Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-25
THE AsTATTC CHOLERA.

! l Probabilities of Its Appearance in the Western World.
 From an interesting paper on the above | subject by Dr. Chamberlain. of the State Board of Health, published in yesterdays I Courant, we extract the following:
 He thinks the cholera has commenced it's deadly progress westward, and that the flight of tourists from the European continent hith- ! erward and the multitudinous risks for the \ spread of the disease arising from the com
 merce and inter-communication are grave
 subjects for contemplation. The possibili- | ties of the spread of the disease to this coun- | try are more numerous than formerly. He l continues: The immigration from the Medi- terranean ports has rapidly increased and is l now constant source of danger The ocean l has never been a sufficient barrier and the resources of sanitary science are too much | disregarded in times when no epidemic l threatens to be suddenly made efficient. Ob-
 servers who carefully watched the progress ' of cholera in Europe in 1865 and it's invasion
 of the United States affirm that the same ! threatening aspects are presented as in Au- gust of that year. While the duty of guard ] ing against the admission of cholera devolves | first of all upon the quarantine officials of | the States bordering upon the Atlantic, yet | the lesson of the outbreak in 1873 in an in l land State from the contagion conveyed in l the clothing of immigrants is not to be for gotten. The disease appeared two days after the clothing was unpacked, on one of their
 children who had previously been in perfect
 health. We have already called the atten- ! tio11 of the quarantine in thiS +o l the importance of careful inspection of all I vessels that sail from an infected port or ! from those adjacent, nor should their vigi- ! lance be relaxed because clean bill of health | is required prior to sailing for this country for the disease may break out after the ves-
 sel has started. The efficiency of the service l will very probably be tested, and untiring 1 vigilance is demanded.
 It has been generally believed that the
 cholera originates always in a province in 1 India from which it was spread to other To- l calities, the general direction of it's course 1 being westward. In a recent official report | it is stated that it is the almost universal be- lief of the physicians in government service 1 in India that cholera originates in any part
 of the East where the essential unsanitary
 conditions exist. While it is possible that
 visitation of cholera may be escaped this year, it is the part of wisdom to be prepared. ] If all reasonable precautions have been taken
 the public will be less likely to be seized
 with that unreasoning fear and panic that ! predisposes to the disease, and is a powerful
 adjunct to it's spread. It is also true that ] all sanitary improvements are of last
 vasion the results of the sanitary 1 work accomplished will be seen in 8 better state of the public health, less sickness and a l lowered death rate, so that the former neg l lect of these unsanitary conditions will seem [ to have been almost criminal.
 ! oofo 11oEo, xJs 1 pears is beyond all comparison greater than l that taken in the presence of the disease. l Public safety will be best secured by such l preparation is known to be most effective, | before the approach of the foe. Fortifca- ! tions cannot be erected while under attack | by the enemy. The sanitary barriers which I defend from fatal disease are the same, ! whether it be Asiatic cholera or any other 1 infectious malady. The watchword of pro [ lection is cleanliness If we make ourselves clean, and our surroundings clean, the chol- era may come but it will fail to find an 1 abiding place.
 SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
 The contag1on or virus of cholera may be I carried from place to place by person suf- | fering from the disease, however lightly. It is disseminated by the excretions of the patient both solid and liquid, chiefly the former. As 1 the disease can be scattered by person suf ! fering from a light case that is, where chol-
 
 ! cilities afforded by railroad travel for the I spread of cholera over wide area are evil l dent. While the contagion of cholera can be | thus freely scattered, it is not propagated
 outside the body except in unsanitary 1ocali-
 severed tenemenfs, i1th-saturated soil from leaky drain pipes-an atmosphere ! reeking with the gases of decay, soil poi | luted with the putrefactive compounds from garbage, kitchen slops, sink drains, shallow, overfowing privy vaults and the overcrowd- ed haunts of vice and crime in which misery compels the poor also to seek shelter, furnish l in the most inviting form the essential con ditions for the repropagation of the conta- zion of cholera. Less aggravated instances of unsanitary conditions proportionately dangerous. A warm, moist atmosphere into which purifying organic matter is discharg- ing the gases of decay is favorable to the de velopment of the germs of cholera. The wa ter from wells polluted by filth from closely adjacent vaults or drains and other sources of water supply defiled by sewage, if also in- fected with the specific contagion of cholera, has long been recognized as one of the most active agents in the spread of this disease. Impure water prepares the system for the re- ception of cholera and renders it less able to resist it's course.
 LAW OF INFECTION.
 Cholera is not contagious in the same
 sense that scarlet fever and smallpox are
 
 catching If disinfection and other prop CT precautions are used there is scarcely any risk that the disease will spread to those that nurse or otherwise closely attend upon the sick. With the essential conditions of filth, moisture and warmth, the germs are repro duced so rapidly that the disease extends over the whole contaminated region as if by an explosion Our control over the spread of cholera is complete the laws which govern it are so well understood. Were it not that from neglect and lndiffer- ence unsanitary conditions have been and are allowed to become so extensive and comph- cated that they cannot at once be remedied there would be no reason to fear this | scourge. The contagion of cholera can be 1 destroyed, whatever it's essential nature may | be, and the disinfectants that destroy it are l well known and chiefly used. The factors for l an epidemic of cholera are: |
 The specific contagion. l
 Moisture and warmth.
 Filth.
 If the specific contagion be not excluded l by quarantine it can be destroyed by disin l lection. The filth factors can be removed or | purified While warmth and moisture are | essential for the multiplication of the germs they can be preserved for an in definite time in dry state and again become active if the proper l conditions for their development are sup piled The limits of the contaminated area mark the boundary of the spread of cholera. With pure air, pure water and an uncontam- mated soil an epidemic of cholera could not \ be developed. Cases might indeed occur, but the disease would be easily controlled. The nearer this standard is reached, the less the danger from cholera well as the longer the average duration of life. Cholera IS stern teacher of the importance of public hy- giene It is ''the worlds great nuisance searcher,'' as well as relentless destroyer, si- lently invading and sniting the people that hau aft thnd dOOr fOrE a The law makes the Selectmen and justices of the peace the Board of Health in every town where other organized body exists for the care of the public health. The health boards are the guardians of the people, and l it is their duty to that these avoidable causes of disease are removed. Let no town be caught furnishing the essential filthy con ditions to start an epidemic that will sweep the State. To prevent this careful atten- .tion to the conditions hitherto neglected will in many cases be required