Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-14
ReckIessness in Touion.
ZION "a London Tlnaes

The Maritime Hospital (ToulOn) is
situated in the Rue Rationale, in the very
heart of the town, surrounded by narrow
streets, dwellings, and shops OF all de-
scuptiOns. 1t was formerly q seminary
belonging to the Jesuits, and, In no wise
suited for a hospital. l have carefully
visited this rambling structure, and its
drainage is certainly adroitly contrived
so as to produce the greatest danger from
the smallest cause. In various parts of
the building there are small cesspOOls,
and these all overflow into a gigantic
elongated cesspOol which measures about
3 feet in depth, 6 feetln width, and no less
than 140 feet in length. For l01 years
this cesspOOl had never been emptied.
When too full, a pump was introduced
and little Of the water drawn of the
surface and allowed to flow down the
cutters of the neighboring streets. After
waiting century and enduring several
virulent cholera epidemics, the prOpriety
of emptying and cleansing this cesspOol
dawned upon the authorities. Last year,
when the bad sanitation OF the hospital
had nearly killed l3 of its inmates in 30
days, the great work Of clearing the cess
pool was begun.
To mitigate the danger and unpleasant
ness of this undertaking it was necessary
to empty down the drains three tubs,
of zinc solution. This done, the scav-
engers were % days at work, and removed
In all 100 cubic metres of solid material.
The other smaller cesspOOls had also not
been touched for more than a century,
and it was even necessary to knock down
some walls to get at them. All these
cesspools contaminated by their overflow
the surrounding street cutters, and by
their gaseous emanatiOns the wards Of
a. 10. f.n alna
whatsoever, and nothing to prevent the
foul gases from ascending their huge iron
sOil-pipes. Nor are these closets sepa-
rated from the sleeping wards otherwise
than by clumsy doors. On all sides there
are odd cupbOards, ratters, hooks, and
angles, where dust. dirt, and germs &C
cumulate. 10 would be a repulsiye task
to describe the place more in detail. II
TOulOn is behind the age in sanitary
knowledge, the example given by the
State 81 its own naval hospital is scarcely
calculated 20 throw any light upon the
subject. Fortunately the present Director
OF the Medical Services Dr. Gestin) has
with unfinching energy protested against
this Darharic neglect, and With bis assist
ance the government has just purchased
a site outside the town, where proper
hospital Will be built. In the meanwhile
il was, there Is every reason TO fear, a fatal
mistake TO have repeated last years error
by bringing the first case OF cholera to
the old Maritime Hospital. Enough mas
been said 20 show that In this centre the
conditions necessary 20 develop an
epidemic will still be found, in spite Of
cleaning and fumigating. The very fact
that the hospital will soon be definitely
abandoned renders il difficult 10 obtain
the means and necessary authorization 10
carry out requisite Improvements. There
fore, no contagious case should be aa-
nitted. There are plenty OF fields close
at hand where temporary ambulance
could be erected; or, II the neighbors OBJ
jected, the land bought for the, new hos
pital would suit admirably for the purpose
Of isolation.