St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-19

isolation of infected localities and towns,
and intercourse with other towns under
sanitary supervision. Though this bill en-
bodies q number of necessary precau-
tions, 1t seems to lack continuity
and conference, in that it does not
state specifically what the duties of the
general government are with regard to en-
barkation, transit and the landing of the
scourge ON our shores, and the general gov
eminent alone can regulate travel and traffic
on the great ocean highways. AS regards
LOCAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES,
there should in the first place be hearty
cooperation between our state and local
boards of health. 1t is almost universally
held that water is the most important me-
dunn of conveying choleraic infections
fact upon which it were well to lay special
stress. since it is of immense practical inn
portance, and the truth should therefore be
widely known. There is reason to believe
that most of the wells, and many of the els
terms in this city, contain water unfit for
consumption. Indeed, in the analysis made
of water from thirty wells in different sec
tiOns of the city, made within the past year
by competent chemist, Prof. Welt
brecht. the result indicates beyond a
doubt the impurity of the water.
Simon has shown that in 1866 the number
of cases of cholera among the inhabitants
who used the bad water of the East London
Water company ranged from 6S to Ill per
10, 900 people, while in that part Of the same
city supplied by .pure water the mortality
was from to 10 per 10000.
In the city of Genoa during last summers
epidemic 80 per cent. Of all the deaths Oc-
CURED among those inhabitants who used
water supplied by the Canal Nicolai, which
furnishes about 40 per cent. of the city's
water. The houses supplied with this
water furnished numerous victims, whereas
those supplied from other sources escaped.
1t was only when the canal water was en-
tirely cut off from the city that the cpl
demic disappeared. In another city in
Italy which suffered an immense mortality
from this epidemic it was shown that the
linen of some persons, who had come from
Marseilles where cholera was prevailing,
had been washed in little river which fur
nished water to that portion of the town.
These are but examples, though citations
could be multiplied.
The lake water which is furnished to a
large proportion OF the residents of st.
Paul is generally agreed to be pure, since
so far as is known no case of disease of any
The practical application of the foregoing
facts is this: Should case of cholera ap-
pear in this city, every citizen should be
required either to
USE LAKE WATER
exclusively, or else thoroughly boil all well
or cistern water before drinking it. Boiled
water is inOcuous. AS local preventive
measure this is entitled to the first place in
f0,, -, IL 10 10
vent or restrict cholera in city whose
drinking water is contaminated. All the
world sang poems of praise to the herOisn
Of the king of Italy, when last summer,
disregarding all personal danger, he visited
his subjects in the plague-stricken city OF
Genoa. But the world probably does not
know that thelking took extraordinary pre-
cautions to escape the disease. Every
ounce of food and water that passed the
royal lips was bottled and Theoretically
sealed in Rome and conveyed thence daily
| to Genoa for his consumption. This pre-
caution was taken at the urgent request OF
the kings medical attendants, and is now
alluded to only to emphasize the fact thai
| micrObe or poison of cholera is generally
received into ones system by the mouth
and stomach, and in the food and water
which acts as the medium. 1t is at present
| a mooted question whether or not the in
| PRODUCTION of the disease can be prevented
| by rigid quarantine and suspension OF in
| tercourse with places in which the disease
prevails; but as the disease is probably due
| to miasm or organism which is portable;
that is, can be transported from place to
place in merchandise, clothing. baggage,
etc., the necessity for adopting some meas
ures for protection can scarcely be ques-
toned. Newly-arrived immigrants should
be under the surveillance Oh
the health authorities. The var
ious causes affecting public health,
as deficient drainage, cesspools accumula-
tions of filth Of every description, over
crowded and unventilated dwellings,, under
ground habitations, may to great extent
be removed by efficient sanitary measures.
1t is not enough to merely fumigate and dis
| infect dwellings where cholera exists; to be
! thorough, the removal of persons, in dis
tricts where, owing to auxiliary causes, the
epidemic is specially rife, should be rigidly
enforced by municipal authority. In those
cities which in the past have been visited
by cholera, it is generally agreed that by far
the most efficient means of combating il
consisted in house to house yisitatiOns un-
der an organized corps of physicians. Pub
lie announcements by handbillS, articles in
the newspapers, messages from the pulpit,
platform and through secret societies, fail
to accomplish the object. One or two
DoMI C1LIARY VISITS
daily at every house within the limits of the
epidemic is the most efficient plan. AL
ponds in the city containing surface water
should be drained or filled with earth.
A G
sewers should be rigidly carried out. The
natural habitat of the cholera germ is in
dampness, heat and darkness conditions
pre-eminently present in sewers. Conse-
quently light, cold and droness are moi
only inimical to their development, but &C
tually steriliZe them. Stagnant pools, the
favorite breeding place for all infectious dis
eases. and filth and purifying animal and
vegetable matter in the streets, which is the
very hot-bed of the germ, should be re-
moved. To the filthy condition of the
streets of Touion and Naples the late fear
full mortality from cholera must be largely
ascribed.
If cholera appears first cases should be
isolated and placed under the most favora-
bic hygienic conditions, and the entire
premises properly disinfected. We learn
that this cholera agitation in the East has
produced widespread fear of the expected
disease, and that nervous persons are in 9
panicky condition of mind, and families
are leaving the cities much earlier thar
usual.
While we believe 1t to be not only the
wisest plan, but our bounden duty to urge
as strongly as possible the need of setting
on foot in this city certain preventive meas.
urGS 1t should be understood that the prOf.
ability of any but a few sporadic cases APP
pearing in st. Paul this summer, is very
remote indeed. 1t should be remembered
that cholera is now in the third year Of its
travels from India, and its violence is wan
ing. While it is true that, owing to the
topography of this city, it's adaptability fol
drainage the drNnaSS of the clima ta liz