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February 12, 1910

SCHOOL CHILDREN

DRINK INTOXICANTS.

Parents Supply Liquor to

Little Ones at Meals.

BEER, WHISKY AND WINE.

Doctors Say It Explains

Nervousness -- Plan to

Stop Custom.

The physicians who are empolyed in school inspection have been endeavoring of late to find out what the children ate and drank at home. This has been done with a view to finding the reason for nervousness in so many otherwise healthy children. In one school which has a large foreign attendance the information gained from but two rooms was startling. In one room of forty children it was discovered that seventeen had either beer, wine or whisky to drink with some of their meals the previous day.

In this room the teacher was making a record of what each child had to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner the previous day. The following has to do only with the beverages, or liquids, served them:

Water -- Two had it for breakfast, eighteen for lunch and five for dinner.
Milk -- Three for breakfast, two for lunch and nine for dinner.
Tea -- Four for breakfast, two for lunch and nine for dinner.
Coffee -- Twenty-three for breakfast, three for lunch and four for dinner.
Beer -- Three had it for lunch and nine drank it for dinner.
Wine -- Three drank wine for lunch and one for dinner.
Whisky -- One had it for dinner.

In another room, while no wine or whisky was given t he children, they showed up strong on the coffee and beer. The report follows:

Water -- One had it for breakfast, six for lunch and none for dinner.
Milk -- Eight for breakfast, three for lunch and nine for dinner.
Coffee -- Twenty for breakfast, two for lunch and ten for dinner.
Cocoa -- Five for breakfast and one for lunch.
Chocolate -- One for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Beer -- Five for breakfast, fourteen for lunch and fifteen for dinner.

"While people are buying $30,000 organs for churches here in this city," said the physician who inspected this school, "I think it would do more good to get a cheaperr organ and use the rest of the money in educating the parents of these children. The children of this generation will be the parents of the next and if they are reared on beer, wine and whisky, what kind of citizens will they make? This is a very serious matter and parents who see no wrong in poisoning a child's brain with alcohol and making it a nervous wreck before it is half grown must be taught better."

NURSES TO INSTRUCT.

On account of this startling discovery it is the intention now to go further than the inspection in the school and only in the home where disease exists. Mrs. Kate E. Pierson, a member of the board of pardons and paroles and connected also with the Associated Charities, has taken an interest in the matter. An effort will be made to secure nurses who speak the foreign languages necessary in this case, to go into the homes and instruct the mothers. They especially will be warned regarding giving intoxicants to their children.

"The nurses will have to do more," said Mrs. Pearson yesterday. "They will teach the mothers what is best for a child to eat, how and where to buy the proper food and how to prepare it. They also will be taught how to care for their babies and growing children."

"We find a great many nervous children in the schools, especially in certain districts," said one of the inspectors. "There is no doubt but that the giving of intoxicants is bad for them, but the constant drinking of coffee and tea by a child is also injurious.

"A growing child going to school needs the proper kind of nourishing food to hold up its end of the game. Much of the nervousness among the children in a certain district comes from alcoholic beverages, coffee and tea. Others are permitted to eat anything they choose and at any time, and consequently are badly nourished."

Labels: alcohol, Associated Charities, children, doctors, food, health, schools

February 8, 1910

'A SWEDE IN PERIL'

IS WARD WAR CRY.

Scandinavians Flock to the

Standard of Gus Pearson.

"A Swede is in peril!"

That was both the watchword and the reason assigned for the meeting last night at the Stockholm hotel at 1024 West Seventeenth street, where about 300 Second ward Republicans indorsed Gus Pearson for another term as city comptroller.

The Scandinavian settlement in Kansas City has had two city comptrollers, and each has made good with his party, and the present comptroller, Gus Pearson, made good with the Democratic administration, too, but they have never had other representation, and now they are out for a member in the upper house of the council.

Last night these Second warders met to indorse Mr. Pearson and have a lunch, and they listened to Fred Coon and Judge Harry G. Kyle while they were awaiting the adjournment of the city council and a chance to tell Gus Pearson that they are for him.

Charley Lawson, who was chairman of the meeting, sounded the watchword: "A Swede is in peril."

Lawson and other speakers told how Pearson is to be rolled at the Republican convention February 25 because, as they declared, he has incurred the enmity of party bosses.

It appeared to be the sense of the meeting that Pearson is to be "rolled" by the bosses because he remained under a Democratic administration and the speakers declared that these same bosses offered to go into the courts to protect their places in the service when the Democrats ousted all of them but Pearson and kept Pearson merely because he is competent.

JUDGE KYLE TALKS.

Judge Harry G. Kyle, who expects to carry the Second ward with the aid of Mr. Pearson's friends there, said in part:

"The freeholders, in drafting the new city charter, and in creating the hospital and health commission department of municipal government brought the city government close to the needs and wants of the people. This department will have control of the city hospital and all institutions now or hereafter owned or controlled by the city for the care of sick and injured persons; for the confinement, support and maintenance of insane persons.

"This commission will have a competent man to act as superintendent of the hospitals and other kindred institutions. It will also have a competent health commissioner to direct inspection of every part of the city, with a view to maintaining good sanitary conditions; also to inspect dairies, meat, food stuffs and water supplies for drinking purposes and to enforce all pure food laws."

Labels: health, immigrants, Judge Kyle, politics, Seventeenth street

January 31, 1910

IN WHITE PLAGUE FIGHT.

Men's Brotherhood to Learn How to

Escape Tuberculosis.

A meeting in behalf of the suppression of tuberculosis will be conducted tonight by the Men's Brotherhood of the Linwood Boulevard M. E. Church at the church, Linwood and Olive. Dr. M. T. Woods of Independence will tell how to escape tuberculosis; Dr. Seesco Stewart, dean of the Kansas City Veterinary college, will describe tuberculosis in the lower animals and how it affects public health. Dr. A. T. Kinsley will present stereoptican views.

Labels: churches, doctors, health, Independence, Linwood boulevard, Olive street, stereopticons

December 5, 1909

PNEUMONIA EPIDEMIC HERE.

Other Infectious Diseases Are

Prevalent Throughout City.

Pneumonia is quite prevalent throughout the city, and physicians say it has reached serious proportions. The severe and variable weather is a promoter of the malady. During December there were forty-two deaths from pneumonia. This is twelve more than for December of 1908.

Smallpox is another cold weather affliction, but thus far the city has been quite free from its ravages. Yesterday the second smallpox case since June 7, 1908, reached the attention of the health authorities. The victim was a white man and he was taken to the hospital for the treatment of infectious diseases from a house on Harrison street, between Seventh and Eighth.

Measles is another malady that is demanding the attention of the health authorities. It had its inception in the northeast part of the city, and has been steadily spreading.

Labels: Harrison street, health, illness, smallpox

January 4, 1910

SWOPE CISTERN IS BLAMED.

Brother-in-Law of Recent Victim

Makes Seventh Case in Family.

The typhoid fever epidemic has struck the seventh member of the Swope family, Dr. B. Clark Hyde, 3516 Forest avenue, a brother-in-law of the late William C. Swope, being the latest. Dr. Hyde has been ill for a week, but his physician, Dr. J. W. Perkins, says his condition is not serious. The fever is thought to have been caused by drinking water from a cistern at the Swope family home in Independence.

Labels: doctors, Forest avenue, health, illness, Independence, Swope Mystery, typhoid

December 20, 1909

WORKHOUSE INMATES

TAUGHT CLEANLINESS.

METHODS FOLLOWED AT INSTI-

TUTION SETS EXAMPLE.

Improvements Make All Cells Sani-

tary -- Shower Baths Provided

and Fumigator to De-

stroy Germs.

