Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-11-29
WHOLE NO. 1855

I During the latter visitation, it appeare
/ first in the Sixth ward, and IL may be
4 safely predicted that is next outbreak 10
our city will be in that district. AT Jhgt
time, it was noted that the greatest NOR
tality occurred among the occupants Of
/ cellars. A physician in large practice
stated that he did not know of a single
| instance of recovery among those who
were not speedily removed from their
subterranean dwellings.
| The predilection of cholera for filthy.
| badly ventilated and overcrowded locaIl-
ties hss been already mentioned. Its IL
I ability to revisit the exact place where II
/ formerly occurred is a very remarkable
| feature in Its natural history, and one full
Of interest in q sanitary point of view
I Thus the first case that occurred in Edin-
| burgh, in 1913, was in the same house.
and within few feet of the same spot.
where the epidemic of 1892 began Ito
/ course. On its re-appearsncei in the town
of POLockshaWs, the first victim was from
the same room and the same bed in
which it had broken out in 1882. In
Bermondsey, both epidemics originated
IN the same locality-close to a ditch fill
ed with excrementitious matter. In Ok
ford, on both occasions of its visitation.
| It broke out in the county jail. At GrOn-
ingen, in Holland, it began its ravages IN
1882 in two houses, and in 184S the in
mates Of these identical houses were the
first attacked. The first case of cholera
in Chelsea was in Whithsll Court, in
1913. 1t hung around this region till
1919. The first case in 1854 was in the
same locality, and perhaps, in the same
house. DR.. Aiklsnd states that IN Ok
ford every street and every yard in St
ThOmas's parish-with one exception
which had been attacked with cholera in
1882 and lS49, was revisited in 1854
These are startling facts, and prove with
force requiring no argument to sustain
It, that the germs of cholera are localized.
and that only the exciting cause is re
qUired 10 start them into active exist
ence.
Now what is this existing cause? Is il
something given off from an infected per
sons body, or from his clothes CT from
MS discharges? Is 1t some alteration Of
the atmosphere? Is it an excessive or
diminished amount of electricity Is it
due to the presence of ozom, or to the ex-
istence of millions of microscopic organ-
Isms which, floating in the air, are inspir-
ed and swallowed. All these supposi-
tons, and a great many more, have been
vigorously eontended for by their propo-
sers. We DO not intend to discuss them
at length, we shall only express our own
firm conviction that cholera is not, strict
iy speaking, contagious; that it is e1ci,-
ed by peculiar poison in the atmosphere.
which clings to individuals clothing, yes
sels, houses, soil etc, and which is there
fore portable, but unless it meets with what
may be considered it's germs, 1t i5 al
gether inert. To cause a case Of cholera.
Two things, therefore, are necessary: ex-
posure of the individual to bad air, wet.
improper food and drink, overcrowding,
tilth, etc. etc, and the action of the NOR
bid principle referred to above. cholera.
therefore, cannot be kept off by quaran-
tine however rigid it may be.
In Hungary, in l949, every approach
from infected districts was strictly guard
Ell by a military force-so severe was the
watch, that it was said only the Wild an
imals passed through, and yet the en-
trance of the poison was not prevented.
So long as the atmosphere has free circu-
IatiOn from an infected to an uninfected
locality containing The germs, so long will
cholera extend itself until the power Of
the poison is expended. a vessel, there
fore, arriving at quarantine with cholera
on board, would certainly infect the
mainland if the conditions favorable to
infection existed, even though there
should be no direct communication with
the shOre.-The N0ti0n.