The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-15


amount Of common sense to he able to distiu-
guish what is proper to eat and drink at this
season. Violent changes Of diet are always
hurtful, and many persons in '32 and '49 were
made confirmed drunkards by taking "lttle
brandy" as a preventive. Now, we do not
implicitly believe in brandy as preventive
as curative we scout it altogether, as it in
creases the Inflammation; aud whatever advan-
tages might flow from its astrlngent qualities,
is overbalanced by this fact.
We do not intend to go into an argument
upon the vexed question as to whether or
not cholera is an infectious or contagious
disease. 1t seems to us, however, that
il las been proved that it is neither
contagious nor infectious. Guarantees cannot
keep it out Of a country, as has been shown in
Russia and Egypt Thousands Of people went
from New York to Newport in ls49 and there
rever has been a case Of cholera at the latter
place. Ten thousand persons went from Mar
settles to Ly ons when the cholera was raging
OF the former place, aud Lyons still enjoyed
immunity from the scourge. The burden of
proof goes to show that there is no necessity
for cholera hospitals, or fer the removal of
patient from home. IL would be barbarity so
to do, with the light we have now on the sub
Jet.
by il may be checked or entirely prevented,
are subjects which open wide field for discus
sion. For the first, the best theory is that
cholera is caused by an intensely poisonous
gas emitted under certain conditions of heat
and moisture, from decaying mineral and vege
table matter. This gas does not diffuse readi-
ly, but is borne in currents until it meets with
conditions favorable to its development that
is, it travels until it arrives at some locality
which is cursed with dirty, careless popula-
ton, who have been engaged in actively pre-
pairing themselves to meet such guest. The
poison is then received into the lungs, acts
at once on the blood, and then we have cholera
symptoms. How to prevent it? We have
great faith in water, and were the citi-
zens of New York all Mahometans for a
month or so, and followed strictly the
regulations Of the Prophet 30 far as ablution
goes, we should have but little need Of cholera
hospitals Let US have plenty of water every
where, and let every one be careful to avoid all
kinds Of excess-then there's no danger. At
any rate the disease is stripped Of more than
half its terrors by the knowledge of the facts
that it is not contagious, and that it can be
cured if the proper remedies are taken in time.
As matters stand now, it is as absurd for any
one to refrain from visiting this city on account
of cholera as it would be for citizen to run
away through fear Of it. We have had but
very few cases of pure Asiatic or asphy xia
cholera thus far, and with proper care it can be
altogether extinguished in few weeks.
SHORTCOMINGS AND DEFECTS OF THE Posr
OFfICE.-Ths two millions deficit is betrayng
Mr.. Campbell into serious errors. His attempts
at retrenchment are ruinous to the department
The number of clerks employed under the old
regime was too small for efficiency, and threw
an unfair proportion of work on each. Ii was
notorious that post Office employees were the
worst paid and hardest worked clerks in the
city. In the face Of this, Mr.. Campbell is re-
ducing their salaries and their number. With
the first, we have but little quarrel for, though
good men will always command fair price, it
is well that place hunting be discouraged, and
500 year is dear for some of the men who
do dirty work ut elections in the hopes of
berth in the custom house or post Office.
But the retrenchment in the number OF
clerks in the post Office is most ill-advised.
The work having increased, while the force
which has to do it has diminished, it follows as
q necessary consequence that what is done is
done more hastily and more carelessly than be-
fore. Hence, fruitful source of delays, and
errors of a most vexatious description. We are
ourselves daily sufferers by the increase of
bunders. Angry subscribers from the country
constantly complain Of delays in the receipt of
their paper we find 1t is regularly mailed, 10
proper time /; but after close inquiry it turns
out that the bundle is enormously sent to the
wrong distribution Office. This is an everyday
occurrence, and we are doubtless only one out
of many victims of the reform which Mr. Camp
bell is trying to effect.
In point of fact, he has set about the bust
ness at the wrong end. deficit of ten mil
lions instead of two would be better eco
nomy in the long run than an i'll served,
mismanaged post Office. Better tax the peo-
pie in dollars than delays. Rather increase
WIG HunoSi Va SicihS luau ulmiHtSu tueu,
whatever they cost; but let us have our
papers and letters in due course. A news
paper which, mailed at New York for Buffalo,
finds its way there via Boston, is dear at any
price. If retrenchment be imperativc-a fact
the public will not readily believe, with the
Gadsden treaty staring us in the face, and
seven millions of dollars going beg
~ In Woll 1ot al
and not on the post Offices in large cities
The public interest does not require that the
State shall pay Mr.. A. or Mr.. b. hundreds Of
thousands of dollars in the shape Of postal sub
vention, by way Of encouraging railroad