The interior of the workhouse has taken on quite a different aspect in the last few days, important improvements having been completed. The ceilings and walls are painted white, the latter having a heavy coat of red about six feet up from the floor. All of the cells have a new coat of shiny black enamel.

Until the recent improvements, each cell was unsanitary, being equipped with nothing but an old bucket. Now every cell is provided with a sanitary plumbing outfit. It took one month to dig a sewer inside the cell block and make the necessary connections. Outside the work could have been done in a week or ten days, but there the dirt had to be carried out in small boxes. The sewer is from five to seven feet deep and before dirt was reached it was necessary to dig through four inches of solid concrete, chisel through a steel plate one-eighth of an inch thick and then pick the way through eighteen inches more of solid concrete. This is laid beneath the floor to prevent any escapes by tunneling. As it took fully three weeks to reach terra firma it is not likely that anyone would succeed in completing a tunnel before being captured.

There also is a new system regarding mattresses and bedding. When a new prisoner arrives he gets a fresh, clean mattress, stuffed with clean straw. When the prisoner leaves the straw is burned and the bed tick washed. The cleaning method continues with regard to blankets. When a prisoner leaves his blanket goes direct to the laundry. If he is a long term man his blanket is washed and he gets a clean one two or three times a month. He also gets a fresh bed tick with new straw frequently.

SHOWER BATHS FOR ALL.

At the east end of the cell block is a new washroom with a dozen bowls. Across the corridor are shower baths. Both have hot and cold water and plenty of soap. A prisoner is required to bathe on entering the workhouse, all of his discarded clothing going to the fumigator. He also is examined by the workhouse physician, Dr. F. H. Berry. His physical condition also is looked after. For the first time since it was built the workhouse now is absolutely free of any kind of vermin, and Superintendent Cornelius Murphy says he intends to keep it that way.

When a prisoner's clothes go to the fumigator they are not afterwards packed away in a bag and given to him all full of wrinkles when he leaves the place. In the workhouse now is a tailor who understands cleaning, pressing and mending. After leaving the fumigator the underclothing and linen go to the laundry where they are washed and ironed. The outer clothing goes to the tailor who repairs, cleans and presses it. When a prisoner leaves the institution now he often finds his "makeup" in far better condition than when he entered.

"The scheme of putting a prisoner's clothing in good condition," said C. A. Beatty, assistant superintendent, "has proven a good one and the men greatly appreciate it. It does not send a poor man away looking like a trap, but he has a good 'front' and is fit to apply to any man for work. The prison clothes worn by the men are washed frequently and the men are required to take baths often. It is new to many but they are getting used to it."

SOME LEARN TRADES.

In the sewing room, established at the personal expense of William Volker, president of the board of pardons and paroles, all of the bed ticks as well as the clothing worn by both men and women prisoners, are made by women prisoners. One young woman who had been a frequent inmate of the institution now is earning $2.25 a day at a local mattress factory. Others are earning an honest living at overall factories. They learned to sew under the instruction of Mrs. Burnett, who has charge of the sewing room. Some never had done any stitching.

Another adjunct to the workhouse, which has proved a success, is the shoemaking department. A practical shoemaker, hired at the expense of Mr. Volker, is instructing the long term men how to be shoe cobblers and some are learning how to make shoes throughout. The shoes of all prisoners are overhauled and mended in this department. The shoeshop and sewing rooms are located over the barn and are heated by steam.

There are thirty-five men now out at the industrial farm at Leeds. They are now engaged at present in making a new roadway, but in the summer they are going to learn practical farming and gardening. This, too, has proven a success.

Labels: clothing, employment, health, Leeds, parole board, workhouse

December 18, 1909

BOIL WATER, OR

JUST TAKE IT RAW?

DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LIKE

GERMS, SAYS CROSS.

City Chemist Says Water Supply

Shows Improvement and That

Bacteria Are Not of

Dangerous Sort.

"Would you still advise consumers of Missouri river water, as it comes through the city mains, to boil it?" Dr. W. M. Cross, city chemist, was asked yesterday.

"It all depends upon whether the consumers want to take the germs raw or cooked," laughingly answered the doctor. "So far as I am concerned I take the water straight from the faucet. I do not experience any harm from it, but fastidious people and those whose health is none the best may prefer to have the water boiled. Just now the city is supplying a pretty fair brand of water. The discoloration and presence of sediment so apparent a week ago has almost entirely disappeared, and I believe for the rest of the winter there will be no more off-color water."

BACTERIA NOT HARMFUL.

"How about the bacteria?"

"The centimeter count varies. Some days it is higher than others both at the receiving basins and at different points throughout the city. But people should take no unnecessary fright, for I do not imagine that there is very much to be feared from the character of bacteria we detect by the analysis."

FILTER PLANT NEEDED.

The doctor added that he had but little hope that the water will be entire pure from bacteria and discoloration until the city gets the money to install filtering basins. This is an expense that will have to be provided through a bond issue. A car load of sulphate of iron has been received with which to coagulate the water, and separate it from the solids. The sulphate of iron will succeed alum and lime, and Dr. Cross looks for better results from its use.

Practical demonstration has proven that the burning of oil in the boilers at Turkey Creek station is more economical that coal as a fuel. The fire and water board is advertising for bids for the installation of oil burners and four additional boilers at this station.

Labels: City Chemist Cross, health, Missouri river

December 4, 1909

ZONES OF CONTAGION

NEAR THREE SCHOOLS.

SCARLET FEVER AND DIPH-

THERIA IN SEVERAL SECTIONS.

Tin Drinking Cup Blamed by Medi-

cal Inspectors, Especially at

Benton -- Several Parochial

Schools Involved.

The medical inspectors going the rounds of the public schools have unearthed diphtheria and scarlet fever zones within the confines of Benton, Washington and Karnes schools. They are also learning from the daily returns of practicing physicians, of the existence of the two maladies among pupils of two or three of the parochial schools, but as the authority of the inspectors does not extend to schools of this description Dr. W. S. Wheeler, sanitary commissioner, has not felt justified in taking any voluntary official notice or action.

Of the parochial schools the worst afflicted is St. John's Parochial school, 534 Tracy avenue. This school, located in a district largely inhabited by Italian children, is conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Yesterday Sister Superior Monica appealed to the health authorities to make an investigation. Dr. H. Delamater, chief inspector, made a personal visit to the school and was informed that ninety of the 160 pupils are detained at home by sickness. Within the last six days cases of scarlet fever have developed among the pupils, and Dr. Delameter fears that many who are home at home may have it. He will have an examination made of the school building as to its sanitary condition, and will have class rooms fumigated.

Washington public school is at the southwest corner or Independence avenue and Cherry street, and the Karnes school is at the northwest corner of Troost avenue and Fourth street. Large numbers of the pupils have scarlet fever, the majority of victims predominating among those attending Karnes school. The diphtheria is not as epidemic as scarlet fever. The attendants of these two schools live in the territory bounded on the south by Admiral boulevard, north by the river, west by Grand avenue and east as far as Lydia avenue. The majority of the cases are north of Fifth street and scatter as far to the east as Budd park. As an assistance to the health authorities in keeping in touch with the exact location of the disease, a large map of the city has been prepared, and when a case of diphtheria develops a green-headed pin is driven into the map, designating a particular territory, and when one of scarlet fever is reported the map is perforated with a red-headed pin.

MAP RAPIDLY FILLING.

The map describing the Washington and Karnes school districts is rapidly filling up with the pin indicators, but not as noticeably as the district in which Benton school is situated. At the latter school diphtheria is the most prevalent, and is giving some alarm. The infection is spreading with rapidity. Benton school is at the southwest corner of Thirtieth street and Benton boulevard, in a fashionable and well-to-do neighborhood. There are from twenty to thirty cases of diphtheria among pupils going to this school, and it is feared that the disease got its start from the drinking cups in use there.

