Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-10
A BIT OF VALUABLE HISTORY.

Those who have fegned to see no neces-
sity for the application of severe measures
to prevent the Importation of the cbslera
into California will be somewhat shaken
by the action Of the San Francisco Board
of Health, which has not hesitated to OK.
press its fears. or course, to create alarm
is unwise, IS that is an invitation to dis
ease; bnt precaution need not be accom-.
panied by alarm. To close our eyes to an
evil will not sbste it. In 1881 the people
of Sunderland, England, where there was
q constant incoming of foreign ships, re-
fused to take precautions TO keep out the
cholera. They feared that agitation concern.
ing sanitary measures would iujure the bus
iness of that city. The result was, that
Sunderland sailor brought his chest ashore
after visiting cholera port, and the dis.
ease being communicated by his clothing,
broke out and spread with fearful rapidly
Even then, the merchants, led By the Mar
quis of Londonderry, protested agsins! the
news that the disease was cholera, and
frowned down the physicians until they
were forced to give certificate to suit the
tradesmen's ideas. This was early in
August, but by the 18th of October the
shameless course of the people of Sunder-
land who refused TO take any steps of pre-
vention or looking toward publication.
attracted the attention of the Privy
Council, and DR.. Russell was sent to Sun
derland to investigate. BE was opposed
at every step by authorities, and doctors,
and citizens who cared more for trade than
for the lives of the people. But he was q
man not to be inundated, sad hence re-
ported the facts, despite efforts to conceal
them, and the Crown thereupou issued its
decree compelling the physicians and
health officers TO report the truth. Then
It developed that for three months the
city had been pest hole. OF course,
the psstiience swept over England
and Ireland, and received added
strength from importations to London
direct fiom Hamburg. It is to this
day in England reproach TO Sunder-
land that by her folly she prevented steps
being taken which might have kept the
disease ont of England. Bat while It's
march has not been stayed very often, and
while it seems TO make periodic circuits of
the globe despite all precautions taken, it
is perfectly well established that proper
sanitation and preventive measures greatly
lessen the mortality, and in many cases
rigorous measures have been known TO
reduce its fatality to less figure than
common TO summer fevers. The people Of
California viii heartily approve the steps
taken by the San Francisco Authorities,
and will look foT even more vigorous action,
since the Board of Health has positive in.
formation that the disease has reached
Hongkoug, from which place steamers
regularly STRIVE at San Francisco. As a
simple chest of clothing brought cholera
into England in 1881, SO it may be intro.
duced into California in 1888. Asst crossed
the plains 10 1907 WIN bnS BLOW moving en-
igrant trains, should it invade the Atlantis
side this year or next, it need hardly be
hoped to prevent it following the rail-
way lines to the Pacific. Ia the meantime
the thing to do is to feaIlessly face the
facts, preserve the GOODNESS of ooursge, and
have the bravery to make ready FOR a pos
sible assault, but which may be avoided,
or at leass weakened, by proper precau-
tons taken in time.