Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-20
CHARACTER|zES FOOD
AS MEDIUM OF DISEASE
DR.. W. c. Woodward Tells How
Health Department Lessened
the Death Rate.
Delivers an Address Before Petworth
Citizens-Associatio Holds
Business Session.

Through the activities Of the health
department of the District of Columbia
the death rate in the National Capital
has shrunk from about Fl in every 1000
to about 16k. DR.. w. c. Woodward.
health officer. explained how this came
about in a discourse on What the
Health Department Does for the Citi-
zen," delivered before the Petworth
Citizens Association last night, in the
NJ. Z. Church at Sth and Shepherd
streets
Infectious diseases, such as smallpox,
typhoid, diphtheria and scarlet fever.
have been reduced through the dis
coveries of science and the sanitary
agencies of the health department., he
explained. Yet. no means have been
found to correct the ravages of diseases
of the heart arteries and kidneys, In
which there is an enormous rise.
Food Medium of Disease.
Food is the medium of disease, ac-
cording to DIR. Woodward. who ex
planned the great efforts made by the
health department with an inadequate
force to watch over the sanitary con-
dition of all things intended for con-
sumption. In regard to regulation Of
the milk supply, he explained at some
length the conditions insisted upon at
diaries which serve the National Capt.
tai .-iA
In the beginning of the milk crusade
of the District Of Columbia. he recited.
milk producers in Virginia and Mary
land entered protest against being re-
CURED to take out a license to sell
milk in the District of Columbia, class
ing 1t as an infraction of state Fights.
DIR. Woodward met these protestants
and explained to them that the right
they claimed to run their diaries as
they pleased was not challenged, but
that the District of Columbia claimed
a similar privilege to drink what milk
1t pleased. The point was well taken.
and today these sanitary dairies are
making more money than they would
have done unregulated.
Isolation of a Leper.
He discussed the quarantine and dis
infection service Of the health depart
ment and referred to the isolation Of
the leper. John Early. Replying to the
criticism that leprosy is 10 more con-
tagious than is tuberculosis and that
there Is no greater reason for isola-
ton, he admitted that this might be
true. but that isolation in cases OF
tuberculosis Is not possible under the
conditions Of the disease and the state
Of community and the facilities of the
While the public crematorium was
originated through purpose to permit
transhipment from the District Of Column
bia of the ashes of those who had died
from contagious diseases-cerpses which
would be barred from interstate trans
portation-it had never been needed for
that purpose, but has been useful in many
other ways. BY means Of it, potter's field
has been robbed Of the bodies OF the In
digent dead. although their ashes some
times find their there. Also the
crematorium brings In revenue from
those able to pay for the cremation Of
their dead
Resolutions approving the efforts Of
the Federal Labor Union to have the pay
OF janitors in the public schools increased
40 per cent, and calling the Commission
ers' attention to the fact that the space
between the car tracks on Georgia ave-
pany in accordance with the requirement
OF law. were referred to the executive COM
mittee.
Committee chairmen were appointed
as follows: Laws and legislation.
e W. Oyster; streets. sidewalks and
lights. j. o. Bohee; fire and police pro- |
lection. H. NJ. lie Due; transportation.
r. F. McElroy: entertainment, John S.
Mills; membership. w w. Chase:
schools, ]. c. Suter; sewers, sanitation
and water. r. E. Adams; lawns and
flowers, John T. Humphreys, and
finance. W. L. Gutelius.
The efforts of the Brightwood Park
Citizens Association to have the over
head troileys abolished on Georgia
avenue were Endorsed.
Sixteen new members were admitted:
John K. Arnold. F. A. Whitaker.
Charles =; Gibson: John G. Lindsay lindsay
J. c. Soule. Julius Wenig. Timothy d.
Mccarthy. Louis Frisard. H. Runkel.
w. C. Gilbert, c. ]. Bolen, <. F. Fry.
A. L. Gardner and J. w. SIGNALLING.