"The drinking cup in the public schools is a menace to health and is a communicator and spreader of disease," said Dr. Delamater yesterday. "Its frightful possibilities were fully described by Dr. W. S. Wheeler in his last annual report, and he advises that it be relegated and sanitary fountains installed in the schools. The health of no child is safe when the tin cup is in use. While I am not directly charging the appearance of diphtheria at Benton school to the drinking cup, still there is plenty of room for that suspicion as the school building is new and should be sanitary."

Labels: Benton boulevard, Cherry street, children, doctors, Fourth street, health, illness, Independence avenue, nuns, schools, Tracy avenue, Troost avenue

December 3, 1909

WELLS AND CISTERNS

MENACE TO HEALTH.

WATER FROM MISSOURI RIVER

SAFER TO DRINK.

City Chemist Says River Water

Causes But Few Cases of

Typhoid Fever.

"Eighty per cent of typhoid fever cases are caused by the use of drinking water taken from springs, wells and cisterns over the city," said Dr. W. M. Cross, city chemist, yesterday.

"The best water is that taken from the Missouri river. When a cistern becomes cracked it furnishes an avenue for the seeping in of sewage and other poisons from the earth.

"Some years ago I made an inspection of wells, springs and cisterns about town. I found that 80 per cent of typhoid fever was among persons who drank water from these sources, especially cisterns that had cracks in them.

"I quickly found that my recommendation that most of these wells, springs and cisterns be abandoned and sealed was not in line with political sentiment. There was too much politics involved in the crusade, so I gave it up."

"Have you ever called the attention of the Crittenden administration to this matter?" the chemist was asked.

"No, I never have," he replied, "but I am going to. The wells and springs and cracked cisterns are a menace to the health of the city and I want to report t hat they produce more typhoid than does the Missouri river. water."

DRINKS MISSOURI WATER.

"Do you drink and use Missouri river water?"

"I drink it as it comes from the faucet. I am not afraid of it, nor should any other healthy person be. Possible it would be well enough for people with weak constitutions to boil it.

"There is no greater amount of typhoid fever in Kansas City now than at this time in previous years. And what there is I am not going to charge up to Missouri river water, so long as I am aware that the city abounds with contaminated springs, wells and cracked cisterns.

"The newspapers contain accounts of a plague of typhoid at Parkville, but it does not follow that because Parkville is located on the banks of the Missouri river and close to Kansas City that our citizens are likely to take the malady from drinking Missouri river water.

"Missouri river water is in pretty good condition now. The bacteria counts are about normal. I feel confident that when sulphate of iron is used to purify it instead of lime and alum there will be a lessening of the bacteria and the purification will be more complete. A carload of sulphate of iron is ow on the way to the city, and just as soon as it gets here we will try some of it on the water."

Labels: City Chemist Cross, health, Missouri river, Parkville, typhoid

November 15, 1909

CONDITIONS UNIFORMLY GOOD.

Inspection of Schools Develops a

Few Cases Needing Attention.

School pupils should be taught in the open air, according to Dr. W. S. Wheeler, city health commissioner. Dr. Wheeler has in charge the inspection of school children, which was made since Wednesday in every ward school in the city by six physicians appointed by him.

"In the greater number of cases in which children in the schools were found deficient physically, the cause was lowered vitality as a result of being cooped up in rooms," Dr. Wheeler said. "The normal child should live in the open air as much as possible and sleep in it.

"The inspectors not only examined the children, but also looked into the ventilation of the various rooms, examined the water supply and inspected every external feature of housing in schools. I t was found that many pupils had weak or defective eyes, hundreds had sore throats and chronic tonsillitis and a great number were afflicted with adenoids.

"No abnormal conditions among the pupils were found. The teachers seem anxious to co-operate with the physicians in charge of the inspection. Some of them already have begun to better the ventilation in their rooms. No room can be healthful where from sixty to 100 persons remain for hours at a time unless the greatest precautions are taken with its ventilations."

The inspecting physicians will visit every ward school in the city three times a week for a short period. The inspection will be cut to twice a week in a month or six weeks and afterwards to once a week. In the fifty schools inspected, about 100 children were sent home until they can be treated by physicians for weak eyes or sore throats.

Dr. E. H. Miller, city physician of Liberty, Mo., was in Kansas City yesterday to learn the system by which the inspection here is being made. It is probable that that city will take up inspection of children in its schools. A list of rules for the inspectors has been printed and will be sent out to them and principals of schools. The rules designate the duties of school officers and the inspectors in charge of the work.

Labels: doctors, health, Liberty, schools

November 6, 1909

CIGARETTES IN 10,000 LOTS.

That Is the Way Louis Curtiss,

Architect, Buys Them.

Louis Curtiss, the architect, is not the champion cigarette smoker of Kansas City, but there is a well grounded belief that he is the champion individual buyer. Asked as to the source of his cigarette supply yesterday, the architect said that he had made his order by a New York manufacturer and made his purchases in lots of 10,000.

"The thousand cigarettes," said Curtiss, "will last me ten months. That would indicated that I smoke a thousand cigarettes a month, but I don't. I give about 25 per cent of them away. I figure that I smoke twenty-five cigarettes each day.

"Hurt me? Not at all. That is the secret of having them made to order. My cigarettes are manufactured of the mildest tobacco on the market and are free from dope. There is nothing in them but pure tobacco. Years ago I used to smoke a readymade brand and frequently suffered from sore throat. Then I turned to the tailor-made article. Cheaper, too. These are as fine a cigarette as a man ever smoked, and they cost, in 10,000 lots, only $18 a thousand. That sounds dirt cheap to me."

Labels: architects, health, New York, tobacco

November 2, 1909

TWELVE DIE OF DIPHTHERIA.

Total Cases for October, 138; In-

crease of 83 Over Last Year.

During October there were 138 cases of diphtheria reported to the board of health. There were twelve deaths. For the same month a year ago there were but fifty-five cases of the disease reported.

"I didn't know know that there was such an epidemic," said Dr. W. S. Wheeler, sanitary superintendent, when his attention was called to the October record. "Unfortunately the ordinances are weak for a proper control of infectious diseases. Parents in most cases are very careless. They insist on sending their children to school when they complain of being ill. The child who complains of a sore throat may have diphtheria. In this way the infection is spread.

"I hope that when the hospital and health board meets Wednesday it will give me authority to start in on the contemplated inspection of public schools. In this way we will be able to detect contagious diseases among children. The council tonight transferred $5,000 to the health and hospital board for this purpose. It will be money well spent."

Scarlet fever also is rampant among children. The health authorities learned of sixty-five cases during October, against forty-five for the same month in 1908.

Labels: board of health, death, health, illness

October 16, 1909

TO OPEN SANITARIUM TODAY.

Wm. Volker's Gift Means Much to

Kansas City People.

The opening reception of the tubercular pavilion, Twenty-second and Cherry streets, the gift of Mr. William Volker to the Jackson County Society for the Relief and Prevention of Tuberculosis, is to be held at 3 o'clock this afternoon.

As this is a great event in the history of Kansas City, everyone is cordially invited to be present at the dedication of the sanitarium, which is to be presented by Frank P. Walsh, president of the society, to the city, through its mayor, Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr.

Addresses will be delivered by Professor Charles Zubelin of New York, Mayor Crittenden, Frank P. Walsh and E. W. Schauffler, medical director of the sanitarium.

Labels: Cherry street, doctors, Frank Walsh, health, hospitals, Mayor Crittenden, New York, organizations, Twenty-second street

October 6, 1909

WHY SWOPE NEVER MARRIED.

