The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-11-02
SPRAYED THE SINNERS.
How a VigiIant Health OmciaI Ster-
iIized Crowd That Was Bound
to Cross the Line

Alexander is by nativity a Swiss, but his
devotion to his adopted land is none the
less ardent on that account He is what
is generally known as "a character
rough, hale and hearty, with striking
resemblance to our pictured images of
Kris kringle, especially as regards his
twinkling eye and jelly-lille abdomen.
He is man worth going miles to meet
for the funny tales he tells of his eX-
periences in the service of the public
health.
About three months ago smallpox
was very prevalent just across the Rio
Grande from FL Paso, and it looked as
if an epidemic would surely crosss the
river. But DR.. Alexander instituted a
rigorous quarantine and managed TO
keep off all communication with the in
fected region until Mexican bullfight
arrived on the other side. But on every
Sunday celebration of that enticing
Spanish entertainment large contin-
gent of the sporting element of the
Texas town crossed the river to view the
fight Not only did the citizens of FL
Paso attend, but tourists would stop
over and on their return expose the
land of the stars and stripes to the risk
of an epidemic.
Having no power to prevent their 60
ing over and not wishing to be hard on
his fellow citizens. the vigilant health
officer pleaded with them, delivering a
small moral lecture on the wrong they
were doing, but all in vain. He then
wrote a more caustic article in which
he politely told them that there would
be trouble if the Sunday emigration into
the infected province continued
Sunday came, beautiful spring cay,
and the bullfight came off, and the
citizens and tourists emigrated as of
yore, chuckling to themselves as to
how the old doctor was at home pulling
his hair, for on their way over they saw
him not.
The fight was good one, and the en-
joyment of the Americans was great.
After the sport was over, our fellow-cit-
liens started again for Dixie land, but
they met sudden and unexpected
check in the person of large number
of river guards" under the command
of the old doctor, who proceeded to cor
raj the whole outfit
Excitement ran high for awhile. and
some of the most pugnacious were vio-
lent and used bad words, and in re-
Spouse to angry questionings as to what
he meant to do, the doctor blandly re-
piled: Il am going to stePiIize YOU"
Not being conversant with the germ
theory or with modern aseptic surgic-
al technique, the captives were much
nonplussed, but their suspense was soon
relieved. After they had been placed in
line some of the guards disappeared,
but soon returned bearing a curious
looking apparatus which seemed to be
a cross between a force pump and gil
ant atOmizer, and placed the machine in
front of the line.
The doctor took hold of a tube, the as
sistants began to pump laboriously, and
while the captives were wondering What
was going to happen their line was sud-
denl. struck by vaporous blast that
almost took them off their feet. To
illNIl V-NN III mat OllS VI anger lIlt UOc-
tor replied that he was simply killing
the germs with a good, strong solution
OF bichloride of mercury, explaining
that the apparatus was an invention of
his own of which he was very proud:
that the mechanism was simplicity it.
self and that he was thinking strongly
ef getting out a patent on it. In the
he relentlesly sprinllled
their best Sunday suits. sparing not an
occasional plug hat or gaudy tie, and
serving alike the laborer's jeans and the
aude's prince Albert"
When the anterior surfaces seemed
saturated the sturdy health
officer calmly told them to turn their
backs and proceeded to finish the duck
ing relentlessly, working his medicated
sprinkler until the last offender was
soaked.
a street car load of "sports" was held
up and similarly served. Most of them
offered to get out, but the doctor ex-
pEined that that was not necessary. as
his antiseptic spray would work well
the windows. Several Young
gallants had brought their fiancees in
buggies. but their feminine smiles had
little effect on the stony-hearted med
zeal man, and after the usual douching
the doctor says he emitted few pints
of fluid on the cushions lust to make
an extra impression on the occupants"
A sorry looking crew it was that
PASSED back over the Rio Grande that
beautiful afternoon.
The quarantine officer little dreamed
of the far-reaching effects his opera
tons would have, for they not only put
a sudden stop to the American attend
lnce to the bullfights, but forced the
fight" to close down. For without
American cash there was little profit
in it, and the old doctor is very happy in
having put an end to what he consid-
.red detestable sport.
But, on the other hand, he incurred
10 free and unlimited wrath of the
populace of the Mexican town to such
IN extent that they assembled on the
south bank of the Rio Grande and burnt
he doctor in effigy after bespeaking
punishment for his soul in
he lower egions.-Baltimor Sun.
He Declined.
Judge-Gou hear the charge against |