The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-06
ARE WE TO HAVE CHOLERA AGAINs


Recent reports from India announce
the breaking out of cholera in aggravated
and alarming form at several places, at
tended with the usual fatality that has
characterized its appearance on former
occasions in that, its nativedwelling place,
the land in fact of its birth. We have
heard of it recently in the southern dis
tricts of China, in eastern India and on
the Afghan frontier, where the British
army suffered severely on its return from
the late war in Afghanistan. In 1917
cholera visited Bengal and thence spread
to all parts of the Indian Empire, spread
ing within the ensuing three years to
Persia and China. In 1923 it had ex-
tended as far as Asia Minor and Russian
Asia. Seven years later it again assumed
an epidemic form, and swept like a
simoom over India, Persia, Asia Minor,
and following the routes of travel, pene-
trated to Russia in Europe. In 1881 it
appeared in England, and the following
year overran nearly all the balance OF
Europe, and was transported across the
Atlantic to the United States During
the twenty years following, its first out
break in India, it appeared frequently in
localities where it had prevailed, but
finally disappeared totally in 1887.
Four years later, in 1S41, it again made
its appearance in India, and slowly fol-
lowed its old pathway until it reached
Europe once more in 1S47, six years
afterwards, appearing as before in this
country. In 1850 it broke out once
more in its native jungles in India, and
this time had reached our shores five
years later, having tarried for two years
in Europe before crossing the Atlantic.
The next epidemic visitation of the dis
ease was in 1866, but less fatal than
previously, and its ravages in the coun-
try, and this city especially, will be re-
mcmbercd by many of our readers The
disease has been heard from at frequent
intervals since in Turkey and Western
Asia, but not generally with its former
violence, whether in consequence of un-
known causes or better medical knowl-
edge as to measures for its treatment,
we shall not undertake to decide.
Cholera may be said to haunt at all
times the malarious jungles of the East,
where apparently it had its birth some
thing over sixty years ago, but produces
little alarm in the countries of Europe
and the West except when its fatal poi.
son, spreading like the deadly upas tree
and extending westward along the lines
of travel, leaping all barriers and defying
all precautions, as in 1882, 1913, 1855 and
1865. Whether it shall now invade our
shores it is Of course too early to predict,
but it is a singular fact that a disease
having some of the milder symptoms of
cholera has prevailed to a very wide ex-
tent in all parts of the country during
the present season, and it is by no means
impossible that another year or two may
witness the countries of Europe and the
United States once more the scene ol
this unwelcome visitor. Happily much
of the dread felt at its possible approach
is mitigated by the known advance il
medical science since its last appearance
and the certain efficacy of sanitary meas
ures to avert its severity and dangers.