Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-23

New YORK, December 22.-Unless
Health Office jenkins is more thorough
in carrying out the order OF the Treas
ury Department relative 10 the lmpor-
tation OF rags from cholera-intected dis
tricts in Europe, some OF the merchants
threaten that vigorous measures will DO
taken TO have the law enforced. One
paragraph OF the order Of the Treasury
Department of August 10, relative TO
quarantine, reads:
"It is also ordered that rags, gathered
in or shipped from any port or place
where cholera is known TO prevail In
epidemic form, be denied entry TO the
United States absolutely on and after
the date Of this circular, except such as
were then ahoat, which must be disin-
fected on arrival"
The steamship State OF Alabama, ar
rived on December 9, with 1000 oales
of rags, and most OF this cargo rs now
at the Hoboken stores. a protest was
made against the admission OF the rags
on the day after the arrival of the yes
sci and 4 few hours later acting Health
Officer SeguIne telegraphed Il refused
permit on these rags this morning.
DR.. jenkins returned TO his Office at IL
o'clock and Immediately issued permit
for the admission OF the rags and they
were unloaded at Hoboken and taken
10 the warehouse OF the President OF
the board OF health. Samples OF the
rags were then obtained by an official
! sampler, who made affidavit before
notary public that he found In the
/ bales many bloody rags. as well as rags
which apparently have come from
| hospital" The rags generally are very
! foul, although the bales are stamped
"disinfected. :"
/ DIR. jenkins expressed surprise and
agreed TO make a personal inyestlgation
| of the rags with the sampler, but failed
10 keep his appointment. de finally re-
piled that he had not been able to go on
Saturday, but failed TO specify time
when he would 60.
Then en- appeal was made TO DR.. wal
ter Wyman, Supervising Surgeon Cen
eral Of the Marine Hospital service, In
which il was said that there were large
quantities of Russian rags coming To
this country aud being landed mere al
! BUScUn ana atother ports, adding:
"lf there Is any danger in rags, wo
ara right in the midst of IL, for OF the
large quantities being imported by the
| Boston importers, certain proportion
are being stored away at the paper mills
| throughout the country for use In the
spring and summer, and II they con-
tain cholera germs, the same will be
spread in the river when the rags are
washed to be used for paper"
Later the following dispatch was
sent 20 DR.. Wyman:
"Referring to my registered letter OF
! yesterday containing samples, please
wire me II you will take measures TO Sc
cure 10 your department this evidence.
l would like your department TO fully
| Investigate this matter for your own
satisfaction, and hope YOU will consider
| II important enough TO come personally
| TO see, as this practical knowledge is
better than all theories. The Advisory
| Mercantile Board to the Chamber Of
| Commerce Of this city, in their report,
say the only safe way to disinfect rags
is by live steam or by boiling. This Is
! done TO Japan rags, aud II your depart
ment could see its way TO have only
| this method Of disinfecting, under su-
Dervsion Of department agents, on all
rags permitted to enter, 1t would satisfy
the trade, receive the approval Of the
public, and the strong sanction Of the
medical authorities. To-day's papers
report four deaths from cholera In Ham
burg since December IL. Please wire
prompt reply"
To these Communications DR.. Wyman
replied that no change is contemplated,
relative to the sanitary restrictions.
Since then the steamship Europe has
arrived here with a cargo OF Russian
rags. The steamship Martello, from
| European ports by way OF Hull, is ex-
pected to-day. She has on board 900
bales Of Russian, German aud French
rags. Another effort is TO be made to
induce DR.. jenkins TO guard the health
OF the port by preventing the rags from
I hofre, lurdaH