The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-15

MovAL AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES PREVENTION ACT
GENERAL BOARD OF Health,
Gwydlr House, Oct. s. 1913.
The General Board of Health having considered the
official accounts which have been received OF the
of Asiac Cholera since the presentation OF the reports
of the Metropolitan Sanitary Commissioners, and having
consulted medical practitioners OF emnence and OF spe
cia knowledge of the subject and having compared the
tenor OF those recent accounts with the observations made
respecting the former mode OF the propagation of Asatic
Cholera in Europe, have now to represent
That the experience obtained of this disease during its
former nvasions OF this country, in the years thou
sand eight hundred and thirty and thousand eight
hundred and hry-two, and the still larger experience
during psnnS nJ through
ground for the correction Of views formerly enter
tanned concerning it, which have an important bearing
the both OF prevention and that
expedlent to be adopted.
The extent uniform tenor and undoubted authority of
the evidence obtained from observers of all classes in
different countries and climates, and amidst all varieties
of the physical political, and social conditions of the
people, appear to dscredt the prevalent opinion that
cholera is in itself contagious; opinion which, if fall
acous be mschievous, since it diverts attention
from the true of DANGER and the real means of
tecon and fixes it those which imaginary; Gre
ates panic leads to the neglect and abandonment of the
sick occasions great expense for what is than
useless and withdraws attention from that brief but
portant interval between the commencement and the de-
velopment of the disease during which remedial meas
ues are most effective in its
Although it is far true, that certain conditions may
favor its spread from person to person. when great
numbers OF the sick crowded together close,
tated apartments yet this is not to be considered as
affecting the general principle of its contagious ma
ure nor are such conditions likely to in this
uy moreover, the preventive measures founded the
theory of contagion, namely internal quarantine regua
TONS sanitary cOdOns, and the isolation of the sick on
which formerly the strongest reliance was placed have
been recently abandoned in all countries where cholera
has appeared, from the general experience of their neh
cheney.
The evidence also proves that cholera almost always
Affords by premonilory symptoms, warning of its APP
proach in time for the employment of capable of
arresting its progress If, indeed in certain situations
where there is an unusual concentration of the poison or
certain individuals who are peculiarly predisp0sed to
the disease, the attack may sometimes appear to be
stantaneous still the general conclusions that cholera
in itself contagious and that it commonly gives dis
nct warning OF its approach two great facts well
calculated dves this disease of it's chief errors and
to show the importance of the of pre-
vsntion, 80 much more certain than those OF cure
The proved identity of the causes which promote the
origin and spread of epidemic diseases in general with
those that favor the introduction and spread OF Asatc
Cholera, appear 10 indicate the true measures of precau
lion and prevention against pestence which, after
absence OF sixteen years, and at when other
formidable epidemic diseases are unusually prevalent and
deadly third visitation; and the General Board
OF Health would appeal to all classes for their cordial
operation in carrying into effect the measures which
full consideration has led them recommend in the full
conviction that the powers given by the legislature for
this purpose though they may not be fully adequate and
though the time to them may be short, fail,
with such ooperation to be attended with highly bene
ticIa results ,sT9.af
With view of carrying into operation all available
means of precaon against the impending danger, the
General Board of Health recommends that the Guardians
of the Poor in England and Wales and the Parochial
Boards for the management of the Poor in Scotland and
their officers, should hold hem,e in readiness
such directions the General Board of Health may
fit to issue from time to me under the provisions of
the act of the nth and 18th OF Wet 1913, entitled An
act to and amend act of the tenth year OF her
present Majesty for the speedy removal Of certain
Nusances and the prevention of Contagious and Epidemic
Diseases" t- ,t
The Guardians of the Poor and the Parochia Boards
will probably be required either by themselves ndivd-
uay by persons employed to be specially appointed
by them for the purpose, to make examinations from