The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-28
re TIE CHOLERA IN EGYPT.
The Ris.. and Progress Of the cholera I'm
Egypt.

in the value and extent Of cotton CROP Frst
the inundaton Of the Nile thS tmhapknsnts Of the
swamped and devastated villages wrecxsd and valuable
crops destroyed. Afterwards the murrain among the
cattle robbed the feahs OF the means Of cuvating and
ifrgating their fields and worked mischief that Il win
take years, and cost me country milons of pounds
the dread and mysterious disease cholera it Is decina-
ting a population already too scanty, and robbng the
country Of the bone and snew OF which It stands so
The rumor was at first dlscredited but its
soon manifest by tho departure OF ships from the
port with foul bills Of health. Tho epidemic quickly
spread and cases under the notice OF every
It's origin is attributed to several causes chiefly, how
ever 10 the fact that the Bahm0udich canal which
the town is dependent for its supplies Of water had be-
come gnant and paird The canal Is fed by the Nile
and the river having fallen unusually low this year tho
flow Of water into the canal sufficient preserve
it from sagnatng and, added 10 THIS was made the
The Arabs performed their abluons in, and drank, this
poisonous water unfered. Among the villages the
banks of the canal the epidemic first broke out BY
some Is opposed that the disease Introduced
the town by the Hades pilgrims that passed through
it, going and coming from Mecca These unfortunate
people died. like nes in thousands, al Mecca and
| ut the various towns on their route
But pendent OF these causes, there is to be found
in the filthy condition Of the town sufficient for
the outbreak the disease. In the Arab quarters and
outlying villages the Arabs hive huddlcd together in
novels unfit human habtation, and yet attempt is
made improve their condition Even the camest and
courageous could not contemplate without shud
der the rayagcs that this enemy to the human race
would probably make in this town. The overcrowded
houses narrow dirty streets and alleys the absence
Of drainage the combination of dirt, drunkenness and
dissipation OF the lowest European seaport with the
rude and beastke filth OF the native population,
all pointed 10 disease and DEATH The lighted brand had
| been cast into the store Of pitch and rosin.
Panic seized upon everybody, business suspended,
great portion Of the European population PREPARED
for departure Suddenly the Viceroy disappeared from
the country took to his heels If it is possible to imagine
obese piece Of humanity doing anything half
energetic The fight soon became general, and every
steamer that left the port crowded with fugitives.
tn opncn chartered steamers at fancy prices for their
exclusive use to avoid the danger of crowded
rtcl hapy A,Ito
Continent the Syrian ports and England all received
share OF the ggvcs 1t Is estimated that not less than
twenty five TO thirty thousand persons quilted Egypt
Cotton and love Of money brought them here cholera and
| fear of death drove them away.
The changed aspect Of Alexandria may be imagined.
The crowded hants Of business deserted offices
closed, stores locked np the cotton market almost
Unattended by few OF the most obstinate of whom
it might be said that The ruling passion str0ng in
athn The dead aud the dy .ng hurried along the
streets The disease stricken Arabs passed by sup
ported donkeys; taken 10 their homes II their
wretched mud novels worthy of the name, almost
certainty TO de- continuous stream o. Arab funeral
professions marched on The doeful chant of their
priests the loud wailng Of the Arab women, the long
line OF moGrnere the bier horne alo the shoulders Of
the men, and sometimes, When the deceased man
OF rank, the banner carried alongside tn bier show
outward respect and inward for the dead
succession of funerals moved in another direction,
through the Rosetta Gate towards the Christian
teries Very rarely there any pomp or ceremony:
no wcllplumcd hearsc vent Goddng stately on often
even dc, ency civgd it's due Hack carriages
that few days ago were lled with pl asant faces
yelling in the joy OF "a driver have become promptu
hcarscs One after another they roll along the road,
each containing white deal box, upon which the join
had wasted skill, and in many the liircss in
mate accompanied TO I'll grave by one three
mourncis, with cigars or pipes IN their mo this But
week ago this read crowded by carriage filed with
the beauty and fashion CT The ownit is abandon d
to funeral professions.
