The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-20
Health Commissioner Says Pneu'
monia Is Largely Due TO
Poorly Ventilated Cars.
COMPANY TO COOPERATE
Suggests That Passengers BE
Made to Enter and Depart
From Rear-Calls Atten-
ton to Splitting Ordi
nance.
nance.

| Believing ;ha. many of the deaths from
pneumonia in the city each month. espe-
cially during the winter. are directly
| traceable to colds contracted while riding
| in the poorly ventilated street cars. Doc
tor John H Simon. Health Commissioner,
has addressed communication to the
United Railways Company asking the CO.
operation of that company in his crusade
against disease OF the respiratory organs.
The Health Commissioner also declares
the ordinance against splitting is poorly
| enforced, and tLat the dangers from i'm
properly ventilated cars in winter time
make this ordinance serious ccnsidera-
ton in dealing with these diseases.
SO many complaints have been made by
prominent physicians and citizens of the
city to the Health Department and to the
United Railways Company about the
practice Of opering the front doors of the
cars and permitting the cold drafts to
strike the passengers that come such ac-
tion is regarded by the medical authori-
ties as highly orportune.
In his communication to Robert McCul-
loch. general manager of the comnany.
Doctor Simon urges the company to close
the front doors of the cars during the
winter months and to yentilate the cars
by means of two transofns in the front
of each car
The letter follows:
Throughout the country pneumonia and other
acute di7rases Gf the respiratory organs are
strikinglv prevalent This i especially the ca %
In large cities ard st. Louis has had her am
pie share. In casting about fer measures TO
reduce. /. possible. the number OF deaths from
these diseases. il strikes that many case. OF
bronchial and puim- !'ary trouble are traceab!e
10 street cars
Since the cold weather has set in I have oh
served that there is little no ventilation in
our street cars excepting when the doors arc
open ard then the draft through the cars is 81
sudden and intense to cause shock even
In persons OF a robust constitution. The rear
doors of most opened more or less all
the time. The admission "f passengers through
draft ami the sudden falling of the ternpera tuTe
Of from ten to .ortY degrees. particularly In the
front end Of the car. Under the new arrange
r.nts the stoves are placed the front door
and passengers are Prone to seek this part
After riding few blocks these passengers often
become excessively warm and the cold blast IS
felt by them more keenly.
health. that the front doors be kept closed dur
ing the winter months. and that more atten-
tio1 be paid 10 ventilation from above. Two or
veniilators according to the temperature
Of the can might be kept open for the suace
OF an iEcfl of more. 50 arranged that the slant
OF the glass Is from the outside toward the
inside. These ventilatoTs are seldom used.
and when they are the conductor usually opens
them too far. y series Of systematic expert
ments along these lines might result in n jnH-
mite rule for the guidance of conductors
II is also evident to me that the provisions OF
the splitting ordinance are often entirely ignored
by passengers and rot enforced by conductors.
While splitting IN street in summer time is
disaEreeabe and disgusting. il becomes dan
Ee-ous in winter. when the cars are kept closed
and the dried sputum OF passengers can find no
BY ether passengers.
These may appear to be small matters. bu. /,