The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-07
READY TO FIGHT SPIT
RAILROAD SUPERINTENDENT WILL
AID STATE HEALTH BOARD.
The New Rule and the Card Which IL
to BE N Ex~pectorators IN
Railroad Trains.

Secretary Hurry. of the State Board of
Health, met with about twenty-five railroad
officials. most of them superintendent, yes
terday morning and explained TO them the
new plan OF the health board to prevent
splitting on railroad trains. The officials, aft
er discussing the matter thoroughly, ex-
pressed themselves in sympathy with the
plan.
They said the companies were exceeding
ly anxious to prevent ex~pectorating in coach
es, particularly in those for the use
of ladies, not only on account of the health
feature, but on account of the saving in
labor. Encouragement Ketcham has told
the health board that he believes 1t has
the authority to enforce the proposed rule.
The health boards of Ohio and Illinois have
promised to join with that of Indiana in
this work. The rule which the Indiana
health board will adopt and which was SUBJ
mitted to the railroad men yesterday is as
follows:
Rule No. 34-Spitting on sidewalks. floors
of public buildings, in street cars, in rail-
way coaches. in railway stations. and on
railway platforms, is prohibited. Any per-
son or persons who shall willfully and per-
sistently violate this rule shall be subject
TO the penalties provided in Section 0 of an
act establishing a State Board OF Health,
passed Feb. 10. 1891"
ADAo 4At IA O1 ~ T. W IA Oil
railway cars and the following card will
be handed to those caught expectorating:
Splitting in public places Is prohibited by
the State Board of Health for sanitary and
economical reasons, and for the sake of
common decency. Every case of consump-
ton of the lungs, nasal catarrh. and la
grippe is produced, in the person affected, by
breathing dried spittle. You may be the
next victim.
The disease germ is in the sputum. The
affected person splits upon the floor; the
Spite eventually dries up, mixes with the
dust and is borne in the air. Well persons
breathe the disease-laden dust, become in
fected and then wonder how they got sick.
Your spittle Is excrement when elected,
and whether il is diseased or not, Ii should
be decently kept out OF sight as other ex-
crement is. Over three thousand people died
in Indiana in 1895 from consumption, and
over five hundred from la grippe, all caused
would destroy life in this wholesale way
they would be abolished. You are asked to
join all good citizens in suppresslng the
nasty. disease-spreading, splitting habit"
This will be signed by the State boards.
On May II the Board Of Health Of New
York city adopted the following ordinance.
to disobey which is a mlsdemeanor punish
abe by fine or Imprisonment or both.
Section DID. Splitting upon. the floor OF
public buildings and railroad cars and OF
ferry boats Is hereby forbidden, and officers
in charge and control of such buildings.
cars and boats shall keep posted in such
public buildings and In such railroad cars
and in such ferryboats a sufficient number
OF notices f%orbidding splitting upon the floors,
and ~janitors of buildings, conductors OF
cars and employees upon ferryboats shall
call the attention of all violators of this
ordinance to such notices"