New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-02
THE LESSON OF SUMNER r.

THE LESSON OF SUMMER.
We are in the last days Of Summer, and
although there is much temptation to sentiment
in the falling leaves. the shortening days, the
heavy, luscious fruits that burden the market
stalls, the coming Of the purple grape and
golden pippin, we feel like heaying a sigh OF
great relief. New-York has made signal and
blessed escape. Asia and Europe have been
smitten with human pestilence; England and
the countries Of Western Europe groan beneath
an infection that is almost human. The cholera
is raging through the Levant, and has made Its
appearance in Italy, France and Spain. Terror
reigns in Austria, Marseiles and Barcelona, and
the kings of the earth are busy assailing the
King of all Terrors. England suffers from the
Cattle Plague. Cattle" says The London
Times, "are sickening and dying after fashion
and at q rate unknown two months ago. The
disease, too, is either contagious or epidemic,
and spreads with rapidity if not controlled"
The wise men of England are earnestly
investigating the causes of disease that
threatens to work fatal injury to the whole
stock breed. Some theorists argue that
the infection came from Russia, and is the dis
ease known as murrain. The burden OF evil
dence goes to show that it is Summer disease
of England's own generation, and came from
the low, crowded sheds and stables OF London.
Thus far, too, its rayages are confined to mich
cows. Bulls, oxen and heifers are generally
exempt; while the cow sickens and dies. The
atmospheric posons generated in crowded cow
sheds by the hot days Of June, the want of care
shown to the poor beasts by those who own
them, and the brutal manner in which they are
transported all tend to generate and extend the
malady. We should not be surprised if it were
similar to the swill-milk infection that annoyed
New-York some years ago. The symptoms are
similar. The disease is typhoid in its nature.
Ten days or week elapse before it comes to its
hight, when general and offensive eruption
takes place. The railroads and steamboats, were
in O filthy condition, and the contagion seemed
to spread through England by what in America
we call cattle-trans. Whatever causes the dis
ease, however, England is in q state Of great
its progress stopped.
The cholera was in Marseilles. It had not
crossed the Channel, although its appearance
was dreaded in Manchester. The English jour.
nails congratulate themselves that it has not ap-
peared in their midst, and the most stringent
regulations were being adopted to prevent its
coming. Cholera has frequently appeared on
the Continent without going near England; and,
as every hygienic precaution has been taken,
no danger is dreaded. Fresh air, pure water
and wholesome food are the three essentials of
self-preservation, and England relies upon them
wholly. We have had dread of this disease
coming to America; but the advent Of Autumn
gives us nine months respite. If the cholera by
any chance had crossed the ocean, what har-
vest it would have reaped This vast, crowded,
nosome city, with its many nests of poverty,
pestilence, and vice, with imperfect sewerage,
incommodous homes, and careless hygiene, its
dirty streets, its feyer-breeding tenement
houses, its novels where Light and air, and
wholesome food, never come, this city of ours is
Just the metropolis WneTe CuoIcIa "ouIu Coincduu
hold the jubilee of death. We have escaped.
The end Of Summer is the end of cur anxiety.
But what of the Summers. to comet The enemy
is at Marseilles! Look to it, gentlemen in
authority. At MarseilleS We Say-but ten days
distanco-And, finding no welcome in tidy,
well guarded London, longs for home in New
York. You have Autumn and Winter and
Spring to prepare in. Go to work, purge,
purify, cleanse. Heaven knows we pay you lot
of moncy-but five times as much awaits your
order if you will only begin. 1t will be too
late to do this work when your city is in panic
from the terror of sudden death. If we 20 heed
lessly through The Winter, and allow the next
Summer to begin as this Summer ends nothing
but the special providence of God will keep the
Cattle-Plague and Cholera from America. Our
experience of special providences is that God
never helps those who fail to help themselves.
Let US, therefore, pray and work!
=. -. 1nka Of