The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-29

The Present Visitation Of Cholera
in the United StaIes-.Dr. Peters
Report.
The report which DR.. John G. Peter
has Just made to the New York board O.
health concerning the origin progress and
nature oil the cholera in our country Is 0
document full Of value and suggestive
ness. Dr.. Peters, we must premise, waE
sent out by the board some time ago &c
examine the disease as il existed in the
southwest and west, and this fact gives
additional impressiveness TO his declara-
ton that the disease be has witnessed at
the west Is the most virulent and mSlig-
nsnt Asiatic cholera, marked by the sud
denness oil attack, rapidly OF fatal result
by rice.water discharges, cramps, blue
ness, GOODNESS OF the surface, nose and
breath; pulselessness, absence Of electricity
OF the skin, sunken eyes and ptnched fea'
lures. In short, scarcely any disease
more virulent and malignant can be con-
celved OF. II has perhaps advanced north
more slowly because the emigration Of
New Orleans upward Is far less than It
used TO be.
The cholera first made its appearance
in this country at New Orleans, whittier
it was brought by European vessel. II
Travelled slowly up the Mississippi, az
lacking with most virulence the ioulest
and fllthiest cities, or those which were
largely built on marsby or reclaimed land,
and sparing the drier and more clearly
ones. The effect OF sanitary measures
was also very obvious. Thus VIC are tod
that the Memphis physicians urged clean
illness and dIsiniection Of persons and
clothes vigorously, and forbade the night.
ly sssemblage Of negroes. By these
means the disease was quickly stamped
out. At Nashville, Comparatively few
deaths occurred in the highest, clesnest,
best ventilated, best drained and best
paved portions Of the city. The best res.
idencc and business portion Of Nashville
during the whole OF the terrible epidemic
which ragged on It's outskirts was almost
perfectly safe to live in. The cholera was
almost exclusively confined 70 the outer
limits and low portions Of the city, and
carried of hundreds Of those living near
the small streams or sO-cAlled branches,
licks and runs OF water. 1t is quite wOr.
thy of mark also that it was along the
line Of these same streams that the chOle.
"a prevailed seven years ago, when 1t
came from the north. II found there q
crowd OF huts and shAnties, either cluster.
ed together in narrow streels and alleys,
or more frequently huddIed together with.
out system, and crowded with careless
and filthy population, wholly deficient in
ventilation, without any facilities Tor the
enforcement othygienic regulations, form.
ing a most favorable field lot the Iodg.
ment and spread OF disease like cholera.
We quote these assertions all the more
gladly from the fact that Dr.. Peters is
spoken OF by the Nashville Union as say.
ing TO its reporter that since Asiatc
cholera is Just as true and specific dis
ease as smallpox, while filth aud impru-
dence will intensity 1t, no amount Of filth
or imprudence will cause It. If person
has the poison Of cholera In his system,
bad rum, bad meats, bad vegetables and
fruits, bad diet, bad water-hRd water ten
to one against oil bad vegetables and
everything Of that kind-will intensity It.
OF course, DR.. Peters, in this dcclsltion,
docs not mean to imply that cleanliness
and obedience to sanitary laws on the part
of whole community are not the very
best possible safeguards against cholera.
Indeed, in speaking Of Nashville, he calls
attention to the fact that at Edgetield, just
across the Cumberland river, and scarcely
half mile distant from Nashville, there
were only fifteen or twenty deaths It
lies on n low, sandy plain, is supplied
with good cistern water, and has broad,
well ventilated streets. And again be
says that Ut Bowling Green, as well as in
MurfreesbOrO' and Nashville, the avoid
ancC by the dis lse OF the high grounds
was noticeable uisvilIe, very clean
city, built on sa41y, gFavelly coil, with
broad and well paved streets, widely sep
arated houses, clean courts, alleys, yards
and stables, Tor the fifth time escaped
cholera, This city had few or no cases Of
cholera in 1889, 1888, lsls, 1910, 1866, or
in 1873. The disease has been repeatedly
landed there from steamboats, and rail.