Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-25
copyrighted 1900

In the name of the women of America I APP
peal to our rulers and those who ought to be
our protectors. Our health, our lives and all
that makes life worth living is endangered,
wasted by criminal carelessness.
For two weeks a pest has seized the country.
flying from far, people say who know nothing
at all about the subject. 1t has come with rack
OF bone and deadly languor, the hands falling
from their work, the sick brain Keeling from its
task. Before one could be aware of the attack
the strength had been cheated out and the first
warning of the fatal hold was the sinking like
DEATH Few were close observers enough to
mark the attending conditions, the hideous.
slckly pallor noticed for weeks before the dis
ease appeared in all crowds of people the
drawn expressions which told of interior dis
comfort, or the sickening symptoms spoken of
by many, the foul breath, whose odor forced
Itself upon the sense wherever people were
gathered In close quarters-in shops street
cars or theaters. 1t was not an Imagination of
fastldious nerves, but phenomenon quoted
by the least observing. Then the disorder
came as If the pestiferous breath of serpent
was blown in our faces, hospital nurses first,
their bodies surcharged with the air of disease
and wounds. 1t was like the worst form of
yellow fever, where the victim is saturated by
pestllence, feels little pain and is not aware he
Is SICK, but lies down, sinking, to expire.
WHAT OF ALL THIS?
Men have died and worms have eaten them
and will to the end. do not in the least ex-
pect any of these pains. these deadly nauseas,
these cramps, this death in life will have the
slightest effect upon those who guard and or
der our public affairs. But there is one view of
the case to which they must give heed whether
they will or not-the actual cost of this epi-
demlc. Not less than one-third the population
OF our large cities have been taken by this
terror, which the French, with their talent for
eplthet, rightly call la grippe, because it
throttles the victim at spring Taking the
case from known facts this weeks uselessness
has cost not less than S25 head for the hum
dred thousand smitten by the epidemic in loss
of business, time and wages, counting from
bank presidents to street laborers. This does
not estimate the loss of strength, the lowered
vitality, the shortening of DAYS, for nature
loses no accounts and all shortages are found
charged with relentless accuracy at the closing
up OF life. To say that every epidemic in
volving third of the population
COSTS TEN DOLLARS HEAD
is moderate estimate, and by this the hotel
bills, for La Grippe in her short visit to Phila-
delphia, for instance, will have to be paid by
the municipality in a round million of dollars.
Preventable ill-health is the most oppressive
extravaganza city can infict upon itself. 1t
reduces her able-bodied men, it dampens the
talents OF Its keen business minds 1t eraces the
beauty OF its women and blights the brains of
Its children. This, worse than the poisoning
OF the Borgias, will SOW the seeds OF death in
many brave young breast, which apparently
RECEIVERS only to find its power of resistance
weakened beyond repair. Will no one see and
feel and make effort that these yisitations be
blotted from the face of the world
what are you talking about?" one saws.
"Ihis epidemic is due to climatic conditions a
wet year. high temperature. a dangerous state
OF the atmosphere. 1t could not be helped 1t
was the visitation OF heaven which We could
not escape"
Is 1t unavoidable when a man in a thunder
storm leans against telegraph wires and meets
his death by bolt of lightning? Is it the
decree of heaven when children playing with
matches among open powder barrels blow up
building2
NoURIsHING PEST.
1t is the will of heaven. of any sane deity,
that foolhardy risk and constant carelessness
shall receive signal penalty, not that men shall
die without cause. The eruption of Krakatoa
was not without warning had any one needed
it. But though one rose from the dead to warn
the world will not heed. We have nourished
this pest, we have sown the malignant germs
broadcast at every house door, seasoned the
waters with death and the food in the markets
with faint. The ground under our feet reeked
with baleful gases and fostering uncIeanness,
carefully distilled at expense into our sleep
ing rooms and store closets. We have stunned
little Of II as would sustain life till our bodies
are saturated with natural poisons, our blood
swarms with bacilli of disease, the vital organs.
too ill-supplied to longer resist the strain, give
up their work and some OF US have had to give
up living. Will you hear some condensed facts
from two of the soundest, most learned and ex-
perienced men in this country DR.. Bowditch
Of Boston and DR.. John Bell of Philadelphia,
POISON OF THE BREATH.
Each human being and animal throws of
daily from one to three pounds Of used-up mat
ter, noxious to life in any shape and growing
still more virulent with each hour of ferment
This does not fly up into the clouds but is
ground into the street dust or washed into the
sewers The organic matter of the breath
forms glutinous deposit on walls, windows
and furniture, especially Of closed rooms, de-
composing rapidly and giving the offensive
odor known to persons of any delicacy of sense
The rankest poison Of the breath, however. il
gas, whose fumes in volume little more than
that which charges our close bed rooms will
kill dog in three minutes, q poison Of which
you who SCOT at its effect win probably die in
tina. Air foulsd with our own breath d the