Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-07-15


The recent appearance of Asiatic cholera
at Toulon and Marseilles, two of the princi-
pal Mediterranean ports of France, leads US
to sound note of warning to those whose
duty it is to look after the health and inter
ests of our country.
The history of this disease in the past
would seem to warrant the prediction of DR..
Koch: "It will reach Germany; it will go
everywhere" Its march through India
every third sixth, ninth, and twelfth years,
following the pilgrimages to Juggernaut,
Hardware and other shrines, and its period
ical twelve-year visitation to this country,
render it quite probable that the disease has
started on its course and may reach our shores
at any moment. In the last epidemic of 1878
cholera visited the United States before it
appeared in Paris.
Then there were many sources of infection
it first brought to New Orleans by
Bremen bark, and developed in the case of a
man employed in unloading her cargo "a ma
tive of Pensacola who went to New Orleans
for employment). But large number of
cases were imported directly through New
York city on non-infected vessels, but the
disease was not developed until the personal
effects of the victims had been unpacked at
their destination. This was shown in. the
CQr66 ulSClncC outbreaks at widely remote
parts of the United States where the effects
of emigrants from Holland, Sweden, and
Russia were unpacked at Carthage, Ohio;
Grow River, Minnesota, and Yankton, Dakota,
where, within thirty-six hours thereafter, the
first cases of the disease appeared. All these
emigrants touched at Liverpool, where they
were transferred to vessels bound for the
United States.
1t will be seen by the foregoing that infect
ed ships are not the only sources of danger,
and that the safety of the country depend
upon prompt notification by telegraph of
departure of emigrants bound to the United
States from any part in Europe, or of mer-
chandise from infected districts With this
information and the knowledge we now hay
of the infection, it is believed that the dis
ease can be kept within very narrow limits
in fact, confined to the immediate vicinity of
those who are the carriers of the disease.
By employing, I, immediate telegraphic
notification from Europe upon the departure
of emigrant ships from foreign ports; 2, rigid
inspection of such vessels, including thorough
disinfection of all emigrants' clothing and
baggage upon arrival at United States ports;
and 3, perfect local cleanliness in every port,
town, and country village, there need be no
fear of the cholera becoming epidemic in this
country. There may be a few sporadic cases,
but they should occasion no alarm, as the
disease is everywhere admitted to be a filth
inspection, and its antidote is cleanliness.
The national government, through the
State department, is obtaining daily tele-
graphic notification from Europe relative to
the progress of the disease and the departure
of immigrants to the United States, and a
circular to collectors of customs, prepared by
Surgeon General Hamilton, has been issued
from the Treasury department, requiring
evidence that none of the baggage of immi-
grants or returning travellers has been ship
ped from the infected districts since June 20,
1884, and a certificate of the local quaran-
tine officer to the effect that no danger to the
public health need be apprehended from al
lowing the landing of any passengers bag
gage, may be accepted as emitting such travel
Ter or immigrant to land his effects"
In addition to these precautions, the Presi-
dents epidemic Fund" under control of
the Marine Hospital Service, is being en-
ployed to prevent the introduction or spread
at all points of danger Three United States
work-one at Ship Island in the gulf, a sec
ond in Sapelo Sound on the coast of Georgia,
and the third at the mouth of Chesapeake
Bay.
1t only remains then for our local health
authorities and sanitarians generally to keep
alert to thoroughly and Systematically or
ganize force of inspectors, whose duty it
shall be to daily patrol the alleys and by
way of our cities and towns and follow up
their inspections by having all filth and I'm
sanitary matters removed or corrected. Mum
icipal cleanliness, isolation hospitals, and
national guarantees will keep our country
free from all epidemics.