St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-09
CHOLERA.


The expectation so generally prevalent
that the epidemic cholera in Southern Eu-
rope was disappearing seems destined 70 dis
appointment The news from Paris is that
the disease not only continues there but IS
spreading on account Of the pollution Of the
water supply In view OF the fact that il is
only a question OF time when the scourge
viii visit our shores much interest is aroused
in regard 10 the adoption Of preventive meas
ures, and more thorough sanitary regula-
tions.
The general Government Is being appeal
ed to, and Congress is being invoked 20
hasten the adoption OF a thorough quarantine
system, and the aid to provide for rigld aud
universal sanitation. The report OF the Hi
nois State Board OF Health urges aud advises
that the general Government should main
tain such a national health service as should
by rigid inspection at the port Of embarka-
ton question the freedom from disease aud
infection Of ali persons and things from in
fected districts, and shall secure the survcil-
lance Of such persons and things while on
shipboard, and, when necessary, detention
at quarantine stations on this side FOR treat
ment and disinfection. To this end It is
urged upon Congress To provide for the APP
pointment and maintenance at all such for
eign ports where cholera, yellow fever,
plague, smallpox or scarlet fever exists, or
are liable to exist, Of medical officers OF
health, the same being either accredited con-
suls. or attached 70 the consultates.
DR.. Rauch, Secretary OF the Illinois State
Board of Health in a report says THAT il may
be entirely true that, If all our food-supplies
were wholesome, and our water-supplies not
only unpolluted but unpollutable; il sewage
and refuse disposal were prompt and COM
plete; If our cities, towns and villages were
all models Of sanitary perfection, and their
inhabitants free from predisposition or sus-
ceptibility, acquired or inherited; in short,
If there we're no ignorance, nor poverty, nor
filth, nor inirmity in the land, We might dis
pense with 2recaution against the introduction
Of disease" But in view Of the present condi-
ton OF affairs, ne concludes that il is nonsense
10 talk about relying on local sanitation to com
bat cholera. He considers it TO be pre-emi-
nently quarantinable disease, so far as this
country is concerned, claiming that no
single case has ever succeeded in establish
ing an epidemic here-that successive and
repeated importations have always occurred
before It has effected Judgment
A national health organization is a neces-
sity to carry out useful system of quaran-
tine, and DIR. Rauch thinks that the mem
bership Of the National Board of Health
''shOuld be enlarged so as to more perfectly
represent the natural sanitary areas, and its
members should be familiar not alone with
the sanitary features of their respective dis
tricts, but equally they should be identified
with the commercial, business, and indus
trial interests" Sooner or later the national
government will be compelled not only TO as
sumo supervision Of exterior guarantees,
but to provide for permanent system of CO.
operation with State aud local governments
in the administration Of inter State santa
ton, in order, on the one hand, 10 prevent
the introduction OF exotic epidemic diseases,
and on the other, to prevent their spread
from state TO state along the great intra-na.
tional highways Of travel and commerce
This is national duty. II is one that The
national government only can adequstely
discharge, and its expense is, equitably, on,
which should be betrayed from the nationa
treasury.