New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-22
GREAT DANGER IN THE RAGS.
WHY DOESN'T DR.. JENKINS ACT?
MERCHANTS THREATEN VIGOROUS MEASURES IF
r,,rr ,vy ts NOT ENFORCED.

MERCHANTS THREATEN VIGOROUS MEASURES IF
TIE Law Is NOT ENFORCED.
Unless Health Officer jenkins is more thorough
in carrying out tho order The Treasury Department
relative 10 importation Of rags from chcl"ralhfec'eu
districts I'm Europe some Of the merchants threaten
that vigorous measures will be taken to have the "a"
enforced one paragraph of the orler OF the treas
ury Department OF August 10 relative to qiAran-
tine reads
at i, also ordered that rags gathered IN or
shpppd from any port place WHERE choiern Is
known to prevail In epidemic form be denl"i entry
o the United states absolutely and after the date
NJ this circular except such were chen ah"at'
which must be disinfecrcd on arrival
The steamship state Of Alabama arrived on De-
cembcr with O05 bales OF rags, and most OF TINS
cargo Is now at the lloboken stores. pro"S'
WIS made against the admission Of the rags on the
day after the arrival Of the vessel ana few hours
later Acting Health Officer S,guinc telcgnphed: "
refused permit on these rays this morning. DE-
Jcnkins returned to his Office at II O'CLOCK
and Immediately issued permit for the hhmsSioh
of tho rags into the cOuntr. and they were unioaaeu
at lot-kcn and tIken to the warehouse OF tie pres
ident of ;hc Bcarl Of Health. samples ri TIE rags
were then obtained b. an o!ical sampler who MADE
affidavit before n Notary public that De lOuhu l"
the lalcs many bloody rags, rs well as rags winch
apparently haze come from hospital. 1he rags
generally. are very foul although the Dii'S afc
slammed dl,nfectcd." Or. Jenkins expressed sur
prise at the condition OF the rags, and he agreed
TO make 4 personal investigation Of them Win tie
sampler but failed TO keep his appointment. lie
finally replied that he had mot been able to 90 10
the rags Oh saturday" bul Ali"i W SPc0'' ="
Time when he would 20.
Then an appeal made to Dr. Walter Wymah'
supervising surgeon general Of the Marine Ho'PH'i
scryicc in which IT was said that there We're large
quantities Russian rags coming To thls Country anu
icing landed here at Boston. and Other ports add
iny: II there is any danger In rags, We are rlght
I'm n.e md, of IT, as OF the large quantities being
Unmarried y the Boston importers certain proper
tn, nr being stored away at the paper mills through
hut Tie. country for in the spring and summer
nd If they contain cholera germs, the same VIII De
,rad in the rivers In the spring when tie rags are
Wished 10 he used for pnpeT.' Later the ioiio"ihe
dtatch was sent to DR.. Wymal: Il Referring to my
restored letter Of yesterday containing samples,
plc>r wire me II YOU Will take measures to secure TO
Won dn,rtnu.nf this evidence. would like your
dcpnnrnt 10 Investigate this matter thoroughly FOR
| yoi,rown satisfaction, ard hope you VIII consider
it imprtant enough to conn personally to see' as
tLis pctioal knowledge IS better than all theories
The aG.sor, medical board to tho Chamber oil Coh-
mcrce : This aty ia their report say the only safe
way toii,lnfcct rags is by live steam or by boinhg
Ills i one to Japan rags. and If your department
co. ID So If, way to have only iris method Of disp-
! fccrg udcr supervision OF department agents. on
All rays permits To enter would satisfy the trade
receive g. approval 81 tho public, and the strong
san, non { M, medical authorities Todays papers
report for deaths from cholera IN hamburg Slice
D,ccmicrl9 Please wire prompt reply
10 thce communications DR.. Wyman replied mat
no chang Is contemplated relative 10 the sanitary
r,-trictlot since thcn the steamship Europe las
arrived IRE with cargo Of Russian rags Inc
I'M f. tynectnd today She has board 900
bale Of .us,inn German and French rags. Another
effort is DC made to induce Dr.. JenkinS 10 euaru
the leah Of the port 10y preventing the rags from
, being lahed.