The morning call., 1892-03-02
TYPHUS ON WHEELS.
The Russian Plague Lurking in
the Dumpcarts.
Health officer Keeney Believes Our Climate
Protective Against Typhus-BEt
Doctors Differ.

Inc enl1enllc oil typnus FEVER, wnlcn mas
caused something like CONSERVATION among
the physicians of New York City, menaces
in some degree the health of all other Amer
lean cities. The danger arises from the fact
that before its prevalence ia an epidemic
form in New York was discovered by the
health authorities the infected Russian i'm
migrants landed from the steamer Masilia
were not only scattered through noiso me
tene ments in that city, but were also per-
mitted TO depart to other cities. From
Newark, n. j.. two victims were promptly
shipped back TO New York. Five cases
were found at Oakdale. Mass, and seven
teen OF the Masllla's passengers went TO
Pittsburg.
WILL 1T REACH SAN FRANCISCO?
DIR. j. w. Keeney, Health Officer of San
Francisco, was asked yesterday by CALL
reporter as TO what the probabilities were
OF this dreaded scOurge travelling across the
continent and reaching San Francisco or
other citiss on the Pacific Coast. DR..
Keeney did not seem TO entertain any appie-
henslon on this scsre. His principal reason
for having no miSgivingS on the subject
was that typhus fever, as he said, could NOT
exist in California, as our climatic condi-
tons were unfavorable to its propagation.
lie had never known of q genuine case of
typhus fever in San Francisco. The disease
was very contagious and had its origin in
u
The eases in New York would be promptly
discovered and isolated, and he did not be-
lieve 1t would be allowed TO spread
TROUBLESOME TO DIAGNOSE.
The difficulty. however, was that it was
somewhat troublesome TO diagnose ii at the
outset as true tyl hus There was a very
high temperature Of the patients blood at
the start and it might run several days
before the symptoms of typhus fever would
be fully developed. Typhoid fever, on the
other hand. WAS easily traced, as that
disease manifested itself IN intestinal in
fammaton and bowel disturbances. There
WAS no special local symptoms in typhus
it diffused itself at the very beginning
throughout the whole system. The intro
duction into the system of living germ
bacteria was necessary to the manifestation
of the phenomena Of the fever. Neverthe-
less, 10 specific organism had yet been
clearly Identified in the case OF typhus fever.
HOW COMMUNICATED.
The disease appears to be communicated
by the eXhalations given of from the bodies
Of those suffering from the fever, ard those
most closely in contact with the sick are
most apt 20 suffer. This, he said, was
shown by the fact, rs reported in New York
kilograms, that one-third Of the nurses and
employees on North Brother Island, which
has been used as quarantine station, are
i'll with the fever. The slightest exposure to
the contagion may convey the disease. Ii is
highly contagious throughout its whole
course and even in the early period of con-
valeScence. As a rule, one attack confers
immunity from risk of others. but numerous
exceptions have been recorded. Dir. Keeney
remarked that our trade winds are great
blessing in protecting US from all kinds of
epidemic diseases. He could not say that
our people are in any danger OF a visitation
from typhus fever.
DIR. BUCILEY's VIEWS.
DR.. c. T. Buckley, who has resided In
San Francisco over twenty years, did not
coincide with Health Officer keeney upon
at least one material point In answer to
| the inquiries OF The CALL reporter DR..
| Buckley stated that San Francisco was just
| as likely 10 suffer from visitation of an
| epidemic Of typhuS fever as any Eastern or
| foreign city. Neither our climate nor our
| trade winds would save us from the scourge
| If once it obtained footing or Infected per-
sons were to be distributed among our
| people.
I'VE have" he remarked, "tbe predis-
| posing causes of typhus fever among us
now in the iDiquitous dumpcarts which
| pass through our streets at all hours OF the
| day spreading these nOxious and fever
| breeding pOsUBS IN the atmosphere. Why,
can trace by the lines these dumpcarts
| follow a well-defned zone of impending
| pestllence. The swill Of every household
| Is poured into these dumpcarts and they
| are the most fertile sources of an epidemic.
THE CAFE" DR.. Buckley remarked
can perform no greater public service at
this time than 10 call attention 10 this evil
| -this cRTtiug of putrid animal matter
| through the streets at every hour OF the day.
| l have never seen but one case OF typhus
| fever in this city, aud that was about twenty
| years ago on Tehama street, | think. But
| it does not follow because of our warmer
climate that We are always to enjoy I'M
! munity from this disease.
ALWAYS IN DANGER.
1--WE are always in danger so long as we
| tolerate the offensive picture [ speak Of
| We should start an agitation TO have the
| movement of these dumpcartS restricted
| to certain hours of the day. say from 6
| O'Clock in the evening to o'clock in the
| morning.
why, when | came TO San Francisco
| twenty-five years ago IL was claimed that
| typhoid fever did not and could not exist in
| this climate. | hold otherwise and no rep
! utable physician Will to-day make such a
! statement. Our people should not be lulled
into any sense Of false security by relying
on the climate OF California as a safeguard.
NEED OF VIGILANCE.
'We have just as much need Of constant
| sanitary vigilance aS have all other cities
| There are three conditions necessary to gen.
| crate any disease. First, the presence of the
! disease germ itself; secondly, suitable
| environment. and thirdly, the individual
| whose condition renders him peculiarly
| the fertile soil. Given these three condj-
| tons cOexisting and the disease must run
| its course. The absorption of any putrid
animal matter VIII prepare the system for
| vruient attack Of typhus. For this reason
| people ought to see the folly of allowing
| the dumpcarts to go as they please through
| out all our tb0roughtaTes.