Evening star., 1922-08-04
SANITARY TEST|NGS
!. OF PARKS PRAISED
Maj. Bakers Report to Army
Surgeon General Tells
of Good Results.
BATHING POOLS TREATED
Picnic Groves, Lunch Stands,
Drinking Fountains and Public
Buildings Inspected.

Good results have attended the
systematic sanitary inspection OF the
public parks of the District, accord
ing to report made to the surgeon
general of the Army by Maj. w. p.
Baker, Medical Corps, United States
Army, who has been actively engag-
ed in that work for several months
under the direction of Col. Sheriff..
the engineer officer in charge.
The present system Of having a
laboratory officer from the Army
Medical School detailed to that duty"
he says, seems to be excellent. and
it is hoped that this activity may be
permanently retained as one OF the
activities of the Army Medical School,
The advantages to the sanitary in
spector are that he has already entres
into the extensive laboratory facili-
ties OF the various departments at the
school for food chandler, water and
miscellaneous analysis, and that the
staff of the laboratory service is vir-
tually a consulting board of special
lists to whom he has ready access for
conference. The advantages to the
school are that some practical method
for demonstration and teaching pur-
poses is available locally. that this
officer may act as instructor In ap-
piled sanitation and that incidentally
the school receives occasional mem
ton OF its value to the general public
Of the District. II is hoped that in
time to come the Medical Corps may
have representation along with the
Engineer Corps on the local water
supply and sewage disposal OF the
District Of Columbia"
List OF Activities.
Activities Of the sanitary inspector
include inspection of bathing beaches.
refreshment stands and eating places
in parks. comfort stations-about
forty in Misunderstanding fountains
and springs, sanitation OF picnic
groves, disposal Of rubbish and waste,
mosquito control and determination of
ragweed in line Of hay fever prophy-
lixis.
Sanitary Inspections are made. at
varying Intervals. Of the public build
ings. special attention being given to
cafeterias and other eating places. at
some of which meals are served to
food handling examinations have been
made of the personnel employed at
those places.
Maj Baker says that the water at
the tidal basin bathing beach Is chlo-
rinated just beyond the life lines
continuous circuit to and fro synchro-
nous with bathing hours: In the
course Of day between 800 and 500
pounds of chlorine are injected. which
maintains q concentration Of free
chlorine on the beach Of between
reduces the total count from more
than 100000 to less than 100 bacteria
per &C., with only occasional bacilli colo
in 10-c.c. portions. Samples are taken
each day for meteorological and free
s9oEnf OF Eanon snayss ef n. hs saheu.es IS
maintained.
Similar treatment has been given
the waters of Rock Creek Park. in
which there are several bathing pools
for children, and until recently" Maj.
Baker says. the force has been able
that exists in the raw water. due to
sewage from suburban towns. The
natural springs in Rock Creek Park
have been closed in with stone and
concrete to prevent their pollution
and a small effiuent pipe is protected
drinker by an overlapping ledge of
rock. These springs are chlorinated
once each week through a pipe with
screw cap leading directly into the
spring. nalyses are made at weekly
intervals and. except Immediately aft
tain a safe drinking water at all
times"
First Aid Instruction.
Park policemen have been instruct
ed in "frst-aid" treatment and. boxes
equipped for the purpose, have been
placed in outlying localities for
emergency treatment of the sick or
injured.
Sanitation of the tourists camp in
East Potomac Park is good, says Maj
Baker, but he admits that "the
mosouitoes at night are mum erous and
troublesome" and that some of the
mosquitoes examined show occasional
anopheles."
A proposal to submit all employees
in the White House kitchen to the
Army foodhandler examination was
approved by the Presidents physician
some months ago, but Maj. Baker says
"he has been unable as yet to secure
definite arrangements as to the time
this may be done