Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-22
Especial Telegram to the Globe. |

Special Telegram to the Globe.
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 21.-The mortality
from smallpox in the pest house has been
so shockingly great as to raise a suspi-
cion that there was screw loose some
where. At the recent sanitary conference
in this city all the physicians congregated
from the various parts of the state, in
comparing smallpox with diphtheria,
agreed that where one case of the former
disease proved fatal, forty deaths were Ii
able to result from the latter. Yet, al
though diphtheria epidemic has ragged in
certain portions of the city, tit has proved
| much less fatal than the cases eff smallpox
at the pest house.
Recently six members of one family died
there. To-day the GLOBE reporter made
inquiry respecting the condition and man
agement of the pest house.
1t is in charge of man named Parker.
His orders issued by the board of health,
regarding the care of patients, etc., have
been explicit. but it is found that he treats
these orders with disregard. For instance,
he was forbidden to frequent the public
thoroughfares, and to come in contact with
people during times that infections or con-
tageo diseases we're under his
spreading the decease This order he has
wilfully and almost daily disobeyed, Great
ing Indignation and CONSERVATION. He
was also instructed to carefully nurse pa
tients, give them wholesome food, and see
to it that they were not in any manner
exposed to the cold. Several gentlemen
who have at some time had the small pox
have recently visited the pest house, and
were Mortified to learn that patients were
treated like pen of swine by Parker
They were fed upon the most unwholesome
food. The rooms were not properly heat
ed nor sufficiently ventilated. They were
also impressed with the fact that
Parker was not only inhuman, but
incapable. He is far from being bright
mana man calculated to be entrusted
with the lives of the patients under his
care. His only idea seems to be to draw
his monthly allowance for services never
rendered, and live as best he could him
self, caring little whether the sick died or
recovered.
The reporter interviewed a number of
experienced physicians, among whom were
DIR. Ames, upon the subject. They were
unanimous in the condemnation of the
pest house system. One physician stated
most emphatically that should
case of smallpox occur
in his own family his own life
would be sacrificed before it should be
taken to the death trap. He also con-
demned the system of taking patients out
from a warm room into the cold in con-
veying them to the pest house. The least
cold usually results in certain death.
Smallpox patients must be kept warm,
and be plentifully supplied with warm
drinks. Medicine avails little, everything
depends upon careful nursing. Another
physician states that to his ce rtain knowl-
edge there now exists quite number of
smallpox cases which have not been taken
to the pest house, simply because he con-
sidered that no less than taking the
patient to the cemetery. This latter state
ment will doubtless startle many readers,
but no great fear need be apprehended.
One of the ablest and most reliable prac-
ticing physicians in Minneapolis, who has
had an extensive experience in smallpox
cases in other cities, states that cases
should be treated in the very house where
the patient was first taken i'll. Let it at
once be guaranteed, and then if properly
handled by the parties in charge there is
little danger of an epidemic. One
physician offered to stake his rep
utation that he. could with
skilled nurses successfully treat a
case in a room in the Nicollet house with
out soul taking the disease.
Among the gentlemen who have visited
the pest house may be mentioned Rev. Fa-
Their McGolrick, of the church of the I'm
maculate Conception. He has had much
experience with the dread disease, having
passed through the ordeal himself. He
voices the opinions of the physicians re-
ferred to in execrating the present man
agement The city pays $500 per month
for the service, and it would seem that for
that amount a competent man could
be engaged who would not only nurse
the patients in accordance with
the instructions of the attending physi-
clans, but who has somewhat of the milk
of human kindness himself.
Two prominent city officials being in
terviewed expressed their disapproval
of Parker, and stated that they should in
sist upon his speedy removal. One of the
gentlemen who is personally acquainted
with him said: Il don't think Parker is
more fit to; nurse and care for sick per-
son than gunpowder Is fit for fuel. In
such position skill amounts to more than
drug store. Parker is not a good
man for anything. He proved an
inhuman wretch in the case of his
own daughter, whom he kicked from his
house into the street. She is now cared
for at the expense of the public. I was
not satisfied with him when he was en-
ployed.
At the meeting of the Catholic Building
and Loan association last night: $4,000