The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-20
SURGEON CREELY
TALKED TOO FREELY
Now Under Investigation
by the Board of
Health.
PROMISES TO DAIRYMEN
Nicholas Hansen Claims That
the Veterinary Broke Faith
With Him.
THE OFFICIAL a BORROWER.
A Scandal That Would Not Down
Though Kept a Dark
Secret.
THE OFFICIAL a BORROWER.

Another City Hall scandal has been
added TO the already long list, and the in
vestigation that is now inevitable promises
10 show up bad state of affairs among
certain officials employed by tie San
Francisco Board of Health.
DR.. E. J. Greedy, who was recently ap-
pointed veterinary OF the board, is the
official VINO is under FIRE, ana the des-
perate efforts of the members OF the board
to keep the matter secret indicate that the
affair Is considered OF the gravest impor-
tsnce and one that should be kept from
public notice If possible in order that
odium should not attach TO the depart
ment.
AS usual in its Investigations the board
did not court the light OF public inquiry,
but began a series OF star-chamber me Z
ings, which will probably be discontinued
IN favor OF open sessions now that the
"cat is out OF the bag"
Several weeks ago information reached
the Health Office that DR.. Greedy was talk
ing freely among dairymen of his powers
as veterinary OF the board and of the SER
vice he could DO his friends" in the way
OF delaying the testing of their cows for
tuberculosis until suspected animals were
veeded out or sent out OF the county TO
avoid the ordeal. He is said TO have
talked learnedly OF the prevalence Of the
dread disease among cattle and the large
number that would have 70 be killed be-
J fore the board would be satisfied.
The board was also told that Greedy had
/ informed s number OF dairymen III at be
had mixture that was sure cure for
/ tuberculosis, and that while the price was
! high those who became purchasers would
/ be free from inspection at least for several
months 20 come, the intimation being that
/ those conducting the inspections would
share in the profits of the medicine.
| When the matter became so much OF a
/ subject of comment among the dairymen
| that the board could no longer delay &C
! ton Creely was called M ana asked for
en- explanation OF his conduct. In his eI.
I tremity be took refuge behind that time
/ honored excuse that his talk was all in
tended as JOKE.
OF course his reported statement that hi.
friend Dockery, the MIX Inspector, was TO
receive one-third OF the profits of the deal
would not De taken seriously.
At the same time the board had II forma-
ton that placed the question beyond 8
mere doubt, and to prevent at least one
scheme that had been put up from being
carried out Health Officer Loveisce took
charge of matters and ordered an inspec-
ton OF the cows 81 the dairy OF Nicholas
Hansen on the Mission road. II was dur
ing this inspection that direct eyider &c
was received, and in manner that was as
dramatic as II WAS unexpected 70 Dr.
Greedy.
Hansen stood the inspection in ardent
! trepidation and nervousness and tried
several times to talk 10 Creely ION the
quiet, but was unsuccessful, and finally
when the work was ABOUT over allowed his
feelings to get the better of him and
openly accused the veterinary OF having
broken faith with him IN permitting an
inspection for which he was unprepared.
In brief Hansen's story was TO the effect
that when he heard that all of the dairy
herds were to be inspected he had
felt somewhat worried, as there
were cows in his place that he
suspected OF being affected with tubercu-
losis. He had talked with DR.. Greedy on
the subject and had been assured that if
! that individual so desired the inspection
could De put off for severed months. He
I had not agreed to pay Greedy any money
outright but had LOANED" him $50 on the
I yeterinary's request DR.. Greedy bad made
couple OF visits to his place alone and
/ had applied the tuberculin test to five
| suspected cows and had again assured him
that a n official and open inspection would
not be made for several months
! One night Just previous to the time the
! inspection was made Greedy came to his
/ house and insisted on returning the
{ money be had borrowed. Then Hansen
/ expected visit from the inspectors. and
was not surprised when they came
| At the same time he thinks he vas en-
/ titled 70 some protection from the fact
| that ne was so accommodating in the way
OF money 10 the veterinary, and has agreed
TO give his evidence TO the Board OF Health
whenever 1t so desires.
In consequence Of the inspection of Han.
sens dairy by DR.. Lovelace and his as
| sistants four COWS were killed Yesterday
/ The portions of their lungs removed
showed that they were badly affected and
that TO have allowed the establishment to
serve milk from them for several months
70 come would have endangered the health
OF many customers.
Dr.. Lovelsce said yesterday that while
he had been given no authority to say 50
an investigation of DR.. Greedy would prob
ably be held in the near future
1t is expected that the official INQUIRY
will develop much more than has already
| been made public, and that other officials
may be implicated in the scandal.