The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-18

great battle within himself between his
will and his dread.
DIR. Edison then turned to the other re-
porter and said to him: II think You are
safe man to go with me if you will he
careful to follow the advice which I give
you. You seem to be perfectly well. and
70 nave no sort of anxiety about yourself
You may golf you care to"
The reporter first spoken TO insisted
upon accompanying DR.. Edison, and he at
last gave reluctant consent. They went
with HIM to the bedrooms of several who
were sick almost unto death with this dis
ease. Nearly all of the patients visited
ala Ole. The reporters were able to write
intelligent accounts Of this disease, and
their reports did the community some
service, for they suggested some precau-
tons which might be taken.
DIR. Edison was however, right in the
warning which lie gave to the first re-
porter: Within q week he was stricken
with the disease. and after an illness of
only TWO or three days he died. The other
reporter felt no more effect from this visit
than DIR. Edison did himself 1t was one
Oh the most powerful and pathetic illustra-
lions OF the accuracy of DIR. Edson's opin-
ION that mental conditions make a man
either susceptible to an epidemic disease
or tend to make him proof against it. In
Edson's case the mental conditions are
always in his favor. He has no more fear
when in the sick chamber Of typhus or
cholera patient than he has when in the
chamber Of one who is i'll with q trifiing
complaint.
The work of the quarantine officers at
all the seaports ia made conspicuous in
time of epidemic brought from over the
seas because quarantining is an act entail
ing great publicity. As the cholera first
appeared in New York harbor the atten-
tion OF the country was attracted to the
health officer, whose power within his
duties Is AS autocratic as that Of an East
ern monarch. DIR. Jenkins who is health
officer of New York and who has taken
the responsibility of OBTAINING in quaran-
tine an entire fleet of ocean steamships.
practically suspending ocean travel for
many days, entaiI,ng loss estimateds as
high as 100000 month in the aggre-
gate upon steamship companies. and SER
iously embarrassing ocean commerce. Is q
young man comparatively. He had little
experience in fighting such battles as he
has been engaged in fighting since the
middle of August. He IS Southern man
by birth, and entered upon the study Of
medicine with such enthusiasm as to cause
those who gave him his diploma to pre-
dlct that his career as a physician
would be successful one. Politics lndi-
rectly served to change the especial line Of
medical practice and investigation which
he had determined to pursue. He mar
ried a sister of Richard Croker, not when
Croker was the supreme power in Tam
many Hall, but when he was one of John
kelly'S lieutenants. 1t was Cookers in
fiuence which was sufficient to procure for
Dr. jenkins an appointment as assistant
coroner of New York, and before he had
held that office a month the young ply
stefan found that it it gave him such an
opportunity for certain line of practice
as even the hospitals do not afford He
was called upon to perform autopses SO
frequently that there were days when he
was occupied f-om morning until
night with the scalpel. Many of
who had died from some mysterious
cause, and every form of sudden or acct
dental death was Investigated by this
young physician. He came to have great
experiences i'll making autopsies, so that
he gained repute for the swiftness and
skill with which he performed them. And
when the first maleiactor was put TO death
by electricity and it was desired by the
medical profession that an especially care
full and accurate post-mortem examination
be made, DIR. Jenkins was selected to do
this work, although the execution took
place nearly 300 miles from New York
city. 1t has been said that he owed his
appointment as health officer of the port
of New York to Mr.. Cookers influence.
Certainly that influence would have been
sufficient to obtain it, for before
Mr.. jenkins was appointed Mr..
Croker was the very successful sue
cessor of John Kelly as the
leader of Tammany Hall. The young
his duties before he was faced with this
great responsibility. The strain which
the health officer of New York must bear
in an emergency like that of the cholera is
something that cannot be appreciated ex-
cept by those who have daily emporium
~. Al
antine department.. 1t Is like that borne
by a commander in great campaign
which is protracted, and DIR. Jenkins has
said that the suggestion of President Haf-
rison that the approach of cholera could
be compared to nothing but the coming Of
a hostile army is perfect illustration.
Perhaps as important work as any that
has been done in fighting the cholera has
been after all the most lnconspicuous.
This is the investigation that the scientists
have been making. Science has done SO
much to minimize the dangers OF epidemic
diseases that IL Is now recognized aid
employed and handsomely paid for by the
health authorities of the greater cities. To
put the eye of science upon the manifesto
tons not only of cholera, but of other cpl
demic diseases, the health authorities of
New York city have had constructed an
apartment which is as impregnable to the
assaults which threaten investigation as a
great safe is To a burglars tools. Dust
cannot enter and If an air pump were
placed so as To communicate with this
apartment it could speedily exhaust
the air so that no living thing could exist
in il. Here men work, and. curiously
enough, work not to suppress but to propa-
gate the germs of epidemic disease. They
receive bits OF clothing or bedding or ex-
pectorations or discharges IN which il is
suspectcd that the germs OF disease NAV
exist These are taken in alright boxes
or tubes TO this department.. There the
microscope, guided by scientific knowi-
edge serves humanity. If germs are dis
covered they are cultivated, as the process
is called. by placing them in gelatine or
meat puip. The process of cultivation is
watched as closely as the placer miner
searches the dirt. Every manifestation OF
the germ is noted. Its forms and some of
its peculiarIties in the case of cholera are
so well known that illustrations of them
are made.
DR.. byron. the chief bacteriologis., is as
enthusiastic in this work as DR. Koch. To
discover a manifestation OF cholera germ
gives him the JOY which all discovery
furnishes the true scientist. Abandoning
his practice. furnished with disinfectants,
with rubber suiting. with powerful mi
croscopes and with other tools of the sci
eutists and precautions of the medical
man, DIR. Byron went To Sxinburne sland
prepared 10 stay year II necessary. lead
ing as isolated and dangerous life per-
haps as did Father Damien with the
iepers of the Hawaiian islands. The
cause of humanity and the cause
of science inspired him. He vas
ready 10 receive the most pestilen-
tial bits OF bedding or discharge
from cholera patients. He expected 10
.. fr.ag .s..st