The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-16
HALTING THE GERMS
DIR. Woodward Tells of Cholera
Inspection Duties Abroad.
Examining and Disinfecting the Emil
grant at Rotterdam-Etfect of the
New Sanitary System.

r. NJ Woodward, past assistant surgeon
OF the United States Marine Hospital Serv-
ice. is at the home of his father c. A
Woodward, No. COZ Central avenue. DR..
Woodward, with his wife and children,
arrived Sunday night from Washington,
and has but recently returned from a
foreign tour. For nearly year the Doctor
has been stationed at Rotterdam Holland.
During the latter part of last March he
was dispatched to Holland, where he took
charge Of the quarantine service at Rotter-
dam under the direct orders of President
Cleveland. He was among a number of
medical inspectors sent TO various points
in Europe to prevent the spread of cholera
in the United States. The plan of estab-
fishing hospital Of inspection at the badly
infected ports last year was thought by the
sanitary department of the government to
be the most feasible one, and a corps OF the
competent surgeons of the marine service
was ordered to the cities where there was
4 heavy transportation of United States
bound emigrants. That the plan has been
highly satisfactory and an important factor
in keeping the plague from American
shores Dr. Woodward is positive He be-
lieves that the work will be carried out
again this year. He was sent from his
post Of duty at Cairo, ILL.,, and, with his
family, took up residence in Rotterdam
about March q, where he remained until
late in the fall With two assistants DR..
Woodward personally inspected every man,
woman and child taken on shipboard at
Rotterdam for the United States. The du-
ties of the inspector were not pleasant,
brought into contact with the SUM or
Europe The regulations OF the work were
rigid, and in no case could be put aside.
n
through our port were or type OF Hun
garians and Russians sr., said the Doctor d
graded lot imaginable. They know no En-
glish ard make no attempt to speak any
them you find the Nihilist, the Anarchist
and the Socialist. They drop into New
York and have an adherence OF American
slant cause of trouble in the large cities.
/ was compelled to closely examine all of
Of es SYMPTOMS RS of ' cholera, Clothing infected
with germs of the disease but also for
smallpox. and. in fact, all contagious all
five hundred persons were rejected and
held"
manner Of inspecting the emigrants and
the precautionary measures taken to pre-
vent them from carrying cholera germs
aboard the emigrant vessels. AN anti.
septic bath usually had the desired effect"
ne said by way of explanation. When the
emgrant first arrived he was put into an
dren were served alike Not one got past
us. Then every person was treated to one
soft soap and petroleum. The subject was
thoroughly scrubbed and then examined.
II there was slight indication of disease
the hair was clipped closely from the head;
Every article of clothing was washed and
diSinfected by steam. Then the eInlgrant
attired himself and prepared for another
inspection This was one OF my chief du-
ties The clothing of each person was
opened at the breast and a critical exam
nation made of the chest, scalp, tongue
and eyes. Not detail was spared in the
endeavor to detect the deadly germ of
cholera The examination was made as
the persons passed In line, and all affected
emigrants were told to stand aside After
the line had passed those showing signs
Of disease We're subjected to another look
ing over. If the patient was not too badly
affected he was sent back at once to his
own country. Otherwise he was placed in
!, we'll Usually American-bound emgrants
were delayed in Rotterdam for five days"
WINE IN I1oi Ia ,he nsrne surgeOn -
and occupied comfortable offices immedi-
ately opposite DR.. Woodward and family
kept up establishment, but saw few Of
their countrymen, there being but five
American families in the city. OF the ma
tives the Woodwards know but little. since
fellow, who delights solely in his beer and
his mother tongue. DR.. Woodward, how
ever, speaks in high terms of the prepara-
tons made by the city Of Rotterdam for
the accommodation of the marinc service.
During his stay at Rotterdam DR.. Wood
ward was extremely fortunate for of the
thousands of persons inspected by him.
not one was allowed to start for the United
States with the germs of infection about
him. AS to the success of the new plan
DR.. Woodward said
There is no doubt that it is a grand
scheme for the United States. The sanitary
board at Washington is now revising the
regulations to conform with the experience
gained by the work Of last year and there
is little doubt but the same plan Will be
carried out this year, should there Le in
dcations of plague in Europe. The United
States Marine Service is the guardian of
the Nations health and the most effective
work that can be done by its surgeons is
at those foreign ports where the lower
| class of natives seek an outlet to the
United States"
The duties of DR.. Woodward closed at
Rotterdam two months ago and since that
time he has visited with his family nearly
| every prominent European city. DR.. Wood
ward has been in the service for seven
years Next week he will return to his
| duties at Cairo. Ill. He is thirty-one years
| of age.