New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-24
CHOLERA ON THE MARCH.

The alarming increase of mortality from
cholera in Egypt causes widespread alarm
throughout Europe. The quarantine regula-
tions are rigidly enforced in the Mediterranean
ports, and the British staff is making strenuous
exertions to retard the progress Of the pestl-
lence, but there is every reason to believe that
before the year expires many countries on the
Continent, and probably England and the
United States as well, will suffer from the
ravages of the most malignant of Asatic
plaques. The records of previous visitations of
cholera show that whenever Egypt has been
attacked by the disease England and the Con-
tinent have not escaped. The lower Nile basin,
however, has often become infected from
Europe In 1929 the disease was carried from
Persia across the Caspian into Russia, and was
gradually communicated to Germany, Austria
and Hungary 1t was not until 1882 that 1t
prevailed extensively in England, France and
Spain, and it was in that year that it appeared
in Egypt, having been carried thither from
Germany by way of Constantinople and Syria
The same route was followed in the next ter
rbe visitation. The disease reached Astra-
khan from Persia during the summer of 1o41
and spread rapidly in Southern Russia, follow
ing the Black Sea to Odessa and CONSTANT
nople, passing up the Danube into Germany,
and being carried from Holland to England
about the time of its ravages in Egypt. Dur
ing these two cholera periods the disease was
not directly communicated from Alexandra TO
the European Continent. In 1868, however,
the outbreak in Egypt preceded the ravages on
the Continent, cholera being carried to Mar
seiles and Southampton and other European
ports by Mediterranean steamers In that
year the disease was Arabian rather than Indian
in origin, and Alexandria offered the shortest
line of communication with Europe. The other
vistations were to be ascribed to Indian chol-
era communicated to Russia through Persia.
The present outbreak, like that of 1860, is APP
parently Arabian in origin.
The United States will share in any dangers
of infection to which Europe may be exposed.
In 1882 cholera was carried by emigrant ships
from Ireland to Quebec aud thence along the
st Lawrence aud through Ontario to Detroit.
United States troops that were transported by
vessels on which some of these emigrants had
been sick were attacked by the disease, and the
infection was carried along the chain of mil
tary posts as far M the Mississippi. New
Orleans was subsequently visited, and the
disease exhausted itself In the surrounding
country. In S4S the pestilence was imported
in ships arriving at Ncw-0rleans from Ilnvre,
and WAS communicated rapidly to st. Louis,
Cincinnati and Buffalo, and subsequently car
ried across the Plains to San Francisco. In
1866 New-York was the distributing point
from the emgrant ships but although cut
breaks of the disease occurred at long ds.
ances from the se0board, the area Of Infection
was comparatively narrow. II Europe suffers
this year from the pestlence, its ultimate APP
pearance in the United States may be accepted
as foregone conclusion. Quarantine regula-
tions cannot be so thorough rs to exclude the
disease when the tide of immigration is setting
in so strongly as 1t is at present Sanitary
science, however, has made such marked pro-
gress in American cities since the terrible WIS.,
itation of cholera in 1Si9 that the prospect of
the onward course of the disease across the
Atlantic ought not to cause widespread appre-
lensOD.