Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-15

stIon of the streets which, through an
archaic contract system, is constantly such
AZ to constitute n serious menace to public
health according to DIR. Howard S. Anders.
physician. author and authority on dis
eases Of the pulmonary organs.
3 ut ia common knowledge among medical
men that dust or dirt in any form Is the
breeding ground Of germs, and once these
particles OF dust or dirt. with hundreds of
thousands of micro organisms clnEing to
each particle. get into the nose, throat or
lungs they are bound to cause disorder
of some kind" said Doctor Anders
THE streets OF Philadelphia in their
present condition are germ-ridden. | can.
use no other word better suited for the
purpose.
ITO compare the thoroughfares OF this
.,eity with those of Berlin, Paris or even
koine cities in the United States from
sanitary standpoint. would be like compar-
ting a dirty kitchen with palatial cuisine
like that of the Ritz-Carlton or other
strictly modern hostelries
WHERE DUST GOES
Take Broad street between Chestnut and
Walnut streets There is probably three
hundred pounds Of dust lying on the street
and sidewalks within that block. At least
twenty-five per cent of this dust is blown
into the air with each strong gust of wind.
Ten per cent of this amount, every particle
OF which contains hundreds of thousands of
IL this condition exists. as it does, through
out the city, how can you expect to have a
healthy community?
But the source of infection does not end
here by any means" emphasized Doctor
Anders. AT least ten per cent more of
this blown dust settles on the clothing of
pedestrians, and is carried into homes and
offices. The heat Of such buildings acts as
an incubator, so to speak, and the number of
germs naturally increases.
rl,n hnr tarI
particles belong, for the most part, to the
vegetable kingdom and constitute the low
est orders of fungi. They are divided into
two families, one Of staphyococci, or ordin-
ary germs; the other the streptococci, or
malignant form of germs
Doctor Anders said that while the former
family of germs was not considered RS being
as infectious as the streptococci. they were
nevertheless feared because Of the fact that
disorders originating from infection caused
by them might soon reach the proportion OF
those caused by the latter
DISEASES LAID TO DUST
, 'STuberculosis diseases OF the heart, dip
iberia erysipelas paralysis, pneumonia,
grip certain forms of scarlet fever, tonsi-
ltis, laryngits, rheumatism, carbuncIes'
boils and even infantile paralysis, are forms
of malignant disorders which are traced
directly to the inhalation of dust said
Doctor Anders. The ordinary germs, or
staphylococci, are also pus-producing germs,
and cause what are generally known as
lighter forms of colds, sore throats and
Influenza.
However, one is to be feared as much
as the other because a person whose vitality
may be lowered for every 50 short time,
proves fertile field for the operations OF
these death-dealing microbes.
1T is conclusively proved to the satisfac-
lion Of the medical world that even tuber-
eulOsiS could he caused by dust. while in
fantile paralysis could he classed in the
same terms"
:; As an illustration, Doctor Anders pointed
the fact that particles of dust settling
N mans collars could he rubbed into
iie pores of his neck, and the staphylococc
or streptoCoCci whichever they might be-
implant themselves and Immediately begin
a pus-producing element which invariably
develops into a boil or Carbunr!e
Doctor AndeTs called attention to the fact
that the dust, which he refers to as pull
yeri2ed poison" could be eliminated easily
II the present contract system were abol-
ished and "a street cleaning department
based on scientific, sanitary methods in-
stalled
no more right to be under the control of
the Bureau of Highways than il has to be
controlled by the Board Of Education
1T should he separate department
under the city government OF ~ least
under the supervision Of the Board of
engineer, The Bureau Of Highways has
enough to do looking after the repairs TO
the streets, Yet the cleanliness of the
thoroughfares is Just about 100 times more
Important than their repair
THE present system may easily lead 10
corruption, People admit the streets are
dirty but shrug their shoulders and say
they cannot help II. But they were never
more mistaken in their lives They can
nelp t. have been asked not to knock
Philadelphia because it hurts business, yet
am sure We could bring more business
clean
III the public would only realize what
an important part they could play in
Iemedying the conditions | am sure they
would act. l will admit that the rules gov
Eihlhs the cleaning of streets for the year
2sli are much better than last year Fines
Ie provided for various violations of the
eepartment's rules, which were not mem
siohed In last years specifications, And
nsIe IL where the public are given an op-
portunity to cooperate.
For instance, specification No, 96 pro-
siaes hne OF 81 where any of the sweep
ms machines throws dust upon the side
walk 81 for each block,
Specification No 81 provides that
sIecl TO remove dirt within fifteen min
s 80 atter pile Is made by street cleaners
nili cause a fine of 81 for each block in
zach case
L., Specification No. SO provides that the
hlshway Bureau has Jurisdiction from
mouse line, and therefore contractors
should be made 10 remove papers and
s'her refuse from sidewalks.
Specification No. 95 provides that the
taiIure TO operate a sprinkler wagon within
~ block OF the sweeper or for the failure
cleaning gang 10 follow machine brooms
!, i'hlh two squares is subject TO a fine Of 81
u each case
an.
the public would only come TO realize
alat they can materially assist in keeping
He community clean of disease by keeping
ane streets clean OF dust, conditions would
Shahse very quickly.
y whenever person witnesses a violation
- any OF the above rules Of the Highway
pureau, he or she should report the same
lusealately. This, at least would have
ehdency 10 make the contractors more
saFefui IN their work
We VIII have 70 abide by the contract
as long as ID has been made a state
,s but conditions AZ present are in-