Glimmers of Change (37 page)

Carrie smiled as she slid her hand through the crook in his arm. “We want it,” she said firmly. “And we have so many questions for you. For Jasmine’s sake, we are going into the dining room. You’re going to need to fortify yourself to answer all our questions,” she said lightly, covering up the deep sense of foreboding that had gripped her almost as soon as she stepped from the train.

Conversation flowed smoothly during dinner. By unspoken consent, everyone avoided the topic of cholera and the board of health. Talk of death and suffering had no place during the meal Jasmine had prepared so skillfully.

Air flowed in through the open windows, causing the sheer curtains to sway in the breeze. Gas lanterns lit the room brightly, illuminating the heavy Chippendale furniture and the gorgeous landscape paintings that decorated the soft yellow walls with splashes of vivid color. Tall vases of fresh-cut flowers adorned the serving tables. Perfume from the lilacs outside the window mixed with the aroma of freshly baked chicken and the mountain of vegetables Jasmine had carried out.

Carrie was content to listen during dinner. She was eager to learn as much as she could about this intriguing family, the Paxtons, and New York City. She caught Abby watching her several times. She merely smiled and continued to eat, letting the flow of conversation soothe her feelings of foreboding.

Dr. Benson waited until Jasmine had whisked away all the dishes before he cleared his throat and looked over at Carrie. “What do you think of our city, Carrie?”

Carrie, jolted out of her thoughts, blinked. “Excuse me?”

Dr. Benson smiled. “You’ve not said one word since dinner began. You have merely been absorbing everything going on around you. I could almost see your brain cataloging information. Have you reached any conclusions?”

Carrie stared at him, liking the openness in his gaze. She sensed a deep sincerity in his question. She could do nothing but respond with candor. “When I was growing up on the plantation I used to dream of visiting New York. I envisioned statues, opera houses, art galleries, and splendor for everyone,” she said slowly.

“That’s all here,” Dr. Benson assured her.

“I’m sure it is,” Carrie agreed, “but I no longer find the same things important. The splendor of New York City seems to have been overcome with disgusting odors, refuse, and disease. I now believe good privies are far more important than grand palaces and fine art galleries.” She took a deep breath. Silence had fallen on the table, but Dr. Benson’s eyes encouraged her to continue. “I believe life itself must be guaranteed to a person before one can hope to improve anything else about them.”

“You’ve thought about this a great deal,” Dr. Benson replied, his eyes shining with appreciation.

“Certainly since I arrived in your city today,” Carrie replied. “I want to have nothing but glowing things to say, but—”

“It would be a lie,” Dr. Benson interjected.

“Yes.”

Dr. Benson glanced at Abby. “I like your Carrie.” His eyes swept the table, seeing nothing but agreement on the faces of all her friends. “Now you know why I stay in the city, instead of going out to the country with my children.”

“I do understand,” Carrie answered. “Richmond was a terrible place to be during the war, but I found I didn’t want to be anywhere else. I was needed, and I believed I could make a difference.” She reached down and gripped Janie’s hand beneath the table. “Janie and I had many challenges, but we’re glad we stayed. Please tell us more about the Metropolitan Board of Health.”

Dr. Benson took a long sip of hot coffee from the cup Jasmine placed in front of him. “As horrible as cholera is, I find I have reason to be thankful for it just now. We have fought for years to bring reform to the so-called health board of New York City. All our efforts were blocked for political reasons and monetary gain.”

Carrie bit back her groan. “Will politics and money never cease to control our destiny?” she asked. She desperately wanted Dr. Benson to tell her something different than what she believed.

Dr. Benson looked at her for a long moment. “You want me to tell you it will not always be so. I can’t do that. Unfortunately, human nature has always, and I’m afraid will for all of eternity, be the controlling factor in decisions. Fortunately, there always seems to come a time when the pain of continuing forward on a certain course outweighs the reluctance to change.” He locked his eyes with Carrie. “And never believe, even for a moment, that enough people raising their voices cannot create change. The problem is that most people seem willing to flounder along in complacency until something jolts them awake and
makes
them take action.”

