Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-07
!. FoREwARNED rs FOREARMFD

L 4
Almost daily, members Of the medical
profession in the city are asked the ques-
ton, do you expect the cholera to pre-
vail here this summer ?" We presume
that, in large majority of instances, no
positive and definite answer is given.
The question is a natural and rational
one, but it cannot be answered with GER
tainty by any one, whatever his attain
ments or the amount of investigation he
may have given to the habitudes and
characteristics of this fearful disease.
An opinion ventured on such an inquiry
is mere conjecture.
There are, however, certain facts re-
garding the history of cholera in the past
six or eight months, which, as the season
is approaching, when, if it visit us at all,
it is to be apprehended, may be of SER
vice in enlightening the views of the gen
eral public; and there are hygienic rules
which, as precautionary and preventive
measures, are necessary to be known aud
appreciated both by our public authori-
ties and by private citizens The Board
Of Health and the Health Officer have
been actively engaged for some time in
enforcing general cleansing of streets,
alleys and premises, in removing deposits
of filth from the immediate suburbs, and
draining the sluggish streams which ira
verse portions of the extremities of the
city This portion of the work will be
as thoroughly performed as the means
placed in their hands will permit; and
we hazard nothing in saying that the city
is in a better condition to resist the raw
ages of cholera epidemic than it has
ever been.
Since January lst, 1867, the infection
which causes the spread of Asiatic
cholera has smoldered in various parts of
Europe and America. Indeed, during
the month of December Of last year, it
prevailed in Central America, and
especially along the San Juan del Nerte
river In April it appeared at the city of
Porto Allegro in South America. In
February and March, it existed along
the Mississippi river between Memphis
and the mouth of the Arkansas, and ex-
tended several hundred miles up the
latter. In all three of these regions it
was confined to soldiers crowded in
vessels, or in garrisons, and to the blacks
in novels squalid with filth About the
first OF May it appeared in London and
Paris, but did not prevail to any con-
siderable extent In mild form, it has
been also observed at several points on
the continent Of Europe Within the
last ten days, three cases have been re-
ported in New York city 1t was in 1865
that the disease commenced to travel
westward from Asia. Heretofore these
yisitations have lasted two or three years
in Europe and America During that
year there were but few eases in the
United States. Last year it prevailed ex-
tensively. If this year should prove the
experience of previous visits, there will
not probably be severe epidemics in
many sections, but where the conditions
exist to favor its production, more or less
of it may be expected Hence the
necessity for every community to adopt
in time, all the approved means to prevent
its spread
1t is not proposed in an article like
this, to discuss the mooted question among
doctors, whether cholera is contagious
like typhus or smallpox; but it is proper
to state what will be denied by no one
who has kept pace with the progress of
science, that the infective property of the
excrement of cholera patients, and per
sons who have recently left places where
it is prevailing, become sources of propa-
CATION of the disease. This, and the fact
that collections of decaying matter of any
kind may become infectious with the dis
ease, while its primal cause is in action,
are important truths which all classes
of people should understand The year
1866 has contributed great deal to the
stock of knowledge in regard to this disc
ease, and when the observations of sci
entifc men have been thoroughly digest
ed, there is ground to hope that it will be
robbed of much of its terror. In no part
Of the field of inquiry has more progress
been made than in that which relates to
preventive measures-and the sum of this
consists in the prompt and thorough re-
moval of the local causes that increase
and spread the epidemic; and this is to
be done by publication and disinfection.
In due time, the Health Officer viii
inform the public in regard to the most
and efficient mode of disin.
feeting; and it is to be hoped that the
CITY Council will arm the Board of
Health and the Health Officer with
code of laws that win empower them to
10 all that science has suggested in this
important behalf and that an enhght-
ened public opinion will sustain the
Council in all justifable expense attend
ing these measures and that citizens
generally will aid in making the sanitary
system as perfect as possible
THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DIS
TRTCE
The nominating convention for the
nhird District met aft McMiuuvilla on the