New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-25
sEcURJTY AGAINST CHOLERA.

Tn n recent Issue of The Sanitdrian appeared
nracticol discussion on q the sanitary responsibility
ties of the citizen" by DR.. A. l.. Gihon. Medlcal
Director United States Navy In the course or that
papcr which was directed to the necessity Oh pre-
eautionary measures against epidemcs, the writer
sad: Where there are fresh air and dryness anu
cleanliness there can be no cholera; and where
there arc not it will come in spite of proclamatons
aud perfunctory quarantines. Fumigations and
distinctions which mask putrescence anu SUD
stitntc medicinal smells for sickening stenches are
as ridiculous rs the noise of gongs and tom-tons
and exploding iire-crackers aud gingals by wh'ch
the Chinaman hopes to frighten the devils VINO
d,solate his homo and country, and worse thah
useless from the false sense Of security when they
yivcp This is truth which needs to be impressed
not only upon the pnblic, bat upon medlcai ana
sanitary authorities and boards. For there ID
always danger that the approach OF an epidemic Or
tho fear of It's approach will be tho signal LOT JuSt
this p,rfunctory and sloyeny kind OF dISntcctloh'
such precautions being much cheaper anu e'S'ci
than the radical measures which can alone give
real security against the pestence In choleIa
seasons we whitewash our sepulchres olr
rookeries and foul tenement barracks are mt such
times deuged with disinfectants, which are pohred
and pasterci over the indigenous hith' AS Dr'
Gibon savs. one nasty smell is substituted for
Now. to put ourselves beyond the reach of cholera
wa mist do more than this. We must adopt per-
,nanout instead of a temporary hygiene. Inc
nroblem involved IL none other THAI that when ~
,lreadv familiar under tho title Of tenement-house
reforu The thing 10 be done Is, primarily 10
educate the dirty poor to cleanliness. HE lHiB
uxE has pointed out frequently the aosolu'o
necessity of realizing the extent and implications
If the work No plan looking merely 10 tne
erection of better houses for the dirty poor VIII
answer. because these latter WILL II not tanSht
better convert palaces into pgstyes IL IL useless
TO give them clean houses until they can pe put
aud kept under snch supervision ana uIsc'PIhe
"a will familiarze them with clearly habits And
The same Argument applies to sanitary arrang'-
nents. IL is. in the first place, necessary to the
security of the community that the houses ana
streets should not only be cleaned and purified
mt b., kept clean and pure. But that cannot be
l,nc an long "a large class live in filth habltually.
and the consciousness OF this difficulty causes
sanitary authorities 10 content themselves with
the superficial distinction donounc 81 by ..Dr.
Gihon.
To obtain security against cholera it is not
.,ougb IN cover M orr dirty places. We must
hanl.h dit altogether. Undoubtedly the under
taking il difficult but it is practicable. Tenement
hon.e reform includes all the strongest pteyentves
II epidemic disease. aud il should be pushed IN tue
Legislature, on the lines laid dow.' by the commits
Ion which has lately reported. but upon some
Via. broader basis. Only by permanent sanitary
,,rIiti,ns can We hope to escape cholera. Only
Inv educating tho unceanly 10 cleanliness can we
secure permlneat sanitary con iltons. All
.n,,modc remedies must tail. And though the
work to be done demands judgment, Intelligence,
tact. and capital, it will have 20 be undertaken
sooner or later. and every postponement OF the
beginning entails grave dangers upon the com
mun.ty. |