The Indianapolis journal., 1896-12-25
THE WAR AGAINST GERMS.
Pen-Picture of a Fully Equipped Doc
tor Making His Rounds.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal;
Under the new rules adopted by the State
Board of Health an evident injustice is
done that great army of 'old practition-
ers'' in Indiana. For these honored men
every community has always held the pro-
foundest respect. Their words of wisdom
are listened to with consideration and their
advice taken as law. They are rapidly
passing away and their places are filled
with men of another stripe. the laboratory
physician. Behold the family doctor of the
future as he rides along the streets armed,
as required by law. with his trunk of spe-
cial clothing, his means for disinfection
and his laboratory for diagnosis. He does
not use phaeton or buggy, like his prede
cessor, but is compelled to employ a COW
cred spring wagon to transport his sup
plies. See him on his morning rounds stop
before house with diphtheria flag on
the door He alights and erects dressing
room of canvas, for the law does not allow
him to visit a case of contag gious in
fectious disease without change of ap
parel. and the statute regulating common
decency would forbid him changing on the
sidewalk. Exchanging his clothing for the
specially prepared clean linen duster oil
cloth or rubber coat, and tight-ftting cap
made Of silk, linen, oil-cloth or rubber" he
steps out to combat gainst the dread de-
stroyer of the worlds life and happiness,
the microscopic germ. If he is bald he
must not wear the cap, because the law
says that shall we'll cover the hair" Clad
only in such robes in this chilly winter
weather, with the wind whistling God
Save the Queen between his bare shanks,
he resembles the South sea cannibalS who
were clad only in IAN innocent smile and a
voracious appetite" He must be barefoot,
because a many germs of deadly disease
on the floor as in the air, and his shoes
and pantaloons could carry away enough
TO destroy Weyler's army According to
the new style, these germs are so deadly
that one would kill a soldier and good
many destroy nation. In the pocket of
his duster our doctor carries a syringe ana
several bottles of dead-horse juice, called,
L believe. anti-toxine," preserved in car.
bolic acid, to keep it from smelling bad.
injected. and if any little child should be
killed by the injection. always lay it on
the carbolic acid Not only the child, but
every one exposed must be immuned
which, according to the board. means in
jected, and so the doctor takes his shot
With the rest with what grace he may
Since "anti-toxine costs at wholesale only
$3.50 a dose, it has become one of the ne
cessties of life, and should be in every
IS rheumatic oil. Before leaving the
house he must cleanse his hands and face
with antiseptic soar, and water, and not
| his hands only. but his feet also, for they
are contaminated as well. The law re-
| quires him to carry roll of paper napkins
| and bundle of fiat pine sticks, the latter
| to use as tongue depreSSorS. They are
probably needed to dig the germs out OF
| his mouth, nose and from among the wax
| in his ears, for the chances are he belongs
| to the long-eared genus If he follows the
| board many years further. The germs are
| in the air. and wherever ii penetrates they
| are sure to follow. and to purify himself
| he should, when he re-enters his tent. take
| a full Turkish bath, and after a soak, dis
| infect himself with embalming fluid war
| ranted to kill the loudest smell. He loads
| his wagon and goes TO his next patient.
where the process is repeated. According
| TO the new crop OF laboratory physicians.
| who think all disease due to germs. to
Danish death and make life everlasting all
| you must do is TO dress the doctors in linen
| busters and skull caps. The valise, duster
| and other things may be obtained, accord
| ing to the circulars, at the - clothing
| store. Indianapolis.
| The disinfectant recommended is a new
| one much used by undertakers embalns-
| ing fluid. and is made cheaply by evaporat-
| ing wood alcohol Ii might be a cheaper
| way of getting ii to employ only drunken
| physicians in the family and use their
breath to destroy germs. The rule applies
| to all contagious and infectious diseases
! and doubtless the physician should keep a
| vaise and duster for each different case.
| What a scare about nothingi Our fathers
| and grandfathers lived and thrived among
| these same germs, which are now haunting
| the waking and sleeping hours of a few
| labaratory cranks in the world. For years
| ply scans have gone directly home from a
| fatal case of diphtheria to their own little
| ones. and but rarely did case follow.
| Stelhyville, Ind, Dec. Is. +*s+.