The record-union., 1895-09-20
NO TIME FOR HAIR-sPLIrT1Ne

NO TIME FOR HAIR-SPLITTING.
The Board of Trustees should recede
from its position relative to the Sanitary
Inspector. The Board of Health should
be given the fullest opportunity to do good
work. It decides that it needs Sanitary
Inspector, and that ought to settle it.
The time is now at hand when extra
ordinary caution must be used as to the
public health. The city must be cleaned
up and kept clean. The large class that
will not observe sanitary regulations ex-
cept driven to it under threat of the law
will alone require the active services of
ore or two men acting under the orders
of the Health Officer. Indeed, the need
may be upon US within week for aught
we know to the contrary to put in force the
most vigorous and stringent regulations
ever known to the city.
With the threat of cholera, smallpox
and yellow fever upon the State, the
State Board of Health warning us and
the National Board of Health alarmed
for the Pacific Coast, we submit to the
Board of Trustees that the time has come
for 1t to lay aside It's dislike of the officer
chosen by the local Board OF Health and
to give that body full support and all the
aid possible.
Nothing whatever, should hamper or
obstruct that body now. 1t is composed
OF reputable physicians serving without
salary, who have all their Interests here
and who have in the past proved that
they are solicitous for the public health
and the prosperity of the community.
Let the Trustees recede, and gain credit
by doing SO. Their dignity will not suffer
by yielding, for the public good will be
conserved. If they refuse to yield to the
desire of the Board of Health and disaster
follows. terrible responsibility will rest
upon them, and the people will surely
place it on their shoulders.
Even as it is there is work enough now
In sight to keep two sanitary inspectors
busy for months. The city is not in a
proper condition for the oncoming of the
rainy season. There are sanitary reforms
that should be made effective at once. and
premises and blocks that need immedi-
ate correction which are to-day threats to
every citizen in Sacramento. Typhoid
fever has already appeared, and before
many days, if we mistake not. diphtheria
will supplement it. The two appear to
be travelling companions, and against
both we should arm the city just as fully
as is possible.
We call upon the Trustees to reconsider
the Board of Health. This is no time for
hair-splitting or contention. All small
things must be laid aside and Sacramento
put into the best possible condition for
the possible appearance of plaques in the
State.
The RECORD UNION is no alarmist, but
pie that to make ready is the part of wis
dom. Never before was communication
with the Orient SO frequent or great
never before has cholera been so viruleni
in the Orient. The fact that 1900 vic
Tins of the plague have fallen in Japan
alone should put us upon our guard in
stantly While 1t is true that cholera has
never crossed the Pacific, we should re-
member that it is the unexpected thai
happens, that the facilities for It's
passage are now much greater than ever
before, and that the cholera has reached
Hawaii already.
Mexico has no such quarantine system
as we have; her Government is lax in
employing preventive methods: It has
never kept out yellow fever and is un.
likely to stand off the cholera. In thai
quarter, therefore, there is 3 weak de.
fense. We can trust more to British Col
umbian vigilance but still the disease may
enter from the north, or il may come direc
10 our own shores. There are scientists
who hold that 1t moves In waves, agains
which no quarantine can prove effective
and that it at times circles the globe, as Il
sssuredly has done.
Under all the circumstances. therefore
the demand is upon US for the utmos