Morris tribune., 1884-11-19
ON THE QUI VIVE.
NEW YORK CITY PREPARING FOR
THE ASlATlC SCoURGE.
Precautions That Are Being Taken by the
Oficials-The Rag 0uestion-Latest
from Paris-Hoping the
Worst Is Over.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-THE Sun has the
following concerning the cholera: The health
officers expect the arrival Of cholera in New
York early next summer, and will not be
surprised if sporadic cases appear sooner.
They are making preparations by removing
the causes Of infection, intoxicating cleanii'
less among the tenement population, closing
wells which are found to be impregnated
with sewage, and reducing as far as pos
| sible tho number Of vaults, Of which
there are 10000 in the city. In spite
of these vaults, which are regarded as 90
many breeding places OF cholera, Sanitary
Superintendent Day considers New York
better fitted than Paris to cope with disease.
He relies on the people themselves to sustain
the health officers in the sanitary measures
to which they will be obliged to resort. and
says the population of the city has always
been conspicuously obedient to sanitary reg
ulations. While the city has not at present
accommodations for more than 300 cholera
patients, extra accommodations can be pro-
vided promptly if there is any need for it.
Two steamers from Havre direct are due
here soon, the Westphalia, which left that
port Wednesday, and the st. Laurent.
Louis de Bebian, agent of the French line,
was asked if he thought there was any dan
ger of the St. Laurent bringing over cholera
germs.
"Very small danger, I think" he said.
"The cholera in Paris is confined to the poor
est people. The mortality is as great as it is
because these people are dirty and so poor
that their bodies are not sufficiently nour-
ished You have no conception in New York
how poor they are think, however, there
is more or less cholera in the air, and it will
show itself here before long,"
Many people fear that cholera germs may
be imported in cargoes Of European rags.
Concerning this, John L. Taylor, one Of the
largest importers Of rags in this country,
said: "This government should take some
steps to have all old rags disinfected before
they are shipped here. Rags that come from
London might have Travelled there from all
over Europe. As there is duty of 10 per
cent. on woolen rags, the only kind we get
here are cotton rags, and as this is
the kind Of material that is used for
sheets, shirts and bandages, you can
can see they are the most dangerous. I have
no doubt but that among the shipments Of
rags from Europe will be a quantity that
figured in the cholera epidemic in Toulon
and Paris. Secretary Folger ordered that no
rags should be received in this port until
December Secretary Gresham, however,
modified the order so that rags could be re-
ceived from any non-infected place This
only makes the matter worse, because rags
travel in a roundabout way. Since the cpl
demic broke out the price of rags declined
about Is per cent People are afraid to buy"
Health Officer Smith said: eve are
always on the lookout for any kind Of disease.
We shall probably disinfect the baggage of
passengers hereafter, and If any signs of the
disease are found we shall quarantine the
vessel until it is thoroughly disinfected.
Passengers in such case will be placed in
what we call the observation hospital, and
kept there until we are certain they are free
from disease. Our accommodations are
ample for the treatment of cholera patients"