The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-18
THE ASIATIC SCOURGE.
RecollectiOns of Its Ravages in Indi-
annapolis and Vicinity in 1873.
The Precautions Being Taken by the Board
of Health to Insure Against Its Re-
appearance This Year.

! Yesterday afternoon a Journal reporter met
DR.. E. s. Elder, president of the board of health
and the conversation turned upon the subject of
cholera. "Al the best authorities hold that 1T is
q filth disease" said the doctor. SIT has it's he
ginning in india; lives i'll filth and is propagated
by hthy surroundings. The continuance and
multiplication of the disease is carried on by the
eJectlons of the person afflicted moist, warm
condition OF the atmosphere propagates this dis
ease most rapidly, and it developes generally
within three days from the time of exposure.
This poison, whatever it is, can be preserved for
an indefinite time by being dried. This dry
poison can be carried to any distance in cloth
ing, bedding, carpets, or any textile fabrics.
When exposed to the air after being closed up,
the spores diffused through the atmosphere
an. enter the body through the nose and mouth,
and through the medium of water or food. Our
safety lies in the destruction of this germ or
specific poison. This poison, largely in the ejec-
tons, should always be treated with disinfect-
ants and buried; not emptied into an ordinary
water-closet or thrown upon the ground"
rs Is true, Doctor, that there is now ten
uency 10 dlarrheic or choeraic disedsasg"
Medical men think so. They think a moist
alkaline condition of the atmosphere favorable
OF ozone"
What is the sanitary condition of this cityi"
IN consequence of numerous heavy rains
inviting field for the disease. Our streets and
cutters never were in worse condition. This
condition OF affairs can and should be speedily
remedied The condition OF Pogue's run is
much more serious question. The streets and
cutters can pc cleaned in two weeks"
what about Pogue's run2"
'There's deposit Of nearly three feet in depth
along almost its entire length through the city
of decayed and decaying vegetable matter. The
sewage from considerable part of the city
anu from several manufacturing and other
establishments, from the Female Reformauory,
mol han
Depot, Is all discharged into the open bed of
Pogue's run. This focal and other putrefying
matter passes through at least a mile of the
CITY, ana through tnat part too. where hygienio
rules are most violated in other respects"
We'll, what is going to be done about It'll"
THAT'S the problem 1 have here the report
of the cholera epidemic OF 1873, issued under
the authority of the United States Hospital Ma
rlne service. Read the following OF the cholera
visitation i'll Indianapolis"
The reporter read: 1.-THE first case occurred
July 2, In the restaurant of Mr.. Samuel E. Moran.
which Is located directly across the street from
the Union depot. The name of the patient was
William A. Hensley, a barkeeper. The second
case was MI Moran himself. Several cases
Cured In this vicinity during the next few days,
and on the 9th OF July a fatal case occurred
within short distance of the Union depot. The
disease was undoubtedly introduced by travel
ers who ate or drank at Moran's restaurant"
Read on" said the Doctor.
The reporter continued: EAST and south of
the Union depot is a flat that is known as the
valley of Pogues creek. This creek serves as n
drain for the eastern aud southern portions of
most exclusively confined"
'YOu will see," SAID the Doctor, "by reading
further that 1O4 cases OF the disease occurred.
and that there were 48 deaths. This report was
made by DR.. p. II. Bailhacbe, surgeon of the
United States Marine Hospital service. The viii
lage or Cumberland, ten miles east, had 80 cases
and 80 deaths. and Lawrence, ten miles north
east on the Bee-line road, had A oHses and "a
deaths: Lizton had "a cases with the terrible
mortality of % DEATHS"
"What does the board of health PROPOSE to do?"
I'VE have ordered that weeds and rank vege-
tation be removed from vacant lots, and will
urge upon the street commissioner the removal
| of weeds from the streets and the cleaning of
streets, alleys andgutters think all street re-
| pairs ought to be suspended until this cleaning
up is done, and that the full force of the city
Should be put on this work. The
| Illinois street and the tunnel matters to the
board of health with orders adopt such
measures as we saw fit to abate the nuisances.
Orders have been issued to the Johns0ns of the
street car company, TO cleanse and disinfect the
point complained of at the north end of the tun-
| mel and-the tunnel itself The hackmen along
| side the Occidental hotel and the owners of ex-
| press wagons that stand on the circle aud in
| front of the courthouse have likewise been
| ordered to abate the nuisanees they have
| created. They Can still stand where they do
| but they must keep the places clean. l have re-
| quested the street commissioner to clean the
! cutters on South Illinois street Immediately.
| That's the worst street know of. The throw
ing of the sour emptyings of beer kegs and other
| saloon Stops and the drainage of livery stables
| into cutters must cease Immediately. We will
stringently enforce the ordinance in this matter
and make all offenders suffer TO the full extent
| of the law"
Anything elsef
Eyes. We have sent to the metropolitan po
| lice commissioners asking their cooperation and
| ala Of the police force, which l certain will
| be granted, as the commissioners have always
| been ready and prompt to assist this board"
sis there any definite cause for alarml"
There's no immediate cause for alarm, yet
| there is necessity for careful, intelligent and
prompt action to insure our city against this
dread yisitant We believe in taking time by the
| foreloek.'