John C. Gage Talks of the Younger

Days of Kansas City's Benefactor.

When John C. Gage came to Kansas City in 1859 Colonel Swope had been here two years. From about 1862 to 1866 they had offices together in Colonel Swope's building on the east side of Main street between Third and Fourth streets. The building, with others in the block, has recently been torn down to make room for a city market.

"Although Colonel Swope was a lawyer and a graduate of Yale," said Mr. Gage yesterday, "he never practiced law. Even as a young man he was often depressed in spirits and used to go for days at a time and never speak to his nearest friends. When it was over, however, he was the most affable of men. He suffered greatly from indigestion and stomach trouble as a young man, and we used to attribute his depression to illness.

"Many persons have wondered why Tom Swope never married. I always attributed it to his physical infirmity at a time of life when men most consider matrimony. He was very restless and irritable at times and he knew it.

"Tom Swope was the most farsighted man I ever knew. He seemed determined to get rich when a young man, and showed great ability in picking his investments, not all of which were in this city, by any means. He had investments in St. Louis, Chicago, Kentucky, Tennessee and in the mountains. He made few that did not bring him great gain.

"Many persons thought the habit he had of talking to himself came with old age. As a young man I have heard him talk to himself time and again. He had a habit, which he carried to his old age, of arguing with himself after he had made an investment. At such times he was very severe in his critical arraignment of himself."

Labels: Chicago, health, Main street, St Louis, Thomas Swope

September 26, 1909

FOR FREE TREATMENT

OF TUBERCULOSIS.

ROOMS PREPARED IN ASSOCIAT-

ED CHARITIES BUILDING.

City Will Furnish a Nurse and

Bacteriological Examination

of Patients Is to Be

Made Daily.

Three rooms have been fitted up in the building of the Associated Charities, 1115 Charlotte street, as a free dispensary for scientific tuberculosis research and the treatment of persons afflicted with the disease. Daily consultations will be conducted at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, beginning with tomorrow by Dr. Charles B. Irwin, assisted by Dr. Logan Clendening. Mrs. Kate Pierson, George Damon and William Volker volunteer their services in the management of the department which will receive its support from the Provident Association.

Dr. Irwin said last night that all of the rules set out by the National Tuberculosis Society would be observed.

Bacteriological examinations will be made of the expectoration of patients, who will be instructed how to treat themselves and how to prevent or minimize the extent of infection to others.

CITY TO EMPLOY NURSE.

Medicines will be dispensed and a trained nurse will visit the homes of patients to ascertain the sanitary conditions of their respective abodes.

This nurse will be employed and paid by the city, and Dr. W. S. Wheeler, sanitary superintendent, will furnish instruments and necessary appliances.

Those exhibiting early symptoms of the disease will be sent to the sanitarium at Mount Vernon, Mo., supported by the state, or to the one built on the old general hospital grounds by the Tuberculosis Society. There are accommodations at the latter place for twelve patients, and it is contemplated that later its management may be taken over by the city. Patients with whom the disease has reached an advanced stage will be sent to hospitals or probably treated at their own homes if the surroundings and conditions permit.

CARD OF WARNING.

Cards bearing this warning will be distributed among afflicted suspects:

"If you are in a run down condition, languid and suffering from night sweats, you are in danger of contracting consumption readily. It will be greatly to your interest to consult the physicians at the dispensary. Everything is to be gained by early treatment."

The dispensary has issued a printed list of suggestions to consumptives indicating the kind of exercise they should take, the kind of clothing they are to wear and what they are to eat. Eggs and milk are recommended in cases of fickle appetite and these will be supplied by the Tuberculosis Society if the afflicted one is too poor to provide them.

Labels: Associated Charities, Charlotte street, doctors, food, health, hospitals

August 25, 1909

INCINERATING PLANT

THE ONLY SOLUTION.

Safe and Sanitary Way to

Dispose of Garbage.

"The time is at hand for this city to face the garbage problem and to face it in a safe and sanitary sort of way. In my opinion the proper solution lies not only in the collection of all refuse, but also in its final destruction. the city should be provided with an incinerating plant; indeed, it is now so large since the borders have been increased that we should have two such plants."

Dr. W. S. Wheeler, health commissioner, made this suggestion in the first annual report, which he read before the hospital and health board yesterday afternoon.

In discussing this subject Dr. Wheeler tells the board that J. I. Boyer contracted last December to remove garbage three times a day during the months between May and October and twice a day during the other months. The garbage was to be removed away from the city.

"Up to this date," the report states, "Mr. Boyer has not in any particular fulfilled his contract with the city, and, with his present equipment, he will not be able to do so. further, Mr. Boyer has had implicit instructions from your health commissioner that the government officials had warned our department that no more garbage should be dumped into the Missouri river, but Mr. Boyer has, purposely or otherwise, not heeded our protestations in this respect."

"PEST HOUSE FOR DISEASES."

Dr. Wheeler speaks of the workhouse as a "veritable pest house for all kinds of diseases." He blames the construction of the place for the unsanitary condition, and says "unfortunates are packed in cells like rats in holes." He suggests that the place be enlarged so that more cell room may be had, that sewer connections be made with each cell and that two wards be built where the attending physician may see that sick prisoners get humane treatment.

The commissioner next takes up the spit nuisance, tells of the ordinance passed concerning spitting in street cars, and says that education has done much to abate the nuisance.

In a long dissertation on "the house fly," he speaks of the diseases that are carried into homes by this insect. It is his opinion that typhoid fever and many intestinal troubles are spread by the fly.

He recommends the destruction of open vaults and that sewage should not be allowed to empty into adjacent streams, but should be destroyed completely. To keep the city in better condition he recommends more inspectors and a system by which tab may be kept on them to see that they work.

Labels: board of health, doctors, health, Missouri river, public works, typhoid, workhouse

August 10, 1909

DIAGNOSED AS HYDROPHOBIA.

Pet Dog's Saliva Infects Wound on

Owner's Hand.

Children living in the neighborhood of Fifty-first street and Prospect avenue are having a hard time of it the last few days. Their mothers refuse to allow them to get out of sight, and if a dog appears the children are hustled into the ho use and doors barred. The cause of the confinement of the kids and the dog scare is a small fox terrier owned by Mr. Van Felt, near Fifty-first street and Prospect avenue.

Six dogs owned by neighbors of Mr. Van Felt were bitten by the fox terrier on last Friday afternoon. Mr. Van Felt played with the dog late Friday afternoon and the dog licked his hand in a playful way. A wound on the hand became infected late that night, and the next day Mr. Van Felt heard that his dog had bitten others. Becoming frightened, Mr. Van Felt consulted a physician who diagnosed the swelling as hydrophobia. The physician left for Chicago last night in charge of his patient who was going to be treated at the Pasteur institute.

The police of No. 6 station were informed of the result of the physician's examination. Sergeant R. L. James sent an officer to round up the dogs that had been bitten. His instructions are that the owners tie the dogs for a period of fifteen days. If symptoms of hydrophobia appeared within that time the dogs are to be killed.

Labels: animals, Chicago, children, doctors, Fifty-first street, health, illness, No 6 police station, police, Prospect avenue, rabies

July 22, 1909

FRESH AIR FOR TWO WEEKS.

Seventy-Five Ill and Infirm Are En-

joying Camp Life.

Located on a twenty-acre tract of land just two blocks from the end of the Swope park car line is the Fresh Air camp conducted by the Salvation Army. Seventy-five persons a day are enjoying camp life.

The camp is in the main for those who are ill and unable to provide the necessities of life. Age is no bar to the pleasures of the Fresh Air camp, and while children only a few weeks old are out there, they have as camp companions some people who are gray-haired and bent from old age and suffering.

