davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
Perils That Physicians Take as a Matter of
Course and to Which They Give
Little Consideration.
Constant Association with Hidden Dangers
May Make Them Careless, and Then
Comes the Penalty.

- CHEMISTS face many dangers in
the pursuit Of truth. Not the
~ least Of these are those upon
which physicians venture when they
seek to trace the germs Of disease and
the facts that lead TO its propagation.
The unromantic doctor himself inspects
the field with an entire disregard of
consequences and an utter belief in
himself. but behind the shadow of his
scientific self-sufHciency Turk always
danger and death.
They will tell you-these dOctors-that
there is no danger. ever. They will
say that the true man of science pre-
mares himself in advance and that, in
the rare event of his falling a lifeless
victim TO the disease he seeks to make
plain TO the world, he has but fallen
victim TO his own carelessness. Had
he remembered his practice Of medi-
cine taught of old in the school from
which he received his diploma, there
would have been no trouble and he
would have been alive 10 laugh and
Joke at the story.
Buff the truth were knoWn-this is a
pose. Not that the doctors consciously
distort the truth. but that they are so
wrapped up in the garment Of profess
sional omniscience that they never
realize the dangers they face. They
have an idea that they will add to the
truths of their own special science, and
il never occurs to them that the COnse-
duences will be or even may be disas-
trous to themselves. They enter the
conflict with as gallant a disregard of
what may happen as did the knights Of
old. In fact, they never think about the
matter at all.
The Germs of Disease.
Take the men who work in the labora-
tories. for instance. With them ii is an
amending race with death. Around and
about them are the germs Of all the
epidemic diseases to which flesh is heir,
which they must handle and inspect in
order TO pursue their Investigations.
The least lack of care in the handling
is altogether likely 10 result in infec-
tion-in protracted illness-perhaps in
death.
It matters nothing. Physicians face
these dangers with the same uncon-
sciousness with which hunters face the
dangers Of the trail or soldiers the CORY
consequences OF the tented field II
they think at all Of what may happen,
II is only as an incident of their lives,
which every man must face, endure and
meet.
It's just A matter Of business. after
ALL" they Will say. when the question
is urged.
But II takes lot Of urging to induce
them 10 confess even so little. After
one has succeeded in convincing one
of these gallant fellows that he is real
~ doing something a bit out of the
ordinary, it is still necessary to con-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
ognition.

subject convinced him OF the correct
ness Of the theory, and he determined
to establish its truth once for all.
In a Havana hospital. where yellow
fever patients were plentiful. he suf-
fered himself TO be bitten by a mos
quito that had previously bitten one Of
the sufferers from the disease. In a
day or two he was attacked and had
10 take to his bed. overcome by yellow
fever in it's most malignant form. He
exhibited every well-recognized symp-
TOM he suffered every pang The skilled
experts who attended him could not fail
10 recognize that il was yellow fever
but they could do little or nothing for
him. He fingered fortnight or two.
Wracked by the pangs of the disease.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
Scripture Fer War.

The meeting OF the soldier boys az
Manassas IN September" remarked .
New York Representative. recalls a
story | heard about a young fellow who
enlisted to MI the depleted ranks of tho
Thlrty-nfth New York Regiment which
lost heavily at the Bull Run slaughter
pen This young fellow was named Au-
gustus Buel, and he was a welI-known
guide and hunter in the John Brown
tract His uncle. a minister. met him
soon after his enlistment and said 10
him.
Augustus, l am glad you have en-
listed. and you have my prayers anc
sympathy. Augustus. my boy, let me
give YOU a little advice. When YOU 70
into battle have your gun well charged
and In good order. When the order r.
given 10 advance on the rebels. | want
you. my dear boy, to remember the
Scriptural injunction. at Is more bless
ed TO give than to receive.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24

interested In the subject, and when the
mosquito theory of yellow fever was
promulgated DR.. Legare was one of the
first converts.
He was a Baltimore man and a gradu-
ate OF Johns Hopkins University, a
young fellow in the first flush of man
hood and we'll on the way toward the
attainment Of high ambitions. His serv-
ice in the army was designed to At him
more thoroughly for the practice OF his
profession; his scientific zeal was strong
and high.
SO that when the theory was an
nounced, that yellow fever was dissent
mated from the bite Of a mosquito of a
special kind, DR.. Legare became greatly
interested. His investigation OF the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
Battle and Pulpit.

