St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-11
THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC.
A Very Interesting Paper by Consul
Mason On the Working Of the
ScOurpp.

WASHINGTON, Aug. Crank H. Mason,
United States consul at Marseilles, in dispatch
to the state department relative to cholera at thai
place and Toulon, says: SIT appears that, not.
withstanding all progress in medical science and
the very perfect arrangements for collecting and
treating the stricken victims of the scourge,
more than two-thirds of those attacked have died
even during the first fortnight of the epidemic,
when all sanitary conditions were most favorable.
The almost immediate transmission of the dis.
ease from Toulon to Marseilles and the enormous
death rate of seventy per cent in the
earliest stages of the epidemic,
seems to prove that sanitary science
and medical skill have made but little substantial
progress in dealing with Asiatic cholera Sec
ond feature of the present epidemic is the rigor
and deadliness of it's attack as compared with
that of the last great cholera summer, 1865. The
rapidity and violence of this development are at
tributed in some measure to the intense, damp,
sitting heat which prevailed during most of the
days since the Both Of June. There are physi-
clans of judgment and experience, who maintain
that dessication is the only effective destroyer Of
the choleraic microbe on a large scale, and that
dry, hot weather, while it may be unfayorable
for the already attacked, is most effective in
staying the spread of the contagon. Another
HOIlceaDl6 feature IN the present
visitation has been the simultaneous
and sudden appearance of the malaria in all
in all parts of the city Of Marseilles. Fugitives
from here have died at AK, Grenoba and other
towns in southern France, but the epidemic has
has thus far not been kindled there, nor have any
persons been attacked except such as brought
the contagion from this city
or Touon. In view of the enormous migration
which has occurred since the outbreak three
weeks ago, is estimated by good authority a
100000 persons from Marseilles and sc, 900 from
ToulOn, and the distribution of this vast contin-
gent throughout France, Switzerland, Italy and
the Netherlands, it is noteworthy and encourage
ing that no authenticated case of cholera has &C.
Cured among the army of fugitives at any point
north OF Grenoba. Although 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 or if it has, it has not
yet developed. Nothing in all the dispute con-
corning the origin and cure of the disease has
added any effectiveness to the means hitherto
known for treating cholera patients. and the pro.
portion of deaths to the appears to increase
rather that diminish. a momentary CLEAN of
hope diffused by the announcement that
patients had been rescued from the collapse stage
of malady, at the hospital in Toulon, by the in
halation of oxygen, but this encouragement has
been clouded by the discovery that the effect Of
this powerful stimulant but temporary, and
the patients thus treated finally died in the same
ratio as those treated by other methods.