Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-15
Looker-On In Iona

Hampton. April 15.-Some time ago
using this date line, something's were
said in this column concerning the
outrageous conditions of doctors Of
noes the writer had seen. Unfortu-
nately the application was in a few
cases made here altho there was moth
ing TO warrant it, and it caused the
doctors Offices here are models OF
strict sanitation. But that does not
alter the fact that in several towns in
Iowa, some one should make 1t his
business to have these doctors Offices,
operating rooms and the room where
they keep a small drug store, cleaned
up. fumigated, tools destroyed and
cloths burned. AS a citizen of Iowa
the writer has a right 70 demand it,
for in case Of accident strangers would
be more than likely TO be taken to
such places for surgical operations
Not to mention names for the victim
has left this world of trouble, but a
clear case of blood poisoning came to
the writer's knowledge where
young healthy woman, undoubtedly
received the infection from a surgical
instrum ent, that was only one of many
this scribe has seen in this doctors
office, laid away. uncleaned with the
dried blood from the last operation
still IN evidence. In another operat-
ing room, receptacle for cotton and
muslin bands was half full OF such
stuff. evidently having been there for
weeks, and all had been used for surg
ical operations. This writer is glad to
have a chance to say, the doctors Of
fee in this town are a credit TO the
profession. but hopes this reiteration
rnS hot
cause some one in these referred to
towns, 10 make 1t public matter as
conditions referred TO are easily seen.
and have such menaces to the public
welfare attended 10. Send the health
have him look over his own little OPP
Grating rom and drug store.
To continue along this line There's
some work for several health officers
in several Iowa towns at the railroad
depots Some in the depots themselves
and more in the outbuildings. There
may be railroad official whose duty
it is to attend to the public health de-
partment, If so, he is OFF duty or sick.
It's one Of these numerous conditions
in Iowa, and a standing argument in
for Iowa, where everybody's business
seems TO be nobody's business. And
it is NO exaggeration 70 claim that
such unsanitary conditions in and
around our railroad depots, are the
cause of many cases Of sickness that
come TO our people after making
trip on the cars, to other places, for
business or pleasure. Some where a
decision has been handed down that
the local board of health has full
power to abate such nuisances and
collect the necessary expenses off the
railroads corporations. There's con-
siderable of such work necessary.
There are a few wells used by the
travelling public, near depots, and in
some cases within as many of the out
building cesspool. Everybody's bust
ness and nobody's business.
While in the business OF pointing
out some public nuisances, the writer
asks the reader the next time he goes
to the county seat, not here, to notice
the unsanitary conditions existing.
There has been a big Improvement IN
late years, consequent upon the build
ing Of new court houses, and resulting
sewerage, but some terrible conditions
still exist. It's matter of record of
four courthouse officials having ty-
phoid fever during one winter, and the
wonder is from the writer actually
sees in the fifty odd counties he visits
regularly, that we do not have more