New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-07
THE HEALTH OF THE CITY.

| The mortuary returns for the last week show
that during that period there we're in this city
forty seven deaths attributable to oholeraio IN
haenees, OF these twenty-nine are referred
4 directly to cholera Asiatit cholera, cholera
asphyxia. or. whatever we may call that malig-
snant disease which is now spreading over the
icountry, such a number Of fatal cases leaves
no room for doubt as to the presence of the
disease Discussion on this point would be
entirely aut of place in view of such a return.
Perhaps this is fortunate We shall, at least,
lose no time in arguing about the main fact,
and in trying to~delude ourselves into COM
forting, but, ultimately, very dangerous in
credulty We know positively that the
cholera is with us, and we can, therefore,
direct our efforts to the task of mitiga-
ting its rayages. The first thing that strikes
us in considering this subject is that up to
this time nothing has been done to avert OIL
to modify the visitation. We have made nc
preparations to defend ourselves against as
sault. No precautions have been taken.
None Of those hygienic measures known to be
so effective against cholera have been adopted.
Those things which ought to have been done
weeks perhaps months ago, have not been
done at all. For this, the Board of Health
are not to blame. They drew up an ordinance
which, if it had been promptly acted on by
the council, would have produced very beneficial
results But the council kept the ordinance on
hand for several weeks, and finally passed it
only when the cholera was at our doors. As
soon as it was adopted and signed the Board
of Health commenced to act under it, and
whatever they can do by energy, zeal and So
gaeity, to make up for lost time, will undoubt-
eddy be done. But, in order that their efforts
may be crowned with even partial success,
those efforts must be vigorously seconded by
the people Of the city. The health ordinance
is not intended as an annoyance to the citizen,
but as an assistance to him in guarding against
disease and death. It would be disastrous to
suppose that everything is to be left to the
health officers, and that those gentlemen are
to be held responsible for the consequences of
efforts which can be rendered effectual only
by the general and active cooperation
Of the public 1t is no time to stand
on ceremony. Everybody is vitality in
terested in staying the ravages of the
threatened epidemic, and of restoring the
health of the city as soon as possible Every
one can contribute something to the consum-
nation Of this purpose. The first necessity is
cleanliness a mere superficial cleanli-
ness, but thorough cleanliness of house
hold street and person. It is not too much
to say that, if this rule were universally OBJ
served, the cholera could not lay its grasp on
the community. II, in addition, people would
be regular and prudent in their habits and
their diet, we might laugh the disease to
seorn Of course, we know that cholera isl
not caused either by filth, or by imprudence
in eating but we do know that, as secondary
or collateral causes, those influences are ex.
tremely powerful The best advice, therefore,
that can be offered is, in the first place,
to use water copiously for cleansing pur-
poses, and Of disinfectants wherever they are
needed J; and in the next place to avoid all
unripe fruit and vegetables, and the excessive
use of ardent spirits Likewise, do not fly to
nostrums for relief, in case of attack but, on
the slightest appearance of indisposition, re-
tire to rest, and send for a physician. Let
these rules be strictly observed, the mind kept
free from fear, and there will be but little dan
ger from the cholera, even should the disease
assume an epidemic form