The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-09-17
CHOLERA PRECAUHLOu. |
Jersey City Doctors Review
and Approve the Work
of the Health Board.
DETAILED STATEN ENT.
Nonsense About the Passaic-Cir-
cular to the Police-A
Bergen Scare.

A number Of the leading physicians of
the city met last night in response to a
call in the reading room of Taylor's
Hotel to decide upon some course to
adopt in rendering assistance to the city
officials in preventing an invasion of
cholera here. When President Feeney
explained what had already been done
the doctors realized they had but little
left to do. However, they aired their
views on cholera and expressed their
qualification at the work done by Presi-
dent Feeney and his assistants. The
physicians present were Drs. W. P. Wat
son. Culver, B. A. Watson, S. r. For
man, G. f. Kyle, W.R. Boyd, c. Winges,
Burdette P. Craig. j, j. Baumann, John
j. Nevin and Blanchard. DR.. B. A.
Watson was elected Chairman and DR..
Craig, Secretary.
HEALTH BOARD PRECAUTIoN.
President Feeney was called upon first
to address the meeting. He was asked
to explain what had been done and how
it was DONE President FeeneY explained
that the city Health Board had done
much in the matter of disinfecting streets
and houses. He described the organiza-
tion OF the sanitary corps, the house to
house inspection ordered and carried out,
the notification of the Street and Water
Commissioners of nuisances in the way
of sewers, etc., police instructions given
permitting no person to leave a house
nf hCln
suspected, ingredients of the solu-
Uion kept in every station house
for use in cases found on the street, the
ACQUISITION of an isolated hospital and
physician to be in attendance iii case of
an soutbreak; the desire for floating
hospital referred to by the Secretary of
the Health Board, and the neces-
should be airtight and lined with
zinc. In conclusion President Feeney
said, 1--WE have done all we could do to
prevent the invasion of this disease"
QUARANTINE PRECAUTIONS.
"WhaJ precauJiou has been taken to
prevent suspected cases from coming into
The city?" asked one of the physicians.
eve have appointed TWO men in every
precinct to look out for suspects and
officers along the steamship piers. have
been instructed to allow no freight placed
on deposit in the city, without fist hav-
ing permission of Health Inspector Ben
jamin," was The answer.
President Feeuey next recited the case
of the tramp steamer from Hamburg
loaded with rags which was not allowed
to land although the captain had a per-
NIT from DR.. Jenkins.
When asked what disinfectant was
being used, the reply was, one suggested
by Dr.. Gordon. Chloride of lime is used
in disinfectiug the streets. and Stacked
~ r1ilA rf
dent Feeney also explained that fifty
thousand circulars printed in various
languages had been distributed, directing
people to be careful in preparing water to
drink, and also advising strict attention
to cleanliness.
DESERVED COMPLIMENTS.
DR.. Winges was the next speaker, and
he expressed considerable surprise and
pleasure at knowing that the city officials
had taken such precautions.
d.. B. A. Watson desired to know from
President Feeney what authority the
Board of Health had in regard TO quaran
timing houses. He was informed that au
ordinance of the Board of Health covered
the matter satisfactorily
Dr. Watson and DR.. Culver then
branched off into a scientific discussion
of the matter Of dragging cholera suS-
poets from their houses to hospital. DR..
Watson has no fears of an epidemic. He
believes that a few cases may be brought
in by emigrants, but it is SO late in the
fall he does not believe the disease could
not be kept under control. He suggested
the appointment of an Advisory Commits
tee to consult with the City Health Board.
His suggestion was adopted subsequently
and DrS Watson, s. r. Forman and j. j.
Nevin were appointed. The matter of
removing patients from houses to hospi-
tails will be left at the discretion of the
Health Board.
DIR. wATSoN's REMARKS.
DIR. Watson remarked: I'VE eat and
drink cholera. We don't catch it. He
then contrasted the results of the plague
in Hamburg with Naples, where there
were houses in which hundred or more
persons lived. He maintained that the
fault in Hamburg was not due to filthy
streets, inasmuch as Naples had been
considered hot bed of cholera because
of its dirty streets. He recommended
that persons he advised against purchas-
ing fruit from Italian fruit stand keepers
and yenders. He alluded to the unscru-
pulousness of the steamship companies
who, in order to make money, compel the
ships surgeon to report cases of cholera
as simple diarrhea. He deplored the
fact that we have no National Board of
Health, He advised that persons before
eating should wash their hands thor
oughly. He believes there is DO occasion
for a scare ana insists LnaG an 1nJelll-
gent and thorough examination of every
suspected case should be made before
any report is published of it.
REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS.
DR.. Culver made u lengthy address. He
said, ''Breathe through your nose and
not.your mouth, aud you will never catch
cholera. attended cases of cholera for
eleven days. I was careful of what eat.
l kept clean, and if foreigners, many of
whom do not know the use of soap,
weu dido this, all would be well. To re-
move patients is irrational | do not be-
lieve il to be necessary to burn infected
furniture Close the room where the pa
tient was and burn sulphur and there
will be no trouble. Men who go before
breakfast to saloon tor "bracer," and
afi er breakfast for another one, are ready
victims for cholera"
Remarks concerning the danger of
drinking Passalc water elected some
what lively discussion. Dr.. Watson de-
clared be had been drinking it all his life
and would continue TO do so as long as
he lived DR. Nevin knew it did not in
jure orinrair hi- health
DO YOU EVER DRINK IT, JOHN?
President Feeney next caused Il sensa-
tion by stating that as an official he had
had the Passaic water examined by d
careful man who reBorted that it was not
iu the filthy condition people nave been
| led to imagine. INSPECTOR Leake, he said,
had fertile Imagination.
DR.. Watson, a great be;iever in Passaic
| declared it was far better than most city
people ever drank.
Dr. Culvef jokingly remarked that the