The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-20
,ETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Ths Cholera Kpidemic.
sc EDITOR OF the Indianapolis Journal;
-ere remains but little doubt that

now something about its history, as one OF
he greatest scourges Of the human family
Sebert in "Ziemssen's Cyclopeda of the
ractice of Medicines" has given a summary
4 the literature of this disease, to whom the
writer is indebted for much of the statistics
iyen. The medical profession of this coun-
" and Europe had given this disease but
tile attention until it overleaped the orig
,al bounds of the country along the mouth
the Gauges and Brahmapootra, in India,
rom the fact that no reliable information
concerning it could be obtained. There now
appears to be ne doubt that this disease is as
Id as the human race in that country from
Which we trace its origin. Commencing i'll
. l76S and I'LL, it is described by Sonnerat as
fearful epidemic in and around Pondi-
berry where 5000 lives were lost. In 1874
ISL and 1882 it was very fatal in French
.ndia. Madras as we'll as other parts of East
India. The first effort this great desolater
made for the conquest of the whole world
was when it attacked the people in and
around Jessara, some forty miles east OF Cal
cutta, where 10000 lives were lost in the
hort space of two months. This was in l717.
In the same year it prevailed in English In
dia In September it reached Calcutta,
where it is prevailing at this time An army
encamped on the banks of the Scind lost
within eight weeks 764 officers and 5000 Sc
poys In and around Calcutta GOO, 900 died
during this epidemic. In 1918 the scourge
again spread its wings of death upon the
blast" and spread into Bengal, combining
ITS ravages mostly to the country
drained by the Ganges and the
Gamma rivers. In Benares $1,000 persons
died in two months; 5000 soldiers under
General Tasting died in two months, also.
During this year it swept over the noun
tain ranges of Hindostan and Nepaul, and
ragged in villages, it is said, 1000 feet above
the level of the sea with the same viralency
and fatality it did upon the plain. This
statement is doubted by some learned men.
But if it be true, as reported, that this dis
ease prevails in Jaragurth, which is 1000 feet
above the level of the plain, the above state
ment need not be questioned. While it was
idepopulating this place in 1878 the towns
and cities at the foot of the mountains were
exempt 1t attacked in the same year the
citizens of Ceylon, after which it leaped
mountains and seas to attack the inhabit
ants OF Port Louis in the Isle of France. In
1920 it again appeared in Bengal extended to
the Philippines, where it caused great revolt
among the people, who supposed the great
fatality was the work of human hands. 1t
reached in this year Cochin. China, where it
caused great fatality. In 1921 it commenced
leaving its ancient bound, and turned its
course toward Europe 1t spread along the
.urse of the Persian gulf, extending into
he interior of the country. Nearly one
TINS to its ravages. In Java 100000 lives
were lost. During this year the dis
ease covered space of forty-three
degrees latitude by seventy longi-
tude. In 1922 it again started in India,
but crept along gradually toward Europe,
and in 1928 it appeared on Russian soil
against all the efforts of the people to pre-
vent it, In the three following years 1t
made but little progress in its march to Eu-
1pe and the new world, but in 1927 it again
pearsd at Calcutta, where for the first
ne it seemed to exert a deleterious influ-
u ce on all animal life, and thousands of
domestic animals died in consequence,
It is said, thereof Such was
;he intensity OF the affection and dis
1855 among the people that they
believed that the gods wanted more volun-
tary human sacrifices, and that they were
offended by not having them, and had sent
this great afiliction to remind the people of
their lack of devotion. 1t is reported that
the wife of Hindoo in Palcala resorted to
every device to obtain permission to be burned
upon the grave of her husband, who had
died with it, that the gods might be appeased
and the plague would stop.
The two following years 1t did not spread
over mi UGH new territory. In 1880 it was not
so fatal In English India snd in Eastern
asia but its advance toward the northeast
= was more positive than ever before. In 1881
it appeared in a fatal form at Mecca and
Medina. Over 100000 pilgrims were assem-
bled at the shrine, and 10000, it is said, per-
ished. It reached Constaptinople in this
year, and in Russia it ragged both
north and south. Its northwestern ex-
tension was much more dangerous.
In this year the Prussian border was over
stepped for the first time, and in August it
entered Berlin. In this city it was not so
fatal as in other cities Only $500 died out
of a population of 100000. The cheerful
disposition of the people, it is said had
fO Il in inc ifS ali Hr fam
is one of the pros ating influences that has
ever tended to asa the mortality of this
malady At t. az, it was said that the
chickens and , ,~,5hs persisted, and even the
fish in the streams, it is said, died and drifted
to the shore. fact is mentioned in con-
nection with this epidemic, that those at
tackled after debauch or drunken spree,
almost certainly died.
In 1882 it reached England and was soon
carried over to France 1t soon crossed the
Atlantic ocean and appeared in America;
since which time 1T has at different periods
prevailed in the United States. This year
will doubtless witness some new manifesto
ton of this loathsome pestilence. What that
will be is not yet indicated. That it will
reach this country there remains no doubt
with those who have given the subject much
attention. We have had no season for many
years more favorable to its taking a strong
foothold on our soil. The large rainfall has
produced luxuriant growth of all kinds of
vegetation. The wet ground in places is
covered with water, which will cause these
growths to rot. Along the banks of streams
drifts are lodged and filth washed up in
abundance. 1t only needs few hot days to
fill tie atmosphere with the smell of decom-
posing matter tending to depreciate the vital
energies in such way as to make the system
s iSceptible to the cause that produces this
SOURCE. This article is too long to permit
the writer to give the different theories of the
cause OF the disease and to warn the people
of what observances should be acceded to
to prevent the conditions that favor the
read of cholera. At some other timejf the
aase continues to approach this country
writer will give the subject such thoughts
the nuhlic pOod NAV need IL MT hrouobt