The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-28
The Cholera-Its Course and the Means
70 Prevent II.

1
The Cholers-Its Course and the Means
20 Prevent II.
| We print this morning q very important
communication on the approach Of cholera,
its course and the means to prevent 1t. The
suggestions Of our correspondent are as simple
as they are valuable, and if they are acted
upon in time they may save the country from
a very great calamity. England Is already
acting In this matter, and has sent DR.. Rad
cliAe, woll-known sanitarian, to visit the
coast where vessels from the Baltic mostly
arrive, and rouse tho local authorities to the
necessity Of immediate precautionary mea-
sures. Deaths from cholera have occurred on
board ships at Hull Dundee and Shields. In
the epidemic of 1881 no less than sixty English
vessels sailed from Riga alone as soon as the
cholera broke out there but, unfortunately,
they carried the disease with them, and from
England it was brought to the United States.
The same thing happened in 1849 and 1854.
The danger is even greater now than before,
the coal trade with the Baltic from Newcastle
and Shields having increased to such an ex-
tent that the shipping is perhaps doubled.
The epidemic now prevails 10 Riga to an
alarming extent and this time, as on tho pre-
vious occasions, it was carried 10 England by
the shipping, and though but few cases are
yet reported every day increases the danger.
| 1t will not do for us to be listless in this
matter. Our correspondent shows how easily
the disease may be carried from city 70 city by
! OF cd NTH IL a1iuh III " ro
cover without having been aware Of the nature
of their malady. This IL most alarming fea-
turc, and one which renders dealing with it so
Us to prevent its Introduction exceedingly diff
cult. And the disease is SO contagious that
only the immediate use of the most powerful
disinfectants can prevent its spread. These
points are especially dwelt upon in this COM
munication, and the hints which 1t gives are
invaluable both to the sanitary authorities and
| to the people. We cannot afford to disregard
them, or we may 10 scourged even more fear
fully than In the terrible ordeal Of forty years
ago. Asiattc cholera is disease more resistless
in its march than the tread Of armies, and only
science, cleanliness and wise precaution can
guard US from it.
There seems to be no good reason to doubt
that cholera is disseminated by importation,
and that it usually travels over the same
course. The facts adduced by our correspond
ent prove these two propositions most
clearly. The route of the present epidemic is
exactly similar to that which 1t followed in
1889. Germany is invaded now, as it was in
vaded then, and not only have many cases
occurred at K0nigsberg and Dantzic, and
few at Berlin and Stettin, but the disease is
even reported rs far west as Antwerp. II
scientific Germany was unable to prevent its
introduction and successfully to cope with it
afterwards 1t seems idle to expect anything
better in England aud this country. In the
previous epidemics II was quickly carried from
Berlin to Hamburg and from Hamburg to
London. And we are scarcely told that it has
appeared at Berlin till we hear also that it Is
at Antwerp Whether English skill and sani-
tary precaution will stay its march remains to
be seen, but we must not forget that 1t may
be brought TO the United States from Ham
burg and Havre as we'll as from Liverpool and
Southampton. So far as q vigilant quarantine
Cou CtOoc VIC uOok okotuSs ~ ehO wv nUoe W
vigorously closed, the strict performance Of
tho Health Officers duties being our first
barrier against this fearful pestilenoc.
Cleanliness has always been reckoned next
to goodness but when cholera Is on Its trav-
els it becomes Christian duty as I'M
portant as any Of the Divine commands.
A pure atmosphere is more effective remedy
against disease than the physicians potions.
Havana is the hotbed of yellow fever, because
it's harbor, which has only single outlet TO
the sea, Is pool Of accumulated filth. New
York may, in like manner, become the plague
spot Of the United States If its streets and
tenements are allowed to reek with garbage
and other offensive matter. Now Is the time
for the Board Of Health and the sanitary police
to fight their battle with the cholera. If our
city is made as clean as Philadelphia had once
the fame Of being we shall have little to fear
from the ravagss Of disease. But no time
ought to be lost. The work of complete
publication should begin at once. We shall
fight against Importation in vain if propagation
is to be encouraged. All these points, as we'll
as the proper treatment of such cases as may
appear, are 30 well argued in the commuuica-
ton Of ~. G. p" that we not only commend il
to our readers, but second and enforce all lis
arguments.
The Ratlread slaughter at Revere, Mass.
The frightful railroad accidents, as usual,
are coming all in heap. 1t seems to be q
law Of accidents that one shall precipitate
another, like row of bricks. A collision to-k
place near Wcstport, Pa. on Saturday, killing
FIVE persons, and another on the Eastern Rail
road, at Revere, Mass, killing twenty -four.
These are dreadful mishaps following 30
closely upon our Westfed and tugboat ex-
blossoms and the late railroad disaster in