The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-08-02
Cholera.

The alarm created in Great Britain
and on the continent of Europe by the
information that over one hundred per-
sons are dying daily from cholera in
Damietta, Egypt, and the probable
spread of the disease to other Eastern
countries and thence to Europe, should
lose no time in taking measures to pre-
vent its advent to our shores. The
dangers to be apprehended are real.
Cairo, in Egypt, and Alexandria, are
both alarmed, but the authorities in
both places are engaged in a disreputa-
BILE quarrel over the best means of pre-
vention. Only short time ago the
steamer st. Bernard, from Bombay,
with cholera on board, arrived at Havre,
but, thanks to the vigilance of French
officers, she was not permitted to land.
Asiatic or epidemic cholera has been
known in India for many centuries, and
has several times devastated the coun-
try. In 1894 it destroyed $4,000 lives
in upper Hindostan. In 1917, in the
delta of the Ganges about one hundred
miles north of Calcutta, originated the
great epidemic of cholera which trav-
ersed almost the entire world. For cent
uries the disease was epidemic in the
marshy region of the Ganges, but in
that year it left its usual confines and
ragged at Calcutta for several months.
Thence it extended northward to
Nepaul and southwark to Madras, Cey-
lon and Malacca. In 1919 it reached
the Burmese Empire and the countries
to the east, and in 1920 it arrived at
Bombay, where 10000 persons died
from its ravages. From Bombay it
passed to Madagascar and the east coast
of Africa to Borneo, Celebar, China
and the Philippine Islands. In 1921 it
advanced to the northwest, pursuing the
course of rivers and travelled roads to
Persia, Arabia and Asia Minor. Here
for time it seemed to have met with a
check, but in 1928 it reappeared and
devastated Central Asia. In 1929 it ap-
peared in Southern Russia, and at Mos
COW in 1880. In 1881 it spread over
Central Europe, and appeared at Sun
derland, England, in October. In Janu-
airy, 1882, it had found its way to Edin-
burgh, and reached London in Febru-
airy. In March it was in Paris, and
spread rapidly all over France. On the
OUu VI Ouuct 1909, lbS IIob dD-
pearance on this continent at Quebec,
and two days afterward in Montreal.
Only eleven days later it suddenly ap-
peared in New York, and from thence
spread to Philadelphia, Albany and
Rochester in July, and in August had
found lodgment in Boston, Baltimore
and Washington. By October it had
spread from Cincinnati to New Orleans.
1t again visited this country in 1884,
and since that time, though it has APP
peared at different times in certain 10
calities, it has not reigned as an cpl
demic.
English statistics show that of those
attacked by cholera, 1876 per cent. die.
In Great Britain there died from this
disease 10000, of whom 5000 died in
London. In Paris the mortality was
$4,000, about 40 per cent. and in Rus
sia it was 5S.6 per cent. Enough has
been said to show the terrible ravages
and rapid extension of this plague, and
the great necessity for prompt action of
those to whom the management of these
important matters are committed. Let
us hope that nothing will be left undone
by the constituted authorities, and let it
be shown that modern science and san
itary hygiene can, when properly ap-
piled, accomplish great deal in limit
ing the spread of disease.-Natlonat Re.
publicafs,