The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-08-14
THE CHOLERA.

SsSAy potSt Al WIZ S0ooAy AssC WI
tanned articles on the prevention of
the spread of cholera. 1t is assumed
that it is within the power of man to
prevent the dissemination of infectious
diseases. The truth is, We know very
little about how these diseases origin
ate, how they are communicated, or
why they disappear. A few years
ago a fatal, and it was believed, an in
fictitious disease, popularity known as
"hog cholera" spread over a consider
able portion of this country. 1t caused
very general alarm, and in some
places destroyed for a time q most
important industry. Various remedies
were prescribed for it in vain. Few
restrictions were imposed on the trans
portation of swine, and DO we'll Or
gained attempt was made to stamp
out the disease, as is generally done
when similar diseases prevail in for
eign countries. When the excite
ment respecting it was the greatest,
the disease suddenly disappeared.
The national department of agriculture
during several months endeav-
ored to find hog afn icted with the
cholera. that virus might be obtained
for experimental purposes. Such an
animal, however. could not be found.
The official announcement was accord
ingly made that the disease had dis
appeared from the country. Its dis
appearance was as strange as its ap-
pearance.
Investigations recently made in
England show that the dreadful foot.
and-mouth disease suddenly disap.
pears in certain infected districts
without apparent cause, and after the
lapse of years suddenly appears in the
same or other districts. The germ
theory in regard to the origin and
spread of contagious and infections is
the one now generally held by scientists
but it is certainly very difficult to ex.
plain the phenomena of these diseases
by any theory that has been presented.
The germ theory Of disease may have
had its origin in fancy rather than in
fact.
Very much, perhaps too much, is
expected of quarantine as a means of
stopping the introduction of contagious
diseases into a country. To Moses is
accorded the credit of instituting quar-
antine regulations. The government
of Venice was the first to inspect for.
eign vessels and to require the persons
and animals on board of them to re-
main in a place set apart for the pur.
pose until their sanitary condition
could be ascertained. Quarantine
was not required of cattle in Great
Britain until some contagious diseases
were introduced by animals brought
from abroad. A perfectly effective
quarantine is much more easily i'm
agined than put in practice.
At a time when a pestilence is
passing from one country to anoth er,
it is not enough to refuse admittance
to those who are obviously sick. The
restriction should apply to those who
have been exposed to the disease, and
in whose system It may be undevelop-
ed A high medical authority states
that an entirely etfectual quarantine
can only be established by requiring
all who have been in an way expos
ed to the dreaded disease to remain
in seclusion "until they have passed
in perfectly non-iufectious circumstan-
ces at least as many days of probation
as the disease can have days of in.
oculation. Establishing and maintain.
Ing quarantine of this kind would re-
quire an enormous expense, and would
subject travellers to trouble and vexa-
ton that would scarcely be justi6a-
bic. 1t would, besides, require each
ship-load of passengers or animals to
be quartered in place not previous
ly employed for similar purpose,
providing the disease had made Its