Daily Republican., 1883-07-12
THURsOAY. July II. 1883.
Course Of the Cholera.

cities in few days, and its extreme
virulence are matters which intensely
concern the whole civilized world
But there are means of defence which
if put in active operation will prove a
successful barrier against the spread of
the dreaded Plague to the more civil
ized nations of Europe and America.
Cholera is pestilence that is born OF
filth, and as the cities of Africa and Of
Asia are the most filthy places on the
globe we generally find the pestilence
breaking out in those cities. There are
certain conditions always consequen
upon the breaking out, the spread and
the prolongation of the period of the
disease. Born of tilth it must readily
follow the course of filth. There may
be isolated or sporadic cases of cholera
in all countries, because there is more
or less filth everywhere, but the plague
cannot become epidemic aside from the
conditions of filth which attend it, and
filth is dependent upon human neglect.
But the cholera now started, what is to
arrest it in its course? In these East
ern countries where the inhabitants re
fuse to be benefited by the revelations
of science and sanitation it is imposs-
BILE to build successful barrier against
the spread of the plague and conse-
quently it must run its course. Fana-
ticism consequent upon ignorance
braves even death itself and though the
pilgrimages to Mecca aud Jerusalem
may be prohibited as needed precau-
ton, the ppop e will violate the order at
the risk of death. In fighting disease
in these miserable, squalid and dirty
countries it is fighting tanaticism, SUI
perstition and ig ORANGE, which are the
right hand friends Of the terrible
plague. Ii is II sad reflection that these
poor miserable people must lie left to
die of the plague because they will not
adopt the means by which the Pesti-
lence could be arrested. However
when the ignorant and slualil turn their
backs upon the science and civilization
that will check the onward march of
disease, when through a choice Of their
own people prefer barbarism and
ignorance in preference to the humani-
tartan influences Of christianity and
civilization-if they choose death i'll
preference to life after all the better
conditions have been offered to them,
civilization has done all it can in the
case, semi barbarism must take its
course and the civilized world can but
turn its attention to its own defence,
against the pestilence that hrea,ens to
invade our land.
A writer in the Philadelphia North
American has 50 ably covered the sub,
ject of our own defences against pesti-
lential disease that We are impelled
to adopt and urge his suggestions. He
maintains that it is hardly possible
that cholera can ever again scourge
the cities Of civilized Europe and from
them spread to America as it did tft!
or even thirty years ago. These are
civilized countries and vast improve,
ments have been carried out since then.
Drainage the systematic removal OF
superficial iith and the introduction oi
pure water have done much to render dis,
ease in an epidemic form almost impos-
siblc. There have been tlagrant omissions
of duty and everything that could be
done has not been done as a urtenc,
against the spread of epidemics, hut th'
civil authorities at least cannot plea'
ignorance Of the law. The great cen
tres of civilized population are now St
well defended against pestlence by san
itary regulations that organized effort
in the same line will beyond doub
avert it.
Hence there is no good reason why th
MASSES Of the peopIe should regard th'
ravages Of cholera in the East witt
fearful apprehemsions 50 far rs it relate,
tOthemselveS. The authorities, however
improvements. Every city in the uiul
could not spend a few hundred dollar
in "A more profitable manner than h,
employing an extra force to clean ava.
the superficial collection. Of filth TIA
somehow or other segr"gate toward
certain points in spite Of police vigi
lance. 1t is for city authorities to rel
der assurance doubly sure by rem"vin
every condition Of unccaniness an
filth upon which cholera snbsists. Th
presence of epidemic cholera, says tn
writer referred to, anywhere IS a. way
fair notice to the civil authorize, t
omit no against every tort
of pestilence. These sCourgeS never
where they are not invited and 1t ma
be said that they accept every lnVit
ton. The conditions cf health al
cleanliness, proper food, good water al
"A cheerful mind Each and all OF the'
conditions are within the reach Of evcI
civilized community There is no he
ter excuse for neglecting to provi'
these conditions, than there is for pr
mittiug the sale Of decayed vegetable
unripe fruit and rotten meat in 0
markets.
BULLY FOR THE tluirkSteps. Th'
took another rapid march to the re
in their game with tn" coal crackers
Of PottsvIle, yesterday. We defy al