The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-08-15

CHOLERA AND THE RUsslA-'
The fearful ravages of the nuSslan prague
and the steady advance wes'waiu VI Illa'
$50 -. .oo,,.ae Asiatic cholera are begin
considerable degree of anx-
ms ,,,,s country. The medical men and
~ hoarIs of health are discussing the subject
:. ~ volety of quarters and ther of their
o,nsultations, as given to the world, seems to
Re in almost every case that there is no occa-
sion for alarm. The Boston Board of Alder
men has had certain eminent physicians al
work collecting information on the subject OF
the Russian Plague, and has made up re-
port in accordance with the facts Iqrhl Ism
They declare it to be established that the NAL
ady in question is not "the plague" proper;
and though prevailing il St. Petersburgh and
other places sufficientlyto give it the charac-
fer Of an epidemic, falls far short of being the
dire residence which had been apprehended
It is a typhus fever, prevailing more extensive
" this year than usual, owing to local causes,
and attended in some places by fever of fa-
miliar type, known as recurrent or relapsing
fever 4lslaf aabasi
The committee do not think therefore that
there is any reason for fear. Nevertheless
while Wewould deprecate any groundless ter
rors, or any approach to panic as likely to in
crease the possible danger, we do not think it
wise or rightto disguise the fact that danger
does exist The. New York EUening Post
says: frs f.1l 4a.xrf,e,
"The report of the Boston aldermen may be
satisfactory in regard to Russian typhus, which
began, by the way, among the people Of Tar
tary, q little to the north of the Himalaya
mountains. But the theory on which they ex-
plain it is not calculated to increase general
confidence. 0ver-crowding of population, bad
food, and defective ventilation, the Russian
physicians explain to have been the causes of
this epidemic. Those agencies exist in this
city to an extent far SURPRISING any locality in
Russia, Thibet or Tartary, where Russian
plague prevailed. We have, probably, over
Jour hundred thousand persons who bear con-
stantly about with them the peculiar vital de-
preston which is incident to an atmosphere of
typhus.p MfN4#~
These are facts which should not be ignored /;
nor can we fail.to observe that the weather is
displaying those peculiarities which in former
times have been seen to precede epidemics.-
Nj. Hale, agent and Consu-General of the
United States at Alexandria, Egypt, has just
forwarded to the Secretary of State, an ac-
countsof the rayages of cholera at that place.
In the 20 days from June ~ to July II, there
were one thousand seven hundred and eighty
five deaths. 1t is estimated that over 10000
persons hayeleft Alexandria during the month
which has followed the first appearance of the
malady on the 18th of June. The most dis
tressing reports We're received from the inte-
rior Owing to a favorable change of wind
the mortality was, at last accounts, somewhat
abatiDg and it was hoped that the annual rise
Of the Nile, now about commencing would by
flooding the marshes, diminish the poisonous
malaria. In Egypt, Mr.. Hale trusts that the
worstis over; but in the meantime we learn
that the disease was raging in various parts of
Italy, that it has appeared in Paris, though the
fact Is denied by the authorities, and that in
England it had broken out at Manchester and
birmingham. On all former occasions, when
eyercholera has appeared in the East and has
trayersed Northern Europe, it has always
crossed the Atlantic; and we can see no reas-
son to fatter ourselves that it will not do so
again. Here in New England, the near ap-
proach OF frosts may save us from the scourge
this year, but IN the more southern states Sep
lember is the month in which pestilence often
makes its most fearful ravages; and even with
is the coming of cool weather may not pre-
sent the.sowing Of seeds from which terrible
harvest of death may be reaped next year. At
any rate, while it is true that ships from some
one or other of the infected regions are touch
ing our shores every day, there is no propriety
in shutting our eyes to the danger. We should,
If course, avoid the senseless panic which on
ly invites the evil, but we should not neglect
the precautions which alone can give us safety.
Filth, bad air, bad food, Intoxicating liquors
and immoral and licentious habits, are the pro-
life parents of disease at all times, and in Pc
RODS of epidemic their effect is greatly increas
ed. No precaution against cholera is so av
ailing as cleanliness and pure living. All city
and town authorities should at once see to it
hat no accumulations Of filth or decaying
matter are allowed to remain and poison the
air, and that every community, more especial
~ the crowded ones, be put in as good sani-
tary condition as possible. If such preven-
tivesbe attended to, strict quarantine main
tanned, and the ordinary precautions of mode
rate living and abstinence from fiery stimu-
lants be observed we have little to fear from
cholera or any other pestilence. Fore-warned,
should be fore-armed. g-A.k.a4s
af sa'f ----- ss
THE ATLANTIC CABLE
------ The Russian .Talaeranh Lima