New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-10-07
onR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.
FROM ITALY.
The Cholera In Europe.
oasnco Of The n. Y. Tribune.

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GENOA Sept. Is. 1865
The English journals have kept you informed
,ha procress of this terrible scourge since its first
,earance on the southern shore Of the Mediterranean
:, Alexandria There are however. many facts which
have received very little public attention out of Italy
and have seen 10 attempt deduce the lessons which
ths last invasion of the disease ought to teach US
Americans.
The principal question which concerns us, Is whether
ar not it is possible TO erect barrier against the
dsea.c-whether quarantine and sanitary precautions
sirdly enforced, will exclude it fIom our shoresi
vast deal of nonsense has been written the questions
a. s being contagious Of its relations to the in
the atmosphere and similar purely speculative matters
The Italian physicians have contributed their quota
Co these word battles but the great of them have
constantly maintained that the disease is practically
contagious. They have had better opportunities than
other physicians for observing tho facts, and have had
che courage to found their theories upon observation
Nov the first fact is that cholera sways travels with
ran or his baggage Since 1885 has been invariable
experience here In Italy that cholera breaks out
On place without having been brought there by some
kerson from on infected district. have before me
book on the invasion Of cholera IN 1854 especially at
Genoa in which the author traces the deveiopment OF
she disease in hundred villages and hamlets IN the
Genoese Ryere and in every instance traces II TO I'M
rortation from another region where IT prevailed
ye this as one proof of the certainty with which this
caet is now established.
II cholera RACES in city ffty miles distant from
and we have close aud frequent communication with
that city, cholera viii be likely TO reach u.s. too unless
tbese communications are broken. The disease will
rot travel for that distance in the air he poison
cust 10 contained in the blood Of man or bundled up
tn case Of goods, travellers trunk Stop transit
.anc You stop the disease. You cannot do hs guar
-entne the traveller aud fumigate his baggage and all
letters and papers Ills is the rule on wach the Coy
eminent has acted this year.
Every one knows that If one case Of cholera prevails
I'm house there is dan that second VIII occur IN
chat or the next that II dozen cases occur IN cluster
of houses in city there Will probably be many cases in
SHE city--unloss some means he taken 10 check the
disease isolate the persons attacked Gnd remove nom
she neichbOrho0d those MorDltc influences on which
Che disease feeds.
These principles are the plain result of nnejudiced
observation Nobody who has observed cholera III
Italy doubt their perfect aceurec!. But If they b
srue 1t is manifest that much may be done 10 fight of
he enemy and TO dislodge him even alter lie has gained
apartial foothold among US.
have stated :hese principles in the beginning rather
than the close of this letter to enable the reader 10
py them he reads brief account of this years nva
bon of Asatic cholera AS is well known the disease
brought 20 Alexandria in Egypt early in Jnne by pil
Rrims returning from Mecca The disease developed
rapidly and hundred persons were dying daily d
snoiera IL soon advanced to Caro- ana men .gIe1d
Itself through the villages Of that region On the Sei
side. meeting with DO distractions II moved up The
soasts of Syria and fell uYOn Co1stantinople. have
good grounds for believing that it made $1,000 victim,
In the Golden Horn
The Italian Government immediately ordered seven
days quarantine for oil vessels and persons oomirc
from infected districts, This quarantine proved a
complete protection at every place but AncouG. and
here there was careessness in enforcing tie regula
lions. Sicily was more exposed than Ancona. hut
Sicily has escaped because IN this island the pcopo
eemem bering the former visits OF the disease brought
their powerful fanaeism 81 the aid Of 'te au'hori'
They we're soon trehy exposed. ioI the disease tcot
root at Malta and MaTsecs both 81 which cities
closely connected BY steam with hessins
The people having learned that commercial Interests
would lead public journals and city authorities
coreea ard deny the truth, clsnored for quarantine
against all Italian ports and the Government grRuhed
a6em although Ancona the only por. where cholera
.reysiled The people OF Sicily said I'VE may make
stte less money this year tu We shall save our lives
The Project Of Messna died on the 9th inst, and his
brothers in Genoa and Turin were not abe TO VISIT h
x attend his funeral because Of the seven days qnaran
sine The circumstance illustrates the ngor oil the ad'
GinistrstiOn OF that city.
Al Ancona the disease found filthy city and no
ereps stions made 10 combat IT. AT that time some
Sisionaries Informing ill Italy that the ozone
was all right and that cholera could not hnd food 70
feed upon. There were 40 cases per day before any
Body believed that there was actual danger remem.
Der telegram sent all over Italy In The hrst days OF
Che invasion, "No True oko!T1 IN dNe0Ea." A month
earlier had received tho same consollpg news from
The malady soon began to travel outward 10 The
dearest and fthiest villages Of the Marches and thence
into the CapitODas. About 20 cities and village
Dave suffered less from the scOurge; but In
every case the towns Invaded were dirty aug no pre-
cautions had been taken One village lost hundred
persons maioy through the folly OF physicians who In
asted that case developed in person just arrived
from AneOna not True cholera, and would counte
effort 10 isolate the In another instance
aphyscan reported caSe Of cholera the authorities
cent other physicians who quaIreed with the first
doctor and reported that he had mistaken collie for
Sholera. Tie physician publicly reprOyed for
srbg apprehension Ia the minds OF the people ana the
patient died Of his colo. There were presently ~ cases
per day in tie village. The Government promptly re
moved tie city fathers. and placed the Doctor whose
warnings had been despsed at the head OF the SANITARY
Commission.
is too early to give statistics Of the cases and deaths
the Adrin,ic side Of Italy. But there ID htte douD,
chat the indifference OF ABcona before tie arrival OF the
disease has cost Italy 900 lives Al TIL, date II wa,
yearly ceased in AncOua and rom other to"ns On lnat
eide OF Italy about fifty cases have oeen repofeu IN 'ne
Now II should be remarked that though Naples, Leg
kofn and Genoa also in communication with
Alexandria ~ well Sicily, aIreacy me nuohed no
ease of cholera occurred ID either OF these cites
No one here doubts that tic superior hde oi the au
Charities has saved this side OF the peninsula.
ON tbe north side of the Mediterranean Marseles Is
Gle Ony city which has sunetea 10 any extent ron hs
dleoosa few cases have occurred ut Barcelona and
rerbans at Gibraltar and Nsleng Bnt at Mafsellles
IN ses per dsy have recently been reported. Now
Ala ,siles had lines OF steamers IN direct cOmmunce
,ion with Alexaudria, and for q month. or nearly
o,th after tue development Of cholera in Alexandria,
4 here was practically no quarantine at MsfbeliIes
later "a hours quarantine applied bu experience
showr that this is mere trilng After voyage OF
several days duration II counts for Hotbng 10 hdd ~
Aourg after the vessel has entered port.
Ihe facts far reported bear chiefly upon the value
%. quarantine regulations IN keeping on cholera 1here
are TWO observations 10 De maue ABOUT buch feeuIs
lions quarantine il useless IL IT does not embrace
aeverai days and week is here regarded "a the only
cafe minimum; ard quarantines are useless they are
lot strictly enforced 10 Is easy to zee tbat TINS last
Son does not support tue Government II the people
teeye cholera rs an affair Of more or less ozone. or