The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-16

18th Of September, the board re.
solved. further. to consult with Gov,
ernor Ireland and obtain his sanction
also to the 'useiof the proposed quar-.
| tiers, which, with some Of the rooms
which it is expected will be furnished
| in the new university building in
time, will suffice for the successful
| Inauguration CT the institution. Tine
sentiment of the board was to open
positively, as announced, on the
18th proXimo, when there will, us
we are positively assured, be a full
attendance of the faculty
Judge White has rendered the law
professors the use of the rooms of
the court of appeals. The previous
action of the board, making dfSorimi.
| nation between the ages of male and
female applicants was unanimously
reScinded, so that boys and girls alike
will be admitted at sixteen years OF
age. 1t was Determined to appoint a
proctor at salary of $500, who is to
discharge also the duties for the pres
ent of librarian and secretary of the
faculty, and such other duties as the
board or faculty may require.
Advertisements of the university
lands were authorized to be published
in the Stock Journal, as a suitable
medium for reaching the attention of
stock men most interested in the lease
of such lands.
Other matters were discussed with
out immediate action, and the board
adjourned until this morning.
Views About Cholera.
A correspondent writes to the Lon
don Standard: with reference to the
charges contained in leading French,
German and Austrian papers against
our government with regard to let
ting cholera into Egypt, it is to be OBJ
served that the Indian government
Have for some years past employed
two medical officers, selected by the
late DR.. Parkes (being also pupils of
Prof. Pettenkofer, to work out the
subject of Asiatic cholera in Bengal.
The gentlemen, after several years
patient investigation of the disease
in India, have reported to the govern
ment that in their opinion, 'as-
Stunning the cholera is produced
by specific material, the mate
rial may be produced by chemical
processes taking place independently
of organic Influences and that facts
tend to negative the views that per-
sonal contact exercises any important
element in the extension of the dis
ease.'"
The late d. Dryden, statistical Off
Ger to the government of India, writes
as follows: "There is no evidence to
show that human agency has ever pro-
duced a provincial manifestation of
| cholera, and, consequently, never can
give rise to an epidemic" DR.. j. NJ
Cunningham, sanitary commissioner
to the government of India has writ.
ten Voluminous reports to disprove
the water propagation theory of chol-
era, or its dissemination through hui.
man agency. Unless l am much mis-.
taken, Sir j. Fayrer. medical adviser to
the Indian government to this count Y
and DR.. E. Mouat, of the local govern.
ment board, both authorities of the
! highest eminence on the diseases OF
India, hold similar views to DR.. Cum
bingham. On the other hand, having
resided continuously in Bengal fol
nineteen years and paid special atten'
ton to the subject of cholera-in fact
having very nearly lost my own life
by cholera when engaged in studying
its etiology. hold the belief, as firmly
as l do that of my own existence, that
the disease depends on specific or.
| ganic material which cannot possibly
arise de novo or spread across seas
and continents unless by human
agency.
If men of science thus differ as tC
the cause, and therefore as to the
means best calculated to prevent the
spread OF cholera, how is it pos
sible for the government tC
solve this question? The gov.
eminent must, in fact, be di
rected by the constituted sanitary au
thorities in matters pertaining to the
public health; and so, if an error has
been committed in mitigating the
stringency of the quarantine regula
lions in response to the demand of the
merchantile community of Bombay
the fault does not lay so much with
the government as with the medical
advisers.
1t seems right that your foreign con-
temporaries should understand the
bearings of the question in relation to
the outbreak of cholera in Egypt.
would, however, wish it to be distinct
ly understood that, although 1 firmly
| believe in the communicability OF
cholera, L do not think that quaran
tine laws can; be effectually employed
to stop the spread of this disease WheI
it assumes an epidemic form.