Tom Marshall Of Kentucky never lost
an opportunity 10 show his hatred of
the Sage Of Ashland. Once he was
pitted against Clay in an important suit
In the Kentucky court Of appeals. Clay
was entitled 10 the closing speech. Mar
shall having to precede him.
Robert j. Breckenridge was associated
with Marshall and was TO have made
the argumentative speech. but Marshall
took 1t into his head to be arguments
tive. He thought he was "Epikng
Clay's guns by enumerating the strong
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
Didn't Want to Fight.

During one Of the bloody battles in
Virginia" relates the same distinguished
gentleman. "a Federal colonel discovered
one OF his men making a retreat To the
rear IN great haste. Galloping up to
him. the colonel said:
'Griggs. what does this mean?
had you down as one of my best fight
ers, and here you are running. Grigss
go back 20 the ranks Be a man. and
don't act like a baby
Colonel answered Griggs. I don't
want 10 fight l wish ! was a baby.
and a girl baby at that, colonel "
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
SOME WORTH WHILE STORIES
OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

ist church at Lynn many years ago. lie
was a snowy preacher and had a fine
voice, and vain Of his abilities to make
an impression. His time with the church
was about up. and ne was TO preach his
farewell discourse.
Before entering the house Of worship
he sent a note TO the choirmaster. in
which he said:
Your customary voluntary will
please be deferred for two minutes after
the close OF my discourse this evening
IN order that the emotions OF the audi
ence may have time 70 subside.'
Now. you have heard Of nerve, how
was that?"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24

him because all Englishmen eat the
same thing. Explore the seven seas,
ransack the continents and scoop the
atmosphere with dragnet for things
to put before an Englishman for break
fast and If he doesn't take mutton chops
he will take bacon and eggs. You can
do business on that simple basis here
at home You've got to cater 10 the
inhabitants of dozens OF distinct food
zones. You've got to have scrappei TOT
the Philadelphia man; you've got 10
have ham, bacon and spareribs for the
great hog-and-hominy belt; your break
fast table must be spread with dozen
different kinds of pie for people of the
Massachusetts pie region; doushnuts for
the Nutmeg state man-and what Is
breakfast TO a Chicago man without his
bottle of beer and dish OF strawberry fee
cream:
Other Advantages.
But there are other advantages
which the English country hotel keeper
has-and he is generally a woman. oy
the way. There Is the matter OF walters
and general hotel help. In England, IN
the country, this costs next TO nothlns'
Even in the country hotels the walters
are now nearly all German or SWISS.
They get absolutely nothing from the
hotel for their services They depend
on tips for all the money they get
Their main object is to learn the
English language. The chambermaid
also gets no pay to speak of-maybe
e1 a month She, too, looks 10 tips
for her money supply. The chamber
maids are an institution In the English
hoteIs-a sort OF combination OF cham
bermaid and valet. 1t is a luxury we
can't have in this country. Among
other duties they answer bells. and that
cuts off quite an Item OF eApollse al inc
pay OF bellboys-
Picturesque Inns Not Wanted.
..No. don't think the picturesque
country hotels in England are a thing
that would flourish in this country.
They are very picturesque, though, in
England so picturesque that we over
look their dirtiness. l do not say that
good country hotels in the country. say
a hundred miles around New York.
would not pay. l think they would.
People who would patronize them are
educated up to knowing the advantage
of something simple and good in food
over something elaborate and bad.
There are good country hotels here even
now. / found one once. 1t made so
deep an impression on me that I have
never forgotten II.
But even in England, with their light
running expenses, country hotels do not
make much money. Most or those who
run them get a bare living out of them
And here in this country the season
when an extensively and well-kept
country hotel would pay. is short. You
have got 4: STsfs the American winter
into accoun; Ta,S winter, when the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24

