St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-07
YOURS, FOR HEALTH.
Medical Men Take the Cholera
Plan Before the City Al
dermen,
And Mayor Wright Contrib
uteS to the Asiatic Lit
erature.
The Sum Of $4,000 Appropri-
ated for City-Cleaning-
Up Purposes.
Certificates of Inspection
Certificates Of Inspection
First, or No Emigrants
Can Come In.

means to prevent. if possible, its COM
ing. The committee is composed of
Drs. William Davis chairman, HI.
Graft, 0. S. Pine, j. II. Murphy and w.
E. Hallowell, secretary. The paper of
the committee contains an introduction
eXhorting the conncil to act promptly
and thoroughly. Its plans, it says, are
these:
First-The complete cleaning of the
city. The city should be divided into
districts. and an inspector be appointed
for each. We would suggest that in
SpectorS with a medical education would
should visit every house and vacant lot,
and examine into the condition of every
cellar, back yard and alley. Every cess
pool should be examined. They should
have the power to order all dirts of
every kind removed; all weeds to be
cut, as thev conceal dirt and them
selves furnish large amounts of decay
ing matter. All hOuseholders should be
compelled to do this at once under
penalty of daily fine, and the
utmost energy of the police force should
be brought into action to inforce these
measures without delay and without re-
Spect of person. And if it be not done
after short delay the city authorities
should do it themselves and charge the
expense to the property. Vacant prop
erty belonging to non-reSidents should
be cleaned, If necessary, at the expense
of the city. This garbage and dirt
should be at once taken by sufficient
number of teams outside of the city,
and should be there destroyed by burn
Ing or rendering as soon as arrange
ments can be made. We call especial
attention to the large number of pools of
stagnant water, which would be eSpe-
clally dangerous as dIsseminatOrs and
breeders Of disease germs, and urge
that they be drained or filled in the
shortest possible time. We believe that
the cleaning of the city ought to be ac-
complished in two or three weeks. We
understand that this plan would essen
TALLY be temporary and extensive en-
largement of forces of the departments
whose duty it is to clean the city, and it
would only Influence any contracts now
mediate removal of the large amount of
garbage which would be deliv-
cred to the contractor. We
would strongly urge that this
contract should be let at once. We sub
init that the city is in sufficient need of
such cleaning, without regard to the
cholera question, and that it would
be we'll repaid by the diminution of the
ordinary mortality and the increased
comfort of the citizens.
We recommend, further, the organ
iZation of force which shall be able
and ready to deal promptly with any
number of cases which may reasonably
be expected to break out during short
time. 1t would be necessary to have
provisions made for a hospital. Proc
0f Iy la1- 81
diseases. The sO-called pest house would
do for the first few cases, but it
would be necessary to have some large
building i'll an accessible part of the city
at the disposal of the city government,
and this building should be at once put
into such condition that it could
within twenty-fOur hours be changed
into hospital. We have thought that
tie curriers' rink on Raspberry island
would be an available building. We de-
sire to impress upon the people the fact
that q we'll managed cholera hospital
does not endanger the surrounding
people. That cholera is not cOntag ious,
and that it does not spread through the
air, but that the transportation of cholera
patients over long distances, as would be
necessary were we to nave one hos
pital far outside of the city, is danger
fictitious matter along the streets is in
creased. We believe also that hospital
treatment of all cases of cholera should
be compulsory. The expense and labor
of handling an epidemic would he mini
mixed thereby, and the families of the
patients would be in much less danger
of contracting the disease. The chances
of Immediately stamping out an cpl
demlc would be much greater. And
should we be so unfortunate as to
have large number of cases
the demand for medical attendance,
nursing, guarding quarantine of the
numerous houses, of transporting the
dead and of disinfection of the premi-
SeS would be so great as to exceed the
measure of what the city could furnish.
We should have at least three ambu-
lances, with stretchers, which should be
ordered Immediately. one of which
might be for the present at the disposal
OF the city hospital, one at that Of the
police and one at that of the health de-
partment.
The plan contemplates further the Or
gauization of corps of hospital physi-
clans, each one of whom shall be as
signed to his post and rank, and who
should be men in whom every one must
have confidence, and of corps of
district physicians, who shall be
ready, II necessary, to visit
the poorer parts of this city, to look
for cases in their incipiency, to see that
they are reported, and to instruct the
people on measures which are valuable
i'll preventing the disease. We desire
further the organization of body of
nurses, who shall agree to respond, if
called upon, and we think it advisable
to Instruct them as to their duties by
lectures. corps Of men should be
gotten together vino should agree to
serve in cleaning and disinfecting
houses from which cholera patients
have been removed, and to act as driv-
erS for amDulanceS and transport
wagons, and an arrangement should be
made with large team owners by which
they should agree to sell or to hire
horses and wagons to the city on de-
mand.
The plan we propose is in short
the organization of cholera militia
every member of which shall be known
and who shall know his duty, and any
part of which can Immediately be called
into action. This calls for little expense
In the absence of an epidemic, and only
il it be necessary to mobilize this force
will the members be paid. If cholera
comes to us unprepared, more money
Will be spent in combating it than our
plan demands, and it will be spent al
most in vain.
The plan does, however, call for a
large public spirit and for willingness
to work for the public good. We believe
that we shall find this among our peo-
pie. And as an indication of this we
have noticed with great satisfaction the
intelligent support which the public
press has given to the efforts of the So
ciety which we represent.
What the city imperatively needs is
an immediate appropriation which shall
be sufficient to defray the expenses in
volved by the carrying out of the plan
proposed an official sanction OF the
organization of the epidemic force which
would involve promise that these peo-
pie would be paid if called into action
The Mayors Advice.
The following communication was