Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-08-06
Cholera

What world of dread is wrapped up in
that single word 1t makes pale. the face
of the weak. and strikes terror to the heart Of
the brave The disease knows no distinc-
tions among men-it strikes alike, the high
and the low-it sweeps the mendicant from
the road side and the statesman from his tri-
bune
The history of this terrible epidemic
shows that there are certain states of the
atmosphere peculiarly conducive to its ges-
tation and progress; and, that these states
are extreme heat and much moisture 1t is
under these circumstances, when the air is
at once heated and moist, that the terrible
monster is born.
1t has been predicted by those who are
more capable of judging of the matter than
the writer, that the summer of 1857 would
be a season Of awful mortality by the chole-
ra-upon what premises these predictions
were founded we are unable to say-but
Judging by the experience Of past years
however much We might wish it otherwise,
these predictions seem likely to be real
lied. Accounts from all portions OF the
country indicate that all things are in
favorable situation for the commencement
of the disease. The extreme heat during
the last few weeks, the frequent showers
and the noisome vapors which fill the air
in every direction, seem to indicate the
speedy presence of the great destroyer.
This season Of the year-the beginning Of
August-has been the time when this dread
disease has commenced it work Of deate.-
The statistics Of the four great cholera sea-
sons in this country. agree upon this point.
During the first ten days Of August the
monster is born-at that time it springs
forth minerva like, full grown and full
armed, (ifsuch comparison may be used in
treating Of so horrible sueiect.)
The history of the disease shows that il
first strikes some devoted city, and from
that centre, marches forth on its mission Of
death. This starting point-this nucleous,
has never been the same on any two occa-
sions. 1t has fallen, as it were, from the
clouds, sometimes upon city Of the South,
and sometimes upon a city Of the North.
This starting point has, however, generally
been upon the shore Of the sea, or upon the
bank Of some great river.
II is not our intention to predict or even
to intimate that this city is likely to be the
starting point of the cholera, this season
but we certainly stand in equal with, If moi
in greater danger than other cities
We live upon the bank of river which
carries with its current, immense quantities
Of decayed vegetable matter. The grading
of our streets has released numerous nox
ious gases which have slept in the earth fol
thousands Of years-there are numerou.
pools Of stagnant water about the city, and
our streets and alleys are in dirty condi
ton. These facts place us in peculiar dan
ge.
Under these circumstances our sanitary
laws should be strictly enforced-our City
Marshal has endavored to do his duty in
the matter; but with his other business hi
has more than one man can attend to. LIE,
the Council appoint Board Of Health, AND
let measures be taken to clean the numer
o1s breeding places Of disease in the city
An ounce Of pesvsntiou b worth . pound
a cure
Ahreoa dHaler. ds6ne1hlnR ~ m 49,