El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-11-30

ton whatever has entered. except the
almighty dollar.
Where Disease FIOurisbeS.
Now. as to the diseases and immor-
atty fostered by such conditions. some
Things that We may reasonably expect
contagious diseases-mumps, chicken
pox, measles, Ia grippe. Whooping
couEh-are certain to flourish. nothing
short Of a miracle could prevent them.
But we must also confidently and rea-
sonably expect typhoid. tuberculosis
diphtheria, contagious sore eyes, and
worst and most dreadful or all, some
severe epidemics Of scarlet fever.
Those who. fortunately. have never
gone through al epidemic of scarlet
fever IN which the fOudroyant type
prevailed. can form no adequate idea
Of the frightful disease.
No Specific.
We have vaccination for smallpox,
anutoXin for diphtheria. but for scarlet
fever. We have no blessed specific
The powder mine is already here, the
fuse is laid. all that is needed to bring
on an explosion is a severe case Of
scarlet fever, dying within a Few hours
possibly before a diagnosis can be
made. and the curiosity and -gregarious
habits Of the Mexicans viii do the
rest. We may reasonably eXpeG dread
full epidemics of contagious sore eyes.
The open public water closet, the
broken screen. with the dogs. and flies
having free passages at all hours OF
the day, are certain to bring about IN
lection of the eyes OF infants Blind
ness and near blindness are certain TO
become common, if prevalent conditions
Predicts BubOnie Plague.
II. is reasonable TO expect that in the
future. at some time we may have bu-
Through the efforts Of a former health
officer. one promising epidemic OF
tvphus fever was nipped in the bud and
stamped out. But With the entire river
front OF the city. imperfectiy patroled'
as IL necessarily must be; with the
river bed dry for months at a time
it will be next to impossible to keep
out all diseased persons. Iyphus mas
prevailed in the past IN all OF the prln-
ciDal cities OF Mexico; with the posi-
Bile exception of Guadalajara and orr
zaba. Their is no reason 10 hope that
sanitary conditions in Mexico VIII i'm
prove. until after the return OF peace
plague Carrying Rats Here.
So far as the writer can learn there
has never been a case OF bubonlc
fact h % years ago there was not
a Norway rat in the city; and now
they are plentiful all over, and II IS
AT least doubtful if there is a rat PROOF
warehouse in the city.
As 10 moral conditions brought about
and largely attributable TO the poverty
and bad sanitary conditions. little need
be said. Boys and girls who are turned
loose on the streets at two years Of
age to vegetate. TO learn 10 steal, and
20 learn other crimes ana vices, can
hardly be expected to become good
citizens.
should Act vigorously.
It has long been my theory that any
trucking TO the u%nsanitary customs
and habits of our Mexican population
is unwise, unkind 10 the Mexican peO-
pie and certain to work mischief 10
both Mexicans and Americans. II seems
to me that we have come o to
this point in the solution Of the prob
lem of the south side. We realize that
IL is a problem; that il is our prob
and that it is like the Irishman's
patient, "a gettin' no better fast"
Solving the Problem.
Now what can be lone to solve this
prOblem2
II the public water closet could be
lone away with. and every family ave
its own separate private closet, that
help some
The summary destruction Of all dogs
IN the lower part Of the city would
help a great deal.
Industrial schools would help.
Free illustrated lectures given 10 the
poor people might help some.
Nature has done much for Il city.
But we have good reason to fear that