Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-01
CHOLERA.
To the Editor OF the Eagle

To the Editor Of the Eagle
1t Is bu; question of time till the terror
whose black wing and cruel talon has so
often frightened Europe and decimsted some
fits hsppiest people, viii visit our OWL
shores DR.. Koch, who, at the risk Of hi;
own life, found the cholera germ at the home
Of that pestilcnce in the jungles Of Hindoo-
stan, declared the pestilence so lately raging
in the south OF France, the true Asiatic
cholera, and furthermore declares that in all
hum an probability It viii obtain foothold
upon the Atlantic coast during the spring
months. and do is deadly work on this con-
tinent puring the summer season Of 1885.
pr. Koch and other noted medical and sci
eutifc ner, have found ia the bodies Of the
deceased the "nicrobe' or characteristic
germ Of the pestileutiEl cholera. The dis
ease is propagated by the multiplication Of
these microbes III the lower intesttnes OF the
person il attacks. There intusoria secrete a
poison which is forced into the blood, pro-
ducinC all the dread characteristics Of this
fatal epidemic. There should be no delica-
CIV about this subject, because it involves
life and death. Il should part Of the
education Of every woman TO know how to
render contagious diseases immorenous-
Cholera is not in the air. il is communicated
exclusively by the excreta Of the victims
The person attacked must have been poison
cd by direct contact with the eviciions Of a
sick persos.
To werd Of the cholera and 10 Danish it
from the earth. it wiz be necessary 10 have
complete system ofsewerage. The excrets
OF humans be mixed with dry earth, and that
immediately before there is a chance for the
micropes 10 reproduce themselves. 1t is now
settled beyond all peradventure that the
complaints frcm which all mankind suffer
such as fever, diptheris, consumption, and
cholera are due 10 anamaiculae or infu-
soria which are p.opsgated in the refuse Of
the human system. This is a matter so little
understood by the heads of families and
especially by those who nurse the sick and
have the care of children. Lite-the life of
is what the general knowledge of such facts
would save. Strength-the strength that
builds, and beaatifes, and adorns, and up
holds cities AS well as nstions--is which
such knowledge seeks 10 econo-
mize and preserve. Every municipality
should inaugurate perfect system of
sewerage. SO that the futile materials taken
from the soil in the form Of food should be
returned TO il again in the form of sewerage.
To conquer nature We must obey her, says
the sage. The refuse Of our bodies, which
engenders al manner of foul diseases, is the
nutriment, the very life Of the plants upon
which VIC live. The river bottom. the black
soil Of the swamp, engenders feVers destrrc-
tive to humsn life, but drained and properly
manipulated these same rank soils produce
abundantiy of the grains upon which we
live. The life and reproduction Of cholera
microbe depends upon moist surroundings. |
II dies in dry or cold sir. TAere Is every /
favorable condition for It's introduction and |
rapid propagation in America, AID psrticu-
larry Wichita the present year. Why wait |
till the fate Of Memphis overtakes US; IAN
ounce of prevention Is worth pound of
cure" Organize a sanitary association that
Will begin AT once house-to-house inspec- |
ton, prepare code of sanitary laws and
see that they are enforced. Begin now that
which must be done sooner or later (if
Wichita would remain what she isl, per-
feet system OF sewerage. When this Is done
universally one-hslf the active diseases viii
disappear from the world and we shall ef- |
fectually antsgonize these deadly epidemicf,
which are the terror and the bane of urban |
life. FEMME DE CcuRsE.