The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-07-12
AMnnrRREAK nHoLERA

New York Sun: The recent outbreak
OF cholera in Egypt, and that, too, close
by the Suez Cansl. very naturally excites
grave discussion IN Europe. That Is
region where the disease is always like
ly 10 appear, but this summer 1t seems
80 be remarkably virulent. 30 much SO
that great alarm is felt there concerning
il.
A country recently the seat of war,
and especially one inhabited by popu-
lation so squalid as the mass of that of
Egypt is, offers favorable field for the
spread of the dreaded and dreadful
scourge. Pilgrims from India on the
way TO Mecca have from time immemor-
ial carried cholera with them, and herd
ed as they are. it is pretty sure TO rav-
age their ranks when once it appears
among them, and thence TO extend
among the filthy natives OF Egypt.
II is not surprising, therefore, as We
learn from a recent cable dispatch from
Alexandria, that a panic prevails at
Jiddah because Of the expected arrival
there of five steamers from India with
pilp rims for Mecca. They are coming
To Egypt, and are possibly bringing
with them germs Of cholera. They are
unwelcome visitors to country where
the disease has already become pesti-
lence IN certain vicinities, at DamIetta.
for instance, not far from Pert Said, the
northern entrance to the Suez Canal.
It is easy 70 understand how the seeds
of the disease could be carried far and
near by the commerce which uses that
great highway for shipping. Accord
ingly European governments, and more
especially Germany, are taking precau-
tions to prevent the entrance OF, cholera
into Europe. Once in Europe, it might
be quickly transported 70 this country,
particularly if it assumed anything like
epidemic proportions at an Atlantic
port, and at the ports 1t would be most
apt TO show itself.
Fortunately, however, the English
government has good deal TO say
about Egyptian affairs at present, and It
will be able to advise and force sanitary
and quarantine regulations there which
remOdeled civil administration for
the country ought 10 make efficient. At
least the civilized world will look to
England to see that the proper precau-
| tions against the spread of the disease
are taken in Egypt The Eugiigh gov
eminent apparently is not yet alarmed.
Lord Edmund Fitzmsurice, the under
foreign secretary, announced in parlia-
ment on Tuesday that there was NO
present intention of proposing an inter
national conference on the subject OF
quarantine against cholera.
But with properly enforced quaran-
tue regulations at our ports, and thor
Ough sanitary supervision, we can keep
the cholera out of the United States,
even if it breaks out in Europe and
crosses the Atlantic. 1t is disease al.
Lmost unknown here of late years. A
few sporadic cases have occasionally
cropped out, but it has been confined to
them. So long have they been free from
It that our people have well nigh forgot
ten their old fears OF the most terrible
pestllence which has cursed mankind
in modern times. A new generation
which knows nothing personally Of
cholera as an epidemic, has grown uI
here. It has only heard OF it from the
survivors of pa2t cholera epidemics
which filled our graYeyards. or has read
of the ravages of the fearful disease II
books.
Nor is ii likely TO get any cihsI
knowledge of cholera this year-to &C
tually see it raging in our cities 1t car
with proper care be kept out of oul
ports; and even if few cases get in
they must soon he discovered under Oul
present system OF health supervision
and having been discovered, they can bt
treated apart, and danger of the spread
of the seeds of the disease be avoided.