Carrie got his message. “I won’t lose hope,” she said quietly. “My friends and I are determined to raise our voices and be heard. We have been given the legacy of a country mired in deep troubles. Turning our backs isn’t an option.”

“Good!” Dr. Benson exclaimed briskly. “The Metropolitan Board of Health was finally created when people could no longer refute the facts of just how bad New York has become. It can be easy to turn a blind eye to poverty and disease when it doesn’t touch you. Our facts show us that ninety-three percent of New York illnesses, and ninety percent of our deaths, come from the tenements. As devastating as those statistics are, there are far too many people who have believed the people in the tenements bring it on themselves because they are poor and illiterate.”

“Preposterous!” Abby snorted.

“I agree,” Dr. Benson said calmly. “I hear the same arguments about the freed slaves.”

“Who simply need a chance to learn and create a new life,” Janie interjected.

“True again,” Dr. Benson agreed. “Unfortunately, the people around this table are not representative of the American population as a whole. Too many want to turn their backs on the immigrants and wish for the day when America was full of a different kind of people.”

“But was it ever?” Carrie questioned. “Wasn’t American populated by people desperate for a new beginning in a new land? How are the new immigrants any different?”

“Good question,” Dr. Benson replied. “In spite of efforts to believe it is different, I agree with you that it is not. I don’t believe it ever will be. The plight of the immigrants has pushed itself to the forefront because cholera entered our harbor last December. When it last visited America in 1849 it proved it was not controlled by typical borders. It hit the wealthy as badly as it hit the destitute. That reality helped us push through all the naysayers to create the Metropolitan Board of Health. The wealthy and powerful in New York City finally understand they can only protect themselves and their families by protecting everyone in the city.”

“The Board was officially created in February,” Elizabeth commented. “Is it possible to make a difference so quickly?”

“We’re about to find out,” Dr. Benson responded. “We’ve been working hard since then to change things. Now that the first case of cholera has been reported, we will discover if we’ve done enough. We’re not finished by any means, and we’re not so naïve as to think we can stop it entirely in such a short time, but we have hopes the death toll won’t be as high as before.”

“How many died in 1849?” Alice asked.

Janie answered before Dr. Benson could speak. “Five thousand died in New York City, but they had less than half the population then and things weren’t as dire. One hundred fifty thousand died throughout the country, with another two hundred thousand dying in Mexico.” She smiled briefly. “I’ve been studying.”

“That’s right, Janie,” Dr. Benson said approvingly. “If cholera takes the city the way it did before, the death toll will be much, much higher this time. And it will spread much faster throughout the country.”

Carrie thought about everything she had learned about cholera. “Dr. Benson, do you agree with Dr. Snow’s conclusion that cholera is carried through contaminated water?”

Dr. Benson raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were just beginning medical school, Carrie. How do you know about Dr. Snow?”

Carrie smiled. “I’ve been reading medical books and journals for the last six years. Especially ones from Europe. My father and Abby have made sure I have them.” She looked fondly at Abby. “Abby even bought them and saved them all for me during the war. I’ve done a lot of reading since the war ended.”

“Why
especially
Europe?” Dr. Benson asked, watching her closely.

Carrie looked at him directly. “Because European medicine is far more advanced than American medicine,” she replied evenly. “I find they develop their medical protocols based more on fact than religious dogma or belief.”

Dr. Benson held her gaze. “So you don’t believe the people in the tenements carry most of the illnesses because they are a lower class of people or because of the sin in their lives?”

Carrie didn’t try to contain her snort. “Or because they can’t pay the high pew rents the churches demand? The churches deem them immoral because they don’t attend church, but yet they make it impossible for them to do so.” She stared at Dr. Benson. “It makes me wonder who is the most immoral.” She made no apology for her directness.

Dr. Benson nodded slowly, a smile lighting his eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay here in the city and work with us?” His eyes swept the table. “All of you.”

Alice chuckled. “I’m quite happy in Philadelphia for now. Even though we have been in school longer than Carrie, none of us have her experience or her vast knowledge. I basically feel ignorant any time I have a conversation with her.” She softened her words with a playful smirk at Carrie.

