The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-15
Tho Cholc, a -Iu History and Progress.

hidden things, merely because they ara hid lea
Since the Divine communicated light be,n
that most powerful OF agents Ia, proved, by
bringing things from darkness into light, bow
ridiculous it ia for reasonable, intelligent men
to rely upon the opinions Of their fathers, in
stead Of calmly investigating matters for them
selves. The history and progress OF what is
called Asiatic cholera afford striking ex-
ample of the truth of these premises.
The first distinct data that we have in refe-
renee to cholera is that, in the year 1884, it at
tackled body of troops at Gunjam, a coast
town 535 miles northeast Of Madras, which
latter place it reached during the next year.
In the year 1888, it attacked many of the ma
tive inhabitants of India, and twenty
thousand deaths occurred. 1t then dis
appeared; but in 1917 it again appeared, and
fairly earned its name as a terrible epidemic
disease. In Jessore, India) ten thousand
deaths in q population Of sixty thousand took
place. From India it was supposed to have
been conveyed by ships to Maurtius, the
Dutch East Indies and China. In 1921 it had
reached the Persian Gulf and, continuing its
western progress, we find it on the bank, of the
Tigris- thence into Caucasia; and, finally on
the l4th of September, 1880, it reached Moscow
Takingthe course of the great rivers, the Don
and the Volga, the disease rapidly extended
itself over Russia. In January. 1882, the
cholera appeared at Edinburg, on the l4th of
February at London, and in March at Dublin
Calais and Paris were also attacked in March.
The ninth day Of June, 1882, will ever
be remembered as the period when this
scourge appeared on the American CONT
nent 1t appeared at Quebec, where it was
also very severe in ls49. The first case in
New York occurred on the 9th June of the
same year. and the disease disappeared in Octo-
Der. 1t is estimated that in the fourteen years,
from 1917 to 1881, the disease carried Off
eighteen millions Of the inhabitants Of Hindos-
tan. The number of cases in England and
Wales in 1912, was 63,236; deaths, 20,726.
In Scotland, 20,202 were attacked, of whom
0Gj0 died. In Ireland there were 54,552 at
lacks, and Il III deaths In the city of Lon
don there were ii ,020 cases, and 5,215 deaths.
The disease visited Spain and Italy in 1856,
and finally disappeared from Europe 10
1878.
The appearance of the cholera in the United
States created o great panic, and probably
many persons died from fear. In Quebec, Mont
real, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
Albany, Norfolk and Rochester, there were
about fifteen thousand deaths during three
months.
1t will be seen by the above that it is CON-
paratively easy to ascertain the origin and
progress Of the cholera Of 1882. The epidemic
of 1882, is not so clearly traced 1t is alleged
that it made its appearance at Cabul in lSi5,
and pursuing almost the same course as in
1882, il reached Moscow in December, 1S47.
In May, ls4s, it reached Constantinople, and
spread throughout the Danubian provinces.
The cholera appeared at London and Hull in
September 1913. II disappeared in December,
and the whole number Of deaths in the United
KiDgd, IN was ~, ls0. IT is estimated that the
expense Of funerals exceeded five hundred
thousand pounds sterling, ard the cost of the
disease altogether was about two millions
pounds The only large city exempted from
the cholera was Birmingham, where not sin
gle case occurred, although half the nhabi-
tants Of a small town in the vicinity were swept
Of. In New York the cholera appeared in M
1919; eliminated in the week ending July q,
when there were I'll deaths and disappeared
in November. The whole number of deaths was
SOP. In some of the Western cities it was
much more severe.
The cholera at present has not risen to the
dignity of an epidemic and the calendar of
1854 viii bear no comparison with those Of
1882 and 1919. 1t first appeared during
the winter of 1884 at Sunderland, Eng
land. IL is remarkable fact that the
cholera Of 1882 appeared at the same place.
The first case in New York was reported early
in June; but there have not been a sufficient
number Of deaths since to excite any thing like
panic. The cholera is now raging at Chicago
and Montreal with great violence. IT has
reached ST. Louis also, and viii probably 60
down the river to New Orleans. BY accounts
published in another part Of this paper, it will
be seen that the disease is making terrible ra-
wages at Jamaica and Barbados.
The above is but slight sketch of the rise
and progress of this terrible scourge but since
its first appearance the attention of learned
men has been directed to the phenomena
accompanying 1t. They have robbed it of
half its terrors by demonstrating the fact
that II may be cured If remedies are APP
piled in its early stages. One example will
suffice to prove the truth of this state
ment. In 1882 the town of Bilston, England,
was ravaged by the cholera One-third Of the
inhabitants were attacked in less than seven
weeks, and one-third Of the number attacked
died. Dr. M'Cann, q distinguished physician,
was sent down by government lie opened
dispensary, and requested every person whose
bowels we're in the slightest degree disordercd
to come to him. They did 20, aud he gave to
each an as;ringent aromatic opate medicine.
Simple idea, was it notg II stopped the dis.