The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-20
NO GROUND FOR ALARM.
The Sanitary Condition of IndianapO-
lis Pronounced Most Excellent.
A Physicians Views the Danger of Epi-
denies Hereabouts Some Facts
About Their Causes,

The sanitary condition of indianapolis, ac-
cording to the statements of several physicians
who were interviewed yesterday by Journal
reporter, is much better than that Of other West
ern cities, and there seems be little danger OF
the outbreak of any kind of an epidemic this
year In a talk upon the probabilities, or "a Their
tine greater lmprobabilities, of a visitation OF
cholera' which is now the "dread scourge" topid
OF conversation, journal reporter asked DR.. +.
8. Newcomer how susceptible indianapolis
wonld be to an epidemic.
"The talk about Indianapolis being in q bad
sanitary condition." the doctor replied, "is all
nonsenscal. Although the streets are muddy In
places, they are free from filth. There is nothing
in mud that is insalubriOus, but It is the
nlth-the decaying vegetation-that breeds pes
thence. The heavy rains, which we have been
having at well-regulated periods, exceed
lngly beneficial to the city in a sanitary way,
think. They carry off all the impurities from
the streets into the sewers The mud ana water
which is left in the cutters is at all injuriouG
to health. AS long vegetation is growing iE
full vigor, and as long as deeompOsng matter
Is not thrown out, the streets are all right.
There Is more danger in the back yards where
many people throw their refuse vegetable stuff
Inc alleys Of the city are generally free from
accomplishing filth, and, altogether, I think
that Indianapolis is one OF the cleanest cities
in tine country. My observation has been
that II a heavy and continued rainfall during
the spring and up to about the goth of June is
followed by very hot, dry season until autumn,
q great deal of sickness will follow. The vege-
tation then begins to decompose and the inl-
purities arising spread disease. We find then
that the vegetation brought out down about the
bayou Is lett to decompose and refuse begins TO
I11afn amin mir
the atmosphere becomes thick that You can
almost stir it. We have had wellregulated
season this year, and think that the city is in
an exceptionally healhfnl condition"
But the Board of Health says that IL is not"
interrupted the reporter.
"And the board of health is an ass" added the
Doctor "rhe board of health starts out with an
upturned nose, and discovers a little deposit of
manure In some alley which, it orders, must 10
removed. There are no germs of disease in ma
hure, ana the ammonia which arises from 1t Is
going TO do no harm Among the English you
VIII ma many men who go out and walk
think II healthful. There is no pestence in tho
Impurities arising from either human or animal
otfal, but, as have already said. 1t is from the
decomposition of vegetation. YOn have never
heard OF a Vault-cleaner contracting malaria or
any other disease from the air he breathes.
while working in the vault, and no one can show
tnat the farmer who has manure pile near the
hOnse is less heaithfa than people who have no
such surroundings. OF course such things
unpleasant, but they are not the causes of mala-
ria. Inc damp cellars aremuch more danger
Gus. And then there is another thing which
people generally have a wrong idea nbOut.
Whenever they see pond of water the surface
OF which is covered with green, scum, they
throw up their hands and cry "malaria," but
there is no malaria, miasma anything else of
pestilential nature In It, The green scum is
condition of nature which has in it
world of beauties when placed
under the microscope where its animal
life is revealed. There used to be "A small pond
in front of my house, over which green scum
would sometimes gather, and it afforded me ma
little fun, but 1t regarded by others as a
very dreadful thing. A small section of that
green scum, when placed under my microscope,
developed INTO a world of animal life, which has
in 1t no more germs of disease than any other
form of animal life You just bring me some
green scum some time ana I'll show you that iU
has its beauties"
"Have You any apprehensions about a cholera
epidemic7" asked.
"If the oholera reaches England it is likely to
appear In this country, or it may come by way
of Havre. 1t may reach here late in the fall
but there is no occasion for any appre.
season, however, IL might prevail with great
mortality, because there are conditions, I think
favorable to its spreading. During the last year
there have been several cases of form of dis.
ease known as winter cholera in
which the symptoms differ only slightly
from the Asiatic disease. There have
been several of 1t in Chicago, and
had Zone case in this city last winter the pa.
tient being an old gentleman stopping at the
Bates House. He was stranger, and was sew
euty-seven years old Although it was a rather
hopeless case, he recovered in a couple of days.
The disease is not very well understood. 1t ia
analogous to Asiatlc cholera, and while it has
never developed into an epidemic, IL is quite as
cholera in this country ara very good, but Indt-
annapolis would probably be, account of IFS
cleanliness, less susceptible to an epidemic than
neighboring cities"