Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-22
ALL TALKED CHOLERA.
Local Physicians Disagree on the
Important Question.
AN EPIDEMIC Is NOT FEARED,
DR.. Wood As 3erts That Fear Is as Fatal as
the Disease
A FORM OF TREATMENT SUGGESTED

A FORM OF TREATMENT SUGGESTED
The most important matter developed
Yesterday in relation to the expected cholera
visitation was the meeting of number of
the physicians of the city with Mayor Gour-
lev and other officials in the Mayors Of
flee. A discussion of cholera and its cure
and prevention were given out as
the objects of the meeting. but
the = discussion did not amount
to much. An organization was formed by
the selection of DR.. E A. Wood as Presi-
dent and Dr. Matson, Secretary. Subse-
quently it was decided that, as the organ
ization would be an irresponsible body,
without having a legally constituted head,
DR.. j. G. McCandless, as the practical head
of the Health Bureau, was selected as the
executive officer, under whose direction all
the physicians will act in event of an epi-
demic. Every doctor present sIgnifed a
willingness to act under those circum-
stances.
All the suggestions offered indicated
belief on the part of the physicians who
have been watching the progress of the
disease closely, that there is no danger of
an epidemic this year but that it is sure to
come next year. In stating the objects of
the conference Dr. McCandless indicated
this, saying the city had two temporary
hospitals that could be used if needed
this year and one now being
built, to be completed to-day, which
will be useful next year if needed.
"The city could now accommodate 200 pa
tients at any moment" continued the Doc
tor, "and has in readiness large force of
volunteer physicians and nurses. Arrange
ments have been made for the safe and
proper disposition of all refuse, discharges
and other matter likely to spread the con-
tagion. 1 believe the city generally is in
good sanitary condition, and if it is kept as
clean, which L believe is the intention of
the authorities, cholera will have little
chance to spread.
Talks From Experience.
DR.. Murdoch said he had seen many cases
OF cholera in 1854 while he was at Bellevue
Hospital, but the methods for fighting it
now were far ahead of any in use then. "I
have little fear of an epidemic" he contin-
ued, ''that the city and its capable physi-
clans cannot control. 1 think quarantine
good thing, but the fact of there being but
little cholera in England where there has
been no quarantine at all shows the present
epidemic is not travelling rapidly.
However, the Mayor and the city officials
deserve great credit for what they have
done, and see no reason to add anything
more. As to the bacllli, they multiply by |
geometrical progression in one day from |
one germ to one million. know there is a |
great danger, but think every precaution |
is being taken. Chemists are now trying |
to make money out of the scare bv putting |
so-called disinfectants on the market, and |
the public should be cautioned from pur- |
chasing these useless patents. In event of |
cholera reaching the city the destruction of |
all discharges and apparel of patients |
should be insisted upon. 1t is one of the
best means of keeping the disease down"
Chief Brown said the city had not bought /
anv but the best known preparations. So |
far 500 barrels of copperas and 100 barrels |
Of lime had been used.
DR.. McCandless exhibited two bottles con- |
tanning mixtures prepared by Police |
Surgeon Moyer for use in emergencies, at
all the police stations, to be given any one
likely to be taken sick on the street. They
were diarrhea and cholera remedies and
were approved by the conference.
Fear Pronounced Fatal.
DR.. Wood made q short address on
cholera in general He said:
81 think one of the first things we should |
do is to disabuse the public mind of the fear
of cholera Fear is fatal in any disease. |
1t causes people to take disease very often |
and often aggravates their condition. l be- |
lieve cholera is one of the easiest diseases |
to prevent the medical fraternity have to |
deal with. 1 don't believe it contagious or |
infectious and our people should know that |
they can 60 where it is, even nurse patients |
suffering with it, if they are careful to keep |
their own systems in good order and avoid |
taking the cholera germs into their stom- |
achs 1 don't believe one will take cholera |
even if they should breathe the germs into |
the mouth or lungs or have it injected into |
the blood. Only when the germs get into
the alimentary system is there any danger"
DR.. E P. Thomas took issue with DR.. |
Wood on the contagious nature of the dis |
ease, declaring that when the germs settled |
on the clothing they were dangerous, be- |
cause they were likely to reach ones food |
and thence find their way to the stomach. |
'When the germs become dry they circu- |
late through the air." he said, "and it is |
impossible to prevent their introduction |
into our food. People should be warned to |
stay away from any person suffering from |
the disease Keep as far away as possible. |
don't believe it contagious from a dis
tance, but it certainly is by contact IF it |
were not there would be no such spread of
it as Russia and Germany have suffered"
No Danger This Year.
DR.. McCord believed no danger need be |
apprehended this year but commended the
good work done by the city's officials in |
preparing against it. "But there are two
things that should be done, he said, "and
if were Councilman 1 would introduce |
ordinances TO compel it One is that the
city be given an annual cleaning up every
May and kept clean for the balance of the |
year. just after the winter has passed the |
city is like ones home, needs cleaning,
and the city, like good house. |
keeper, should see that every nook and cor |
ner is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected |
at that time. Another matter requiring a |
remedy is the practice of street hawkers |
selling vegetables and fruit which the re- |
tail grocers would not handle and which |
commission merchants get rid of Tor song
TO these licensed peddlers. It's an outrage |
that this impure, rotten stuff is allowed to |
be hawked and sold to the poor people of |
our city and the men who do it should be |