Twenty-five large tents provide the necessary shelter while one tent with ten cots in it is used as the hospital tent. The people are given two weeks vacation and then a new lot goes out for two weeks. Captain Garvin is in charge of the camp.

Labels: health, Salvation Army

July 4, 1909

WANTS A SANE FOURTH

IF BOYS ARE WILLING.

POLICE HAVE STRINGENT OR-

DERS FROM CHIEF SNOW.

Health Commissioner Wheeler Has

Placed Supply of Tetanus Anti-

Toxin With Hospitals --

Quiet in Most Districts.

This year there is to be an extraordinary effort made to have a same Fourth, and also Fifth of July in Kansas City. Chief of Police Frank F. Snow issued orders yesterday that he wanted as many men on duty during the "busy" parts of both days as possible. If the people do not want to act in a sane manner while celebrating a policeman may be on hand to make them. The chief called for the arrests of all parties caught putting explosives on the street car tracks, and wanted officers to take special care to see that "no fireworks of any kind are exploded near any hospital or near where there are sick people."

Dr. W. S. Wheeler, health commissioner, has taken steps to keep down, as far as possible, mortality resulting from gunshot or firecracker wounds. Tetanus often follows such wounds, especially in the hands, and death is frequently the result. At the general hospital, the emergency hospital and the Walnut street police station, Dr. Wheeler has placed a supply of tetanus anti-toxin with instructions to use it immediately in every case where it is suspected the injury may develop lockjaw.

"It has been shown," said Dr. Wheeler last night, "that where the anti-toxin is used promptly it acts as a preventive. It has also been used with good results in many cases where the disease had already begun to develop."

Dr. Isadore Anderson, in charge of the dispensary at the Post-Graduate hospital on Independence avenue, secured a supply of the anti-toxin from Dr. Wheeler and will use it in all cases where its use may be indicated. This dispensary being a free one, has many injured persons.

Chief of Police Frank F. Snow issued stringent orders recently indicating the class of firecrackers and fireworks which would be permitted. Firearms of any character, whether loaded with blank or bullet cartridges, are prohibited.

Labels: doctors, fireworks, health, holidays, hospitals, Police Chief Snow

July 4, 1909

CRITICISE CONDITIONS

AT THE COUNTY JAIL.

FEDERAL PHYSICIANS DECLARE

PLACE IS UNSANITARY.

Pardon Recommended for Woman,

That Her Life May Be Pro-

longed -- Feed Prisoners

Too Cheaply?

Conditions at the Jackson county jail, Missouri avenue and McGee street, are criticised by physicians who care for the federal prisoners there.

One of the prisoners is Mary Cook, serving a sentence for six months for counterfeiting, who has become seriously ill. In order to save the woman's life, the United States court officers here have recommended a pardon. This step is most unusual.

The county marshal, in charge of the jail is not held blameworthy by the department of justice, nor by the physicians.

"It is the impossible way they are trying to make the jail cost the tax payers next to nothing," said Dr. Eugene Carbaugh, one of the federal physicians.

When at jail attending the Cook woman, Dr. Carbaugh and Dr. Lapp, an alderman, who is one of the federal physicians, made a casual examination to find the cause for sickness. The declare it is largely due to defective plumbing and neglect of ordinary sanitary precautions.

Without exception, they say, the prisoners complained of the food. The government pays 50 cents a day to the county for boarding its prisoners. The county is feeding the prisoners at a cost of 11 cents a day, which is 2 cents a day more than the bill had been.

When asked what remedy could be proposed, the government representative said "the doctors tell us it would be necessary to tear out every bit of plumbing in the place, and then keep trusties or other intelligent men constantly at work watching the prisoners, to see that they help keep the place in order. More money is needed for better food."

Judge John F. Philips has never spoken of conditions in the Jackson county jail, but he never sends a prisoner there to serve out a sentence. He called a special grand jury last week to take two boys out of the jail and to give him a chance to send them to some place where conditions are at least sanitary. The Cook woman, who is ill through hereditary trouble, was sent to the jail here at her own urgent request.

Labels: counterfeiters, doctors, Dr Carbaugh, health, jail, Judge Philips

April 19, 1909

SUICIDE IN SWOPE PARK.

Virne Willard, Despondent Through

Ill Health, Makes Good His

Threat to Die.

With a revolver in the right hand and a bullet hole in the head, the badly decomposed body of Eugene Virne Willard, 417 Lawton place, was found yesterday afternoon in a ditch about a mile east of the main entrance to Swope park, by two small boys, who notified park authorities.

Two patrolmen were sent from No 9 district, and Dr. Harry Czarlinsky, deputy coroner, notified. In the man's coat pocket they found a small memorandum book containing a sh ort note, asking anyone who found the body to notify his wife. It was signed, "Eugene Willard, 417 Lawton place."

The park employes did not remember having seen the man, and it could not be determined just when the suicide was committed, but he evidently had been dead several days.

Mrs. Susie Willard, wife of the suicide, when seen in their apartments at 417 Lawton place, last night, said that her husband had been afflicted for some time with tuberculosis and heart disease, and that he complained of his head.

"My husband was about 33 years old. We had been married five years," she said. "He was very nervous, and the fact that of late he was unable to attend to his duties at the stock yards about made him insane.

"Three weeks ago Virne came home and told us all he would kill himself. Later he told my mother, Mrs. Sarah Powell, that he went one time to the Kaw river to jump in, but that he found the water too shallow and too muddy for the plunge and changed his mind. By a statagem we succeeded in getting a hold of his revolver and hiding it under some papers on the cupboard. Last Wednesday we found the weapon missing.

"Thursday morning I asked Virne to go to the store and purchase some ribbon from a sample I gave him. By night he had not returned, so I notified the police. Since then my brother has tramped the outskirts of the city trying to find the body, confident that my husband had killed himself.

When ill health drove the husband to despondency, Mrs. Willard penned the note and placed it in his pocket, giving her address and asking that in case of accident she be notified.

Labels: Dr Czarlinsky, health, Kaw river, Lawton place, mental health, No 9 police station, stock yards, Suicide, Swope park

April 14, 1909

559 POUNDS OF GIRL

IN ONE BIG WRAPPER.

With a Waist Line of 88 Inches,

Pearl Rambo Is Still Taking

on Flesh.

PEARL RAMBO.
15-Year-Old Girl Who Tips the Scales

at 559 Pounds and Still Growing.

Pearl Rambo, aged 15 years and weighing 559 pounds, was a guest of Mrs. Everingham, matron at Union depot, yesterday afternoon. Pearl arrived in Kansas City from her home in Council Bluffs about 3 o'clock, and for more than three hours was the center of an interested group of spectators and questioners, while she waited for the train which was to take her to Abilene, Kas.

"No, I was not always so large," she said, "but from what physicians tell me, I haven't much hope of ever being any smaller. Since I passed through this city a little more than three years ago, I have gained 109 pounds, and they say that if I continue to gain weight at that rate, when I am thirty I will tip the scales at nearly half a ton. But I don't believe anything like that.

"I have had but very few sick days in my lifetime, and I feel pretty good most of the time. I eat whatever looks good to me, but try to avoid foods that produce fat. Perhaps once a month I eat candy, and then never much. Breakfast foods are struck entirely off my menu, and seldom do I eat those things that are usually served with sugar and cream over them. Sweet things seem to agree with me, but I do not eat them.

"There is only one other person that I know of larger than I, and that is Anna Fredline. She is 35 years old and weighs 670 pounds. When I get to be her age, I fear I shall weigh much more than that."

