The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-07-14
TO PREVENT CHOLERA.
Important Memorandum Issued by the
New York Board of Health.

TO VENT CiObEitA.
Important Memorandum Issued by the
New York Board Of Health.
The State Board of Health considers
the possibility and facilities for the in
PRODUCTION of cholera into this country
too obvious to be disregarded, and there
fore n memorandum ON preventive meas
ures against the disease has been is
sued. The history of former invasions
of cholera, says the board, warrants the
belief that its temperance here is prob
able. Cholera, which in two months in
midsummer in 1860 destroyed $4,000 lives
in Egypt, reached France and Ger
many by September, and was discov-
cred at the New York quarantine AZ
early as November. In the spring Of
1866 ii again threatened the United
States. Ii fingered in the west, was re-
turned to Governors Island, and thence
found new departure in 1867, when it
was terribly destructive in some sec
tions. The outbreak in the Mississippi
Valley in 1873 was traced to its introduc-
| tion by way of New Orleans. The dis
ease, as reported in Southern Europel
presents the same threatening aspect.
| thinks the board, as IL did in August,
| 1865, when II was conveyed to our shores
| in q definite manner, and to about the
same series of resting places and fatal
points of outbreak that it now threatens
to attack.
The facilities of the introduction of the
disease have increased since 1865 but
the means of exact sanitary knowledge
and quarantine police for arresting and
stamping out the transportable cause
of il are also greater. No city which is
| fully prepared for the announcement
| that Asiatic cholera has come need be
invaded by it il proper sanitary care IL
exercised. The Hoods throughout
Europe and the United States, the atten-
dant circumstances of the drying period,
the increased immigration from the
Mediterranean States to New York, and
the destructive malignancy of the dis
ease, all give warning to be ready for
Asiatic cholera.
There is, says the State Board, n specific
infectiye cause of Asiatic cholera, called
its contagium, by which it spreads AZ
rapidly as the persons suffering, ever so
lightly from 1t, go from place TO place.
In every country where the contagion
exists, 1t has ceased to be repropagated
beyond the sanitary lines which sepa-
rate the cleansed, drained and venti-
lated premises and well-conditioned in
habitants from the filthy, or where pol
luted food and water and harm
full beverages prepare the system
for the fatal operation of the poison. For
cholera TO he difIused from continent To
continent il must have rs factors for it's
cultivation center of pollution FOR its
cradle, ship for its transport and "a
, number of towns prepared for its recep-
: ton and development. Local conditions
, of danger-the sanitary neglects that
: have prepared for lodgment and re-
propagation ofthe cholerain filthy places
= and sodden grounds-are found in every
port, city and village and in many rural
=. hamlets. Tho prevention of propaga-
; ton is very difficult after the disease
!, has obtained foothold in any of the
! commercial centers. The presence OF
< filth, stagnant pools, polluted water and
!. badly housed and imprudent people VIII
= invite cholera to hundreds of places
y in the State II il once appears in any
< port. "Now," says the board, "before
the exotic infection has come, let all
local Boards OF Health and all house
holders lose no time in enforcing such
, thorough scaVenging and cleansing
} such cleaning OF sewers, drains and
l. bitches, and such ventiluting, drying
d lime washing and disinfecting Of cellars
O and all damp and unclean places that 4
= cholera comes its infective germs shal
= find no soil or foul surface in which L
il propagate epidemically."
/ The contagion is not chiefly taken from
Il bodies OF the sick, but the virus is provet
N To require the concurrence OF attendant
p conditions of moisture and filth to pro
q. uuce any extended series of cases. On
great source of danger is that the eNoti
germinal matter becomes not only lntec
tive of persons exposed to IL by water o
the atmosphere, but may, by its intinit
l. rapidity OF reproduction, under favorin
v conditions of foul air and filth, rapid.
,- become epidemic within the limits Z
40 such impurity. Sanitary barriers mus
le therefore he erected before choler
W comes. As sOon as found the diseas
OF must be treated by vigorous isolatiO
~ and destructive disinfectiOn.
II Preventive sanitary measures consis
~ In Onnihilating all local conditions whic
VI would harbor the disease. IL the ch0lor
v germs find no breathing place in filth
condition of premises, air, or drinkin
andum concludes: "Whenever choloi
ch c Imes, as we hope IL will not, u brit
TX statement showing how to resist choloI
,io and what to do with its presence will h
y" Immediately sent to all parts of the Stal
~ through the local boards of health. II
n, now the duty Of local sanitary author
~ ties and all housoholders to inspect u
nm promises within thoir iurisdictio
~ and promptly canse the necessaI
-. of this work will be lost, eve
y. we're cholera cfiectuaily arrested
- iho barriers OF quarantine and disinfe
m ton at the ports 1t cntors. The reasol
,o for sanitary inspections and works q
applicable to protect against infection
and epidemic diseases generally, Al
II is because In the midst OF wet groun,
o., and pools, iilth-soddon surfaces, 70
~. sinks and polluted drinking water
,cr cholera finds local conditions for its el
rn denies, that now the general duty
"" urged lpon all sanitary authorities al
,er househOldors to make careful santa
Of inspections; TO drain all stagnant poe
Ing anu lom b,ouIlus ho1. Wv" um0idt.Eo, dna,,.
,nr cleanse and tllsinfect cellars, privies al
~ all filthy places, and examine and pl
no tect tho purity of drinking water"