The Cecil Whig., 1871-08-12
The Cholera.
ITS MARCH THROUGH RUSSIAN TERRITOI


From the london Lancet we clip tho sub
joined interesting article
The rumored extension of cholera from
Russia into the Baltic provinces of Russia
has very naturally caused alarm lest the
malady should again spread from West
Europe to this country. The news requires
confirmation; and much of the alarm de-
pends upon a mistaken notion of the rapid
ity of diffusion and direction of progress
the disease as having made its way in the
familiar cholera route, from Persia through
Russia to the shores Of the Baltic: and the
Registrar General, in his last weekly report,
writes that "Asiatic cholera (as it was
painful duty to announce early last June)
is entering Western Europe through Rus
sia, where DR.. Zuelzer says, it is fast ad-
vancing on the German frontiers.
In the second week of this month it
broke out in Wilkowyski "a town in Poland
on the road to Konigsberg, west of the
Niemen,) where "a deaths occurred within
few days. The epidemic has prevailed
in wilma for four weeks, and from 10 to Is
deaths are reported daily. At its present
rate of progress it may reach Germany in
two or three weeks. The progress of the
present epidemic Of cholera in Russia, and
its relation to epidemic cholera in Persia,
have formed study of altogether excep-
~ ;,,&o ia al h., ;ek
ing epidemic in Russia apparently a recru-
descence of the epidemic of 1860 began
in December, 1869. In the course of that
month the disease appeared at Oral, in the
Government of Smolensk, and in the city
of Moscow.
During the earlier months of 1870 the
malady prevailed slightly in the localities
named; but in July and August it spread
widely in the southwestern districts of
Russia in Europe, and throughout the
autumn it was more Or less prevalent in
many of the Russian ports on the Black
Sea. On the Goth of August, 1870, the
epidemic broke out in St. Petersburg; and
from that date to the Sth inst, there had
been no less than $3.50 cases of the disease
in that city, of which 217S had died. On
the Sth of July there were 335 cases report
ed to be under treatment. From st. Peters
burg the disease has been scattered in
various direction in West Russia; and it
was present in wilma in April. The cpl
demic is now prevalent moro OF less at
various ports in West, Central and East
Russia in Europe.
The protracted duration of this epidemic
in Russia, and its limitation to the present
time $50 far as Europe is concerned) to the
provinces of that empire, is a phenome-
non of very remarkable interest in the his
tory of the epidemic diffusions of cholera.
From the close of 1869, the presence of the
epidemic in Russia, we have reason to
know, has been a source of constant anxi-
ETY. to the officials Of the Privy Council
Office, whose duty it is to watch over the
health and welfare of the kingdom; and
we ourselves have spared no pains to bring
the different facts which would throw
light upon the probable future of the cpl
demic to the knowledge Of the profession.
AS yet we have 10 certain information
that the malady has become actively migra
tory, and that it has extended across the
Russian frontier into west and central
Europe. But that this danger is imminent
and has been imminent at any period since
the winter of 1869, is certain; and it is
well that the daily press should have raised
the question of the state of our defense
against the epidemic. Upon this question
we do not propose now to dwell further
than to remark that it is one upon which
no doubt can rest as to the duties of the
| local authorities who are responsible for
the administration of the sanitary laws.