Morning journal and courier., 1885-07-22
Wednesday, July 22, 1885.
THE CHOLERA.


 To fulfill certain predictions which have been made the cholera should by this time be raging in some of the cities of this coun- try. But there is no cholera here and the prophets are without honor. Still, it is we'll enough to be on the lookout, and the five physicians who discuss the matter in the current number of the North American Re view have done good service. These gentle men try to answer the question, Can cholera be averted?
 Dr. John B. Hamilton confines his remarks not have any hope of barring out infection by detaining vessels, their passengers and cargoes for given number of days. The advocstes of this plan supposed that the disease germs required certain length of time for incubation. When that period ex- pired danger was over. That theory, the doctor says, is exploded. 'Germs may re- main in state of Information almost in definitely When again exposed to the air these germs are vivifed and go forth to spread destruction. Dr. Hamilton believes thoroughly in quarantine when the object is not detention until danger period is past, but the application of disinfectants that will kill the germs. Dr. John H. Rauch agrees with Dr. Hamilton and thinks that the whole body of immigrants should be put through rigid disinfecting process. He notes that in 1873 Ohio, Minnesota and Dakota suffered outbreaks of cholera, where the poison was brought in household effects of emigrants packed up in Holland Sweden and Russia, from which countries no special danger was anticipated.
 Dr. John c. Peters points out that greatly as impure air, impure food and imprudence in diet aggravate the disease and lessen the chances of recovery when an individual is once attacked, they are not themselves and cannot be the cause of it. "No amount of impure air will cause Asiatic cholera unless the germs have already been swallowed down into the stomachs of the sufferers" stNo amount of impure water will cause true Asiatic cholera unless the germs of the dis ease have already got into it." No amount of imprudence in diet alone will cause Asiatic cholera unless some of the articles eaten have been handled by those already suffer ing from the disease and then piece of bread will be as dangerous as an apple.'' D Water is 8 very common way of spreading these germs, and the doctor lays great stress upon the use by those exposed of boiled or distilled water.
 Dr. H. C. Wood advises those who 'thave no other duties in life except to protect themselves to leave the place where an out break occurs. 'tAn isolated residence in the mountains, the depths of the Adirondack wilderness, the loneliness of yacht upon 8 northern ocean; such are the places to which a rich man thinking only of his own safety should resort" Those who cannot go away should keep out of the slums and drink boiled water. If that is not practicable, then tea and coffee, bottled claret or beer, while 'iquids on draught should be avoided"
 Dr. Charles A. Leale is more hopeful than the others who participate in this dis cussion. ''We who have battled with epi- demic Asiatic cholera in the most malignant forms at the homes of those affected" he says, "can testify that absolute quarantine prevents it's entrance, thorough disinfeetion exterminates it, and proper treatment carries a very large proportion of even the seyerest cases to recovery"
 Those who are not frightened, who keep clean and eat and drink properly are not likely to have cholera or any other epidemic disease. It is we'll to pay careful attention to these matters always, whether the cholera is expected or not.