“That’s not true!” Carrie laughingly protested. Then she turned back to Dr. Benson, questions swarming through her mind. “So you do agree with Dr. Snow?”

“I do. When Dr. Snow first entered medicine in England, it was believed cholera was caused by poisonous gases thought to arise from sewers, swamps, garbage pits, open graves, and other sites of organic decay.” He paused. “Dr. Snow’s careful research during the last London cholera epidemic proved it is transported through the water supply. In spite of the fact there are many American doctors who still believe it spread through the air because of sinful behavior,” he said ruefully, “we believe drinking water is how cholera is spread so virulently, but it can also be transferred through contamination caused by a patient.”

“Through their bodily fluids,” Elizabeth stated. “I heard a little about the crews you have prepared to follow up on cholera cases.”

“Yes,” Dr. Benson said firmly. “It is imperative we isolate the disease. We already know there is no cure for cholera. Since we can’t cure it, we have to prevent it. Which means it is important to stop in its tracks. The reason Michael knows about the first case is because we have been working closely with the police department ever since we formed the new board. We identify problem areas and then the police enforce the actions we take. Matthew, will you tell them how it works?”

Matthew nodded. “Each case is to be reported directly to the closest police precinct station. As soon as we heard about the case today, we telegraphed the Board’s central office. They immediately dispatched a wagonload of disinfectants to the infected tenement. In less than an hour they had a team of well-trained men disinfecting the clothing, house, and belongings of the victim.”

“What do they disinfect with?” Florence asked, her blue eyes sharp with intensity.

“They are very thorough,” Michael explained. “The beddings, pillows, old clothing, and utensils — basically, anything that might be contaminated with bodily fluids — were piled in an open area and burned. Then they scatter chloride of lime through the house. After that, they distribute five barrels of coal tar and other disinfectants around the surrounding area.” He paused. “The tenement house with the first case is one of the worst I’ve seen. It is full of waste and filth, and it reeked of alcohol.”

“You were there?” Nancy asked quickly, her eyes dark with concern.

“I had to go by and confirm the illness,” Michael said soothingly. “I was very careful.”

“I suppose that should make me feel better,” Nancy said ruefully, “but I would much prefer you weren’t anywhere near it.”

Wally’s eyes snapped with worry as they landed on his son. “It’s time for you to go to law school, son.”

Michael shrugged away the comment with an easy grin. “I’ll go soon. Right now I’m needed.”

Abby rested her hand on his arm. “You’re a good man, Michael.”

“Yes,” Nancy sighed. “Sometimes I wish he was a little more selfish, but then I suppose I wouldn’t be so proud of him.”

Carrie was still full of questions. “If you destroyed the patient’s belongings, what are they going to do?”

“Good question,” Dr. Benson replied. “Part of our plan was to stockpile clothes and household belongings so we could replace what has to be restored.”

“Impressive,” Carrie murmured. “I’m learning medical care is about much more than just treating a patient.” She paused, pulling her thoughts together. “What have you been doing the last six weeks to prepare?”

Dr. Benson scowled. “Moving waste,” he stated simply. “Quite simply, parts of our city are buried under waste created by humans and animals. Add snow, ice, and dirt into the mix and it is a huge job. We delivered our first clean up order on March fourteenth. As of today, we have delivered close to seventy-six hundred such orders. We have been cleaning yards, emptying dirty cisterns, and disinfecting privies. We have already moved hundreds of tons of waste. It is nasty, thankless work. The men performing it are heroes.”

“Where are you putting it all?” Carrie asked with horrified fascination. It was difficult to even imagine what he was describing. Her mind contained vivid images of mistreated horses pulling wagons heavily laden with waste and rotting carcasses through streets clogged with snow and ice. She controlled her shudder and forced herself to listen.

“We’re hauling it out of the city and forming mountains,” Dr. Benson said wryly. “It’s the best we can do for right now, but if this city is going to survive, we will have to work together to create sewers and clean water systems. It will be a huge undertaking, but people are finally beginning to understand that health begins with cleanliness — not just personally, but throughout all civilization.”