Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-13
Dishes All Washed in One Sink,
CesspooI Breeds Infection,
Report Shows
MODERN IS STILL OPEN
WiIIsey Has Not Yet Taken Ac-
tion--May Destroy Food
in Kitchens

It became officially known here
this morning that DR.. F. c. Smith,
chief surgeon of the United states
Public Service, for the Third Naval
District, which includes Perth Am
boy, made an inspection OF number
of places in this city few days ago
and the things he found here back
up in every sense the assertions of
Or. William H. Wolfram, who says
Perth Amboy is a "rotten hole
Health Officer William j. Willsey
was notified by the Third Naval Dis
trict today of the inspection and OF
the awful conditions at the local iso-
tation hospital and he at once got IN
touch with the Board of Aldermen
and advised them to abate this trou-
BILE at once. The letter is signed by
c. H. T. Lowndes.
DR.. Smith accompanied by DR.. =:
w. Naulty Jr. made an inspection OF
the Isolation hospital and the conol-
tions as stated are what they found.
They next inspected the barracks OF
the local company of coast guards ana
the restaurant. where these~men eat
and they found them in fine condi-
tion. The inspection lasted for about
three hours and was careful ana
thorough in every way. The letter to
the health officer follows:
70: City Health Officer, Perth Am
boy. N. J.
subject Insanitary conditions at the
City Isolation Hospital, Perth Am
boy, N. j.
. /. By direction the sanitation off,
Ger inspected the hospital In Perth
Amboy yesterday where navy person
mel is treated. An exceedingly ad-
verse report was made on conditions
at the isolation hospital.
2. The opportunities for cross in
lection at this place are considered
dangerous. The presence of three
young children in the hospital, the
inadequate division of space in which
cases OF contagious disease are treat
ed, the fact that all dishes from all
wards are washed in one small kit
chen in which the nurses also take
their meals and the lack of sufficient
help exclusive of nurses are all con-
ducive to cross infection. If for in
stance cases of measles and scarlet
fever were under treatment In this
hospital, we would consider 1t an ex-
ceedingly dangerous place to send
men from the Navy or Coast Guard
who were suffering from some other
contagious diseases.
8. The cesspool belonging to this
institution Is evidently overtaxed and
is working beyond capacity. 1t over
uOWb upon tu6 SFOunu Ill Ills uSlB IL
borhood and chickens and children
have easy access to It,
4. Please give the matter your
earnest consideration and advise this
office what measures you consider
practicable to take for the correction
of these matters.
C. H. It. LOwNDES.
Restaurant Still Open
Health Officer Willsey went to the
of ST
morning and still found the place
open and running In full blast The
manager, Chris Pannos, was ordered
to close yesterday and promised he
would do so. He said this morning
that he had misunderstood the health
authorities and thought he could keep
open. Mr.. Willsey, however, demand
ed that the wagon be closed by A
o'clock this afternoon or all the food
IN the place would be done away
with. He ordered the management
to put on an addition to the building,
containing sanitary cooking and
Washing facilities and also a layatory
for the use of customers. When this
work is progressing in good shape the
health officer will permit the place
to be opened again. Pannos agreed
to the closing and stated that he
would begin on the addition today if
he could get the necessary help.
Mr.. Willsey said that he was deter
mined to GUST George Bloyen as man
ager of the Modern Restaurant, be-
cause 1t is a menace to the public
health to have him running the
lunch room.
Mr.. Willsey said that the reason
for not closing the kitchen of the
Modern, as City Attorney Leo Gold
berger said could be done, was that
there was nobody to enforce the or
der. He has already started proceed
ings for an injunction to have the
place closed, and may be able to use
1t In a few days.
Mr.. Willsey will begin an inspec-
ton of all the restaurants in the city
and If he finds any in an insaritary
to the health of the city, he will de-
factory condition.
Mr.. Willsey has the power TO de-
stroy any food that he finds unfit for
usage and will destroy food in order
to close down some of the lunch
rooms IL he has to use drastic meth
DDS. he claims.
The cases of the local Board Of
Health against certain local restaur-
ant keepers who are charged With
keeping fnsanitary places in this city
will be heard by Recorder Pickeregiii
tonight City Attorney Leo Goldberg
er is preparing the papers in the casa
It is not expected that DIR. William
II. Wolfram will be present as he Is
still confined TO his bed at the City
Hospital. 1t Is understood that be-
sides the city attorney, Health Officer
Willsey and Inspectors Wilhelm and