The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-11
AN UNPLEASANT TRANSITION.

6OON
AN UNPLEASANT TRANSITION.
From an imaginary to the consideration of
real danger is not a pleasant transition, but
| in the present instance it seems unavoidable
War with France is scarcely now among the
possibilities, but that we may be visited by
| the cholera appears to be not only possible
but quite probable, The latest and strongest
proof of this is in the extraordinary activity
of the medical profession. A few physicians
it is true, protest still that there is no cause
for alarm, but the majority are of opinion
that the time has come for the adoption
OF the strictest sanitary measures, and are
fearful that after all has been done the dis
ease may creep in. The close connections
existing between the two countries make
the SITUATION here a matter OF grave i'm
portance to the people OF the United States.
II we are IN danger, so are you; and Amerl-
can sanitariaus should keep themselves fully
| informed of what is being done in England
to stave off the threatened invasion. From
the best authorities we learn that former
experience of cholera in England justifies
the belief that the presence of few i'm ported
cases of the disease will not be capable OF
causing much injury to the population if the
places receiving the infection have had the
advantage of proper sanitary administration.
The same authorities assure US, however,
| that Tin many places such conditions are
present as would, if cholera were intro
duced, assist in the spread of that disease"
The question of its extension or restriction
seems, in the Judgment of the profession
here, to be purely a sanitary one. Cholera
in England, they tell US, is so little conta-
gious, in the sense in which small pox and
scarlatina are commonly called contagious,
that if reasonable care be taken where it is
present. there is almost no risk that the dis
ease will spread to persons who nurse and
otherwise closely attend upon the sick.
Under ordinary circumstances the patient,
we are informed, has no power of injecting
others by means of the discharges from the
stomach and bowels, nor any power of in
fecting by them, except in so far as particles
of them are enabled to faint the food,
water or air which the people
consume. The precautions recon mended
are, consequently, the disinfecting of closets,
the publication of water supplies and the
cleansing of house drains, duSt-bins, sinks,
etc.; and township and parish officials are in
vested for the occasion with special power to
oversee these matters. Against the prevalent
supposition that the disease should it i'll
wade the country, would find conditions ia
vorable to its dissemination solely in the
poorer districts, "a Physician writes to
the papers that in the course of many years
practice, he has rarely found house among
the rich which in any way fulfilled the re-
ingly he expresses the opinion that a raid by
the sanitary inspectors on the areas of fash
ionable London, with view of clearing out
the long-hidden horrors of the underground
cellars, would prove one of the best precau-
tons against the assaults OF cholera. AS an
incentive to the prompt and dilligent use of
the sanitary precautions recommended for
universal adoption in this country, the peo-
pie are admonished that should cholera not
appear they would still be abundantly re-
compensed for their outlay of labor and
| money in the check they would have put on
the spread of other diseases which are al
ways present, and which feed upon the same
conditions as cholera.
From subject full of horrors, we turn
now TO one which, both for Americans and
the English, has in it much that is pleasant.
refer to the international rifle match,
which came off week ago to-day at
Wimbledon. The British are pleased be-
cause they won, and we have grounds
for rejoicing in the fact that our side came so
near winning, as well as in the additional
reflection that had the atmospheric condi-
tons been less unfayorable, we should GER
tainly, as even our antagonists adrait, have
carried off the prize. 1t was very generous
in Sir H. Halford, the captain of the British
team, to advance this view in such explicit
terms at the Criterion banquet, and his noble
words are worth preserving. They showed
us the way" said he 'at the short
ranges; and although We hoped at the other
ranges ito hold out own and a little more
| must say that when we come to 800 yards
Wimbledon weather did not desert the old
we felt very funny; but fortunately
country on that occasion. l must own,
however, that l afraid. if the weather
had been as favorable at 900 and 1000 as
at the previous distance we should have had
the way, as you have often heard, is the most
fearful and wonderful thing the visitor from
America comes in contact with. The mer-
curry for the past two weeks has been in the
neighborhoody of sixty, often, indeed, sew
erai degrees bellows that Think of
it, We swelterers under the blazing skies of
your native heath-fires and overcoats for a
whole fortnight in midsummer A week ago
last Sunday the thermometer registered $50,
one degree lower than on the LIST of January
Once this season it has been SO in the shade,
a height of temperature not reached in this
country. the papers tell u.s. for many years
| previously. The cold and rain of the last
two weeks have spoiled the promise of an
early harvest. and it is not likely now
that wheat-cutting will begin before the Sec
ond week i'll August.
| Lastly 1 will give few figures in regard
to wages and the cost Of living in the Black
/ country, the coal and iron district OF Eng
| land, gathered on the occasion of a recent
| visit 10 investigate the merits of the strike
among the lron-workers. The so, 900 strikers
were compelled to go in at the reduction of
three pence t6 cents) a ton This district has
improved greatly in the last decade. Public
schools have become general and public
houses fewer and the result is less brutality
and drunkenness. Wages are better than l
| expected to find them. Rollers get about 81
day. and their helpers average about 81. IS.
| Other helpers in the mills, called lads" get
about 81 10 day; common laborers. rs cents;
puddlers, $3.50 day, ard out of that have to
/ tbpir assistants ri 1oxy Pol aud
! puddlers work only five days a week. Mon
! day being always devoted to "fettling" At
the coal mines l learned that banksmen COM
mand IS cents a day, and women who work
on the banks about 60 cents. Holers receive
81 for a day, of eight hours, and as they