Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-16

Its object. and Advantages.

Hts objects ana A0VanthSeh'
The subjoined paper on Railroad Santa
ton, Its Objects and Advantages" was read
by its author, DIR. 8. s. Herrick, of New
Orleans, and Secretary of the Louisiana
State Board of Health, before the American
Public Health Association, recently In ses-
sion in this city. 1t has heretofore been
crowded out of our columns through press
Of matter:
Arts OBJECTS.
The following are conceived to be eppropri-
ate objects for railway sanitary system:
/. A surgical and medical service, designed
for the relief of sufferers passengers ana en-
ployes) from the casualties OF travel upon the
lines, for affording medical attendance in ordi-
nary diseases contracted by employees, and for
experimenting their personal hygiene.
2 Physical examination OF those engaged in
the movement of trains, with reference to de-
fects of sight and hearing ard diseases of the
heart, lungs and great blood vessels, as pre-
requisite to their employment
8. Inspection of the sanitary condition of
passenger coaches of grounds and buildings,
and recommendation of Improvements wheT-
ever needed. AS occasion presents, counsel in
selection of sites and in the construction Of
works and buildings.
T. A meteorological service affiliated, if prac-
ticable with the National Signal Service.
5. To guard against danger Of injecting rail-
road coaches. stock and goods cars, by trans
portation of diseased persons or animals or of
infected personal baggage or merchandise,
against danger of conveying contagion from
one point to Others and against injury to stock
in transiiu from oveTcrowding, long conhne-
ment and deprivation of food and water
6. To confer with national, State and local
sanitary authorities, with the view of obviat-
ing or moderatiDg restrictions on travel and
traffic, and to represent the company in sani-
tary and quarantine consultations wherever
its interests may be affected.
BITS ADVANTAGES.
l. Relief to the victims of railway accidents
is generally recognized by the managers as a
measure of policy as well as justice. and many
Of the most important companies have made
arrangements for carrying out this purpose.
1t is hardly necessary to say that the whole re
lief service of a company should be under the
superintendent of a single medical head. for
the purpose of securing uniformity and eff
cheney of action and economy in cost.
There is good reason to believe that sys-
tenn OF medical attendance upon employees
could be so organ zed and administered as to
cOnduce materially to the advantage of both
the men and the corporations employing them;
and 1t is announced that the Chicago, Burlipg-
ton and Quincy Railroad Company is now about
to establish hospital at Aurora Ill, with this
view. The merchant marine of the United
States has a system, for many years in sue
cessful operation, which is of incalculable bene-
fit to mariners, and is sell -scppsrting from
entitled to its benefits. This is model worthy
OF imitation
1t is undeniable that the efficiency of men in
any Organization is in direct relation to con-
tinuity OF action Interruptions by sickness
are among the most common and the most
serious disturbing causes. To reduce these to
a minimum and TO secure with the least posi-
BILE delay the return OF trained employees to
their familiar duties, is an object of great i'm
portance. The certainty of having medical re-
lief within reach at all times would operate
powerfully in producing contentment and
regular continuance in their occupations.
In large cities established general hospitals
would be available for this kind of relief as
well as for the surgical casualties before men,
toned, but the individuals there treated for the
raih DAD companies should be under super
vision of their own medical officers. to prevent
abuse of privilege and secure the best attend
ance. at other points suitable infrmarles
should be established and placed in charge of
local practitioners, employed by special
contract for specified duties These would be
stationed at the terminus Of roads and at the
intermediate points where work shops are
located and the crews Of trains reside. No
compulsory hospital fee need be imposed. The
advantage Of the system would be sufficient
inducement for It's voluntary adoption by the
men, and it would naturally be extended so as
to include their fam lies in its scope and to give
them attendance at home.
But we must not lose sight of prevention,
which is proverbislly of manifold value above
the cure OF disease. The single example of
part of our country, so mighty destroyer OF
life and so potent disturber of mans indus
tries, affords bOundless scope for the exercise
of personal prophylaxis under medical super
vision. The crews of night trains are especially
liable to malarial affections, which might be
mostly prevented by suitable regulations. in
GLIDING the proper preventive remedies. 1t is
obvious. indeed, that precautionary measures,
under medical superintendent. could advan-
tageously be used to guard against the whole
list Of preventable disease. Besides there would
be great gain in early treatment of ordinary
ailments, which would be encouraged by
placing facilities within the reach of all.
The medical adviser would also, as far as
acticable, secure men, while on the route,
against prolonged fasting and deprivat on of
sleep, against unnecessary exposure to cold
and storm, and secure for them wholesome
food and waters
1t might be supposed that the instinct of
self preservation on the part OF men, aided by
the good sense of managers would clearly
lead to suitable hygienic measures; but the
same suppositOn applies to people of all
classes and occupations while sanitarians are
convinced that at least one half of the all
ments of mankind in civilized life are strictly
preventable. 1t is generally agreed that pri-
vate individuals and corporations are more
successful than government in the execution
of important works with dispatch and
economy; but the government shows more
wisdom in caring for the lives and health of
IS servants, both in curing and in preventing
disease.
,. We have just seen that neither employees
nor employers recognize the value of personal
hygiene for the avoidance of preventable dis
eases; but it might nationally be supposed
that the former would not willingly risk their
lives nor the latter the lives and property Of
their patrons, as well as their own property,
on railroad trains with blind men in charge.
Yet this risk is actually Iun, and we
know not how often, on most Of the
railroads of this country. Observation has
proved that about four per cent. of men are
incapable of diStin- uishing between the colors
used for signals and still larger proportion
can not recognize objects far enough to stop a |
train IN time to escape danger. Under certain |
circumstances these men are practically blind, |
and occasions come when disaster ensuest
It is hardly necessary to mention here that
an act of Congress requires all pill is OF steam
vessels carrying the American flag at sea and |
those navigating the waters of the United
States, to pass an examination testing their |
color sense and visual acuteness; and that the |
Legislatures of Connecticut and Massachusetts |
have made the same requirement of railroad |
engineers flremen, conductors and signal |
men 1t is probable that similar provisions
will be enacted in other States at no distant |
day, unless railroad companies forestall action
by voluntary adoption of an efficient system
carried out by their own medical officers. In |
deed there is good evidence that this will |
gradually or rapidly become an established |
fact upon the most important roads, since it |
has already gone into effect upon a number; |
for instance, the Pennsylvania Railroad and |
others leading out of Philadelphia, the Illinois
Central, etc
The board Of Railroad Commissioners IN Mas |
sachusetts reported in 1880 that such examina-