Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07

dVdIlaOle TO get parents 10 nave Cof.
rected such defects as were FOUND, blu,
without encouraging success. It II
expected that during the coming year
through the school nurses that have
been provided. better results VIII b.
however. that no chief medical in.
spector Of schools Is available to give
his entire time to the supervision OF
| the medical inspection of schools. ane
the Commissioners recommend that
: provision be made for such an omcer
The school medical corps will number
| next year (1914-15) eleven physicians
two dentists and five nurses, and THU
number of employees is certainly sufa-
cient to warrant the employment of a
supervising officer who can devote his
entire time to overseeing of their
work.
Chemical and archaeological Labora-
tories.
In the chemical laboratory there were
examined 9.703 specimens. food-chiehy
milk and cream-and drugs making up
the largest part. Examination Of va
rious articles were made for the po-
lice department to assist in the de-
lection of crime and for tho purchas-
ing officer to determine the qualities
Of articles offered to the District OF
Columbia under contracts. The Com
provision be made for the better equip
1nent Of the chemical laboratory; the
importance of the work that 1t is
called upon to do is such that its
order to insure accuracy and dispatch.
In the meteorological laboratory
there were examined 1867 specimens,
OF which S,657 related to communicable
disease and 1910 to milk, cream, wa
ter and other similar products. Bac-
THEOLOGICAL examinations are being
recognized of increasing Importance
with respect to such matters. and the
support given to this branch of the
health department by Congress during
the past year.
Food Inspection Service.
The food inspection service of the
health department has been conducted
along the lines heretofore established
and reported. For information as to
the extent of work done reference
should be made to the report of the
health officer
The efforts made during the year to
procure better milk supply have thus
far been unsuccessful. Educational eff
forts toward that end having failed.
certain dealers were charged with the
sale of adulterated milk, the charges
being based upon the decomposed and
filthy character of the milk they sold.
Ihese prosecutions, however, met with
determined opposition, the defendants
tain classes of milk dealers through
out the country and resorting to all
available dilatory procedures. AT the
writing of this report these cases are
others is suspended awaiting the re-
suit. So far as the cases have pro-
ceeded. there has been demonstrated
the need for a law better regulating
1N Ii ID L.. 49,
the milk dealer defends himself in
court by evidence undertaking to show
that even the vilest forms of filth may
be properly introduced into milk in
any quantity SO long as their detection
is impossible by the senses of sight.
taste and smell, it is manifest that
statutory definitions as to what con-
stitutes adulterated milk would be of
great advantage The Commissioners
call attention to the bill now pending
in Congress for the improvement of
the milk supply of the District and
urge its early enactment.
Sanitary Inspection.
Violations of laws and regulations
for the prevention and abatement of
nuisances were reported in 1923 in
stances. Remedial action was taken
in 1888 instances prior to the close
of the year. and at that time 305 no.
In AS instances resort was had to the
assessment system to procure the
abatement of nuisances on property
belonging to nonresident owners. and
essary for the District to do the nee
essary work and assess the cost
against the property. In the remain
ing cases the owners themselves abated
the Objectionable conditions on re-
ceipt of notices. Attention is called
to the need for an increase in the sani-
tary inspection force that will permit
more inspections to be made, indie
pendent Of complaint. The recommen-
dations Of the Commissioners hereto
fore made for a modification Of the
too stringent provisions of the new law
are also renewed.
Hours Of Work for Females.
The Commissioners have deemed it
advisable to assign to the health officer
the enforcement of the provisions of
an act to regulate the hours of en-
ployment and safeguard the health of
females employed in the District of
Columbia. approved February "a. 1914.
At the present time action Is being
taken to acquaint employers Of females
with the requirements of the law and
to allow a reasonable opportunity for
the readjustment of their business so
as to conform with it. At the close Of
instituted by the Commissioners. One
employer is. however, through one of
his employees. prosecuting himself in
the Police Court for the purpose of
making what purports to be a test
case"
Pound Service.
There were captured while running
at large in violation Of law 1.749 ami
mails. Of which 1876 were dogs, and at
the request of the proper custodians
thereof. the poundmaster removed to
the pound 7,042 animals to be killed
The total number Of animals passing
through the pound during the year was
1871. Fees for the release and sale of
impounded animals amounted to
S1,26075, of which $1.017.25 was paid
for the release of dogs. The dog tax
paid to the collector OF taxes-to no in
considerable extent, 1t may be said, as
the result of the activity of the pound
master-amounted to $16,759.20. The
total revenue derived by the District
from its canine population was there
fore, in the fiscal year 1914 $17,776.45.
The recomme ndations heretofore made
by the Commissioners for the appoint
of additional laborers in the pound
service, for the equipment of the pound
service with a motor wagon, and for
the enactment of a law making 1t I'M
lawful to permit any dog at large on
the streets after dark are renewed.
Coroner.
During the year embraced in this
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