Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-08-26

This has been one of the mild cases.
and he has recovered, or hardly been
sick but his infected clothing has
killed his more unfortunate neighbors,
or his discharges have affected the
privies. An infected boat arrives from
Memphis at Cincinnati; does not re-
port to the Health Office, nor is it Wis
tied by any sanitary official. Infected
clothing are sent on shore, and some
OF the officers ana crew with cholerine
and diarrhP are found walking about
town and sleeping upon shore. OF
course the first victims will be old in
habitants who have never been away
from home. In the town of Bristol.
England, in 1866, the disease broke out
IN twenty-siA distinct localities. In
six cases only was the disease distinct
ly traced to importation from without;
i'll five others importation was proba-
BILE in two it was derived from pre-
viOusly infected spot in the town; and
in thirteen cases the source of infec-
ton could neither be made out nor
guessed at. There are mild cases of
cholera, just as there are of scarlet fe-
yer mild cases reproduce not only mild
cases, but very frequently also malig-
either reproduce their likes or only
those of milder form. But we Will con-
fine our attention to the severe cases.
Bristol was in daily intercourse with
the great cholera field in South Wales.
also with London, Liverpool, and 9TH
er infected places but it had a vigil
liant, earnest, energetic, and faithful
Health Officer, Dr. Davies, who,
whenever intelligence of a new case
reached him, whether by day or night
allowed scarcely an hour to pass be-
fore he was on the spot with his san
itary staff; and he never left it before
every known eXterminating measure
was thoroughly carried out. The first
case occurred in the person of q young
sailor from Rotterdam; by good for
tune he soon fell under the observa-
ton of DIR. Davies. The rice-water
discharges were disinfected at once
the privey was drenched with disin-
fectants. This case was a malignant
one and terminated fatally il eighteen
hours the bed on which the SICK man
lay was destroyed; the corpse was
wrapped in the sheets and bcd-cloth-
ing upon and in which it had lain,
and the whole mass was speedily fas-
tened down in a coffin absolutely filled
with disinfectantS and Immediately
buried in ground which was also law
ishly supplied with correctives. Bris-
tol was tried at every point. Twenty
six other cases arose in distant parts.
The disease was more than common
ly malignant, as twenty-five out of the
twenty six died. From fourteen of
the cases in which circumstances al
lowed the disinfection to be actively
put in force from the first no new cases
arose. In twelve instances one, two,
three. and even four other cases sprang
up, because from unavoidable causes
some delay occurred in the application
of the disinfecting plan. In three in
stances only was the disease conveyed
to an adjoining house, and in two in
stances to q more distant location
Thus the epidemic was absolutely
stamped out. Cholera was hit as hard,
suddenly, and relentlessly in every
instance where it showed itself as it is
in the habit of shifting its victims. In
the words of DR.. Elisha Harris, from
whose pamphlet on cholera prevention
| the above account of DIR. Davies meth
! cd has been taken, ''smi.e cholera hard
tuu SHlllC IL CiiI 10 tic Ouiy way W
deal with so treacherous and malig-
nant an enemy.
From Memphis and Nashville to
Cincinnati, and on all the little towns
which are now so severely afflicted,
both North and South, the "happy-
go-lucky method has been tried long
enough. And it must be remembered
that each newly infected town or vii
lage is the starting-poiEt for a fresh
outbreak elsewhere. Every stricken
town is the guardian not only of the
| lives of its own citizens, but it is re-
sponsible for the damage done else
where, and each cholera patient is a
source of danger to others. His life
may not be saved, but no other life
| should be lost. The responsibility
placed on physicians and health
officers is a heavy one, but it should be
rigidly eXacted. Any success short of
that obtained in Bristol must be regar-
ded as incomplete and unsatisfactory.
| Where the cholera virus has got into
drinking-water q severe and extended
| outbreak, of course, must occur, but
where the disease is limited to single
persons and houses it ought to be
crushed out speedily. j. G. 2.