Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-01-31
CHOLERA.

Tue fact still remains that it ia almost
certain that cholera will reach this
country next summer. 1t may not
wait until summer, IS it has come be-
fore in winter, but it will most certain
ly get here then.
1t is the part of wisdom, therefore,
to prepare for the dread scourge that
attacks many and proves fatal to half
of those whom it prostrates.
The great thing to know Is, that the
way to fight cholera is by prevention;
next what are the best e of pre-
vention. To fully understand the latter
the character of the disease must be
understood, and 1t Is our object In this
article to explain it in a layman's un-
technical language as we'll as we can, i
in order to enable u readers to pro-
tect themselves Is well as it is possible
for them to do.
Up to a few years ago, say IL OF IA
years, the theory of the medical pro-
fession regarding cholera was, that 1t
was contagious, from person to person,
and by the air, as smallpox, measles
and scarlet fever are. So the means Of
prevention were often tumigation,
burning tar barrels In the streets, &c.
We find upon inquiry that this view
still largely prevails among very in
telligsnt people, but persons who have
not had occasion to read or observe ~
to the disease. A. a matter Of fact re-
cent investigations have completely
revolutionized the medical mind upon
this point, and it il now held that
cholera is not communicable by mere
contact with cholera patients, and num-
berless cases are cited where nurses
and physicians who have tended cholera
cases have been exempt from the
disease.
Students of cholera have practically
agreed that 1t is not originated spon-
taneously, but is the product of a pre-
viously existing germ; that the germ,
q minute parasite, DO far as it is neces-
sary for us to deal with it, is found in
the contents of the stomach and bowels
of cholera patients, and that the spread
of the disease is in all cases due to the
conveyance Of particles of this poison to
the mouths Of other persons, and that.
therefore, cholera is q disease propagat-
ed by excremental filth.
We will be pardoned for speaking
plainly the occasion demands it. Most
persons would at once declare that they
could not be exposed to such an in
,, fuence as is here indicated; that their
habits of life precluded any danger to
them from such q source. This Is q
very grave error. The disposition of
excremental filth in small cities, towns
and villages il such a. to most favora-
bly, SOW the seeds of the disease broad
cast. Thrown upon the ground it
dries, and the winds wait it to the
mouths and nostrils of the most dainty
as they walk the thoroughfares. De-
posted in privy-vsults the assures of
the earth convey it to adjacent wells,
and there it poisons all who drink.
Indeed the chief means by which
cholera is spread Ia by wells, from the
cause indicated, and this IL oftentimes
done when the conditions are such that
the result appears almost impossible.
In the article which we print upon our
first page numerous instances are given
proving beyond any question how fatal
is water impregnated with cholera dis
charges. Such water may appear IS
limpid and pure as it is possible for
water to be-, yet it carries within its
crystal moisture a poison almost as
subtle as strychnine, aud n which
while it kills quickly kills with most
terrible agony. For proof of this we
need not 60 farther than Lexington,
where, in 1849, the devastation of the
disease was principally confined to one
quarter of the town where the people
used bored wells, these being contigu-
GUS to their privy-vaults. These wells
afforded what was thought to be pure
water, but the cholera proved them to
be in intimate communication with the
privies. We know houses in Lexington
supplied with water from cisterns, bet
ter protected from contamination than
wells a be, where no amount OF
money would induce US wen now to
take a drink of water. What will such
places be if cholera comes2 That con.
taminated well water has been = pro-
life cause of cholera has been proven
by hundreds of instances which we
might cite, occurring in London. Man.
chester, in American cities, and notably
In St. Louis, where in 1849 1t rsged
worse than in any city in this country,
and principally In the southern and
northern parts of town, which lie fiat
and low, and : subjected, or were
, then, to the conditions we heye pointed
out, but we cannot pause now to do go.
we shall have ample opportunity to
adduce all necessary proof upon thi'
point.
i Without particulariaing may we pot
say that almost every town in Lafay-
cite county. as it now stands, is a fav-
orable breeding pises for cholera:
Some more, some less, but ell very
much worse than they should be al.
|, lowed 70 remain.
: In every one of these towns it is the
/, imperative duty of the authorities to
take immediate and active steps to in
, form themselves upon the subject as
thoroughly as may be, aud then to 90
to work with a will to take the neces-
sary sanitary steps. In order to do
| this tasy should educate their people
up TO the necessity OF radical measures,
| for they will meet WITT opposition
from ignorance and a~varice sou.etims.
where they least expect it, and wher
, they once pegip the work it should be
t thorough and complete, and not be al.
: iowed to halt for trjfes.
An Albany dispatch says that SIT il
. on oman ooorot fhot Noyton ~ b,ol