Pearl walked from the train into the depot unassisted and also walked to the train when she left. It was difficult for her to pass through the gate, and still more difficult to get through the car door. She managed to pull herself up to the first step alone, but, finding it necessary to turn sideways in order to enter, the porter was obliged to assist her.

With a width of forty-five inches across the shoulders, and an eighty-eight inch waist measure, this girl cannot enter an ordinary carriage. She must have either a very wide and very low single buggy or a spring wagon. Her arms at the biceps measure twenty-four inches in circumference. She says she likes to travel and see things and people.

Labels: buggy, depot matron, health, Union depot, visitors

March 9, 1909

SUFFERS NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

Florence Robers, Actress, Resting at
Hotel Baltimore.

MISS FLORENCE ROBERTS.

Since last Saturday, Miss Florence Robers, the actress, has been ill at the Hotel Baltimore in this city Last night attendants reported that Miss Roberts is suffering from a nervous collapse, but her condition is not serious. "She needed a rest and will join her company in St. Joseph next Sunday," her nurse said.

Miss Robers, who has been starring this season in "The House of Bondage," left her company last Friday at Cheyenne, Wyo. At that time she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and her doctor ordered a week's rest. Since coming to Kansas City her condition has steadily improved and unless she suffers a relapse she will be able to resume her stage work next Sunday as planned.

Labels: health, Hotel Baltimore, hotels, theater, visitors

February 23, 1909

FIGHT MADE BY JEWS

AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS.

RABBI MAYER TELLS WHAT

RACE HAS ACCOMPLISHED.

Two Separate Institutions at Denver

for Sufferers of All Races and

Creeds -- First Patient

a Catholic.

Interest in the exhibit of the National Society for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis, now going on in the Scarritt building, Ninth street and Grand avenue, under the auspices of the Jackson county society, increases. Yesterday and last night over 3,000 persons attended.

On account of the large attendance at the stereopticon lecture and the discussions by prominent local physicians in the evening, it has become necessary to double the capacity of the lecture hall.

Last night the meeting was under the auspices of the United Jewish Charities, with Rabbi H. H. Mayer in the chair. Rabbi Mayer told his audience what the Jewish people are doing in the fight against the great white plague. He spoke of its ravages among his people, especially in the sweat shops and the poor tenements of New York, where those from foreign lands live and work.

"The National hospital at Denver," he said, "is now managed and maintained wholly by the Jews, yet it is open to the unfortunate of all religions. Only two questions are asked of the applicant -- 'Is the disease in its first stages?' and 'Are you unable to pay for treatment?' It might be interesting to know that the first patient admitted was a Catholic. We have another institution in that city, a hospital for those in the advanced stages of the disease."

Rabbi Mayer then told his hearers that if they knew any person who needed treatment in these institutions to send them to Jacob Billikopf, local superintendent of the Jewish Charities, where they would be examined, classified and placed upon the waiting list for admission.

SYMPTOM OF CIVILIZATION.

"Consumption," he said in closing, "is only a symptom of modern civilization. It is a result of modern crowded and herded conditions in the great cities. That was its beginning, and it has spread like a pestilence."

Dr. Jacob Block, who followed Rabbi Mayer and spoke on "The Economic Value of Prevention," agreed that tuberculosis, or consumption,, is a disease of civilization. He then told of the advancement of bacteriology and what it had accomplished in the battle against this and other germ diseases.

W. L. Cosper, in his stereopticon talk last night, informed his audience that the tubercle bacillus, the germ of tuberculosis, is a vegetable germ. It is not a wiggling thing, but has no vitality, is inert and must be raised by dust or other method to get into the system, where it multiplies by dividing. In an hour one germ will become thousands, each doing its amount of damage to the person with the run down system or the unhealthy mucous membrane. A person in good health, he said, will get rid of all kinds of disease germs by his natural resisting powers.

USED THEM FOR SAUSAGE.

In speaking of tuberculosis in cattle and hogs, Mr. Cosper said that it had been found that about 1 per cent of cattle and 2 per cent of hogs were infected. At the great packing houses, through government inspection, such carcasses are destroyed, but in smaller communities where a butcher kills his own animals there is no inspection. A Nebraska butcher told Mr. Cosper that he had frequently found animals with diseased organs like those he saw at the exhibit. "But I never sold that meat," he said. "I always laid it aside and made sausage from it."

The germ of tuberculosis shown under the microscope is attracting much attention at the exhibit. Germs which cause green and yellow pus, diphtheria, typhoid fever, anthrax and tuberculosis are being cultivated in tubes on what is known as "culture media." Many of them have become so thick that they can be seen with the naked eye -- where there are millions of them. They are safely bottled.

Labels: Denver, doctors, Grand avenue, health, Jacob Billikopf, Jews, ministers, Ninth street, organizations, Scarritt building, stereopticons, typhoid

February 20, 1909

NO TYPHOID IN WATER.

First Chemical Test Shows Satisfac-

tory Results.

It takes three days for Dr. W. M. Cross, city chemist, to make a complete and satisfactory analysis of the city's supply of water from the Missouri river. At a meeting of the fire and water board Thursday the chemist was directed to submit a daily analysis of the water to the water department, and this morning he will furnish data of an analysis of the water taken from the river and settling basins three days ago.

"The analysis is very satisfactory," said Dr. Cross yesterday. "There are no typhoid germs visible, and the water is in very good shape for this time of the year. Owing to the many complaints made of the hardness of the water, which his due to the clarifying of it with alum, I may recommend the discontinuance of alum and the substitution of iron and lime. The later softens the water, and iron is splendid as a coagulant."

Labels: City Chemist Cross, health, Missouri river, typhoid

February 19, 1909

TO TEACH THE PUBLIC

ABOUT TUBERCULOSIS.

IMPORTANT EXHIBIT WILL BE

ON TWO WEEKS.

More Than 2,000 Persons Attend

on Opening Day -- Kansas Univer-

sity Medical Department

Well Represented.

The exhibit of the National Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis opened in the Scarritt building, Ninth street and Grand avenue, yesterday and will continue for two weeks under the auspices of the Jackson county society. W. L. Cosper, who has charge of the exhibit, said last night that in the matter of first day's attendance, Kansas City had broken all records, over 2,000 people visiting it yesterday afternoon and evening.

While the rooms were opened to the public during the afternoon, the exhibit was opened formally last night by Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., who made a short address.

The mayor said that before many weeks model play grounds for children would be completed here. That, he said, is a step toward health and happiness. He told the audience that the city had voted $20,000 of bonds for the erection of a tuberculosis sanitarium on the hills east of the city, and the building of bungalows there for the convalescent. He also told of the work of the tenement board, and said said that its members, all busy citizens, should be thanked for giving their time and labor to the city for nothing. The mayor also stated that his hospital and health board was now strictly enforcing the spitting ordinance, which had long been neglected.

TELLS OF TUBERCULOSIS.

"If a policeman yanks you down to the station for spitting on a street car," he said, "don't lose your temper. He is only doing his duty, and you must agree that it is right."

Frank P. Walsh, president of the Jackson county society, presided. In the absence of Dr. W. S. Wheeler, health commissioner, he introduced E. W. Schauffler, who told what tuberculosis is, and how it may be cured if taken in time.

"It is contracted," he said, "generally in inhaling the germ which is blown into your face with the dust of the street, in the workshop or at the room. It is often introduced through food and sometimes by contact. It always produces death of tissue or bone. Three things are essential for its cure -- pure air, sunshine and good food."

The doctor said that "the American people are the greatest spitters in the globe, possibly made so from the tobacco chewing habit."

On account of the breaking of a lense Mr. Cosper was unable last night to give the steropticon lecture. Tonight, however, and every night for the next two weeks, views will be shown and prominent physicians will speak.

