Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-18
FROM the LONDON EXAMINER.

The great pedspong cause OF cholera insufficient drain
age and unceanness The review Of the evidence collected
on this head by the Metropolitan Sanitary Commission is thus
summed up in their last report
All from India agree in stating that il first breaks
and principally prevails in low and marshy situations, and
particularly the banks of rivers; that whenever village
military station lies upon or near low marshy, or damp
ground the occupants suffered from this disease in direct pro-
portion their proximity TO such situation and is con-
stany observed that when regiment has been encamped
part high and dry land and the other part mo-
rass or on the bank Of river the former has, remained
healthy while the latter has suffered severely from this
disease.
The whole of the evidence appears lead the conclusion
that is the combination of mpury with humidity Of the air
which powerfully pedsposes to cholera cleanliness being
apparently capable Of couneracng the influence OF mere hui
nudity thus the remarkable exemption enjoyed by Holland
from the visitation of the cholera generally and probably
correctly attributed TO the crupuous cleanliness of the houses
and the habits of the people.
Upon these facts were based the preventive
against the approach Of cholera recommended by the com
mission
In our opinion there is but safeguard against this maa
dy against other diseases Of the class That safe
guard consists in sanitary arrangements and sanitary arrange
mens to be Efficient must be such will secure the purity
OF the atmosphere particularly by the immediate and complete
removal Of all filth and refuse and that notony from the prncl
pal squares and thoroughres but also from the Streets courts
and alleys the lowest portion of the population But this
ques general and system street and house drainage
and supply Of keeping the drains and sewers
Clean for surface cleansing, and for domestic Were the
arrangements and the administration for cleansing thus COM
pete might still not be able to obtain absolute exemp
ton from the visitation of cholera, but should have done
what might and must be done deprive it, should 1t come,
of the means OF support and strength
The whole of the evidence which has come before Us
shows that only by OF prevention that we can
hope obtain any real protection from this disease, and that
Of alienation materially avail against mala
DIV which almost defiance the of medical art
which begins and ends its mortal in few hours, and
which destroys one-half of those whom il attacks
The chief measures Of prevention which reliance can be
placed arrangements for cleansing and ventilation but
cleansing and ventilation to accomplish sanitary Objects must
be combined operations, and must be skully performed
the external atmosphere is not maintained IN state oil purity
the ventilation Of houses may be the very means OF producing
and aggavang disease and instances have come before
in which the external air certain drained badly
ed and confined Streets courts and alleys, is in so offensive
state that the inhabitants obliged to close up their doors
and windows and exclude the air by every in the
power in order avoid the annoyance of constant nuisance
The ovecrowding Of the living, without due attention TO
ventilation appears when carried to great extent to create
indus of disease apparently without the influence of the
miasma from decomposing filth. Overcrowdng however,
rarely found in this country apart from filth, that would
be difficult determine here the separate influence of each
The commissioners who investigated the cholera track at Paris
disposed to ascbe great influence to the prsdsposor
to disease from ovecrowdng ventated residences. They
cite the instance Breau where the separation Of
crowded populations added the other sanitary
chiefly of cleansing and this of separation il it did
extngush the epidemic at least promptly diminished M