Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-11
A TALK ABOUT CHOLERA.
What Health Officer TOwnshend Says
About the Probability Of Its Coming.

What Health Officer Townshend Says
About the Probability Of It's Coming.
EVERY REASON FOR PROVIDING PROPER SAFE
GUARDs--ADv1cE TO CITIZENS ABOUT KEEP
ING THEIR PREMISES CLEAN-NO oUARAN-
TINE EQUAL TO CLEANLINEss-THE TREAT
NENT OF CHOLERA, &c.
A STAR reporter called on Health Oficer
Townshend this morning for the purpose OF
questioning him respecting the possible intro
duction Of cholera into tins country, and the
probable action to be taken by our health au-
thorities for the protection of the community
should the dreaded scourge visit the American
shores.
"Doctor, in view of the latest reports from
Europe, do you think we stand in danger of a
visit from cholera?' was the first question asked
by the reporter.
"Well, must qualify nv answer to that
OF the visits of the disease to Europe. IL has
never failed to eventually reach our shores. 1t
now see ey the press reports crossed the
70 treat quarantine and cordOns with contempt.
its ravages In Spain are on the increase, and we
next. Our agents abroad ali have their instruc-
tons to report promptly the sailing of vessels
rom ports liable to transport the contagium,
anu sanitary science. In the recent development
OF us resources, has placed many advantages in
our our, hands not heretofore known. Cholera is
ments and While there is not S m my opinos
any reason for alarm at present, vet there is
every reason for our throwing out the proper
II not the probability, Of its arrival among us.
The organized resources of sanitary knowledge
In two hemispheres and the Atlantic ocean, to-
getner as barriers against it, not worth so
much as the unanimous work of a community
IN removing the material which is necessary
LOT us development and growth.
What has the more recent inquiries of scen-
Ilsts developed as to the disease?" asked the
"Well, about the only thing of real import
ance Is the generally accepted conclusion that
the disease requires for it's development and
growth specific germ or poison. This germ is
beyond the control of Gordon or quarantine, and
the use of Its virus in incubation or vaccina-
tloa has not yet progressed far enough to give
us uenn1te results sufficient upon which to rely
| as q base of action against the malady.'
What Is the action to be taken, then, I might
ask? continued the reporter.
'Well," answered the doctor, ST can only say
that the best accepted theories describe this
snoiera germ as one which might liken to a
lame depending upon filth and fmpurity as its
fuel. Now, the thing to do. of course is to re-
move and dispose of the fuel, that the flame
MAJ, may Gle out. The authorities of a city must be
uelu 10 q strlct accountability for the removal
OF an NTH from the public domain, and every
citizen should constitute himself the sanitary
is no foothold for the propagation, DEVELOPMENT
or growth OF any cholera germs there. There is
no quarantine equal to cleanliness. Perfect
cleanliness. personal and domestic, is the surest
OF safeguards against an attack of cholera.
Sanitary measures may stamp out an epidemic
OF cholera ita and doubtless will, but how
much better to these same measures
In prevention rather than in cure? Polluted
SOIL, foul air and impure water are the
notDedS III Which cholera germs, and in fact
the germs of all zymotic diseases develop grow
and flourish. The infectious and contagious
diseases, such as cholera, smallpox, diphthcria,
&C.. always find their lodging-places in the pol
iuted parts OF city, and their readest victims
In tue persons of polluted people. Gastric
catarrh, caused by drunkenness and gluttony
q q fell xyl,i ah
TO multiply. When it finds little to feed upon
It's furce is soon expended, but where there is
fuel for the flame fatal case has but two and
a half days for average duration.
AS stated in my circular of last year,
1T has proved true in every country that
the cOntagium of cholera ceases to
be repropagated beyond the sanitary lines
which separate the cleansed, drained and VEN
tilated premises and aforementioned inhab-
itants from those that are filthy, unirained,
badly severed, crowded and unventilated, or
where polluted water or crude food and harmful
beverages prepare the bowels for the fatal oper-
alton OF the cholera poison, and as even the
light and painless diarrhoea of cholera may in
feet the earth and the waters wherever the
travellers from cholera districts go, the modern
facilities of travel and transportation now tend
TO spread cholera over all the continents in a
single year. AS readily as it was conveyed in the
fifteen years OF slower marching in it's first
great invasion.
THE presence ofeXcremental filth uncleapsed
dwellings, stagnant pools, polluted water and
of badly -housed and impfudent people win in
wife cholera whenever it appears in any city on
our Atlantic SeabOard. These common sources
Of harm to health that exist in numerous COM
munites will endanger the cities and villages
OF the entire country, as well as the particular
places that will be first to suffer-
Therefore, will take occasion to again say,
through the medium of the widely read STAR
to the people of the District:
Let each and every householder enforce such
thorough scavenging and cleansing, such
cleaning of sewers, drains and bitches, and such
ventilating, drying, limc-washing and disin-
fecf1ng OF cellars and all damp and unclean
places, that, If cholera comes. its infective
germs shall find no soil or foul surface in which
to propagate epidemically."
ado you not place considerable reliance on
the efficiency Of distinction, doctoro'
'Oh yes! In dealing with cholera the use of
Distinction is the destruction OF the germs or
poisons Of contagious diseases. Much time and
attention has recently been given to the subject
of dfsinfectants and their uses, and when the
occasion arrives circulars containing all neces-
sary information will be scattered broadcast
for the Information of all. The disinfectants
for ordinary use are: a. Roll sulphur (brim-
stone) for fumigation. CO. Sulphate of iron
(cOpperas) dissolved in water in the proportion
sewer, ETC. this is cheap. 81 Sulphate of zinc
and common salt, dissolved together in waterin
the proportions of four ounces suphate and two
ounces salt to the gallon-for clothing, bed
linen, ETC. Cellars, yards stables cutters, priv
les. cess-pOOls, water-cosets, drains, sewers etc.
should be repeatedly and profqsely drenehed
ready for use, at full strength, by hanging a
basket containing about sixty pounds OF cop
pcTtS III d osFTel Vi water, ana renewing the
supply from time to time.
There are two things, however, which should
be borne in mind: disinfecIion cannot COM
pensate for want of cleanliness Or ventilation
and deodOri zers Substances which destroy
smells or substitute one odOr for another) are
not necessarily disinfectants.
"Doctor, what Is the usual course Of treat
ment?"
"Well, the treatment various, and to outline
anyone of the methods satisfactorily would oc-
cupy too much of your time and space | can
say, however, in the recent words of DIR. Baird
OF West Virginia, selfdrugging with cholera
specifics sold by druggists is almost equivalent
TO suicide. A disease which in q majority of
cases battles the skill Of well educated physi-
ignorant of the ingredients of a mixture he
lauds as specific for a disease he knows moth
ing about"
sour sanitary force" remarked the doctor. as
the reporter rose to go, 'is busily at work secr-
ing the abatement of nuisapceS, and, as said
before, every citizen should constitute himself
his own inspector, and thus aid us in our efforts
to thoroughly cleanse Washington
rent OF the Washington Produce Exchange saws
there is an ample stock of flour in store with
market quiet for all grades. The grain market
is without special feature. 1t is steady. The
demand for hay Is active for all offering and
market firm. Rye straw is scarce and wanted.
Butter is in good demand for table use. An oc-
casfonal sale can be made for medium quality.
of eggs are not large and demand steady. The
hot weather has occasioned considerable loss.
Old fowls are OF steady sale; spring chickens in
larger supply, but steady ut quotations 15a16c.
per pound. Old potatoes are cheap as the new
ones appear. They are selling at SO to 20 cts.