The meeting today will be in charge of the tenement commission. Walter C. Root, chairman, will speak on housing conditions in Kansas City, and the inception and spread of tuberculosis. Dr. Oh. H. Duck will speak in the evening. It is expected that Dr. McGee of Topeka, Kas., may be here with his stereopticon lecture on tuberculosis.

SPITS INTO GUTTER NOW.

That the exhibit alone, without the lectures, has begun to bear fruit, was shown by a little incident yesterday afternoon. Two men emerged from the room talking. One of them cleared his throat and was just in the act of expectorating on the sidewalk when he stopped.

"I guess I'll spit in the gutter after this," he said to his friend, "I've just learned something."

The University of Kansas, Rosedale, has several interesting specimens on view, such as tuberculosis glands, kidneys, hearts, etc. One jar shows a healthy lung, another the organ after being attacked by tuberculosis, and a third jar of a lung which had been affected and later cured of the disease.

A physician from the school explained the exhibit last night. In his pocket he carried a small tube in which he said "are as many tubercle bacilli, the germ which causes tuberculosis, as there are sands in the sea."

Labels: doctors, Grand avenue, health, Mayor Crittenden, Ninth street, organizations, Rosedale, Scarritt building, stereopticons, streetcar, tenement commission, universities

January 11, 1909

BADNESS OF BOYS IS

NOT DUE TO ADENOIDS.

Dr. W. S. Wheeler, City Health Com-

missioner, Declares the New Or-

leans Scheme a Fad.

"Medical inspectors in the public schools have asked the board of education to have surgeons remove adenoids from bad boys to make them good," reads a dispatch from New Orleans.

"Nothing but a fad," said Dr. W. S. Wheeler, city health commissioner, when shown the telegram last night. Though he is an earnest believer in medical inspection of the schools, Dr. Wheeler did not indorse the recommendation of the New Orleans inspectors, which he brands as faddishness.

"It is absurd to say that the removal of adenoids in bad boys will so alter their disposition as to make them good. Adenoids are simply glandular growths in the throat, back of tonsils, and are brought on by sever colds and other causes. Their removal often rids the victim of a certain impediment in speech, but as to any effect on the character of the boy who undergoes the operation, which is a simple one, there is none."

Labels: children, doctors, health, New Orleans, telegram

January 7, 1909

COLD KEEPS HIM PRISONER.

John Martin Speyer, Free Man Now,

Can't Go Out of Doors.

Since leaving the Jackson county jail Tuesday morning, the case against him having been dismissed by Virgil Conkling, prosecutor, after almost seven years of trial, John Martin Speyer has been unable to spend any of his freedom out of doors. The weather has been so severe that Speyer, after six years and six months of incarceration, is afraid to step out in the open air. His physical condition is such that it makes him liable to pneumonia and unable to stand the cold.

At the present time Speyer is living with George McCabe, a friend, at 520 East Eleventh street. All of his time is being spent in preparation of the lecture upon crime and punishment.

Labels: Eleventh street, health, Prosecutor Conkling, weather

December 28, 1908

ST. ANTHONY'S HOME IN COURT.

Physicians Have Been Called to

Explain Complaints Lodged

Against Management.

Physicians will be called before the juvenile court this morning to tell the court what they know about the conduct of St. Anthony's Home for Infants. For some time there has been complaints lodged against the home by physicians and Humane agents.

Mrs. Mary Workman, matron, said last night that the hospital was conducted in a first-class manner and that no just complaint could be made against it. She admitted that the babies did not receive sufficient exercise, because of the lack of nurses to give them proper handling.

Physicians connected with the city health and hospital board have objected for a long time to the manner in which the death certificates were sent in by the hospital authorities. Other physicians who have been connected with the staff have resigned, their excuse for resigning being that the nurses at the hospital failed to follow instructions given regarding treatment of the children.

The investigation to be had before the juvenile court this morning is to compel a change in the management of the home. Mrs. Richard Keith, who is interested in the home, said last night that the home was conducted in a first-class manner and that she approved of the present management.

Labels: doctors, health, Humane Society, St Anthonys Home

December 18, 1908

MILLIONS OF GERMS RELEASED.

Terrible Situation at Manual, Due to

Waving Handkerchiefs.

The Manual Training high school students will never again wave their handkerchiefs in appreciation of the programmes that are given in the assemblies.

"A short time ago, after we had used that signal of pleasure," Professor E. D. Phillips explained to the students yesterday, "I received an anonymous letter telling me that I done a very reckless and dangerous thing -- that in allowing the children to wave their handkerchiefs I had filled the rooms with millions of terrible disease germs. I hadn't thought of that. We will now give a rising vote of thanks.

"And next time when we want to wave at a distinguished visitor in appreciation of his talk," he added, "I will tell the students ahead of time to bring clean handkerchiefs and reserve them for this purpose."

Labels: health, schools

November 6, 1908

CARS SPREAD CONSUMPTION.

Dr. R. M. Schauffler Says They Do.

Wants Ordinance Enforced.

In a talk before the members of the City Club yesterday at noon, Dr. R. M. Schauffler said that consumption in Kansas City was largely due to the uncleanliness of street cars. He charged the people of Kansas City with spitting on the floors of the cars and the conductors of the cars with making no effort to stop the practice. Dr. Schauffler is strongly in favor of having an ordinance passed compelling all tuberculosis patients to be registered. He is also in favor of building a tuberculosis hospital near Leeds, and he want the city to enforce its anti-spitting ordinance.

A. E. Gallagher, one of the police commissioners, stated that the police board was willing to enforce the law. William P. Borland, congressman-elect, talked upon transportation. He believes that the question may be solved, to an extent, by the improvement of the Missouri river.

Labels: Commissioner Gallagher, Congressman Borland, doctors, health, Missouri river, organizations, police board, streetcar

October 31, 1908

PUTS BEDBUG IN A CAPSULE.

And Gives It to Children to Cure

Chills and Fever.

"Are bedbugs good for chills and fever?"

This inquiry stumped Dr. E. L. Mathias, probation officer, yesterday. After he had taken the count, the doctor sat up and asked particulars of the man who had propounded the question. The visitor to the Detention home explained:

"There is a woman out in our section of town who has ideas of her own about medicine. When her children have chills and fever, she puts a bedbug in a capsule and feeds it to them. Is that all right?

The doctor promised to look into the capsules. "Maybe it's a valuable addition to the scientific knowledge of medicine," he said.

Labels: detention home, doctors, Dr Mathias, health

October 29, 1908

NEED NOT FEAR

VACCINE POINTS.

CHILDREN NEEDN'T SUBMIT UN-

LESS THEY WANT TO.

GREENWOOD GETS

HIS ORDERS.

MUST NOT THREATEN PUPILS

WITH EXPULSION.

If Parents Want Them Vaccinated,

Well and Good; If Not, That

Ends It -- To Begin

Today.

There will be no wholesale vaccination of children at the Woodland school this morning. That is, there will not be if parents express the desire that their children be passed by when the surgeon makes his rounds this morning with his vacine point. Neither will these children who thus escape this raid be excluded from the schools.

It appeared yesterday afternoon that every child in the Woodland school would be forced to undergot his ordeal this morning as a physician has been appointed ot the task, by the health board. This physician undoubtedly will be busy, for there are parents who welcome the opportunity of having their children vaccinated without expense to themselves, but those parents who have been worrying lest their children be subjected to the vaccine point may rest assured that they will be allowed to continue in school, and without protest. They will not be excluded. Neither will they be threatened with expulsion.

Joseph L. Norman, president of the board of education, said last night that while no official action had been taken by the board, he had warned Superintendent J. M. Greenwood no later than last night that children whose parents objected to tehir being vaccinated should not be threatened with expulsion.

