The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-10-04
FCos. \. Times.
The holera-Measures TO Prevent 1t.
LONDON, Sep;. +, 1865.

LONDON, sep. :, ls55.
Your readers may have observed that q
meeting Of sanitarians has been held l
London TO consider what measures shall bC
taken 10 arrest the approach Of the cholera
or. at least 70 check its ravages In Great
Britain. Though. as yet, il is no nearer
than Italy. it is assumed that IL will certain
ly attack English cities.
Fortunately we in America have 4 longer
time In which TO prepare 20 meet the onset
Of this most deadly Enemy, which Is almost
equally sure TO visit OCr shores. drs a.,
rs0dy7 In this meeting the TACT was com
meuted on by that most experienced sali-
tartan, Mr Chadwick which have often
dWelt upon in these letters-that Is, that
the same districts or rear courts in our
great cities are liable Tor ages, III they
continue 10 exist 10 all the great diseases
which atilict humanity.
Thus a certain street or lane IN London
or Liverpool viii show the most fearful re-
turns under the miseries CfbOth the plaques
under the succeeding ravages Ot cholera.
and through the ordinary and prominent
infections from typhus and d.arrhea and
smallpox In such alleys on houses death
always turks hr shows his gi8st'y face
most iearIg.ly when pc-tiirucu Is abroad.
IL would aPpear tbat certain physical con-
ditiOus are always fomeutr- causes Of al
The great ma.idiez which desOlate cities
Whether cholera be contagious OF u0r. wc
know that where we have given favorable
circumstances the.e Inevitably choler. Will
b5. There aro. ioI instance certain lanes
and courts and hoi-es in New York. where
typhoid and diarrAea ane perennial, aua
there, w can pgOphc-N Win perfect GER
tainty VIII be be greatest numbers al SUI
ierers from cholera. whenever it RACES iu
the city. And Of course IL we have sUili-
cieLt Of these ntkl OF tie pesulruce. We
may so nurture tie disease that it shall
rayage throughout every quarter IL be-
comes tirea a most vital and serious ques-
ton, both for the citizens of New York and
the whole country What are these .O-
meuting causes OF cholera. and can they or
removed"
There can be no doubt 10 any one who
has examined the subject al al, that two Oi
the most favorable conditions 81 tine disease
are dlth and overcr0wdlng OF popU.a.. .yu.
Tie returns from every city Of Europe vii
show this. Ii these two respects tuele j.
probably no city Of Europe, unless some
Italian citle-, worse oil Than New Nori'
AID yet We have some extraordinary al
vautages which VIII 10 GcGbt shield Us
from some OF the consequences Dl Uur neg
iect OF natural laws. We have - most re-
marSably healthy position, Is every ole
knows well aiTel and drained; thougb
some Of our sewers mus- be very defective.
Judging from the Odors which come forth
into our houses; and above all, we have q
magnificent supply OF pure and soft water
The agency of bad water in iomen-ing
cholera in London during the last attacks
nave already shown by figures, in whicf
il was proven that persons on one side Oi q
/ street, or in alternate houses, drinking one
company's water, were killed by the thons
ands more than those drinking another
kind OF water, though in otherwise precise
" similar circumstances.
The cesspOO nuisance still survives il
our city, hat its worst effect, in draining
into wells. IS not felt by us. as our wate
comes from q distance. We have, too, IN,
advantage in New York OF a thorough san
itary map Of the city considered by Euro
pean sanitarians rs the best sanitary sur
vey ever made Of any city. This was car
red our. YOU will remember. under the di
rectiOn Of the Hygiene Council OF TIE Citi
zem's Association, and we presume th
members OF that council can put their fling
ers on tie very houses where next year th
cholera lif IT Gomez will leave It's heaps o
dead Now, cannot our two great source
Of danger, filth and overcrOwding he re
moved, or. al any rate. diminished in inilu
encedY
There is no doubt that good organize
like Mr.. Olmsted, or some Of the West Poin
officers, who have distinguished themselve
so 10y organization in this war, if put at th
head Of bureau OF streets could keep on
city thoroughly clean, and al much less ex
pense than the present dirt entails.
merely needs an organizing brain and hon
esty. Some way could easily be found I
prevent the tenement houses from max
ing or fostering garbage heaps IN front {
their doors, or q postllential pool in thei
back yards, and "Mackerelviile or IN
First Ward could be kept as clean as Fifth
avenue now is. There is no doubt of il
Bat whether The great masses who sute
most from this will ever care or knO'
enough about it to force their leader. 70 q
honest policy. Is another question.