Evening star., 1915-12-08

THEOLOGICAL analysis OF milk, was con-
tinued along the lines previously fol-
lowed At the close of the year there
were 1,161 dairy farms registered. on
which there were 1S,400 cattle. The
average frequency of inspection of each
farm during the year was 3.51 times.
There were forty-siS places registered
as dairies, that is, as places where the
sale of milk was the principal business,
the average frequency of inspections
of which during the year was 14.39.
OF milk and cream 1,671 specimens
were examined bacteriologically and
S,2O6 chemically. The results of such
examinations are stated in the report
of the health officer.
There is reed for better Legislation
for the control of the milk supply of
the District.
Sanitary Inspection.
Sanitary inspectors made during the
year 76,032 visits. Complaints acted
upon by this service numbered 6,919.
Violations of existing laws and regu-
lations for the prevention and abate-
ment of nuisancas were reported by
these inspectors in 12,057 instances, all
of which have been satisfactorily ad-
justed, except 439. which were pending
at the close of the year.
The usual sanitary inspections of sta
bles, barber shops. laundries and privies
were continued during the year.
Smoke Inspection.
Observations numbering SASS were
made during the year. under the smoke
law One thousand one hundred and
thirty-eight were discovered, and in
accordance with the practice hereto
fore established siXty-seven cases were
referred to the corporation counsel for
prosecution. In two cases nolle pro-
seoul was entered and two cases were
pending at the close of the year. Sixty
seven cases were disposed of by the
court, including those brought over
from the preceding year. Fines were
collected or collatcrals forfeited in fif-
ty-two cases, amounting to $685.. "Per-
sonal bonds" were taken in fifteen
cases.
Enforcement of the Weed Law.
Such attention has been given the
enforcement of this law as the force
at the command of the health officer
the fact, however, that this law is
pra ctically operative only during the
summer season and that then the need
for it's enforcement is urgent and wide
spread. 1t is recommended that a spe-
cial corps of inspectors be provided
for the enforcement of this law dur
ing the weed season. The law itself
favor of the property owner without
jeopardiZing the welfare of the COM
munity.
Eight-Hour Law for Females.
An effort has been made to register
all places within the purview of the
eight-hour law for females within
which females are employed. At the
close of the year 1906 places were SO
registered. Complaints alleging viola
tions of the eight-hour law for females
numbered 273, and resulted in PSI in
spections. Inspections on the initiative
of inspectors numbered 6.20S, and Off
cial calls other than inspections num-
bered 2,615. A general willingness to
comply with this law has been mani
Tested ever since its enactment. but on
behalf of one certain group of in
terested persons an effort was made to
prevent altogether it's enforcement,
through an injunction brought to ac-
complish that end. The petition was
dismissed April 10. 1915, and an appeal
noted. Since that date certain cases
have been tried in the Police Court,
and at the close of the year other cases
were pending.
The Pound Service.
The total number of animals that
passed through the pound during the
fiscal year was 7,64s. OF these, 3,210
were dogs, 4.43O cats, and horses.
All of the cats and 2,66S of the dogs
were killed.
Contagious Diseases of Animals.
BY reason of the continued preva-
Ience of rabies in the District the Com
missioners were led to promulgate on
August 5, 1914, an order requiring for
the period of another year the muzzling
of all dogs running at large. Never
theless. there occurred eight cases of
definitely proven rabies during the
year among domestic animals and
considerably larger number of doubt
full cases. Two cases died during the
year as the result of the bites of mad
dogs.
The widespread epidemic of foot and
mouth disease led to the adoption of
vigorous measures to prevent it's intro
duction and spread in the District of
Columbia. Regulations to facilitate the
accomplishing of those results were
promulgated by the Commissioners on
November 13. 1914. and there was ac-
tive cooperation between the United
States Department of Agriculture and
the health department and police de-
partment of the District in the enforce
ment of the regulations promulgated
by the Secretary of Agriculture and
the regulations promulgated by the
Commissioners. Notwithstanding all ef-
forts foot and mouth disease made its
appearance on two dairy farms and at
one abattoir during the year. Fortu-
nately. no serious consequences en-
sued: the total number of animals af-
fected was SO, of which six We're cat
tie. all OF which were on dairy farms,
and the remainder hogs. all of which
were at the abattoir.
Registration of Physicians, Dentists,
Undertakers and Midwives.
At the close of the fiscal year there
were on the registers of the health de-
partment the names of 1879 physicians,
242 undertakers, SO midwives, and saS
dentists.
Private Hospitals and Asylums.
Three private hospitals, all for hu-
man beings, were licensed during the
year. One previously licensed discon-
tinued business. At the close of the
year there were on the register of the
department, therefore, Is hospitals and
~ asylums for human beings, and 10
hospitals and l asylum for animals; in
all, 80.
CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS.
The annual report of the board of
charities reviews in detail the work of
the various charitable. penal and cor
rectional institutions, and makes i'm
portant recommendations for better
ment.