The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-03-15
Letters on the History and Nature
of the Aslatic Cholera.

IRON A. oEldRR, NJ. ID.

haunts In India, where il remained n
qnietude until almost forgotten. or at leas
until 1t was hoped that it would nevel
again spread its ravages over the world
But In 1877 accounts were received of il,
having commenced a new march Of desc.
lation In the East. Before the close of that
year Il entered Europe, and advanced
regularly westward. pursuing course
singularly corresponding with that of lis
first invasion. Setting out from India, II
passed destructively through the cities OF
Persia, touched the shores of the Caspian
Sea, and reached Astracan in July, and
Moscow before the close of the year 1917.
Here its progress was stayed during the
winter, but In the spring of lS4S, it again
advanced westward, arriving in Hamburg
In June, and crossing thence to Great
Britain, attacked Edinburg In October, and
London soon afterward.
On the ninth day of October, lS49. ship
with emigrants, sailed from Havre for New
York; at the time of her departure. there
was no cholera either at that port or at
Pgris, and the crew and passengers were
all seemingly healthy. The vessel had
been sixteen days at sea, when the disease
appeared on board, and she arrived with IL
at quarantine ground, on Staten Island, on
the first of December.
The passengers were landed; and very
soon afterward the disease broke out In the
neighborhoOd, but did not extend beyond
the quarantine enclosure.
Another ship, which had left II avre on
the second of November without cholera
on board, was attacked with the disease
twenty-six days after leaving port, and
carried it with her to New Orleans. where
she arrived on the eleventh of December.
Cases of Cholera soon, n,Afterward appeared
fhaf ,it nd
weather at the time being hot. and favor
able TO its spread.
From New Orleans 1t extended to Calves
ton and other towns in Texas, and also
taking its march up the Mississippi, reached
the city of Memphis as early as the twenty
second of December, and In the month of
January lS49, few cases of Cholera APP
peared in the Commercial Hospital at Gin
cinnatL which had been brought there
from off the boats, that had arrived in that
port. from below. In the me antime the
sued its regular course across the Atlantic,
and as In 1892 reached our shores ia the
season following that of its appearance in
Paris and London.
1t broke out in New York City about the
aud in Philadelphia about the
close of May lS49, and spread into most of
the towns and many parts of the country
East of the Alleghanies, during the sum-
mer.
About the same time taking a fresh start
from New Orleans, 1t spread over the VAL
ey of the Mississippi and its tributaries,
with fearful violence and extending across
.he whole breadthof the Continent, reached
The shores of the Pacific producing in its
march, as will be remembered, great havoc
lmong the many emigrants then on their
way, (as itself to California.
Although the cholera assumed an cpide-
mic form. in the city of Cincinnati In the
month of May, it did not make its appear
nee In this city, until the eleventh day of
Tune 1919. a-
A gentleman. Mr.. solomon, came from
,incinnati TO this city ON business, aud
topped at the Farmers and Mechanics
Iotel. He was taken sick with cholera on
he day of his arrival, and after an illness
II few days, so far recovered as TO be
BILE to return to his home. On the thir-
eenth day of June. Mr. Adam Kline, the
proprietor of the hotel, Was attacked with ,
holera, and died; about the same time .
everal of the boarders in the house were
ttacked with the disease, nearly all of
whom died.
In less than one week, cases of Cholera
ppeared in different parts of the city, pro-
lucing much CONSERVATION and alarm
mong the inhabitants; business of every
lind was In great measure suspended.
md so great was the fear that prevailed.
hat some of the citizens fled to the coun-
ry, hoping there, to escape the ravages of
he disease; bnt as the result proved, they
we're equally, if not more unfortunate,
han those who re NAMED at their homes
The people of the country, hearing of
he prevalence of the disease in the city,
voided visiting IL. and for several weeks
ur streets were quite deserted-not much
lse was to be seen, but the carriage of the
'hyslcian, or that of the undertaken with
IS attending procession.
The disease continued rapidly to increase
a violence in the city. and also, extended
g ravages into the surrounding country.
reached Its hight on the second day of
uly, the number of interments on that
ay, being twelve. and for several days the
Mortality was nearly the same, after which
Ime il began gradually to subslde, and the
lst interment, from the disease was on the
welfth day of August just two months
fter its first appearance.
The whole number Of deaths from cholera
A the city was 225; of these forty-nine
'ere inferred In Woodland Cemetery 10Y in
he Old GraveY Yard, and seyenty-nine In
he Catholic Cemetery; l am indebted for
hese statistics to record kept by Mr.. John
'. Van Cleve at the time, and have no
0ubt whatever of their correctness.
The prevalence Of other diseases also. in
he city, served TO increase the above rate
f mortality.
The disappearance of the cholera, was
blow by an Epidemic OF Dysentery, which
ontinued until late In autumn.
Strange rs II may seem, although the
holera was spreading desolation over the
md. and we were living ln daily anticipa-
ion of its arrival In this city, but little il
nv preparation. was made either bY the
ity authorities or the people, 10 mitigate
= rayages aud prevent It's spread.
No efficient laws were enacted and en-
breed. for placing the city In good sani-