The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-19
Sharp Action Taken by the
Board of Health to Pro-
tect Children.
GUARDING AGAINST CHOLERA.
Lively Discussion Over the Treat
ment of the Bodies Of Five
Chinese Passengers.

The Richmond District School, at the
corner of Point Lobos and First avenues,
was condemned and ordered closed till it is
put in proper sanitary condition. AT
present the lack of sewer connection
threatens the public health.
Kobe, Japan and Rio de Janeiro were de-
clared infected ports. Hereafter all vessels
hailing from there will be thoroughly
furigated in quarantine.
The disposal of the bodies of the five
Chinese who died on the voyage of the
bark J. D. Peters from Alaska again came
up for discussion. According to DR.. Nc
Murdo, who examined into the case, it was
matter calling for more than ordinary
attention on the part of the guardians OF
the public health. The details of their
deaths and the subsequent handling OF
their bodies were CHASTITY in the extreme.
The five Chinese were poisoned from eating
black fish. When they realized that they
were about to die they ran to their cabin
and swallowed all the opium they could
| lay their hands on. Afterward each man.
body was doubled up and thrust into a
barrel of brine. The bodies arrived here
| in that condition.
The captain asked Health Officer Love-
| lace for the usual burial certificates, but ne
| &,
regular death certificates accompanying the
bodies. 1t was officially declared on ship
| board that the Chinese died of diabetes, +"
| stomach trouble. The Coroner was
| asked to authorize their burial, but he de-
| clined.
Dr. McMurdo ascertained the true con-
| dition of the bodies by having the heads
of the barrels removed. The body of a
white man was also found on board the
J. D. Peters. He died as the vessel came
into port
| The whole matter has been referred to
| Dennis Spencer, attorney for the Board of
Health. In nearly every instance bodies
which arrive in the city are accompanied
by physicians certificates stating the cause
of death. In the present instance there
was simply the word of the captain of the
vessel as to the cause of death. The board
is trying to ascertain who shall be respon-
sible for ordering the burial of bodies in
such cases.
Mayor Sutro thought that the attention
of the Grand Jury ought to be called to
the way in which the bodies of the five
Chinese had been treated.
On the report of Inspector G.. III. Stout
the candy factory at la Minna street was
condemned and ordered closed.
Stout said that the place was in such a
| filthy condition that there was no use try
ing to clean it up.
| DIR. McMurdo, who looks after the Chi
nese quarter. called the attention of the
| board to the fact that mum bers of sick Chi
| nese are sent here to undertakers direct
| from the country. Often they are put on
| cots next the slabs bearing dead bodies and
| rarely receive proper care.
The board shook its head hopelessly and
helplessly at the suggestion OF doing any
! thing for the Chinese.
DR.. Fitzgibbon said there was no way to
Io1a 70 Inv In
our recent inspection of the place." he con-
| tinued, II did not see a single metal ash
| barrel. There were numbers of wooden
ones. l suggest that the Chinese be COM
PEELED to use metal ash barrels"
| The order will be called to the attention
of the police.
So will the order TO compel scavengers
to put cloth or rubber cover over their
wagons.
School Director Moulder sent request
that the board take some action to compel
the proper authorities to fix the roofs of
certain schoolhouses and get them in con-
dition to withstand next winters rains.
He claimed that the health of the school
children would be in danger unless the
matter was attended to. The case was re-
ferred to Health Officer Lovelace, who will
inspect the worst buildings in company
with School Director McElroy, who has
been taking notes on the condition of the
publc-school buildings.
J. d. Spreckels of the Oceanic Steamship
Company appeared before the board and
asked to be informed on certain points in
quarantine restrictions SO that there will
be no possible hitch between the law and
the steamers.
1.-THE steamer Australia will shortly ar
rive" he explained, sand I wanted to
know if | could transfer her passengers to
the steamer Zealandia. Then the Australia
and her cargo could be thoroughly fumi-
gated and brought oyer here to have her
freight discharged, The passengers and
their luggage could be disinfected on the
Zealandia. By this method the Australia
would not be detained here, and would be
able to sail on schedule time.
Another point | should like to have
cleared up: She carries fruit. If you gen.
tlemen think there is too much danger in
that will have it stopped"
DIR. Hart said he thought there might at
present be danger lurking in fruit from
traffic had better be stopped for a short
time.
Mr.. Spreckels said he would attend to
the matter. Then he returned to his first
point and asked to have the intentions of
the board regarding island steamers made
perfectly clear. He added that the steam
ers usually took IS days for round trip,
Mayor Sutro stated that the board had
no intention of delaying the steamers in
quarantine an hour more than was abso-
lutely necessary.
After some>discussion it was decided to
wait for the arrival of the Australia before
taking any definite action. Every assur-
ance was given that unless great danger
threatened she would not be detained
more than twenty-four hours at the out
side.
Then came matter that has been hang
ing fire over the board for long time-the
appointment of vaccinating physician
and milk inspector.
DIR. Edward B. Paramore was nominated
for the position of vaccinating physician
by DR.. Hart.
"But we haven't any funds with which
to pay these officers broke in Mayor
Sutro. whats the use of appointing
them2 If we can appoint this man to
office we can appoint twenty others. No
man realizes the necessity of having a
vaccinating physician and milk inspector
more than myself, but under the circum-
stances our hands are tied. No money
has been given us by the Board of Super
visors with which to pay them. | suggest
that the whole matter be referred to our
attorney, Mr.. Spencer, for advice and that
we put it over to a special meeting"
DR.. Hart tried to get some one appointed