Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-07-17
Asiatic Cholera.
In the history Of pestilential diseases

JessU.e, in Hindostati. For more tina
thirty years that have since elapsed, h
mysterious causes whici: operate in tn
production of this disease, have never bee
totally inactive, though in Europe an
America, to which they spread in 1859
long intervals of exemption have occurred
The second visitation in the United State
was in 1910, since which the disease la
manifested itself frequently in the Western
and South Western States,
I There is, at the present time, j or!
reason to believe that third visitation Q
epidemic cholera is about take place il
the Eastern portion Of the United States
and as much careful investigation has been
bestowed upon the conditions operating
to invite disease, and the means which
have been successfully adopted to prevent
its occurrence and extension, it may be
profitable to the public that some Of the
most important results should be made
known, that they be taken advantage Of,
not ouly by individuals, but more csre-
cially municipal authorities charged With
the preservation Of public health.
One of the most luminous publications
made upon the subject is d large volume,
entitled Report Of the General Board of
Health on the Epidemic Cholera of 184S
and 1849," presented through the Queen
of Great Britain to both Houses OF Parlia-
ment. This work is filled with maps and
plots of towns and cities. so colored as to
indicate to the eye at a glance the extent
in which the cholera manifested itself in
various localities or totally exempt. 1t
appears from this report which embodies
the careful observations made during the
epidemic visitations. that in every town in
Great Britain, the approach of the pesti-
lence was signalized by isolated attacks,
occurring at considerable distances as tc
place, and intervals as to time. "Ihe
popular notion that cholera is sudden in
its invasion OF place or district, is as
cnfounded as the former prevalent. opinion
it is sudden in its attack Of the individual
person. Experience has rcfuted both these
opinions, and established the very orpo-
site fact, that, at least in this county,
Great Britain. it is gradual and even
slow in its approach. And the recogEi-
ton OF this law is OF the highest Importance
in practical point of view. These iso-
lated cases occurring in any locality during
the prevalence Of general epidemic con-
stitution, are unequivoeal and certain signs
that an outbreak IS impending over ttat
place. They are warnings not 10 Be igis-
taken, demanding the immediate and en-
ergetic adoption Of preventive measurss Z
Cholera, III its repeated returns. ai'aesi
invariably revisits the same countries, DIS
tricts of country, portions of. cities and
towns. streets and even particular houses
and rooms where it had been before. The
first case that occurred in the town Of
Leith, Scotland, in 1S4S was in the SAINT
house and within few feet of the very
spot from whence the epidemic of 1882
commenced its course. On its re-appear-
anoe in the town of Pollokshaws, it snatch
ed its first victim from the same room In
which it broke out in 1882. AT Oxford,
in 1889. as IN 1882, the first case occurred
IN The county Jail. At Gottingen, in Hol-
land. the disease, in 1882, attacked in the
better part of the city only two houses.
and the epidemic broke out in these two
identical houses in the visitation of 1913.
Such observations have led medical observ-
ers 10 predict with certainty the very spots
in which attacks of cholera would occur.
The seats Of cholera ave he yell known
haunts Of other epidemies aad pesiilentiat
diseases, such as typhus, scarlet fever,
measles, wnoop;..ss cough, erysipelas, and
remittent fever. Mr. Babbage. in his re.
port on Clitheroe, says, in Illustration OF
this conclusion:
"From the return of epidemic, endemic,
and contagious diseases, il will be seen
that these, in one form or another, are
never absent from Clitheroe. The partic-
ular Of the disease changes; at one time
measles, at another time scarlatina, or at a
third time typus fevers prevail, or these in
their turn all disappear, leaving diarfnea
and cholora to supply their place but one
or another of them is always present and
they are generally TO be found in the same
localities
AS the history Of the progress of the
cholera from Asia to Europe, and through
the several countries Of Europe, shows
that it advanced not BY a strictly contigu'
Gus, progressive, and uninterrupted course,
but that at one time ii sprung at a single
bound over vast tract OF country, while
at another time it's course was retrograae,
so it is observed in cities that its progress
was similar, there being in general no
regular continuity in its course, bat its
progress consisting IN succession OF loca
outbreaks This characteristic, taken
alone, affords the strongest evidence tina
cholera does not spread itself by conia.ion
A careful examination OF the first Is cases
which occurred in London I'm 1e4s) at
forded conclusive proc! that no communi
cation whatever had taken place between
the individuals affected. Similar investi.
cations made in Glasgow and other places
showed that no communication could b.
traced between those who were first ct
tackled. Its extension seems to be effected
not bv any direct communication from per
son to person, but by general influence
which operates in particular localities OF
particular persons, according to certain 10
calizing conditions and predisposing caus
les.--Pulic Ledger.
! &C. We heard the other day good on
of John Check, on, former squire, VIII
always had his eyes cooked both ways 70
Justice, and perhaps for Sunday. Il seem
HE had fined an lrishman, who havinl
used a little too much Of the craythef, va
foolish enough to let the craythcr use him
Pat on leaving the office met tiiead, I
whom he held forth
"Bv iahers, and was fined Martin"