St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-03
An Interesting Sy mposium
at the Academy Of Science
Meeting.
Hot Roasts on the City Gov
eminent for the Filthy
State.
Some Interesting Hints, as
Well as Some Solid
Learning.

and what is being done to police against
and to handle it in case it comes to this
country, was the range of learned and
scientific discussion last night i'll the
Commercial club parlors. The occasion
was special meeting of the club to
entertain the ST. Paul Academy OF
Science, under the auspices of which the
discussion was had. The meeting was
called to order by Mr.. Footner. presi-
dent of the Commercial club. who
turned the meeting over to the academy
of science. with E. W. Peet as chair
man. During the early part of the even
ing DR.. Walter Reed, of the United
States army, exhibited collection of
phials, containing cholera baeilll in
various conditions and in several ar
ticles of food, and used several microS-
copes to give the ladies and gentlemen
present all opportunity for careful IN
spection.
Mr.. Peet made a short address, in
which he thanked the Commercial club
for the courtesieS extended the academy
of science. and expressed hope that it
would aid in securing the establishment
of public library building for the city,
in which the academy may find a home,
establish museum and promote the
sciences in the city.
Dr. Reed was then introduced and de-
livered learned and scientific address
on cholera bacteria and the progress
made by scientists in coping with and
defining the propagation thereof. He
SAID that ten years ago absolutely noth-
ing was known of the ASiatic cholera.
Some thought it was in the air and was
carried by its currents from one country
to another; some thought it was IN the
water, and others believed it was In the
ground. Various investigations were
made to show where it originated.
DR.. Reed reviewed very Interestingly
the researches made on the subject by
Robert Roch, the great bacteriologist of
Germany, as we'll as by number of
others. The lengths of time the bacilli
will live in various articles of food were
stated. Il was found that it flOurlShed III
bouillOn, and if a little lelletlne was
NAKED with the bullion the bacilli will
live in it for three months. 1t only lives
a few days in milk, water or bread. In
vestigation has shown that there is no
danger from cholera by drinking water
between meals, as the acid in the stom-
ach kills the bacteria. Mr.. Reed adj
vised the taking of acid into the stom-
ach freely in case of cholera epidemic.
DR.. w. E. Halowell read an interest
ing paper on the sanitary precautions
desirable to be taken against cholera.
He called attention to the fact that the
Scourge exists i'll India all the time and
makes periodical visits to this country.
ut exists in Europe to greater extent
than we are aware" said DR.. HaloWell.
and every seaport in Europe is infected.
1t has been in Belgium. Holland, as
well as Russia all winter, and the prob
abilities are it will reach this city this
summer. He claimed that quarantine is
not the best way to fight cholera, but
the fight should be made at home, and
active preparations should be COM
menced at once. He drew vivid pict-
ure of the filthy condition Of the city,
and scored some hard thrustS at the
city government that he said would
not even consider any proposition OF the
board of health to protect the city. lie
said that the local board had made
proposition to the city officers to make
provision for paying any expense that
might be necessarily incurred i'll case
the disease broke out. but sympathy
was refused. although no money
was asked for unless the disease
should break out, and it became
necessary to provide for quarantine and
| treatment. In response to a question
| asked as to whether the Commercial
club should appoint committee to act
| in concert with the local health board
in taking precautions, DR.. Hallowell
stated after his lecture that he be-
! lieved that the committee should
act independently, as there seemed
to be prejudice against the
| health board by some people and powers
in the city. Dr.. Halowell laid stress on
| the need Of cleaning up the city.and de-
clared that st. Paul is now the dirtiest
city of which he has any knowledge.
! He said there is urgent need for hospital
preparations, also to guard the water
supply by patroling the lakes, and that
these precautions be taken at once.
DR.. Charles n. Hewitt, president OF
the state board of health, delivered a
stirring address, He spoke of the lines
of defense already put in operation by
the marine board of health and supple
mented by the state board. He alluded
to the inspection provided in foreign
ports, the ports of entry to this country,
and the plans for detecting not only chOl-
era suspects, but persons liable to be in
! fected with smallpox and other dis
eases. He regarded there being much
more danger of smallpox than cholera
in this city, but believed that we are
likely to have both. He urged the i'm
portance of cleaning up the city, filling
up all the holes in the streets, as we'll
as vaults and shallow wells, SO
| that stagnant water may not col
! lect, and the provision for a hos
pital tent and a disnfecting plant
He said that two years ago he had
adopted a system OF having notitica-
tons sent him from Seaboard cities of
cases of infected persons coming to the
state, and has received since then over
| 5000 notices. Arrangements have been
made to have health officer follow
exposed persons from the ports of
entry to their destination. When they
come to this state they are followed
to their places of settlement and
watched until the danger is over. The
! Minnesota state board has organized
every city, town and township il the
state, and now has over 5000 agents
watching persons that may come into
the state and who may be infected
with any disease. The telegraph
/ line is used in urgent cases and
the mails are also freely used.
| DR.. Hewitt stated that the board is
| having notices prepared urging laymen
and commanding local health boards to
make rigid May sanitary inspection in
every township in the state. In these
notices it will be urged that every
manure heap and ash pile be cleared
away from near dwellings, and that
wells and vaults be disinfected. He adj
vised the academy of science and the
Commercial club to take active meas.
ures in st. Paul to clean the city and
prepare for smallpox and cholera.
Acting on the suggestion of Dr.
Hewett, President Footner, of the Com
mercial club. was authorized to confer
| with the other commercial hndieS anC