Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-15
RECOMMENDS REFORM
President Of American Academy of Railway
Surgeons Advises Changes.
DANGERS THAT BESET TRAVELLERS
Regulations for Cleaning Coaches
and Supplying Proper HyEienic
Conditions Must lie Effected
for Public safety.

cupies the highly honored position OF presi-
dent Of the American Academy Of Railway
Surgeons, was the feature of yesterdays
session of the academy. DR.. Grants sub !
ject was Railway Hygiene and Emergency
Equipment" and 1t gave him opportunity
to touch upon a subject OF absorbing interest
to the general public, especially to those
who travel to any extent. DR.. Grant did not
mince words in speaking OF the lack OF at
tention given these important subjects by
the railroad companies and recommended
number of changes tending to the better
ment OF conditions. Coming from such
source his opinions and criticisms are likely
TO receive attention at the hands of the rail-
road corporations Or. Grant said in part:
Coming within the province and duty of
railroad surgeons II may be said with much
probability that unless they take a positive
interest in the matter slow progress Will be
made in the situation and hygiene of rail-
way travel. SO far we have devoted our
selves chiefly to the treatment of injuries
and the consideration of litigation cases.
Especially Is the furnishing and ventilation
of coaches and first treatment 6f the injured
matters Of supreme Importance and worthy
always OF special interest and consideration.
1t is often a long time after the recognition
of an evil before the successful remedy is
discovered and applied. The best means in
the accomplishment of a given purpose is
generally the result OF countless theories
and suggestions, and careful, patient investi-
cation. The comfort, health and safety of
employees and passengers are cardinal ele-
ments that must command the serious con-
sideration of railway corporations and the
railway medical corps. ShoId we examine
the air of a Pullman coach with a spectro-
scope the myriad living things to the square
inch revealed, many inimical to health,
would be enough to cause the shades of
Schwann. Helmholtz, Kircher Pasteur and
Tyndall to weep for the living"
DR.. Grant spoke of the necessity of bet
ter ventilation OF passenger coaches. At
the present he asserts that the transom
window near the top admits promptly more
smoke, cinders and dirt than pure. fresh
air and is not salts factory device. The
sudden and extreme changes of temperature
is fruitful cause of colds and sickness.
He recommended improvement If the
ventilator windows were opened and closed
by valve-like arrangement, made Of the
usual glass and wooden frame, with a fine
wire screen between. The force and volume
of the air current would be broken and less
smoke and dirt would enter the car. Tbs
only perfect remedy, he said, is the more
complete combustion of fuel and smoke,
which is eminenty desirable not only as an
economic measure of great value, but in be-
half of the comfort and health of the travel
ing public.
Protection Against Diseases.
DR.. Grant spoke at some length on the
Importance of more positive action on the
part Of railroad and sleeping car companies
to protect the public against infectious
diseases in railway transit. He spoke of
the rigid rules governing the transporta-
tioD nf ,f
pox, cholera, yellow fever cannot be shipped.
| Those dying from ordinary infectious and
| contagious diseases can only be shipped
| after thorough application of antiseptics
| Il may be pardoned," continued DIR.
Grant for noting the grave inconsistency
| in the treatment of those bodies for ship
ment and the transportation of the living
| subject The time will doubtless~cone when
people suffering from infectious and con-
! tagious diseases will travel in cars or COM
| partments specially provided for them. At
present there is but one consderate course
| for railway companies to pursue, and the
| only safe one for the public, and that is not
| only the cleaning, but the dsinfection of
| coaches and furnishings with every trip.
| This is OF special Importance to those roads
| going to the health resorts of the country.
The Importance of renovating and dis
| injecting house that has been inhabited
| by patients with contagum vivum is not
| to be questioned, and the necessity exists
| with as great force, certainly, to the more
closely confined and Vitiated air of passen-
ger coaches and Pullmans containing at
| least surplus of carbonic acid gas and a
minimum of oxygen.
Leather Bctter Than Plush.
1T must be conceded that the material
used in furnishing railway coaches, plushes
and velvet cushions, woolens and draperies
| of every kind, afford the best possible indus
| for the protection and preservation of germs.
and they are also the most difficult to clean
| Every consideration of hygiene and the pub
| lie health demand their abolition for such
| purposes. Cars can be finished and fur
nished in material with a smooth surface,
| such as hard wood and leather which can
be more easily perfectly and quickly cleaned
and yet be as elegant the most refined
| taste could desire. Less carving and en-
| bossing, less plush and velvet and drapery
| that protects and preserves filth, 10 the die
| tate of every principle Of hygiene"
Dr. Grant enlarged somewhat upon the
necessity of better provision of railway cars
with appliances to meet accidents promptly
and well. 1T should be remembered" he
said, that it is sometimes hours before the
service OF physician or surgeon can be Sc
cured and the prompt use of the first
aid dressing would undoubtedly be the fire.
Guent means of preventing infection of the
wound" He recommended that every car
! be provided with litters
In conclusion the president said: "The
improved ventilation, better and more uni
form heating OF cars, though the latter is
largely matter of of management, clean
water tanks and the occasional flushing Of
drains with antiseptic solutions, higher re-
gard for the public health in the equipment,
conduct and management of cars and the
railway service as TO infectious and con-
tagious diseases are matters Of too much
concern to be treated indifferently, These
with proper preparation and regulations for
the treatment Of the injured l have deemed
it appropriate TO commend to the consider
ate attention OF railway officials and sur
geons.
THE criticisms and suggestions are made
in the firm conviction that those who pro-
mote and manage railway enterprises have
a conscientious regard for the public veal
and will correct evils when their existence
is known while the life, service and AIMS