Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-11
Report of Colonel Mason on the Cholera
In France.

10y telegraph
WASHINGTON, August 9th.-Frshk H.
| Mason, United States Consul at MarseillcS,
in dispatch TO the State Department rela-
tive TO the cholera at that place, and IN
Toulon, says: 1t appears that, notwith-
standing all the progress made in medical
! science and the very perfect arrangements
for collecting and treating the stricken vic
TINS of the scouTge, more than twO-thrds
! of those attacked have died. Even during
the first fortnight of the epidemic when all
the sanitary conditions were most favor
able, the almost immediate transmission
of the disease from Toulon 10 Marseilles
and the enormous death rate of 20 per cent.
| IN the earliest stage of the epidemic seems
to prove that sanitary science and medical
skill have pade but little substantial pro-
gress in dealing with Asiatic cholera. A
second feature OF the present epidemic is
the rigor and deadliness of its attack rs
compared with the last great cholera sum-
mer-1S65. The rapidity and virulence
of this development are attributed in some
measure to the intense, damp and sitting
heat which has prevailed during most of
the days since July 30th. There are ply
sicians of judgment and experience who
maintain that dessication is the only effec-
tive destroyer of the choeraic microbe on
large scale. and that dry, hot weather,
while it may be unfavorable for those
already attacked, is most effective in stay
ing the dread contaSiOn. Another notice
able feature of the present visitation has
been the simultaneous and sudden appear
ance of the maiady in all parts of the city
of MarseilleS Fugitives from here have
died in AK, Grenoble and other towns in
Southern France, but epidemics have thus
far not been kindled, nor have any persons
been attacked, except such as brought the
contagion from this city to Toulon.
In view of the enormous emigration
which has occurred since the outbreak,
three weeks ago, which is estimated by good
authority at 100000 persons from Mar
settles and $1,000 from ToulOn. and the dis
tribution Of this vast contingent through
out France, Italy, Switzerland and the
Netherlands, it is noteworthy and encour-
aging that no authenticated case Of cholera
has occurred among this army of fugitives
i'll any point north of Grenoble. Although
q great number Of Italian working people
left the two stricken cities for Northern
Italy during the early days of the epidemic,
the disease has not apparently been carried
with them, for, if it has, it is not yet de
veloped. Nothing i'll all the dispute con-
corning the origin and cure of the disease
has added any effectiveness TO the means
hitherto known for treating choleraic pa
uenIS, ana the proportion OF deaths 10 the
number of cases appears TO increase rather
than diminish A momcntary CLEAN of
hope was diflused by the announcement
that some patients had been rescued in the
collapse stage of the malady at the hospital
in Toulon by the inhalation of oxygen, but
this encouragement has been clouded by
the discovery that the effect OF this power
full stimulant was but temporary and the
patients thus treated finally died in the
same ratio rs those treated by other
methods