Morris tribune., 1883-09-01
CHOLERA.
Former Appearances Of the Dread
Dtsease-How it Is Now Moving

Former Appearances or the bread
Disease-How it Is Now Moving
Westward.
From the Youths Companion.
Cholera, one of the most dreaded OF
all diseases, has this summer broken ont
in an epidemic form in Egypt and in
China. Unlike some other plaques, it
has distinct tendency to spread from
east to west. This popularity makes its
appearance in the East matter of inn
portance and ofdanger to Europe and to
America.
Asiatic cholera is q disease very milk e
cholear-morbus, or any other malady
which, TO the ordinary observer,
resembles it in symptoms. 1t was never
known in Europe until some time after
the beginning of the present century.
Formerly it was confined 10 India and
Persia.
Its first incursion into Europe was in
the year 1880. 1t had been raging in
Asia for about thirteen years at that
time, gradually extending toward
Europe. Entering the latter continent
by way of Russia, it made its way the
following year to England, and subse-
ouently crossed the Atlantic and spread
from Canac a, where it gained foothold
in 1882, Over large part of the United
States.
Another epidemic began in Bengal in
lS4l. Its spread was slow as before, and
it only arrived in Europe in l848. 1t
ravaged large districts in Germany, Eng
land and France, passed on to America,
IL oh in nQIIGaH
thousands of deaths.
The only other great epidemic began
in the birthplace of cholera, India in
1865. Owing to the much more rapid
means of communication, it's journey
was quickly made. Only a year after its
outbreak the disease had reached New
York. Although the greatest precau-
tions were taken, it visited many parts
of the country, but on the whole was
the least destructive of the three cpl
denies.
Scientific men are inclined to ascribe
to the outbreak of cholera period of
twelve years. In one Of the clyclopa-
dias il was predicted that the next visi-
tation would begin between 1877 and
1879 AS matter of fact there has been
4 prevalence of cholera for several
years in India.
Now it appears Oh the direct line of
travel to England and America; and
while there is room for hope that the
dreaded pestilence may be driven back,
the chances are that it will continue On
it journey until it reaches these coun-
tries. 1t therefore becomes wise and
necessary to consider what can be done
to stop its ravages.
1t is all in one word. Cholera thrives
on dirt. 1t is disease which tiithiness
encourages, which public and private
cleanliness will render less powerful.
Clean districts Of city, and cleanly per-
SONS, are not invariably exempt from it;
but in vast majority of cases the low
and crowded regions of our city are the
fields for its greatest tFiumphs. and the
dirty and degraded are it's victims.
These are facts which are pei fectly
well-known, and they point the way to
the necessary safe guards against the
pest. ALI cities and towns should make
haste to see that their drainage systems
and their methods of removing street
dirt and otfal are improved.
OwDers of houses should inspect their
own drains to be sure that nothing in
the condition of their 1--we lings shall as
sist the progress of the disease if it
should unfortunately reach cur shores.
Personal cleanliness should be always
the rule of every one, old and young.
But now there is All additional reason
for it. Opinion is divided as to the way
cholera is propagated. But it is certain
that it propagated from one place to
another, and from one person TO anoth-
II. Therefore it j. always wise to adopt
the plan which has been adopted In
Egypt, that of a "sanitary Gordon"
This consists in setting gnard around
the Infected district, allowing people.
neither to enter or to leave it. In some
cases the penalty of departing, thus en-
dangering people who are without the
Gordon, is instant death. The pickets
have orders to shoot anybody who tries
to escape. -....
Such plan as that is much more east
y carried out in a country like Egypt.
where there are few roads, than in this
conntry. Here the only practicable.
method is to separate. or isolate indi-
yifnal cases.
One thing ought to be impressed up
on every one; that fear of the disease
renders person more liable to become
its victim, Avoid il, but do not dread |
it. In its early stages it can usually be
and the rate of mortality
need not be great if medical aid is sum-
moned at once.