The morning call., 1892-09-13
TWO TONS OF CHLORIDE.
The Health Officer Wants It
for the City's Use.
HIS REQUEST is GRANTED.
His Hands Are Tied by an l. sufficient Staff
of Health inspectors and Men to
Scatter the Lime.

Last evening Health Officer Keeney adj
dressed requisition to the health and
police committee of the Supervisors for two
tons OF chloride of lime.
He wants it immediately.
Cholera Is very unpleasant visitor and
the doctor wants to be beforehand with it.
But DR.. Keeney feels little sore about
this chloride of lime matter and no
wonder.
Only the other day down at Galveston,
Texas, the matter of the danger of cholera
came up before the Supervisors there and
they promptly appropriated some $4,000 to
be placed at the disposal of the Board OF
Health for precautionary measures.
DIR. Keeney stated yesterday to CALI
reporter that in consequence OF the demand
for chloride of lime, not only had the price
advanced, but there was serious danger of
authorizations and inferior qualities being
palmed off on the city.
For this reason lie has added to his
requlsition the specific request that the
chloride of lime is to be deposited at the
new City Hall al the foot of the stairs under
the Health Office.
81 want to see the lime personally" said
DR.. Keeney. 81 know lime when | see 1t,
and | want it good.
HAD | been empowered to buy it. as l
utSItu, CtNiu liofO Az NSibC 6SONs
but now"
"Have you enough men to distribute the
lime when you get it?" was asked
Not as many as ought to have" ad-
mitted the doctor.
81 have six men at present and | am to be
allowed six more, but that Will be few
enough to disinfect all the dangerous quar-
| tiers, especially If any cases appear here.
1.-The effect of the chloride Of lime, too. is
prophylactc, and. as 1t were. arms the air
against floating germs
1T is important to have it scattered be-
fore the enemy arrives, If il does arrive, or
not at all
'Afterward 1t will be too late to expect 1t
to have its full effect"
"In the scarcity of your assistants, doctor,
don't you regret the boards acceptance
of THE CALLS offer of an able physician 2"
the health officer was asked.
Personally" replied DIR. Keeney, II
should have been very glad 10 have at once
accepted THE CALLS offer.
Possibly in a little while the board will
do so.
But the idea of mixing IN the regular
stefan appeared impractcable TO me at
first and as likely to provoke discord in the
work.
"As public officer am, of course, con-
cerued 10 have the public work run
smoothly, for then the public is best served.
AT the same time could not fail to see
the generosity of The CALLS offer, as
stated in my reply to the prOprietors.
Possibly some arrangement can be made
whereby all friction may be avoided, but at
present We must struggle along with the
inadequate assistance we have"
Dr. Keeney seems keenly alive to the
responsibility thrust upon him by the
emergency of possible cholera.
He is endeavoring TO give Us clean city
and if means were allowed him his course
would doubtless be clearer.
His action, under all the circumstances,
will be subject to criticism from all sides,
but il remains 10 be seen whether he will be
allowed free action.
In the meantime he appears willing to use
all the means at his command 10 stifle the
dangers Of the threatening sconrge.