The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-16
SHOULD CHOLERA COME
n,cuyoyp WILL BE PREPARED.
The Board OF Health and the Health Com
,,,,,.. are Taking Active steps-A Pre-
ventiv. Against the Disease.
rr o..,,ors of the Board of Health,

Drs. Oppenhimer, Harrison and Garcin'
| held a consultation yesterday morning
at the Office of the Board OF Health 10
discuss the cholera question. Drs. BROCK
and Bryant took part in the deliberations
and another meeting will take place TINS
morning. The subject of quarantine was
thoroughly discussed, and the advlsability
of having all foreigners examined before
they enter the city was also ventilated.
The question of establishing hospltai
for the reception of patients afflicted with
contagious diseases was also considered
at some length. ,..; r. .bo
| Committee on Health was held in the
same place. and the following members
| of the committee were present: thair-
man r Paysoa Reeve and Messrs. X. L.
Davis. III. j. Moore, J. X Grimes,
| Georce r Davis. and James T. Vaughan.
! The only absentee was Mr.. John j. h1ng.
Mayor Ellyson was present on special IN,
vitation. and DR.. Oppenhimer represented
the Board of Health.
THE cREMAToBY.
After 4 number of bills had been or
dered TO be paid. Captain Reeve submitted
n report in regard TO the crematory, III
compliance with resolution adopted by
the City Council. He stated that the
crematOry, which had been established
ne sort of experiment. had caused a
great deal of trouble. 1t had proven 10
be entirely inadequate for the destruc-
tion of garbage during the summer
months. and it had been necessary 10 haul
the surplus garbage beyond the city linn.
its where il was deposited on the lana
of farmers who had previously given their
consent TO it.
The contractor of the company who
built the furnace had made two PROPOSE
tions to remedy the evil He would either
make at once certain temporary changes
in the furnace which would necessltate
the stopping of the crematory lor ABOUT
fifteen days. or he would make perma-
nent change after November lst
The report which recommended the lat
ter was adopted.
TO CLEAN THE STREETS.
CAPTAIN Reeve also submitted report
as TO the condition of the streets in this
CITY. and recommended an immediate
thorough cleaning of all the streets. 1t
was stated that, at the suggestion of
Mayor Enyson, DIR. Oppenhimer, the
president of the board of health, had
recently visited Norfolk and New York
i'm order to obtain all possible informa-
ton with reference to the prevention OF
the introduction of cholera in this city.
The report was adopted without any OPP
position.
Dr. Oppenhimer stated that the Board
of Health was anxious to do all in its
power to put the streets at once in thor
oughly good condition. and he requested
Mayor Ellyson to give his views on the
subject.
The Mayor referred to the necessity OF
taking all possible precautions to prevent
the introduction of the scOurge and other
contagious diseases He spoke of the
conference held in Norfolk on Wednes-
day last week, when health officers of
Norfolk, Berkley and Portsmouth were
in attendance to discuss the sanitary
measures to be introduced and in regard
to the quarantining Of people coming
from other cities either as ship or rail
way passengers Mr.. Ellyson then read
n paper about the quarantine regulations
in those cities.
How TO QUARANTINE.
The city charter was then consulted,
which provides that quarantine can only
be declared by the City Council. and
when this is done, the fact has 10 ~ adj
vertiSed in the daily papers. II was stated
that these provisions treated the sub
ject in a roundabout way, and that it
would be advisable for the committee TO
have the existing ordinances altered so
rs to have the necessary powers referred
to q smaller body in order that matters
could be facilitated in case of immediate
need. II was said that the calling to-
gether of large body would always re-
duire more or less time. The suggestion
was made that the committee might be
vested with these powers or that the
MavOr NAV be enabled TO pronounce
quarantine over any vessel. The greatest
danger was feared from coast line yes
sells. including the steamers from New
York.
Dr. Oppenhimer explained that ocean
steamers were examined twice in Nor
folk and Newport News. while vessels
arriving around the capes were only in
spected once.
PROMPT ACTION.
Mayor Ellyson said that after con-
sultatiOn with number of physicians he
thought it would be easy enough to take
prompt action. and that q concentration
of responsibilities upon a small body
would make everybody more careful.
TO this body should also be left the APP
pointmcnt of the necessary quarantine
officers He advocated that the streets
of the city be at once thoroughly cleaned,
even if it should require a force of $50
men to DO it.
Mr.. EllysOn suggested To confer with
the City Attorney later in the evening
with reference to the desired alterations
of the existing ordinance, and offered to
submit them 10 meeting of the commit
tee at ] +. NJ. to-day. This was agreed
to on motion of Mr.. r. T. Davis.
IN r,,o+;o,, Of tho cana ovo,tIo,,o.. Non
tain Reeve and DR.. Oppenhimer were re-
Quested TO prepare an estimate as to the
cost of employing an extra force for the
purpose of cleaning the streets. This
estimate is also TO include the cost
of the erection Of an emergency hos
pital. It was stated that the land which
had been purchased some time ago
that the land purchased some time ago
by the city for n smallpox hospital was
utterly worthless for the purpose Of tax
ing care of cholera patients. The land
was four miles from the city limits. and
there was no building on it. If struc-
ture was TO be erected for q cholera hos
pital the county authorities would very
likely prevent the transportation of pa
tients beyond the city limits. Several
sites We're suggested for an hospital. but
no decisive action was taken. The mat
ter will be again ventilated at to-day's
meeting.
DR.. Oppenhimer wanted to know
whether he would have the right TO stop
any incoming train with a view of ex-
amining passengers, and was informed
that he could do 80 only within the city
limits