The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-06-18
About Cholera

The country seems determined to have a
scare about cholera. Inasmuch as that
determination is fixed, and we could not al
ter 1t il we were to try, few facts relative
to the subject may not prove undressing
Cholera is of Asiatic origin. On the
eighth day Of June. 1882, the first case on
this continent appeared at Quebec. Six
teen days after its first appearance in
America, it was in New York in Phila-
delphla on the fifth day of July and in
the cities Of the Cincinnati, Louis
vile, st Louis--during the succeeding
months of the fall During the next sum
mer it spread 70 New Orleans, Mexico
and the Island of Cuba, then leaving this
continent to resume its ravages in Europe
New York and New Orleans were the
heaviest sufferers from the American tour
Of this fatal disease In lS4S it again
crossed the Atlantic to ravage our cities
The deaths in Cincinnati from this cause
alone, in June, lS49 reached as one hun
dred and eighty per day. Since then we
have had frequent visits. always with more
or less fatal results.
The disease, either in the mild or severe
form, Is not contagious. During its preva-
lence IN Moscow 10000 persons left the
city, and yet not IA ease was transferred
The books are full of facts that prove
the disease To be strictly epidemic. origi-
mating generally in tropical countries, and
spreading thence, in u somewhat regular
geographical course, to colder attitudes
W hlle the doctors disagree about
the qualities of the air upon which
epidemical maladies feed, they all
agree about some local circumstances that
lend them additional force and vitality
In India, exposure To nocturnal cold and
damns great and sudden variations Of
temperature and latigue are known to have
powerfully aided the disease la Moscow,
II chiefly prevailed in moist and low situa-
tons. Filth intemperance, want Of physi-
cal energy or moral courage are all imp0r-
tant aids Of the mystic poison in the air.
Chambers Encyclopedia lays great stress
on the Importance of pure drinking water,
and ITS absolute freedom from c0utamina-
ton by animal matters fltering through
the soil or thrown into water-courses lev
sewers, etc. II water cannot be had in a
pure state, il should be boiled before being
used for drink, or, indeed, for any domes,
ac purpose. Speaking of organic impuri-
w. AZ IA lHhiti- NhtEi. TINS FutAtiibtAlI
says that no single local cause Of cholera
has been established hy So much evidence
There Is no longer any doubt OF the ex-
istence of a mild form Of cholera in some
OF our neighburlng cities as in Memphis.
but It IS clearly not Of AN eWlemicaI char
dyJer. 1t has not come 10 this country
from anywhere else Ii Is sporadic. and
scattering, and due To local causes. In
deed, We might say that these are merely
aggravated cases Of cholera murhus. SUI
pcrnduced by filth, ovcr-exeruou or in
temperate habits. That there Is a aenu-
Inc case of Asiatic cholera in the NIissis
sippi Valley We do not believe: but that
there Is disease resembling ii, sort II
cholera iuiauJum, We DO not doubt To
prevent not only the appearance of this
but other diseases. oar city should take
every rreclutiuu la the way Of cleaning
up the filth Of the streets, and the people
should be temperate in their habits.
summer drawers. summer uuder>hirrS