Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-01
The Cholera Terror.

AN INTERESTING REPORT BY THE AMERICAN CONSUL
At acknowledgements AND PRoGR IS OF THE EPI-
DENIC-SANlTART REGULATIONS, SIC.
Us. Consul Mason, at Marseil.es, has submitted
TO the State department his report on the origin
and progress Of the cholera, now prevailing IL Mar
ssiliss and Toulon He Says that when the first
Case broke out, on June o2I, at luuon. dis ute
Immediately arose between the mayor OF the city
and the medical officers OF the government as to
whether or not the disease was Asa;lc or sporadic
cholera.
In the course Of Its progress. however it was de-
cided on June 80 that IL Asiatic cholera. Real
danger was now present and IL became question
oil how far vigorous ana Intelligent sanitary mea-
sureS could prevail against an rpid mic which had
come 80 early and SO thoroughly established.
Both Marseilles and i'ouIon suffered terribly in
the cholera epidemic OF ls65. During the ninrt"en
years which have elapsed since then, Marsrlcs
has b-en in several important respects. almost re-
built Her payenlenis, her sewerage system, her
water supply and method OF cleaning streets. rc-
moving night soil. inspecting and regulating the
markets OF loo,i. her quarantine regulations, and
hospital facilities are all probably unsurpassed ia
excellence by those OF any European or American
city.
The terrible lesson OF former epidemics has been
well learned by the municipal government. and
long before the first rum0r OF trouble at Tou. On
MarSeil!eS was cleared and made ready for he
mer heats But, with all the intelligent lberalily
which the city has evinced In the con>r ruction OF
her drainage system. there is an tnsuirOuntab.e
dTrculty which all Mediterranean cities are alike
compelled 10 face-their sewers now into lideless
and generally piacid sea
The same conditions, unmitigated by equally Wig
orous sanitary measures, prevail at 1oulon and IL
Is thought that II was the dredging OF a disuS "a
dock there. during the months OF April and MAY,
which developed the seeds OF the present epidemic.
Since the outbreak at Toulon, the VIII lie city mas
been literally washed with water and disinlecants
not once merely, but daily and nightly. The mar
kets are carefully Inspected and immense quanii-
Ties OF stale ana unr1pe frLiL and vegetables seized
and destroyed. Railway cars, stations. olnnibus,s
street cars, even hackney Carriages are fu,nigaied
and disinrected, and the SIN ii Of chlorine, SUI
IL
simultaneously with the outbreak OF Aslatlc
cholera AT AarseilleS there began period OF intense
Sultry heat, which, with the exception of the Both
when q cooling mfstral blew over the sweltering
city, yet continues undated. On the evening ~
the asth OF June this sitting heat was accompanied
BY dense SwarmS OF mosquitoes which settle upon
the lower part Of the city, and were only driven of
by fres OF pitch and resin, which were lighted
along the streets during the night. 1t was reIneE
similar dead, sitting atmosphere had marked the
beginning OF the great epidemic OF 1865. aud this
circumstance, added to the steady Increase OF the
disease at both Toulon and MarseileS, produced on
Saturday night and Sunday panic which con-
uHued until the Tuesday following. During this
period many thousands OF people removed TO sub
urban residences or the Interior OF France.
The present situation may be summarized as fol-
lows The epidemic which now prevails at Mar
settles and Toulon, is Asstic cholera imported be-
yond all reasonable doubt, from Saigon, China. by
the French transport Sarthe 10 the port OF Touon.
At first the disease was OF tie type medically class
1fed as "Benign," but its malignity has since In
creased by Its further diffusion and development
unucI Tue lIIutuCe % COHtlnutu not weather.
The SeagOtnG commerce OF MarseilleS Is. for the
time, almost entirely suspended. Italy, Spain. Tu-
mis- and Algeria impose guarantees OF from seven
to fifteen days upon all vessels from these TWO IN
fected ports ottoman ports absolutely refuse en-
try to such vessels upon any and all conditions. A
strict quarantine OF seven days has been established
the land frontiers OF Italy and Spain against all
persons coming from France, ana the conditions OF
these frontier guarantees In respect TO ba gage
and merchandise are daily becoming more rigId and
exacting.
In compliance with instructions from the depart
ment, this consulate has aScertained from official
sources that no emgrantS have recently left lou
Ion or MarSeeS 10y sea for the United states. IL
should be added, however that few emigrantS for
American ports ever embark here, as the steamers
leaving MarseflleS usually touch ut one more
Mediterranean stations before leaving their final
point OF departure, ana emigrantS usually 90 by
rail- to this ultimate port OF departure 10 embark
the United States II is, therefore, respectfully
suggested that all vessels bringing emierantS or
baggage to the United States from Bordeaux
Havre, La Rochelle, or any other French port not
yet declared infected, should be subjected upon
their arrival to the most careful sanitary re- ula-
lions.
Clean bills OF health have been refused At the
sulate to all vessels clearing for ports in the United
States since the 25th or June, ana such viii be
granted until Marseiles is Officially declared Tree
from cOutap1On,