The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-08-10
BLACK DEATH.
EUROPE UNDER THE SHADOW
The Delta of the Ganges the Hot Bed OF
Plague Fanatical Rites Dissemi-
mating it. Parents Fly,
Leave Their Children.
Consul Mason's Views.

WASHINGTON, Aug. Crank II.
Mnson, United States Consul to Mar
Hes, in dispatch to the State Depart
mont relative to cholera at that place
and Toulon says: 1t appears that not
outstanding all the progress in medi-
cal science and the very perfect arrange
ments for collecting and treating
stricken victims Of the scourge, more
tia two-tnirds Of those attacked have
died. Even during the first fortnight of
the epidemic, when all the sanitary con-
ditions were most favorable, the almost
Immediate transmission of the disease
from Toulon to Marseilles and Envenio,
the death rate was 70 per cent.
in the earliest stage Of the epidemic,
seem to prove that the sanitary science
and medical skill have made but little
substantial progress in dealing with
Asiatic cholera. A second feature
in the present epidemic is the
vigor and deadliness of its attacks
as compared with that of the last great
cholera summer in 1865. The rapidity
and virulence of this development are
attributed in some measure to the in
tense damp and sitting heat which
prevailed during the hot days since the
Both of June. There are physicians
OF Judgment and experience who main
tain that disailection is only effective to
destroy cholera Oh large scale, and
thit dry, hot weather, while it m be
unfavorable for those already at
tackled, is most effective in stay
ing the spread of the conta-
gion. Another noticeable feat
ure of the present visitation
has been the simultaneous and sudden
appearance of the malady in all parts of
the city of Marseilles. Fugitives from
here have died at AK, Grenoble and
other towns in Southern France, but the
epidemic has thus far not,been kindled
there, nor have any persons been
attacked, except such as brought the
contagion from this city or Toulon. In
view of the enormous emigration, which
has occurred since the outbreak, three
weeks ago, estimated by good author
ity, mt 100000 persons from
Marseilles and $4,000 from TOulon,
and the distribution of this vast con
tingent throughout France, Italy
Switzerland and the Netherlands. Ii is
noteworthy and encouraging, that no
authentic case of cholera has occurred
among this vast army of fugitives at
any point north of Grenoble,
although q great number OF
Italian people left the stricken cities for
North Italy during the early days of the
epidemic. The disease has not appar-
emily been carried with them, or if has
II has not yet developed. Nothing
in all the dispute concerning
the origin and cure of the disease
has added any effectiveness to the
means hitherto known for treatins
choleric patients, and the proportion
Of deaths to the number of cases ap
pears to increase rather than diminish
n momentary CLEAN of hope wa
diffused by the announcement
that patients had been rescued from
the collapsed stage of the maady at tn,
hospital in Toulon by the inhalation o
oxygen, but this encouragement ha
been clouded by the discovery that the
effect of this powerful stimulant was bu
temporary, and patients thus treated
finally died the same as those treated b,
other methods.