Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-01
CHOLERA PLAGUE.
The contagion Likely to Come to
America.
kad Wheeling Nay Expect Her Share
The Nation Alarmed--RemarS Of
General Nature on
the Plague.

In all human probability cholera will
reach and ravsge the United States before
very great while. 1t has become more than
a possibility and is a streng probability.
Already not only the National Health As
socistion, but the sanitary boards vi all the
Eastern seabosrd cities, have been consider
ngthe question Of plsgue visitation, and
have sent warning circulars to interior
ci,ies. The State department o. West Vir-
GINA have received similar documents.
-hile the State Board Of Health is in re-
ceipt Of very important ones. All Of this
.bows the health authorities Of the country
are alive to the danger. At the recent ses.
sion Of the National Health Association the
situation was discussed and it was general
ly held that cholera has always come. sooner
or later whenever, since lc3!, the conta-
sion has obtained such foothoid in Europe
IS il now has.
HRRE IN wHERrING.
If it comes to the United States, Wheel
ing, with its railroad and river facilities, IL
more or less certain to get its share. DR..
Reeves believes 80, and at the citizens meet
ing, on Monday night, referred TO it. and
advised the setting aside Of a contingent
fund to meet it. The city is far from being
n a perfect sanitary condition, and rattle:
invites a visitation. The common belle
hat winter prevents the spread Of the con
sgion is an erroneous ore, as st. Peters
aurg vas visited with its direst suffering in
The heart Of winter. Itis.expected in this
country and Wheeling must only be pre-
pared tor her share OF q common disaster
f it should. That cholera will come, it Is
our duty to assume Mindful Of the histogy
f every previous cholera epidemic we mus
accept as hey oni douot-It experience IL
aorth anythlng-the certainty that the dis
ale viii DO brought 10 our shores.
HOW IT CANE BEFORE.
Sooner or later, il is sure to come, and
&c cannot tell how soon. Cholera wa
tought TO Msrseilles in the early part o:
o. ne, lc6j, from Bombay via Mecca b.
IIgrrm steamers bearing Al yerine pilgrims
rtuTuing home from the feast or sacrlhc-s
Il he holy city" and spread SO rapidly
mt during the month Of October, it cauSeG
tiWcen four and five thousand deaths il
"nlis. On the Eth OF that month thu
uamer Atlanta lett Havre with over Coo
ahIn and Storage passengers, all OF whom
I'D been in Paris, and on her arrival 10
new York bay she had log cases OF chOlers
nd % deaths. So that the disease wa.
.rought from its epidemic home in India, BY
soy OF Mecca. Msrseilles, Paris and Havrs
New York in less than nineteen months
Asia,ic cholers-so far as this country i.
oLcerued-is pre-eminently quarantins
lie disesse. Unlike the virus Of smsllpoz,
mike the poison of yellow fever, the NOR
ifc potency Of the cause OF Asiaiic cholers
whatever that cause may be-is sharpl,
,uired ~ 10 durstion. Failing to find suit
Die conditions for irs growth and reproduc
ion it dies out. No single case, no singh
Lipload of cases ever succeeded in estab
irhiug an epidemic in this country.
With the necessary agencies Of an efec
i've quarantine provided in due season. il
you'd MT require any very great degree o
uo5age TO promise the practical exclusion
the aisease. These necessary sgencle
nay be thus stated in their natural order
equence:
NECESSARY AGESCIRs.
FirSt-Timely and trustworthy informa.
ion Of tie existence Of the disease in couu
RES and at ports having commercial rela
ions with our own, including telegrsphic
dvices Of the departure Of vessels from suct
orts for ports in this country. To propsrly
tilze this information, there needs to be-
Secoud-A National health organization
rprtSeu,ing the natural sanitary divisions o
lie country; endowed with adequate author
"; supplied with means commensurate
18th the duties imposed upon it, and with
ne power to call upon any other branch OF
re public service of the United States for
ultimate assistance and co operation
With some notifications the present Ma
lotal Board OF Health would satisfactorily
meet this indication. In most Judgment its
membership should be enlarged 80 as 70
HUtc ptiSSti1 IcUCccut INC udLurei oduit8-
ar az, and its members should be familiar
%, alone with the sanitary features of their
espectivs districts. but equally they should
% Identified with the commercial, business
nd industrial interests,
REFUGE STATIONS.
Under tie National health organization.
here should be extended and perfected:
1hird-The system OF refuge stations
projected by the National Board of Health
Nth Two or three exceptions no port in tn,
United States has adequate facilitIes for tn
proper administration Of quarantine. Such
system as.was inaugurated by the n.
,Ionsl Board Of Health, and which Is the
rnly quarantine contemplated in these re
marks, involves the removal OF an infected
r susI ected vessel out OF the track Of com.
merge; the segregation Of her sick from tn.
NeiI, the proper care and shelter of both o,
mere clssses, the necessary disnfectiou oil
ME cled cargo, and the pnriGcation of th.
.oEtel, aud the release Of vessel cargo and
e,so.s, 70 soon as they have BEEN rendered
ate aid free from tie danger of communi;
's,ing disease .
Shall We be warned in time, or shall VIC
wait until the pes;iience has landed and OBJ
AIMED q foothold' A single outbreak
goesibly siTgle case-of Asistic cholera
n New York or Chicavo ny III Iopis N,