est points he thought likely to be intro
duced by Clay.
Imagine my surprise" said Marshall
after the trial. when the old devil con-
cludcd a splendid speech without even
abiding to anything I had said"
1t was not long after this that Breck-
cnridge quit the bar and entered the
ministry. Meeting him years after the
change, Marshall sald TO him:
''Well, Bob, old boy. you and I have
never recovered from our attack Oh
Clay. Our defeat drove you to the pui-
pit and me TO the bottle. I am sorry
To say IL, Bob-sOrry for both our sakcs--
but / nave stuck closer TO my text than
you have 10 yours. Bob
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24

future work on the canal must largely
depend upon the sanitary administra-
ton, which includes the prevention OF
sickness and the saving OF the lives Of
tho laborers, quite as much as upon the
solution OF the great engineering prob
lem:
Resolved, That a representative OF
The medical profession who is an au-
thorlty upon the advanced methods OF
investigating the causes and Of the pre-
Ventlon OF disease should be appointed a
member OF the Panama Canal Commits
sion, that he may have authority TO pro-
tect the health and thereby save the
llVes or persons engaged 70 work on the
proposed Panama Canal"
In accordance with this resolution the
committee named Colonel Gorgas, and
its recommendation was approved nv
President Roosevelt. Colonel Gorgas
was named to take charge of sanitary
conditions on the isthmus, and the ap-
pointment received the enthusiastic
commendation of the medical profession
the country over.
In San Francisco. Dr. Kinyon, OF the
Public Health and Marine HOSPITAL
Service. made the first public announce
meut Of the fact that the bubOnic plague
was raging in that city 1t was made
only after an earnest and ardent study
OF conditions IN Chinatown, and an ac-
quaintance with the disease that could
scarcely have been more close and init
mate. DR.. KinyOn has braved every
danger TO make his Investigations. nor
did he finch from probing the vilest and
least inviting situations.
Struggled to the End.
He persevered. despite all. and the re-
suit of his earnest investigation has
been one of the most valuable announce
ments, from the standpoint Of the
sanitarian, that has been made in this
country for a score of years. DR.
Kinyon never considered the danger to
himself; he simply persevered and did.
These are just a few cases out Of very
many.
Yes. only a few. Young physicians,
filed with the ardor of youth and the
enthusiasm Of scientific research, have
gone into strange lands and studied
strange diseases, only TO die in the end.
They would not have considered them
selves heroes, yet the tented field could
not have bodied forth men embued with
more determined zeal.
It was all science with them-the de-
sire to make themselves more promi-
nent in their professionally, none the
less. they suffered and died that others
might live There was no blare OF
trumpets, either, attending their disap-
pearance; no martial music, and few no.
tees in the newspapers They had lived
quietly. and they died in the same way
When the newspapers did announce their
passing the wearied public breathed
heavily and looked the other way
And yet they have done more for the
people than the soldiers who have
fought, and bIed, aAd died.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24

He died on September %, 1900, a martyr
to the cause.
He had not been directed 10 subject
himself TO this iIl-chauce; it was en-
tirely voluntary on his part, without
orders from any source. All the more
TO his honor and credit.
One Of the distinguished men who did
not fall victim to the disease he brav-
ed Is Col. w. c. GOrgas. u. S. A. That
he did not die is just one Of many in
teresting incidents In his career.
Colonel Gorgas was born in Alabama,
October 8, 1854 and received his colleg-
late educati at the University Of the
South, Suwanee. Tenn, from which in
stltution he received the degree of A.
b. He received his medical education
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
Emotional Recess.

A Representative from Massachusetts.
who seldom engages in yarn-spinning.
tells this good one:
Boston has had IL rubbed IN ever
since she was a struggling hamlet. but
there are other places in the State where
the agony is piled on without stint
a story is told Of one Rev. ]. B.
Jackson. who was pastor Of Universal
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
Too Foolish to Doze.

