The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-09
PLAN or ISOLATION
w. p. A. CONSIDERS QUESTION OF,
GUARDING AGAINST CON- :.
e.. SUMPTION
rs REFERRED TO PULLMAN co.
Travellers Protective Association
Urges That Action Be Taken
to Prevent ContagiOn In
Sleeping Cars.

Lines in the Western Passenger asso-
citation have refused to deal with the
question of providing separate coaches
or sleepers for consumptives.
The matter was considered at the reg
ular monthly meeting of the association
and was passed on to the Pullman com
pany The question was placed upon the
docket at the urgent request of the
Travellers Protective association, when
complained that the health and lie Oh
its many thousands of members were
daily being placed in jeopardy through
mingling on .sleepers and coaches with
conservatives The same question is
docketed for the coming meeting of the
Transcontinental Passenger association,
and it is likely that the lead of the West
ern Passenger association will be follow
ed
The conclusion of the entire matter
was the passage of a resolution to the
effect that the problem and its solution
properly belonged to the Pullman COM
pany and referring the same to the 9TH
Gals of that company. This view OF the
case was taken, it was stated, because
the greatest trouble occurred in sleeping
cars. and railroad officials had no power
to make or enforce any rules on Pull
mans So far as could be learned the
Pullman officials do not believe it IS
their province to deal with the question,
and as a matter of fact the resolution
served no other purpose than to SHIRT
the responsibility from the shoulders OF
the passenger men.
The plan for reform was promulgated
as the result of numerous protests
against the peril in journeying
with men afflicted with phthisis. Sepa-
rate coaches, it is said should be used
At the meeting a communication was
read from the Travellers Protective as
sociation Directing to. the practice of al
lowing sufferers from tuberculosis Of the
lungs to occupy space in sleeping cars
and coaches with persons not afflicted
Members of the Travellers Protective as
ISOLATION in making the complaint said
they voiced the sentiment of the general
travelling public. ConSumptiVes, they
suggested, should be isolated so far as
possible by the railroads and not allow
ed in cars where they might mix with
other passengers.
The evil IS largely confined to trains go
ing to Colorado New Mexico and Arr
IONA districts. where the mild climate is
sought and all persons travelling thither
from Eastern points are thus exposed.
The sick persons have never been re-
strcted by the railroads. which have al
ways treated the consumptives as other
passengers in the way of accommoda-
tons
DR.. George Chaffee, surgeon to the Long
Island road, presented the matter to the
convention, and his conclusions were
heartily concurred in. He called atten-
ton to the fact that the sleeping car,
with it's heavy furnishings and plush IS
splendid receptacle for tuberculosis
germs, which might lurk there for weeks
before they found Judgment in some vic
tim.
The solution of the question, in Dr.
Chaffee's opinion lay in the following:
l. To instruct the public in methods of
prevention.
. Cooperation with boards of health.
3. The enactment of proper legislation,
both state and national
One of the general passenger agents
said
''There is no question about the evil eff
fects Of allowing consumptives freedom
of trains, but so far no practical plan
to abate the nuisance has been suggested.
In the first place it is a difficult matter
indeed to determine who is suffering with
consumption The only test would be a
medical examination. A slender ill-ap-
pearing man might ask for a ticket to
Colorado or New Mexico. The agent sell
ing the ticket might believe the man had
tuberculosis of the lungs and take him
before a physician for examination who
might pronounce the man entirely free
from the dread disease.
ION the other hand, as is often the
case, healthy appearing person might
pass muster though in an advanced stage
of consumption. The sufferer will seldom
acknowledge his attiiction.
"If the Pullman company can devise
plan for isolating the sufferers it will UNI
doubtedly use it in the interest of the
general travelling public"