St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-26
4,SIATIC, OR NOT?

The GLOBE has, on several occasions,
taken the opportunity to express doubt that
the cholera now raging on the Mediterranean
coast is of the Asiatic type. 1t took the lib
erty to dispute the belief of an Asiatic origin
for many reasons. One of these is that there
was no proof that the outbreak in Damietta,
and other parts of Egypt, last year, was com
municated from the usual lurking place, and
regular habitat of the Asiatic cholera, the
the disease in Egypt seemed to be indigen-
Gus, and the logical outcome of the condi-
ton of the towns in which it appeared. The
mortality was great, but in no essential par
ticular did the scourge present the character
istic features of the Asiatic scourge.
For several weeks, cholera has been raging
in Marselles and Toulon, Both are seaport
towns, and have numerous rail and water
communications with other places. Directly
north of Marseilles is the large city of Lyons
with direct connection, and only about 40
miles distant, and yet there has been no ex-
tension of the scourge TO this point. Can
any one doubt that were the disease Asiatic
cholera, it would ere this have reached Lyons
or some of the other adjacent towns near
Marseilles and Toulon, such as Nice, Cannes
and otherss There is not the slightest evil
dence that the epidemic has appeared
at Paris, Berlin, st. Petersburg, London, or
any of the great centers which are connected
with the infected Mediterranean ports, and
which have always been included in the
routes heretofore taken in the movements of
Asiatic cholera. A late issue of the Times of
London states that, considerable doubt still
exists as to the nature of the epidemic at
Toulon," and in his report to the German
R.ichStag, Won Boetticher inclines to the
opinion that the Mediterranean disease is
sporadic cholera.
Whatever may be the nature of the cpl
demic now raging in France, it is certain
that it is deadly; and in this respect does not
differ essentially from the Asatic scourge.
But it is of the greatest consequence that it
should be definitely known, especially in this
country, whether the epidemic is sporadic or
Asiatic. The latter carries with it, and sends
in advance of its march, an apprehension
that is deadly in its effects on the minds of
community. The world has come to regard
Asiatic cholera as something against whose
progress no wall can be erected. Hence, on
its approach there is usually decentralization
that is most damaging in its effects on COM
munity Under its influence, thousands
fall victims to the scourge, who, without this
depression and apprehension, would be likely
to escape. People feel that sporadic cholera
is something whose appearance may be pre-
vented, and whose progress may be con-
trolled They know that ;ts advent is due to
violation of sanitary laws, and that, in
great measure, 1t Is within the ability of
community to protect itself against IL. raya-
ges.
If this disease should make its appearance
in this country, the number of its victims
will depend very largely on the moral condi-
ton of the various tHns which may ne.at-
tackled. If the belief should prevail that it is
Asiatic the number of victims viii be quad
rupled, that is, three persons will be made
liable to attack to each one person who other
wise would be infected. 1t is, therefore most
desirable that, unless the facts shall warrant
beyond all peradventnre the conclusion that
the epidemic is Asiatic IN its nature, the peo-
pie should be taught 70 believe that the NAL
ady now in Europe is sceptic, and sporadic
Such belief viii have the effect to greatly
lessen the mortality IN case cholera should
break out or this side Of the Atlantic. The
GLOBE insists that, as ret. there is not par
ticle of evidence that the epidemic on the
Mediterranean is true Asiatic cholera; and
hence this country should derive from this
fact all the consolation which grows from
this assurance.