Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-07-24
THE CHOLERA.

Reports Of the favages of cholera IN ecr-
tain locsliries in the West and South have
reached rs daily during the last four weeks.
In Nj. Vernon, Ind, the deaths are said to
occur At the rate of forty per week, and ''cit-
isess not usually given to excitement or IN
necessary alarm, are fleeing before it," In
81 Charles Co, Mo-, between fifteen and
twenty deaths occurred within two eeks, and
st Troy, Lincoln Co., the disease carried off
fffy person. within the same length of time,
and s'fhe place Is almost deserted, the only
basine. houses remaining open being the
drug stores and one hotel" Eight deaths
from cholera occurred at Louisiana in the same
State between and IL o'clock Sunday last
and s'grest excitementqrevails, and hundreds
Of citizens sre preparing to leave the place. :"
rased only in Cincinnati, where $50 deaths
have been reported, and in Columbus. where
twelve deaths have been reported eleven of
which we're Of eonvicts in the penitentiary.
In Nashville, and Memphis, Tenn. the
saosrge has ragged violently, sos deaths being
reported ia the former city, and ia in the
latter. Fatal cases have been reported in
Chattanooga, 81. Louis, Cairo, H., Paducah,
seven hundred and seven fatal cases have
been reported in our telegraphic columns.
Notwithstanding this mortality the disease
hardly seems to have yet assumed the really
Epidemic form. Wherever j. has ragged il
seems to have fcurished from local causes, and
indeed there is some room for doubt whether
any Of the cases reported have been that o.
fTEf Akiatic cholera. AT Mt Vernon, vhert
it has created such panic, ''the high ant
healthy portion Of the town has SO far escaped
the rsvages Of the plague, but that portion
lying along Mil Creek AID Belleville, hal
been visited with the seourge in its most tata
character" In Nashville. Memphis and Gin
cinnat, the $50 deaths reported have beer
' fusnisheA almost entirely by the siams Of tn,
wretchrdiy poor and filthy. The connection
betseen cholera and uneleanliness. impur
air and water and unhealthy food is very int
nase,-so intimate as to originate the sayin
." tSs~cAS ~ AAnft tAr NHOlCias
though when it becomes an epidemic, cor
tact with its poison is extremely daugerou
in spite Of courage, cleanliness and csreft
living Il .G &
A. yet the doctors know comparatively Ii
tie about the cholera; they have no remedi,
for it, that cure, and it is Of no use TO re
upon their prescriptions. Prevention by o.
serving every rule Of health, Is about the on
thing that can be done.
In Maine, happily, We have had but lit
experience with the scourge that has carrie
of so many thousands of human beings sine
il Introduction into Europe from Bengal i
1880. The geological formation is unfavora
Bile to its permanence here, for it has bee
we'll established that cholera prevails more OIL
alluvial and tertiary than on primary forma
tons. Alluvial lands seems to be its fsyorit
seats, but in India alone, particularly on tn
delta of the Ganges, has it seemed to be en-
demic. It has never destroyed the people +
any extent where the water supply is pure
where the hygienic conditions were goot
and where the authorities adopted judiciou
and well-organized measures of early trea
ment and Of systematic disinfection. Every
thing that is done to remove what is noxior
from our homes and from our vicinity. ever
effort naede to secure against bad food an
bad drinking water, every endeavor to SUI
ply pure air, serves to protect against Ii
ravsges Of the dreadful scourge.