Il lost considerable sleep while In St
Louis says one Of the big guns OF the
Democratic party - convention - who
stopped over in Washington to rell how
the ticket would be elected. a news
paper writer who heard the statesman
say he had lost sleep remarked;
In "Reminiscences Of Life and Man
pers in Scotland" by Dean Ramsay,
there is a story about "A parsOn who was
preaching TO "A congregation the most
OF whom were sound asleep. A lad
EaH@z Jamie Fraser, a poor idiot, was
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24

sitting wide awake in the front gallery,
and the preacher thought 10 make a
deep impression by, rousing his people
and exclaimed:
You see even jamie Fraser, the
idiot, does not fall asleep as you do
Jamie did not like this, for he had
e little sense. and yelled out. An II l
hadna been an idiot 1 wad Ia been
sleeping, too"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
The Story of DR.. Legare, Who Deliberately
Contracted Yellow Fever in Cuba in
the Cause of Science.
More Fortunate Was DR.. w. G. Gorgas, to
Whom IS Credited the Eradication of
Fever From the Island.

at Bellevue Medical College, New York,
and was appointed assistant surgeon In
the army in 1880: promoted captain five
years later, and surgeon. with the rank
of major, July s, 1898. Much Of his mill
tary service has been at stations on the
Gulf Coast.
His experience with yellow fever be-
gan in 1882 when he was post surgeon
at Fort Brown, Tex, and suffered a
severe attack Of that disease during the
epidemic which prevailed at that post
that year.
During the Spanish war he served on
the hospital ship Relief, from June to
July Is, 1898, when he was put in charge
of the yellow fever camp at Siboney,
Cuba. On July IS he was transferred
TO the reserve division hospital at Sib-
oney, at which he was on duty until
September 4. when he was sent back
TO the United States III with typhoid
fever
On Duty in Havana.
Immediately upon his recovery from
that disease he was sent 10 Havana,
Cuba, where he was on duty as chief
surgeon, Department Of Havana. and as
sanitary officer Of the city. until the
withdrawal of the military government
May 20. 1902. It was during this service
that he carried out the now famous
work of eradicating yellow fever from
the city OF Havana. For this service
he was promoted colonel and assistant
surgeon general by special act OF Con-
gress to date from March 9, 1903.
His present station is that OF chief
surgeon, Department OF the East, Gov
ernors Island. New York Harbor.
The following reference TO the yellow
fever work in Havana occurs in the re-
port Of the Secretary Of War, Hon.
Elihu Root. for 1902:
Especial credit is due also to the
medical department of the army, and
particularly Major Walter Reed and
Major William c. Gorgas for their eX-
| traordinary service in Kidding the island
of yellow fever, described In my last
report. The brilliant character Of this
| scientific achievement, its inestimable
value TO mankind, the saving Of thous-
! ands of lives. and the deliverance OF
| the Atlantic seacoast from constant ap-
prehension. demand special recognition
/ from the Government OF the United
| States
His Co-workers Help.
The national legislative council of the
American Medical Association, consist
| ing Of the committee on medical legisls-
ton and one representative from each
State medical association, in session at
washington February II, 1904. adopted
| the following:
whereas the well-known unsanitary
condition prevailing on the Isthmus of
Panama. as shown by the large percent
age of sickness and death among the Ia
borers engaged in the previous work on
the Panama Canal. and in view of the
fact that the successful prosecution OF
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24

