The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1903-04-11
DISTRIBUTE DISEASE
Street Cars as Disseminators of In
fictitious Maladies.
Initiated Air and ExpectoratLOnn REM
der These oOnveyances Fruit
full Sources of ContngiOn,-
Need Of stringent Rules.

In the larger cities of this country
the street car is az potent factor in
the dissemination of communicable
diseases as many of those usually cata-
logued in the standard works of n.y.
giene. In these larger centers OF popu-
lation the condition is one of an ex.
cessive number of passengers crowded
into limited number of cars. In some
cities this continues throughout the
entire day, and in all of them during
the morning and evening hours. Dur
ing the period of congested traffic, the
cars are crowded to the limit, every
seat being occupied, and the aisles and
rear platforms literally packed with
oil classes of our variegated popula-
ton, says the Interstate Medical Jour-
nal.
The ventilation Of these cars 10 in.
ferior, both on account of inattention
to this important matter on the part
of the builders Of this class of rolling
stock, and also because the passengers
differ so widely as TO the proper tenn
perature and circulation necessary
to their comfort.
Tuberculosis is undoubtedly propa'
gated through the medium of these
cars, which become infected by the
promiscuous expectoration INDUCED
in by consumptives, Notwithstanding
notices of warning. Hannum, of Cleve-
land, recently examined rs specimens
! - Tea ~
from the interiors and ten from the
rear platforms): the tubercle bacillus
was present in three instances. Other
specimens showed the pneumococcus
and the bacillus influence.
These conditions, the person-to-per-
son contract, and the breathing OF
vitiated air frequently laden with
contagious exhalations and with dust
from dried sputum, are most favora-
BILE TO the distribution of contagious
diseases. OF course, it rs only prob
lematical as TO the number Of small
pox cases which were infected
through these conditions during the
recent epidemic, but It is certain that
but few better opportunities Of An
fectaop are offered than through the
gtreet-car contact Of all classes.
Other Aransmissible diseases can
very easily be, and no doubt are. com
municated tn the same way.
The solution OF this problem Is not
easy. Street railway companies are
not Inclined to relieve the present
aituation without compulsion. Health
officera. however. have authority over
the sanitation OF these public CON
veyances. This authority in most
municipalities gives sufficient power
to prevent undue overcrowding OF
cars when such prevention would be
for the protection OF public health
When necessary, as in times OF a
general epidemic, such authority
should be exercised. Under all cir
cumstances regular disinfection OF
street cars should be practiced in an
efficient manner. In this way the
cars can be made biologicaily clean
and the health of the community bet
ter protected. There is Just as much
occasion for this procedure as there
IS for the disinfection Of Pullman
cars, now theoretically practiced al
different points. Investigation has
developed the fact that there is but
one city in the country, Philadel
phia, where any pretense is made o.
disinfection Of street cars. TIT
Union Traction company of that cit!
di.infects it's cars with carbolic acid
This possibly answers for the killing
of bacterial life on the floors ant
walls Of the cars, but does no goot
for the contaminated places wher'
dust has settled. and which nothing
but gaseous agent would reach.