The Opelousas courier., 1885-09-05
ASIATIC CHOLERA.
Origin OF tine Disease and ies His.
t0ry-Prcvemtiye Measures

lSV yCdES dSo III Japan u SiillldE
disease ragged, and that in 1917 and for
some years after India was devastated are
familiar facts. From Bengal to Madras,
from Ceylon's isle to the other isles of
the sea, from China to the Persian gulf,
to the shores of the Caspian, to Astrak-
han, Orenburg and Moscow, and SO on
by St. Petersburg, Dantzic, Berlin and
Hamburg, to England, the disease took
its way. Tn June, 1892, only a year after
reaching England, it appeared in New
York. For two or three yearsit prevailed
and then dropped out of sight and mind.
In 1847 it again started from India. In
the spring Of 1s4s it reached European
cities, and rapidly moved to New York
and New Orleans. AT the former Amer
lean city it was checked by quarantine,
but in New Orleans, the weather being
very hot and other things favorable for
its reception and propagation cases null
tiplied rapidly, and soon it had extended
into Texas and up the Mississippito Mem
phis. The next year (1s49) following its
appearance in Europe, it broke out IN few
York, Philade lphia and many other
places ON the Atlantic coast. Starting
afresh in New Orleans, it overspread the
valley of the Mississippi, took up its
habitation with those who were toiling
over the plains toward the land of gold,
and did not from there entirely depart.
For a half-dozen years there were occa-
sional cases on the shores of the Pacific,
but along some twenty years ago the
cholera took a new start from the east.
1t struck Mecca in 1856 and the pill
grims were its food. The city has 49,.
900 inhabitants, with an annual influx of
100, 900 to 100, 900 pilgrims, who stay a
week or a month. So things go on until
last August the disease broke out in Ma
pies. On the 18th day of September
there were 3S6 dea hs. This was the
eliminating point. There was the usual
subsistence, but now the winter and
spring have passed, it breaks out again
and threatens this side OF the Atlantic.
DR.. Bartlett. from whose rapid review
these facts have been drawn, thinks the
history of the past makes it probable
that we shall have disease in this coun-
try this year, and he-asks these pertinent
questions:
"What has actually been done in any
city, town or village to meet such an
emergency? Are there hospitals ready
for the reception of patients? Ii one
case occurs, it is the source from which
there will arise many, unless active
measures are adopted to prevent it.
There is a disposition not to report such
solitary first cases. Have the neces-
sary arrangements been made for
an inspecting corpse Are the
details for disinfecting provided fol-
Are the people thoroughly instructed as
to the measures they must adopt to rem
der the spread of the disease imposs.blel
Are the authorities of cities, towns and
villages taking active measures to cause
the removal of all filth and disease breed
ing material, which is the f~avorite habi'
tat of the cholera GERM VIZ say the au-
thorities of towns and villages, because
facts prove in many places there is much
more carelessness in regard to drainage
and the purity of water supply in the
rural districts than in cities"
1t was only on the Goth of July last
that Professor Koch gave to his asso.
ciates in Berlin the results OF his inyestl'
cations of the disease in Egypt, Calcutta
and Toulon, and affirmed that a little
organism shaped like like a comma>o 81
SO small as to be seen only with "a higf
power under the microscope, was the es
sential cause OF the terrible pestilence
Soon after two Swiss physicians, Rietscl
and Nicati, in the laboratory Of tn
Pharo hospital at MarseiIles, successful.
inoculated a number of guinea pigs, dogs
and rats with cholera microbes, ant
within two days the guinea pigs died
after having exhibited the symptoms o
cholera as seen in human beings; th
dogs died in about four days after inoc
u~lation, having exhibited the same symp
toms. Koch's experiments in 1ndl
showed water-tanks to contain al
Astounding supply of the comma bacillus
and it wa from these tank
the people had obtained thei
water Just before an outbreak Q
the disease. So, admitting, as s~cientif
!, men do, that the germ theory OF th
origin of the disease is correct, the ea
PLANTATION of its propagation is simple
= The germs are living organisms, trans
ported easily from place to place. who's
growth is favored by moisture, SO thu
they find water the best medium
Q transit.
Among the assisting causes, DIR. Bar
, lett mentions fear first. Panic is q pow
, erful auxiliary in circumstances Lib
those which may occur. Any frightene
s person presents the first symptoms {
cholera, and this serves also. as the bool
show. to spread the disease; q persc
!. breads an attack, and to avoid it, leav'
the place where the epidemic is prevail
j ing; with him 30 the germs Of the di
ease, they find Judgment in the materi
; favorable for their development, aud
d little time cholera appears IN that plac
J. Another cause is any impairment
health which tends to weaken the Wit
faculties, whether il be ~over-exertio
: disarrangement Of the digestive organ
chronic disease or debility from exposu
Q or excess. Bad drainage is an ally
cholera. Filth in the shape OF decay1l
animal or vegetable matter Is anothe
7 Impure drinking water IS one OF the ms
= powerful.
Al to- the means of prevention /
Hartlett has considerable to say, base
Of course, upon his preceding chapt'
These are noteworthy sentences: .
i well. regulated life and good hygier
4 conditions are almost certain guarante
against it's action. It RACES bsg pref
ence Id unhealthy localities, arnong poT
y lationa weakened by misery and anlo
q individuals whose powers OF reslstan
] are undermined by disease or excess
ALI these circumstances are, TO Q lar
2 extent, under the control OF indlyidua
q go IL 80 far 40 fhay are. III il for en-