Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-07-14
M4LIGkANT CHoLERA-No, l.
BY PROF. A. P. DUrcHER, X ,.

! - 5000 i4iF lu
Malignant Cholera, Epidemic Cholers
Asiatic Cholera, and spssmodic Cholera. ar
all terms applied 70 one of the most extra
ordinary diseases 4hat has afflicted the hu
man race. No form of pestilenee has eve
exceeded it in mortality. Its history pre-
sents some of the most impressive pheno
mena that have ever been recorded. 1t
causes are yet in measure unknown, il
nature underlined, and its treatment unset
tied, presenting numerous topics for pro
found and unremitting discussion.
Its history first claims our attention. Ans
this dates back TO the remotest antiquity
Ia the Sacred Books OF the Priesthood o
Iudia there are accoents of disease iden
teal with malignant cholera, which haC
been noticed from time immemorial bu
it is in the writings of the fathers of medi.
cal science, especially Hippocfates and
CELSIUS, that we find it sufficiently described
for our recognition. The first accurate de
scription of the disease, hewever, was mol
published until the year 1892. This wss by
Betius, celebrated Italian physician. He
says that it first came from India in the
year 1863, and was spread from thence IN
several succeeding years till 1890; since
then it has continued to prevail with more
or less severity in the different coantries oi
the world. - aal y falfH1 - 49,
In the year 1915 and lSI6it is satssytlsa At
there appeared in India a peculiar and
uncommon condition of the atmosphere.
After long period of heat, there followed a
long period OF continuous rains, by means
of which many provinces were oyefhowsd.
Many swamps were formed, and stagnant
pools, from which water was evaporated,
the atmosphere became impregnated with
gases of purified animal Gnd vegetable
matter, which produced peculiar corrup-
ton, and malignant miasm, and was doubt
less the originating cause of the great and
destructive epidemic that ensued. Its
first point of manifestation was at Des-
sors in East India. There it appeared
in great violence in the month Of Au-
gust, 1917. aud extended itself over the
Different provinces with great rapid
itY. In the month of September iterrfved
at Calcutta, which is one hundred miles
distant from Dessora. In ISIS il manifested
itself in Bombay, Madras. Coromandel,
Ceylon. Siam, Malacca and Java In the
year 1919 it produced great desolation in
Nankin, Cochin China and in the interior
of the Chinese E npire. In the year 1920 it
Persia, and toward the latter end of the
year passed toward Russia TO ofenbury and
when at last, in the year 1880,
in the month Of January, there was an ex-
cold term, but it spread, and in
September Of that year IT appeared at Mos
COW, 30 j
In its progress from Dsssora to Moscow i
twelve years. Its progress was
now more rapid, for in less than two years
it invaded France and England, where il
prevailed in 1882, producing a most fearful
in all their large cities. From
France or England its transmission to this
country was prompt and easy. 1t made its
appearance at Quebec in the same year,
when it assembled the st. Lawrence 10 Mon
.real. From that city it followed the divid-
ed streams emigrating westwardly along
Lhe lakes, and southwardly across to the
Hudson river, and thence to New York
City. From this point it spread in all di
numbering thousands of victims
n the wake of its desolating march. 1t
seemed TO die out in the United States en-
.irely in 1887, and was absent for nearly
eleven years -
In 1874, it again revived in India, and
lgain began TO extend westwsrdly, follow
ng very nearly the same. route as at first.
Il reached France and England in the year
1913, and did not long delay its expected
'eturn to our shores. Itresched US stimuli
at two points ofthe greatest i'm
migration, New York and New Orleans, and
or SIX years prevailed with more or less
eeyerity in soIle section Of the eaqptsgs, al la
,ur land was 7onGe more free from the dread
4 pestilence. s - 81
But now after an absence of twelve years,
We are seriously Threatened with another
INVASION of the malady. The epidemic
now anticipated in this country, is supposed
70 have originated at Mecca, the capitol Of
Arabia. 1t is said that between the 1st and
10th of May, 1865, an incredible number Of
pilgrims assembled at the above named
place, to celebrate the great feast of sacri
ices, one Of the most sacred fesiivels Of the
calender. Here the disease
broke out with the greatest violence, pro-
iucing most frightful mortality, causing
he panic stricken pilgrims to flee from the
place with the utmost rapidity. From its
at Mecca, in the short space
IF month, cholera made its appearance
1t Alexandria, Constantinople, Ancona and
Marseilles. From these four great centers
IF trade it has spread extensively through
Europe, and its transmission to this country
IS only question of time. Already it is
Numbering at the door of our quarantine at
New York for admission. May He who
iemPers the winds to the shqEn lambs pro-
iect Us from its ravages.