The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-14

RADIO River, along the Arizona border,
then along the Mexican line on the south
to the ocean, below San Diego. We
might, indeed, feel secure if the State was
lines so that no loophole could be found
to let IN the germs of cholera. 1t might
require all the soldiers in the United
States service, but nevertheless it would
prove that it could be done. Other States
might want the same soldiers to patrol
their State lines, but in some way, not
yet explained, California will be sup
posed to have obtained prior claim to
them.
This is picture of absolute land quar-
antlne. Nothing can be more SO than to
prohibit persons and effects of all kinds
whatsoever from passing across our State
lines. To prevent them from crossing it
is necessary to place sufficient guard
along the whole line. Before the days of
railroads people found a way into Cali
fornia, and people have not yet forgotten
how to travel without locomotive.
VIII any rejecting person declare prac-
ucaDle the placing of an absolute land
quarantine along the California border?
The greatest enthusiast, who has not
yet shaken off the notion of absolutiSm
imbibed in foreign despotisms, will find
but little in the law authorizing and en-
towering the sanitary officials of the
State to attempt an absolute inhibition of
travel and traffic, Or to attempt to guard
the State lines. While the attempt has
been made in countries where military
ism was most absolute, the result has
never proven it TO be sufficient. The
military have been unable to prevent
dogs from crossing their lines; cats have
sneaked across in the night from an in
tected howell on the other side; pigeons,
crows, ravens, vultures, and other birds
have flown across; water charged with
tie germs has run down hill across the
sentinel's path, to slake the thirst of it's
victim on the other side.
These by no means impossible methods
OF getting cholera across the lines of a
Gordon Dtititaire seems to be ignored by
those who would allay public apprehen
sion, by preaching the doctrine OF an alb
solute and impenetrable land quarantine.
This is the character of barrier they
would place around the State, instead Of
intoxicating, by precept and example, the
doctrine OF personal, domestic and muni-
cipal cleanliness.
II the people of California allow them
selves to be lulled into feeling of in
active security through confidence in the
efncacy and Sufficiency of an Interstate
land quarantine, maintained in the most
rigorous manner, sanctioned by the police
power OF the State, and enforced by ali
the means at her disposal, they will COM
Such quarantine will certainly be
made and maintained with sternness
that would. appall the impractical idealist
by It's lnfteXlblllty. but as has been shown
above, even the domestic animals may
carry the germs across the line, and a pig
may root in an injected garbage pile and
uncOnsciously thwart the theory of the
believers in the practicability of an abso-
lutte land quarantine, by carrying it
across the line
MUST DEPEND ON CLEANLINESS.
What immunity have the people then
from the muchdreaded cholera? None
at all, except that which is with certainty
obtained by cleanliness. This, il will be
urged, is impracticable in some quarters.
Clean up your own premises, then; clean
the well; empty and disintect the cesspool
and privy vault; cleanse the house drains:
allow no garbage heaps Oh your premises:
Ventllate your easements, and you have
made an excellent beginning. Then get
your neighbor to do the same, and get the
town, village or city authorities to adopt
like measures. 4 town, like private
house, has a source of water supply to
look after and sewer system with a
place OF discharge. 1t has it's slaughter
houses and glue factories, it's crowded
tenement-houses and fostering plague
spots. Create sentiment in your COM
munity to remove them. No matter if
your neignbor has vested interest in
those nuisances, he has no right to use his
propertysn way to endanger others.
Look to your local health boards and
back them in their efforts to place your
town in a condition to resist the invader
by depriving him of subsistence. Starve
The cholera. 1t cannot exist and propa-
gate without some form of filth to breed
III. Destroy the filth, allow none to ac-
cumulate, drink boiled water, and eat
cooked food, and your chances of taking
cholera will be so small it need not be
taken into account. Become disciple
of land quarantine sufficiency, and retain
your accustomed domestic and municipal
nuisances, and you will furnish the de-
stroyer harvest that will fatten the
earth with moldering human flesh. 1t
is for the people to choose whose advice
they will follow in this emergency.
1t is better to be prepared for the worst.
Persons having slight diarrhea will con-
ceal the fact and pass the Inspector, and
yet the discharges may contain the germs
of cholera, and be scattered along the line
of railroad to infect others. The infec-
tious germs once arrived in a locality will
never be able to do any damage if they
do not meet with soil favorable for their
reproduction.
Pay no heed, then, to those emotional
people who theoriZe on the practicability
of absolute land quarantine. but become
q disciple and follower of cleanliness and
purity. The State Board has authorized
the publication of a circular on "Cholera:
its Restriction and Prevention" for gem
eral distribution. 1t is designed both for
the medical profession and the people.
COUNTY HEALTH OFFICERS.
It is believed that the County Super
visors could do no better than appoint a
competent and energetic physician as
County Health officer to supervise the
sanitary condition OF all public buildings
and small hamlets that have no health
officer, and to abate all nuisances outside
OF corporate limits. This is no time for
parsimony and niggardliness in expendi-
lures. The epidemic once here, the ones
who now express contempt for it will be
the first to run away. y number of small
towns have shown commendable activity
In preparation of what may come.
The following is reproduced in full as
as an example OF the course that might
with great advantage be pursued by hun
dreds OF small towns, and certainly by
many large ones:
AT a meeting of the citizens of Needles. held
Monday evening, September 5, 1892 it was
decided that all underground cesspools and
priyy vaults are a nuisance and dangerous to
the public health. 1t was therefore ordered
that all property-ownerS of the town who
have cesSpools, privy vaults or other under
ground OF surface nulSauceS proceed at once
to empty anu thoroughly clean them out dis
inject them and refill them all with clean
sand or dirt. Each privy must be provided
with box for the reception of excreInent etc.
which can be removed and cleansed as often
as necessary. All premises must be cleaned
up by propert y-owners ut once, and by ''prem-
ises" is meant at least one-half of the street on
which said property faces, tfont and rear. All
rubbish, garbage, Qecaylng vegetable matter
offensive chicken-coops, slaugnter-houses, etc.
must be removed ana disinfected at once
A fearless and energetic Health officer.
backed by an intelligent and fearless san