total of l59, of which
81 We're whites, 162 free blacks, and 40
black slaves"
In the olden days raw hides were fire.
luently packed in the cellars in the bust
ness sections of the city, and the odors
issuing from them We're the cause OF
much complaint. For the purpose Of rem
edying this evil, the Board of Health in
1892 enacted the following:
Hide. Deemed Dangerous.
Resolved, That all raw hides be pre-
vented from being kept in cellars or
other places besides watts within the
thickly populated parts of the city
The old records show that in the same
year the board issued an ordinance, abol-
shing all hog styes in the city. Even
N those old days the city faced the same
problem of vagrancy which confronts the
to-day. Now the police handle
the matter exclusively. In the ancient
lays the vagrant wos considered a form
IF nuisance, and was dealt with by the
Health Department. Just the same as an
nsanitary house or an unclean cellar. A
adopted by the board Septem- |
Der Is, 1892, sets forth the views of the |
physicians OF those days:
Whereas the idle and vagrant that |
infest our city may be con- |
;idered among the most dangerous spe-
lies of nuisances of which the citizens |
10 check as much as possible so growing |
an evil: therefore,
Resolved, That the Board of Health |
all the attention of the several police |
officers to that subject, in order that the !
avs of the corporation in relation to |
may be rigidly enforced"
The first attempt at Sunday liquor leg
Station in the District dates back, &C
,ording to the old Health Office records, |
o September IL, 1892. On that date the |
Board of Health decided to request the |
liquor dealers to close their shops on the |
sabbath. Thes record reads:
Resolved. That all dealers in spurious |
liquors be requested to close their doors (
m Sundays and to refrain from selling 1
n any quantity"
Specially of Odors.
The ancient boards were evidently
Of alert men. 1t seems that no