Inside the large bonres lighted at night nj
the of the streets IN the squares During
the day honses ard slop remained closed bacopi:s un
occupied, the exchange unrequcnted, by
sional visitor. II seemed though the occupation Of
the busy denzens OF commerce gone; they had dis
art gnt.l
undertakes.
The epidemic first broke out in Alexandria about the
10th Jun rca he'd its climax about the FIRST week
july and since then, under the influence of frcsh cool
breeze from the north, has been gradually disappearing.
Shortly after The disease manifested itself the Sanitary
Board adopted the unwsc proceeding Of issuing false
return Of the number OF deaths with the object OF aay
ing fear and alarm This well-meant but foolish act
added to the Panic; for no sooner was Il known
that the Official report was not to he replied upon
than the most exaggerated reports OF the rate OF mortality
were circulated and believed When the dis ease was
raging with the greatest intensity the daily bullet stated
the deaths at two hundred and thirty per day, but they
generally supposed have reached hundred
Probably this was an cxaggcraion, and medium be-
tween the two reports would he the truth The
number of deaths from cholera is comparatively
small being only twenty to twenty five per day. The
total number of deaths up TO The present time according
The official report have been three thousand i've hun.
dred, but general opinion estimates them yariously at
from five tho sand 10 thousand, and the proper
ton Of Europeans at about ten cent OF this number
The fight Of many Europeans tended to ward of the
severity Of tho visitation from them Ftv well fed and
well housed Europeans Of regular habits Of life have
have been the principal sufferers Unlort ratey the
epidemic spread among the shipping in the harbor
Many vessels lost several Of their and the faors
by their indiscreons rendered themselves peculiarly
liable 10 its attacks
Cholera still battles the skill and experience of med
cine Three 10 four hours sufficient TO change the
Joyous healthy man into a corpse. Many Europeans by
giving TO excessive fear brought the disease upon
themselves, and many when seized exaggerated il from
the same cause Some by the nrdicous OF brandy
and other supposed andotcs dsordered their systems
The fatalism OF the Arabs displayed itself In these
times They showed little alarm and took precau
tons IF am TO die they said II shall die, Il am
to live shall live God IL great, and docs oil things
we'll" some, however, whom intercourse with Euro
peans had niade more worldly wise, whilst admit
they also appreciated the truth Of the maxim
that 'Cod helps those that help themselves" and
rally the Arabs refuse take European medicine They
made little cxcrtion 20 assist each other and often died
Ss % evil g 'as SS%s as %
lakc they gather together the children provide them
with pots aud ans and send them through the streets
purpose Of driving away this enemy Of mankind.
In Cairo the epidemic has ragged great severity as
also in the villages Infected villages are almost totally
deserted by Europeans and all business is the present
stopped The Nile " rising rapidly, and this may be
expected to improve the health Of the country generally
Precautions Against Cholera.
Amongst the precautions against cholera recommended
by the British government are the following
Sources Of water supply should be we'll examined.
Those which are in any way tainted by animal vege.
table refuse above ALL those into which there any
leakage or filtration from sewers, drains cesspooIs or
foul bitches ought longer to be drank from Espe.
cialy whore the disease cholera darrha typhoid
fever IL 10 essential that no foul water be drank
The washing and lime whiting Of uncleanly promises
especially Of such densely occupied should be
pressed with all practicable despatch
0vcrcrowdng should be prevented. Especially where
disease has begun, the sick should as posi-
ble be free from persons who not Of comfort
10 the patient
Ample ventilation should be enforced II should he
seen that window frames made to opcn and that
windows are sufficiently opened Especially where any
kind OF nfcctive fever has begun II is essential both
for patients and for persons who about them that
the sick and the sick house be constantly well
rraveEsd by stresfSs q fresh air =, ..sEs-"st
The cleancst domestic habits should be erioined.
Refuse matters which have TO be away should never
be let nger within DOORS and things which have TO- be
dsiniected or cleansed should always be dsnfocter
cleanssd without delay
Special precautions Of cleanliness and dsnfection arc
necessary with regard 10 nfectve matters discharged
from the bodies tho AIMING dccharnaa sbicR