New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-05


contagious diseases. or the bodies Of persons whs
had died from such diseases. and then 20 dsinfect
the rooms clothing and furniture prevent further
contaglon. In that work he was brought In direct
contact with every form Of contaglon. and was IL
constant danger Of contracting deadly disease, but
he went through the ordeal without fear and with.
out harm.
Time and time again he advised by phya.
clans OF the Health Department 20 cut off the
bushy whskers which he has always worn. but 10
persisted in letting them grow. and in time other
employees Of the Department got the idea that the
whiskers were a screen against con'agfon Joking
san.tarians declared that many millions OF the
bacteria Of cholera. yellow fever. smallpox. d!ph-
liberia typaus fever and other contagious diseases
had found Judgment IN Reynodss whiskers that
they neutralzed ard counteracted each other, and
his charmed life In constant contact with such dis
eases was accounted for in that way in the minds
of many.
In the discharge Of his unpleasant duties Reynolds
into the novels OF the poor and the palaces Of
the rich. At some places he received with
politeness and courtesy as messenger OF good and
at other places he was cursed. deiei peed with al
OF missiles thrown downstairs or threatened
with death. In every place he was temperate ana
considerable. returning good with interest, and good
for evil. He knew that ne had the whole power
of the Health Department, AZ his back AMI ne did
not fly into passion when he was abused. He had
way OF talking angry peop.e into reason as rule.
and when his power Of mild persuasion failed. no
called on the police. who protected him in the dis
charge of his duty Most of the policemen in the
city knew Reynolds and were ready to help him II
emergency.
Reynolds appointed laborer in the street dis.
injecting service OF the Health Department on
August 8, 1873 when there fear that Asaro
cholera would visit the city. In less than month
he promoted 10 be foreman in the service.
About month later he paced in charge or one
Of the Department ambulances and he soon showed
that ne was a courageous and trustworthy man.
He sent with the ambulance 10 remove from
who had died from smallpox with orders TO disin:
feet the rooms Of the family. II was ied
house and the danger of conagion there was great.
When ne arrived at the house he found the body OF
the child in room on the second floor. surrounded
by dozen half-drunken men and women. me me
father of the dead child was In a frenzy from me
effects of sorrow and whiskey, and when ne under:
stood Reynolds errand he shook his INST ana
III you touch the body Of my child III kill you,
The mans nsighoor5 encourage ea nun ra0 10 rear
son with them. Then he went 10 the nearest pomcss
station explained the situation ana was So nro
teced him while he placed the pody OF the S'ia i
the ambulance Thinking that Their on
the sidewalk while Reynolds went back upstairs 70
dsinfect the rooms. He had hardy begun ms va
when he seized by some OF me ii.u' ,,s
tenants and thrown bodily down flight OF stars
He escaped with slight bruises anu az, ncaa
the police back into the house. he finished MS e'>'
Another day Reynolds sent 10 cisnf sa tns
rear yard Of tenement-house. ana MS WISH va i,
carded as a mark OF reproacn for the s,ose"ay
women OF the house. They RANGE 'n rnnlery and
the rear windows and began 10 hur croVhei' 80
other missiles at him. Unable TO escape, ne ssisns
several minutes in lodging before the ponce
OF the bombardment and wen; 10 ms resoue. ~
that. when any particularly dangerous work OF a
sanitary kind was to be done. Reynoids was sent
TO do IL. .,,. ,o,ar uhen
In epdemics OF smallpox or OF typhus FEVER, VIZ.
hesltated 10 take the risk. Reynolds WORKED from
early in the morning TO late at night removing ,,s
living or dead bodies OF plague-sricken ..e
would carry the bodies OF persons hlucn nea't..
than himself down several hlgnts o, - and sk
assistance and he Invariably tender ana SKI.
full In handling patients whom ne REMOVER 10 .iv
hospitals His tact and good sense PreNensen sni
painful scenes houses which hai peCoiie '.e.See
with contagon, and AT dilerst o,s., ,s ~ 81.
the warmest praise from the highest oficais OF Tie
Department. ,.,. ,.a,,ou, fsvsr ana
eprosy that has 10 the attention Oh tie
Rsvrol1s and ne has handled thousands OF cases ot
SMALLPOX typhus fever, dlphtnerli, scaIte' te'e.
and measles The last ana most serious injury
which no received In the discharge OF MS duty Was
department ambulance TO remove person suterns
FROM ienrosv from the Presbyterian Hospital IN
Fourth-ave on his way TO the hospital. ne was
thrown from the ambulance by the suduen taInns
~ Tho horse No bones were broken. but ReynoIds
received severe bruises and partial dislocaton or
his thigh When he maraged TO arrive at the nos.
pta he was advised TO stay there, out ne persls,e1
In removing the leprous patient 20 me sn'
livered his charge 10 the proper ofhcai ne lie" III
faint for the first time In his life. . ~
His recovery from the effects OF MS INJURY wdS
90 slow that the Health Board decided 10 assign
the indoor duties OF clerk were dstastefu. and ne
SIX retirement