The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-17
THE HEALTH OF INDIANAPOLIS.

There is more unadulterated, unmitigated
nonsense and exaggeration afoat with respect
to the smallpox in indianapolis than we sup
posed could have been possible, even among
only semi-intelligent people. We presume it
may be accepted that in all large aggregations
of population there is regular amount of
smallpox, as there is of other diseases. At
times that amount grows larger, and then
officers and by the people to restrict the dan
ger and to stamp the seeds of the disease out
as speedily as possible. But there is always
smallpox. There is smallpox in Cincinnati,
in Chicago, in st. Louis, in Louisville every
where and at all times, and visitors to those
places at all periods of all years are exposed to
fully as much danger as they could possibly
be by visiting indianapolis now or at any time
within the past few weeks or months. Our
city Board of Health and the newspapers con
cluded to make the real facts known, to the
end that the most complete and radical meas
ures would be taken to prevent the smallpox
from becoming a thing to be dreaded.
The truth, and the whole truth,
has been made known, scattered broadcast.
Other cities have adopted the policy of saying
ease has spread there until there has been
much larger per cent. and ratio of cases than
at Indianapolis, where the other policy has
been pursued. Publicity has been protection,
and yet there are unintelligent people who are
using that very policy of protection TO the
detriment of the city. The most exaggerated
and idiotic reports have been circulated, and
steps taken by presumed men of sense that
stamp them as persons without judgment or
reasonable discretion. We need not specify
more closely; but what we mean will be pal
pable to those who come into contact with
these harum- scarums.
Indianapolis is an exceptionally healthy city.
1t stands well up toward the head of all the
cities of the country, much in the advance of
the larger cities by which it is surrounded. It
is as healthy to-day as it ever was, as full of
life, enterprise, business and hospitality as
ever. 1t is as inviting to any and all classes.
It's air is as pure, its streets as broad,
its homes as attractive, It's people as pushing,
its prospects as bright as ever. For public
institution or village or town to put them
selves in panic and talk of "quarantining'
against Indianapolis, because its health officers
and its newspapers have taken the very steps
necessary to keep the city healthful and free
from all danger, is the very refinement of alb
surdity. There is no more danger in a citizen
of Shelbyville coming to Indianapolis, mingling
with its people, doing business with its mer-
chants and business men, than there is in an
Indianapolitan going to Shelbyville. There is
no more necessity for any institution closing
its doors against visitors from indianapolis
than there is for indianapolis hating its in
mates at the corporation line and putting them
in quarantine. Such acts and such publica-
tons as have been made with respect to Indi-
annapolis are an outrage upon the city and
serious reflection upon the sanity of those re-
sponsible for them.