The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-08
SPLITTING ON The SIDEWALK
An Effort to Stop Expectoration in
Public Places.

Commissioner Mcfarland who has
special supervision over the Health De-
partment, has decided to take up the
matter of prohibiting expectoration on
the sidewalks and in public places
| Numerous complaints relative to splitting
on the sidewalks have been sent to the
| Commissioners, and several suggestions
| have reached them as to the manner of
dealing with the nuisance. The Commits
| sioners are of the opinion that public
| sentiment is ripe for some course of
action that will lessen, if not prohibit,
the evil complained of.
| With a view to ascertaining just what
may be done under existing law in the
! District, Commissioner mcfarland has
| forwarded to his colleagues commune
| cation recently received, with the recon-
mendation that 1t be referred to the
Health Officer for his consideration and
report. After this report is received it
| is likely that the matter will also be re-
| ferred to the Attorney for the District,
| SO that the Board can be advised specifi
cally as tc their authority to stop pro-
| miscuous splitting in public places The
communication referred to was state
ment of what is being done in New
York along this line, supplemented by
the views of DR.. John B. Crosby, Com
missioner to the Board of Health. 1t
was published in yesterdays Times
Commissioner MaCfarland in speaking
of the matter, said he felt as though
something ought to be done to stop ex-
pectoration on the sidewalks, at least
where people constantly pass. He stated
that the continual splitting of those US
ing tobacco and others afflicted with
throat and lung diseases had become
public nuisance of alarming proportions
as well as n means of disseminating sew
eral forms of disease. Mr.. Mcfarland
thought that possibly the laws of the Dis
trict would not admit Of making arrests
and filming the offenders, as is being done
in New York. but he hoped 1t would be
found that the Commissioners were
clothed with sufficient authority to en-
force some regulation against the spitters.
The Commissioner called attention to the
fact that the prohibition against expec-
toration in street cars is almost univer-
sally observed by the people Of the Dis
trict. Now, he thought the authorities
might go a step farther. and stop the
practice so far as ii is done on the side
walks, and in other public places. Mr..
mcfarland stated that he and his col
leagues were not Yet certain what course
to pursue, but that it would be determined
within short time.
The views of DIR. William c. Woodward,
the District Health officer, upon the sub
ject are well known from having been pre-
scented in some of his annual reports to
the Commissioners. a short time ago DR..
Woodward spoke at length upon the
point under consideration as II relates
to the spread of consumption. He stated
that scientific research has fully demon
strated the fact that tuberculosis is an
infectious disease; that it is not inherited,
but is conveyed from one TO another by
personal association. The sick one might.
in his view, infect whole family by the
germs cast off from his body. DR. Wood
ward regards the sputum of the person
suffering with consumption as the pri-
mary If not the sole. source of contagion.
From it he believes the microbes get into
the air, infect the room where the patient
lies, even the house, and are carried by
millions into the air outside. This being
so, DIR. Woodward said that the danger
from consumptives expectorating in the
streets, on the sidewalks, or in the offices
or shops where they work is obvious. He
explained that the chief danger lies in
the drying of the sputum when the tuber-
cule bacilli are released and are carried
away in the air.
Dr. Woodward is of the opinion that,
owing to the present custom in allowing
persons who are consumptives their free
dom, and the privilege of unlimited ex-
pectoration, the air OF most cities is pretty
well impregnated with the germs of
tuberculosis. and, of course other COM
municable disease. He thinks that these
microbes frequently are carried into the
lungs in the act of inspiration In well
s3,I 11I
thrown off by superior vitality, he be-
lieves they do no harm. Those constitu-
tionally weak. however, or with chronic
catarrh, he thinks easily acquire con-
sumption and other maladies, the germs
finding favorable Judgment on the morbid
or diseased throat or lung membranes
In his opinion, 1t is the systems of those |
specially prepared for it that take the |
disease, and not from any lack of infec- |
tious germs.
DR.. Woodward, being OF the opinion that |
the dried sputa of consumptives, diph- |
theretics, scarlet fever patients, and |
othtIs is the primary cause of the |
scattering of the germs of those diseases,
is naturally In favor of any action which |
VIII nave for its object the cessation of |
the habit of expectoration. Dr. Wood |
ward delineated what might be expected |
to take place after a consumptiye has
expectorated on the sidewalk or in the
Stittl ne SpulGm quickly dries he |
said, and in drying the germs are car
r1ed away by the wind. They are dashed
into the faces of hundred people who
pass that way. Perhaps the father Of a |
FAMILY steps where the consumptive ex-
perforated and a colony of the germs |
attach to his shoe and are carried home
70 be breathed by puny boy or girl
who dies a few years later Perbans n |
woman with a trailing dress wipes tIp a |
number OF these germs, and her sister
or some one else is afforded the means of
sod ' aeiihs tubercuiosis and coming to
Dr woodward said that this was no |
Hight of fancy, but was what was going
on all the time in Washington, where
~
on the occasion to which reference is
made Or: Woodward did not have in mind
my official action to prohibit snittIng 10
-ook the ground then that stamping out
could not be done In "A hur-
y, because the public is not educated up
% the point oil putting into operation GER
Lalns means of sanitation which might |
De required to deal with the problem ef- |
ectiVely. He did not believe for instance. |
nat the public was ready to insist upon
ne isolation of the consumptiye as upon |
ne smallpox patient. DR.. Woodward ex-
PRESSED the view that more was 10 he |
loped for by the general education of the |
'ubllc, IN the public schools and nv other |
means. regarding the danger of personal |
association with those afflicted with con- ]
itSlous disease. His idea was that when |
ne pubic is ready to deal with other con- |
aglous diseases as radically as is done ! ,
With smallpox, and as is being gradually ,
lone with diphtheria and scarlet fever |
mere would be some hope of exterminat- |
NJ those diseases.
DR.. Woodward went on TO explain that |
ghen these things were properly under |
tood the consumptive and those having |
ther contagious malddies would be iso |
lted in comfortable surroundings Those |
rho were called upon to care for them |
e thought, would take many precautions |
ot now thought Of. and the communica-