"The board will not meet until next month, and there can be no official action until that time, either way," Mr. Norman said. "But there need be no fear on the part of parents that their children will be kept out of the schools. That is out of the question. They will be allowed to continue their studies whether they are vaccinated or not."

Many North End children, doubtless sent by parents aroused to the point of believing a plague is imminent by the vaccination discussion, visited the city physician's office yesterday and asked to be vaccinated. They were splendidly attended to, and most of them looked upon the little patch of scratches on their arms as real red badges of courage.

Labels: children, health, North end, schools, Superintendent Greenwood

October 25, 1908

HEAL BY PSYCHOTHERAPY.

This Advice Given to Universalists'

Convention Delegates.

The delegates and visitors to the Thirty-seventh annual convention of Universalists in session at the First Universalist church, Park avenue and Tenth street, were addressed yesterday on "Psychotherapy" by Dr. J. W. Caldwell of Galesburg, Ill. He holds the chairs of psychology and sociology at Lombard university.

Dr. Caldwell declared that 80 per cent of all ills are traceable directly to the nervous system, and that the use of drugs in many instances is unnecessary. He earnestly urged upon his hearers the plan of spreading the Emmanuel movement throughout the length and breadth of the land. The Emanuel movement, which was originated in Boston with the Rev. Dr. Wooster, rector of the Emanuel Episcopal church, has to do with psychic healing conducted by a regular board of physicians. Unlike the Christian Scientists, the Universalists believe that medicine should be administered when necessary.

The morning session was Woman's day. The general theme, "Larger Work of Women," was discussed by Mrs. Wilbur S. Bell. Mrs. Clara Weeks spoke on the interesting subject, "The Work that Has Been Done, and May Be Done for Children."

Miss Gertrude Green, principal of the Irving school, delivered an address last night upon "The Ethical Care of Children." Miss Green said: "Children form good habits more readily than bad ones. The sense of personal responsibility is of utmost importance in the formation of a child's character. I am among those who believe that the world is growing better. Thirteen years of experience with children has taught me the inestimable value of careful training. Make the children realize that they are the future business men and women of the community, impress upon their minds the watchword of 'Good Citizenship,' and the result will be all that you can desire."

E. B. Hoffman, president of the Bankers' Trust Company, spoke upon "The Ethics of Banking."

The convention will close tonight.

Labels: Boston, children, churches, conventions, health, Park avenue, Tenth street, visitors

October 23, 1908

TO PUT TUBERCULOSIS

COWS ON THE MARKET.

Condemned Animals From Haskell

Dairy Herd Will Be Offered in

Kansas City for Beef.

LAWRENCE, KAS., Oct. 22. -- (Special.) Out of a herd of 110 dairy cattle at the Haskell institute, a government school here for Indians, twenty-three cows were condemned today because of tuberculosis, and fourteen others that are suspected with being diseased are under the ban. The condemnation and tests were made by Dr. L. R. Baker at the insistence of the government bureau of animal industry.

Before making his tests, Dr. Baker made the remark that the herd was one of the best he had ever seen. In the cows condemned there is no external evidence of anything wrong.

The tests were made by taking a cow's temperature four or five times in a single day. When the average temperature was ascertained a tuberculin solution was injected. Nine hours after the injection the temperature was again taken, and if a 5 to 7 degree increase was noted the animal was said to have tuberculosis in a bad form.

The cows condemned today will be shipped to Kansas City and put on the market there for beef. Superintendent Pears of Haskell, when asked if these tuberculosis cattle could be sold for human consumption, said it was all right if they passed the post-mortem inspection.

Labels: animals, food, health, Native Americans

October 21, 1908

OLD SMALLPOX HOSPITAL

WILL BE DESTROYED BY FIRE.

Abandoned Structure Is Full of

Germs of Deadly Contagious

Diseases.

St. George's contagious disease hospital, located on the banks of the Missouri near the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad bridge, is to be destroyed by fire by orders of the health and hospital board. It is a frame structure, and it is proposed to have the fire company stationed in the East Bottoms preside over the conflagration. The building was erected several years ago, and the board decided that it would never do to use the wreckage for building purposes again on account of fear of a spread of contagion. Hundreds of persons have been treated there for smallpox and other contagious diseases.

The floods of last spring overreached the banks, and moved the building off its foundations onto the land claimed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad company. Ever since then the hospital has been out of commission and the railroad company has been persistent in its demands that the structure be removed.

Reports current in the Eleventh ward, in which the old general hospital building and annexes are located, that smallpox patients are kept in the annexes are denied by W. P. Motley, a member of the health and hospital board.

"The stories have been traced down to employes who were discharged from the old hospital," said Mr. Motley last night. "We have been told that the previous administration kept smallpox patients in the annexes, but no such conditions have prevailed since the present board has been organized.

Mr. Motley was asked where the city would keep smallpox patients in the future. He replied that he could not answer the question, but that it would be taken up at the next meeting of the board.

A year or so ago, during the Beardsley administration, a movement was started to establish a contagious disease hospital on the grounds of the old hospital, but it was given up on account of protests from Eleventh ward residents.

Labels: East bottoms, flood, health, hospitals, railroad, smallpox

October 21, 1908

TO VACCINATE ALL

SCHOOL CHILDREN.

SWEEPING ORDER ISSUED BY

BOARD OF HEALTH.

NO ESCAPE FOR SCHOLARS.

CHILDREN WHO REFUSE MAY BE

BARRED FROM SCHOOL.

Board Will Also Ask Council to Pass

Ordinance Requiring Physi-

cians' Notice of All Con-

sumptive Patients.

Homes of consumptives, and the rooms in which they have lived are to be fumigated by the health and hospital board, if that body is successful in securing the passage of an ordinance by the city council to that effect. At its meeting yesterday afternoon in a new hospital building the board determined to request that physicians be made to report every case of consumption to the board of health before and after death. If the patients die from the disease or are moved to another place the board proposes to see that the home and rooms which were occupied by the consumptives are immediately disinfected. It is urged by the board that the council take prompt action upon the proposed measure.

The board yesterday decided to enforce the rule which makes it necessary for every pupil attending the public schools to undergo vaccination and medical inspection. This rule is to be enforced to the letter and should a child refuse to be vaccinated, or should the parents object to the vaccination, the board has the authority, according to most of its members, to exclude that child from the classroom.

Immediate co-operation of the board of education is sought by the health board and the matter will be presented to the former body at its next meeting. It has been almost taken for granted by the board of health that the measure will meet with hearty approval of the board of education, but whether or not such is the case, the rule will be enforced by the health department of the city which has been given the right by the new charter to use its own judgment in matters of such character.

HOW IT WILL BE DONE.

The matter of vaccination in the schools was put forth by Dr. W. S. Wheeler, who championed it strongly.

"It is an easy, wise and sane method to prevent the spread of much disease," he said. "All well regulated cities have such a preventive system and I have letters form boards of health in Chicago, Boston, Detroit and many others which tell of the expediency of the plan. The only opposition to be met in regard to the matter will be from the Christian Scientists. Their children must be treated as all the rest and they must undergo the vaccination.

"The board will arrange for certain physicians to take charge of schools in groups of four or five, and each will attend to all of the medical examinations in his group. Whenever a child goes to school with a bad cough, sore throat or weak eyes or any other physical ill, the principal of the school will be expected to report the same to the physician in charge. It is a fact that a weak child usually has a weak brain. Once in a long while a child is found whose body is very frail and mind very strong, but that is so seldom. If we make the children well they will make strong men and women of themselves. It looks like a duty of the board to the public and the board has so construed it."

Labels: board of health, Boston, doctors, general hospital, health, schools