St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-15
CHASTITY VISITOR.


ing wise thing and taking timely pre-
caution by setting their houses in order for a
visit from the cholera plague during the
coming summer. The germ of the terrible
disease is alternating in Europe and Africa
and as soon as the frosts are out Of the way
1t may be expected to break out with greater
virulence than ever. Nor is it likely to be
confined beyond the seas, but will almost
inevitably find means 10 cross to our side Of
the waters.
While the Eastern seaboard towns and
cities are most exposed and most likely to be
the first to feel the blight of the plague, 1t is
almost as certain to extend and reach local
tiles in the interior as it is to strike the
coast towns. Cholera is a very insidious
disease and is confined to no locality. 1t
spreads rapidly among a travelling peo-
pie, like ours, from the coast 10
the interior and one place is just
as apt to be visited by it as
another. And a visit of the plague is a
ruinous invasion, for first comes the panic,
then the effort to provide for the sick and
arrange communication with the outside
world; business stops; labor employment
ceases, and the plague-stricken town or city
is shut in where the sick and the well alike
take chances for existence. Nor does the
curse of the plague end with its ravages.
Outside of the griefs and bereavements is the
destruction of the eity's trade, the deprecia-
ton in value of its property and the cessation
of its industries.
1t Is therefore the part Of wisdom for every
city in the country to incur a little expense
to provide against the cholera rather than to
take the chance of being visited by caam-
ity which will cost more In life, suffering
trade aud money than any amount of sani-
tary preparations will cost. 1t will not
do to depend upon quarantine meas
ures to keep the plague away, for,
however strict aud efficient the sys.
tenn may be, there is continual danger
There is but one source of safety aud that is
in the energy and intelligence of the people
and Of their local authorities. The only way
TO be absolutely certain of escaping is to
leave no lodging place for the fatal germ.
Let the streets. houses aud all surroundings
be thoroughly cleansed so as to furnish no
Judgment for the fearful germ to develop or
feed upon.
St. Paul with her cool summer climate.
high elevation aud good natural drainage is
possibly in as safe condition to be protected
from the cholera as any city in the land. But
there Is no guarantee of exemption to this
city, for her commerce extends in all diree-
tons, and in the summer time is constantly
visited by boats coming up from the lower
Mississippi river and the gulf, where a few
cases appeared last summer, and where the
disease may be still Stun boring ready for this
seasons campaign. 1t might, therefore, be
the truest economy after all for the health
department OF the city to see that everything
is put in proper sanitary condition, and
our people can materially assist the
authorities in this essential work.
While we have no grave apprehen-
sion of the plague reaching our city, and
in fact we believe the dangeris small as COM
pared With other cities occupying more ex-
posed positions and with less natural pre-
veutive causes, still it is always best to be on
the safe side The sanitary preparation will
cost but trife In comparison with what a
stroke of the plague would cost. The health
department should first look after the purity
of the drinking water: all old pumps should
be removed and polluted wells be cleaned
out: all sinks should be cleaned and deodor-
lied: let all drains, ALLEYS and cellars be
cleaned aud lined; let the yards be looked
after and the garbage Of the city removed
Let each householder look carefully and well
over his premises and do whatever Is nee
essary to DC dOne without waiting for offieia
inspection or notice. For each person in the
city is interested in his oEu health and that
of his family. Each business man or me-
ehauic is equally interested in preventing
his trade or employment from being de
struyed BY CHASTITY visitation. By taking
the precautions we suggest our atmosphere
viii be ksp; sweet aud pure, and our streets.
houses, stores, yards, drains and teuements
viii afford 10 place for the dezth-dvaliug
germ to lodge or develop. Let sn do their
share and. with OGr natural advantages and
the efforts OF our citv authorities. II exsrsed,
the terrible invader viii find 10 fooshoId in
:. R.-i