Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-11-26
The Cholera.
A LISTENER.

The slow but certain approach of that world
spreading pestilence, the Cholera, fore-sha-
dows scenes of terror and of death. The
heart of the ~stoutest quails at the anticipated
presence OF this unseen foe whose progress
nor mountain nor ocean can Withstand. 1t is
marching with appalling certainty in its for
mer path, sweeping the earth from East to
West, and piling up pestilence-stricken
corpses upon the field of its terrible triumph.
All dread its approach, and though the pow
er of man cannot stay it in its course, it may
lessen its triumph and rescue many victims
from its embrace. The knowledge which
the people of this country acquired of its cha
racter in 1892, although exceedingly limited,
will aid them in the adoption of such pre-
cautionary measures as may be found neces-
sary.
The announcement of a single case of Cho-
lera on this side the Atlantic would pass, like
an electric thrill throughout the entire land,
and the people would rise up to battle the I'M
seen destroyer with such means as they be-
lieved best calculated to lessen, or destroy its
power, and especially would this be evident
in our cities. Ward hospitals would be fit
ted up, the services of ward physicians and
ward nurses secured, and an abundance Of
the most approved remedies supplied, so thai,
all might obtain them at a moments notice.
SANITARY Committees would be appointed,
Boards of Health would increase their vigil
lance and their care ten-fold, days of fasting
and prayer would be proclaimed, and every
pulpit would glow with the utterance of elo-
quent and impressive thoughts meet for the
occasion.
This was the way the Cholera was met in
1882, and this we presume will be the way in
which it will be met in '49. If, instead of COM
ing but once in seventeen years, its presence
was continual, we should become so accustom-
ed to las to disregard its ravages, and eat,drink
and be merry, as though it were not. For,
strange as it may seem, we have a pestilence
in our midst which is far more terrible in its
ravages than was the Cholera-which is fatal
to the moral as well as to the physical life
smites with death not only the body but the
soul. This pestilence has been gradually
spreading throughout The entire land, and ev-
cry year of its progress is marked with in
creased fatality. And yet the people are no,
alarmed, no hospitals are provided for those
marked with the plague spot, no physicians
employed TO administer to those who sicken
with il. There are no Boards of Health who
strive to prevent its increase, no SANITARY
Committees to recommend and enforce pre-
cautionary measures, no days of fasting and
prayer are appointed with a hope that there
by its ravages may be stayed, no pulpit elo-
queDce portrays the terrible calamity, and
calls upon the people to repent, that the wrath
of God may be averted. All is indifference.
There is no feeling, no manifestation of ter
ror, no anxiety to stay its progress-dull, cold
apathy reigns supreme. And yet, reader, the
terrible visitant of lS32-the .qSiatic Cholera
was not so great a scourge to this people,
as AMERICAN SLAVERY has been in every year
of its existence.