Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-16
NAVE A HOUSE CLEANING.

those whose duty Il X to look after the
rpbllc health, to escape the impression
mat there is a good deal OF incompe-
,sney In responsible positions. Under
ordinary circumstances, this would
NOT matter much. but at present pub
a, safety demands that incompetent
osrsons give way to those in whom full
confidence can be placed.
TO mention only one circumstance
Il ssams perfectly clear, from the pub
N.hed statements Of one doctor, and
sim more from what he Is reported to
have said privately that doctors were
p.rfectly at sea with regard TO some
cases OF disease, some diagnosing them
as ch.ckenpox and others as smallpox
And ygt. some officers seem to have
concluded that their duty Is 10 give
newspaper reporters, and the public
through them, the impression that ey-
cry case OF chlokenpox, and every case
Of rash Is smallpox. At the same time
doctors are said 10 have advised
against reporting some cases OF al
lersd smallpox, so as not to create
publlc scare, proving that they are
aware Of the effect OF such reports. And
In this confusion OF ideas about the
nature Of the sickness as well as Of
right and wrong, health officers are
stirring uD heaven and earth, demand
INK the closing Of schools and cessation
Of public meetings. as well as eompul-
sorry poisoning.
In the meantime the disease, what
ever II Is, Is spreading. A physician
tells the public that In his opinion, all
the measures devised by the hysteric
health officers will be unayailing, for,
says the doctor. Il believe that small
box will become epidemic here" This
Is expert testimony to the incompe-
tency Of the health officers that are
making themselves obnoxious to the
public. II is testimony that their meas
ures are inadequate, whether forced on
the people or not
In encouraging contrast to the fever
lsh activity OF some officers. is the
determination OF the new sanitary In
spector TO have the city thoroughly
cleaned. lie ought TO be supported in
his efforts In this direction. both by
the boards Of health aud by private
citizens. And the suburbs outside the
city limits ought 10 be included In the
district to be cleaned Vacant lots
ought TO be given special attention. De-
caying vegetation on such lots,
not TO mention animal matter,
Il sure 10 aid in the distribution OF
sickness. owners Of such lots should
be compelled 10 clean them, and permit
the bright sun 70 shine on the soil, and
kill possible germs OF disease. The con.
dltlon Of some vacant lots Is an outrage
on public health. Then there are many
places that need disinfection, and the
health board ought to see to It that Il
is done. They would do so We're they
more concerned about public health
than about their own pet theories.
With the determination to thorough
~ clean the city should be coupled an
other not 10 keep the public through
the press in perpetual excitement. IL
II not fact, explainable on psycholog-
ical grounds, that people who are con-
,luually broOdlne over disease. fearing
10 become its Victims, are more liable to
catch II than those whose mind is filed
with other IDEAS? II so, what Is the good
Of blowing the trumpet every time a
doctor Is called TO attend a chickenpox
patient, any more than when his serv.
lees are required on account q the prev
alence Of scarlet fever, or diphtheria?
Why not DO everything possible to ailay
public excitement, Instead OF keeping
1t at the boiling point?
Were the health officers competent,
they would set about their business in a
calm quiet way They would isolate
every case. as soon as Il came TO theiI
notice They would look after the SAM.
tary conditions Of the city. The doc
tors would aid them by quietly giving
to their patrons such advice, as in theiI
judgment was required, including vac.
clnatlon, II they believe In its efficacy
and the public would willingly do their
share AS It Is. public officers have
preclpitated a conflict, which cannot
but be detrimental in more than one
way, 70 the city,
So important a matter as the preserv-
alton OF the public health, should b.
under the direction Of experienced ply,
sicians 10 whom the public have ful
Il Ia