Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-22

Outline OF a Plan for Railroad san
itary Service-SOme Valuable Hints
by Dr. Herrfck-The Approaching
Meeting of the American PnOie
Health Associations.

ftarv Servica-Some Valuable Hints
bv mr.. Herrfck-The Approaching
Meeting of the American PuDiie
Health Association.
Newt week the American Public Health
Association will meet In this city, and, as
we have before remarked, the session VIII
be of an interesting and instructive charae-
ter. and we desire to see cur community
fully alive to the importance OF this gamer
inc. The CITY of Savannah is especially con
ceTped in this assembling, and we trust tnat
our people generally will show their appre-
citation ia substantial aid to the committees
who are now arranging for the event. Inc
railroad companies generally have tesuheu
their anprecistion of the value OF this meet
ing by responding most hoerallv 70 cue CT
cular of the local committee 1here VIII "
between two and three hundred members OF
the associatfop present. The Georgia, the Cen
trail Railroad, Savannah, Florida and West
ern Railway, Richmond and Danville, Bal
tImore and Ohio have very generously ten
dered free masses for the members who viii
be In Attendance. The Louisville and Nash
Vile Railroad, ard the Ocean Steamship
Company, of Savannah, will issue half rare
tickets. and similar responses have been re-
'
the responses from the railroads addressed
have been almost unanimously favorable.
Speaking OF railroads, 1t Is proper TO state
that prominently among the topics 70
he discussed will be Railroad Sanitation.
DIR. S s. Herriek, Secretary and Treasurer
of the Louisiana State Board of Health, will
read paper on Railroad Sanitation" at
the meeting, and 1t is the earnest desire of
the President of the association that some
prominent railroad men should be present
TO assist in the subsequent discussion OF the
topic. A cordial invitation is extended such
to be present, andsit is to be hoped that 1t
will be accepted.
DR.. Herrick read this paper last sum
mer before the Louisiana State Board
of Health, and 1t was by that
body approved aud adopted. Efforts
are being made to secure its adoption by
the most important railroad companies In
the Southwest. It is authoritatively stated
that the mausgers of three of the principal
lines terminating in New Orleans have sig
nifed their appreciation Of 1t as a matter OF
expediency and economy to the railroad
companies.
As the subject is one of such vast impor-
lance, we present DIR. Herrick's scheme, as
follows, which he states is yet far from
complete In its present form, since 1t has
undergone various notifications, In the
light of increased knowledge and continued
reflection:
OUTLINE OF A PLAN FoR RAILROAD SANITARY
sERvICE-FoRMULA.
/. Organization and superintendent of
system for prompt relief to sufferers from
the casualties of travel upon the lines, in
Guiding officials, employees and passengers.
Assistance in the adjustment Of claims for
personal damage In such casualties.
2. Examination of those engaged IN the
movement of trains, with reference to de-
fects OF sight and hearing. and diseases of
the heart, and great vessels. as a prerequi-
site to their employment; advice concerning
the personal hygiene Of employees In all
branches of service.
3. Inspection of the sanitary condition
OF passenger coaches, OF grounds and build
ings, and recommendation of improvements
wherever needed. As occasion presents,
counsel In the selection of sites aud in the
construction OF works and buildings.
f. Organization and superintendent of
system of meteorological observations at
selected stations along the lines.
3. To guard against danger of injecting
railroad coaches, stock and goods cars, by
transportation of diseased persons or ami
mails, or of infected personal baggage or
merchandise against danger of conveying
contsgion from one point to others, and
against injury TO stock in transitu from
OVeTcIOWulDS, lOuE anu
walton of food and water.
6. To confer with national, State ard
local sanitary authorities, with the view of
obvlatiDg or moderatiDg restrictions on
travel and traffic, and to represent the COM
pany In sanitary and quarantine consulta-
lions, wherever its interests may be affected.
REMARKS.
The above sketch for a company operat-
ing extensive lines coRtenpates 3 sanitary
department under the superintendence of
chief medical officer with the necessary
number of subordinAtes at suitable intervals,
In readiness for any emergency. The suoor-
dinate medical men would be required only
10 case of accidents, or occasionally to make
physical examinations of employees. Me
neurological observations could be made by
telegraph operators along the line.
Some OF the features of this scheme sre
not entirely new to this country. The first,
particularly, has been partially adopted by
several Of the most important companies,
bat without putting the whole service under
| q uniform system, and the superintendent
| Of a medical man. The second has been put
in practice by the Pennsylvania Railroad
| Company, and has been imposed upon the
railroads of Connecticut by the Legislature
OF that State. 1t Is unquestionable that
scar sighted, color blind and deaf men
| should not be trusted with the movement
of trains and locomotives; nor men liable to
| sudden death from organic faults Of the
| heart or large blood vessels.
TIE third and fourth might specifically
| be Judged of minor importance, but it is ap-
| parent that the latter could be made supple
| mentary to the national signal service,
| thereby greatly enlarging its operations, TO
the benefit Of she railroad companies as
well as the inhabitants along the lines.
The fifth and sixth would be everywhere
| huf for limos rnnpfuoy
out OF New Orleans, on account of the
general apprehension OF yellow fever from
this quarter, and liability to restriction or
| interruption Of business. The fifth section
| would be important to roads largely en-
| gagged In the transportation OF live stock,
| particularly to roads leading ont OF Texas.
| Ia this way the general management of
railroad company would be brought into
harmony with sanitary authorities, c)mmu-
| mites would feel safe from infectious dis
| eases, and psnics and unreasonable inter
ruptiOns Of business would be prevented.
While sanitarlans cannot fail to appre-
ciate the advantages of such service to
| the public, the actual question at issue for
| railroad company would be peeuniary one.
| In most respects the scheme is essentially
kind of insurance againLt risks Of serious
loss, and more truly so than fire aud marine
| insurance, for the service aims at "preven-
| ton" instead OF Reimbursement" 1t is
| evident that the dangers constantly impeUd,
and that the plan fairly promises their pre-
cluslon; therefore the point to be deter
mined is whether the risk justi6es the pre-
| MUM, 10 other words, whether the service
| would save more than its cost
1t might save much more 10 preventing
disasters, in sverting interruption Of bust
ness, in obviating troublesome prosecutions
for damages. More than this, it would create
confidence in the management, sense OF
security among the public, the value OF
which could not be precisely estimated, but
might become appreciable by comparison Of
rival routes adopting different policies.
| -%S-e%4-
MARSHALL HOUSE.