Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-30
SCHUYLKHL MENACES
HEALTH, SAYS FURBUSH
River Below Dam Virtually an Open Sewer, He
ASserts-AIso Warns of Rats and Disease
Breeding Filth in Other Sections Of City
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

II am not an slarmist. have no
disposition or even the slightest in
clination to create a feeling of fear or
unrest in this city. ] am. however,
confronted with certain facts, and IL is
my duty to present these facts to the
people"
Doctor Fuibush, director of health.
held letter in his hand as he spoke.
1t was in his Office in City Hall. had
called to ask him concerning the re.
ported alarming spread of bubonic
plague in certain Mexican ports and the
danger that menaced Philadelphia
should foothold be gained here by the
dread disease.
II have here" he said. "a letter
from DR.. ii. 5. Cummings, surgeon
general OF the Marine Hospital Service,
plague has been discovered in New Or
leans, Pensacola, Fla. and in Calves
ton, Texas. It is prevalent in Tam
pico, Mexico, while in Vera Cruz 1T
has become epidemic.
The surgeon general directs that the
utmost vigilance must be exercised at
every seaport to see that the disease
does not spread to further extent.
Rats spread this disease; rather,
the rat fea is the host of the plague
germs. The one thing necessary is to
exterminate the rat; eliminate the
cause.
Conditions Bad In Some Sections
Beyond this there must be an awak-
ening of the people OF Philadelphia on
the subject of municipal cleanliness.
Conditions nre such today in certain
sections of the city that II the plague
or any epidemic disease establish foci
in these districts we would have the
greatest difficulty in stamping it out.
Some statistician interested in the
subject has estimated, and they are not
my figures" remarked the doctor, that
there is one rat for every individual
human in this country. They are one
Of the most destructive agencies known
to man.
Along our water front here in Phil
edelphia there is estimated an annual
loss Of 50 900. 900 from their filthy and
predatory habits.
"In the United States the annual loss
has been fixed at $3.50, 900 900.
philadelphia needs general clean =
ing up a municipal housecleaning. 1t
Is something that no department can
accomplish single handed. Earnest,
hearty and general co operation on the
part of every citizen Is demanded. That
is why / have kept hammering for
months past on the subject.
philadelphia. in certain of its dis
tricts, surpasses. l regret to say. cities
Of the Orient in the matter of filth.
~ differentiate between municipal
dirt and municipal filth. A lot of news
papers blowing around the streets. OF
sshes spilled over the sidewalks. is very
inartistic. But it is not filthy. Such
things are an annoyance but they dc
not necessarily endanger the public
I health.
81 had a gentleman from the Orient
accompany me on an inspection of GER
= tain sections Of Philadelphia where &c.
cumulated filth and conditions which
\ breed disease and endanger public health
prevail. He shook his head with the
J, lremark that he had seen in Constant
nople' few conditions that were worse
than ours.
"What particular sections of the city
are the greatest offenders in this re-
spect?'' asked Director Furbush.
The Fortieth ward. portions OF
South Philadelphia. sections of Ken
sington and the Schuylkill river below
the dam" he replied.
Unprotected Food Sold In the Open
''In South Philadelphia curb peddlers
and hucksters sell all sorts of ready TO