"The habit of serving seventy-five
bad things to eat in seventy-fve sep
arate canary bird baths. regard as a
drawback to our country hotels says
Simeon Ford. who has just returned
from a trip through England.
In that respect he continued, the
interior hotels in England have the ad-
vantage over ours. They run more TO
simplicity. They have two or three
things they can give you to eat. and
they are good things. The American in
his country hotel wants a bewildering
abundance boundless sea of things to
eat reaching to a far horizon across
the table and breaking in a tumultuous
corned-beef-and-cab bage-ice-cream-and-
beans-mince-pie surf into his plate.
Has Been Told So.
THE reason know this is so is part
| ly because a country hotel keeper up
in New England told me so. 1t was on
a bicycle tour / made down East one
time in company with my son. We
started out from Boston and took in
country hotels through a wide stretch
of country. We were getting well OF
toward physical collapse for want OF
nourlshment and I finally thought 1
would say a word I'm season to Il coun-
try hotel keeper that might induce him
TO lead a higher life.
Why Is it,. 1 asked him-'tell me
as between man and man-why is it you
lavish money in spT oading on your
table these bounteous repasts OF things
that are rotten. instead of laying out a
small sum in getting one thing, say.
that is At to eat?
Americans Demand Variety.
I've got to do it. he replied. The
American people demand it. Cut off his
daily supply OF garbage and try to mar
row him down TO things that civilized
human being ought to eat, and the
American citizen would revolt He'd
tear my house down about my ears.
I'm not altogether a coward. but I'm
not taking fool risks either. and l know
enough not 10 come between an Ameri-
can citizen and his favorite fodder
so there you are" continued Mr..
Ford THE American citizen at the
country hotel wants a mess OF victuals,
pays for a mess Of victuais and gets
what he pays for. and the country land
lcrd who gives him the messiest mess
spread out in the greatest number OF
insect bathtubs is the man for his
money.
Easy For Hotel Keeper.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24

vince him that he should talk about II.
This IL is almost impossible to do-and
quite impossible In many instances.
Your friend will hem and haw and grin
sheepishly-possibly he will venture
upon some very well assorted oaths-but
he will not talk
Will Not Discuss It.
"Ah, you make me tired. he will say.
You newspaper fellows are always try
ing to get up some sort Of sensation.
anyhow. Suppose there was a bit of
yellow fever about? We looked after II
and there wasn't any danger to speak
Of. There was Smith-poor old chap
who went across, but II he had given
up the habit he had of poking into
noisome alleys on malarial nights there
never would have been any trouble with
him. Smith was too careless-and that's
all there was about It,"
The laboratory work IS a mere incl
dent. There consumption is hidden away
in glass tubes, and the laboratory chief
who failed 70 have In stock some Of the
incipiencies of yellow fever, bubonic
plague and Asiatic cholera would think
his institution a good deal behind the
times.
And ii means looking at these things
constantly. OF course, according to the
theory OF the matter. there never should
be any danger; handling plague germs
should be just as simple as the investi-
cation Of a case Of measles, but in bald
and unadorned fact things don't work
out in just this way. When all the anti
septic precautions have been observed
it may be simple enough, but familiarity
breeds contempt and long acquaintance
a disregard OF consequences. The doctor
begins to get just a bit careless, and
wakes UP some fine morning to battle
with some one Of the diseases with
which he has been experimenting. Then
he doesn't wake up any more
Lots OF them have died Of il. and many
more will die before the game is over
and the entire story has been told As
long as there are unascertained facts in
science men will risk their lives-and
risk them gladly and willingly-that
these dark secrets shall be brought TO
light.
Die Without Fussing.
And they will not make any fuss about
It, either. Probably nothing could be
found that would bore them more than
TO be set up as heroes; they wouldn't
stand for II for even a single moment
they resent bitterly any attempt 10 make
them appear men at all out OF the or
binary.
We don't think anything OF these
matters; why should the world?" they
will say. and try to let it go at that
There was the case of DR.. Jesse w.
Legare, a surgeon in the United States
Army. Following the American occu-
patton of Cuba, DR.. Legare was sta
toned on the island and assigned 10
the investigation OF epidemic and
endemic diseases. He became greatly
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24
Easy For Hotel Keeper.

1.-THE hotel keeper in England has one
great advantage over the American
landlord. Matters are simplihed for
Indiana tribuÌˆne. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1878-1907, 1904-01-05
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