St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-25
THE COMING SCOURGE.
Preparing for the Coming Sanitary
Conference this Week.
Interviews With Prominent Physicians Rela-
tive to the Cholera Epidemic
Next Summer.

VculiOu IL is Tue OplulOu VI cLHiuSu1 auIhoi-
tiles in the medical profession, aud one that
has been confirmed by past experience with
this dread disease that cholera first starts in
the extremes of southern Europe and Asia
and travels northward, continuing its deci-
mating march almost around the
world. Heretofore when it has
reached the continent of Europe
as on last year it Immediately crossed the
Atlantic and reached America the year fol-
| lowing.
In view of the possibility of the scourge in
the United States in 1855, and of the proven
| tive measures to be discussed by the forth
coming conference the GLOBE has gone to
the trouble of ascertaining the views of several
eminent ST. Paul authorities on the subject
DIR. D. W. HANDS VIEWS.
The response to queries DR.. D. W. Hand,
the president of state board of health, said in
substance as follows:
''From present advices we have an almost
certain prospect of having cholera in this
country the coming season. The emigration
and travel setting so much this way it will be
wonderful if We do not have it introduced
among us in the northwest.
We all hope to have this spring, and with our
health officers alert to the necessity and means
of stamping out any local outbreak that may
occur, l do not think we need to fear any
extensive epidemic in this region.
| A sanitary conference, under the auspices
| of the state board of health, will be held in
st. Paul next Wednesday and Thursday, and
| 1t is hoped the best means OF preventing
| cholera, or checking its progress when once
| introduced, will then be discussed and i'm
| pressed upon the minds of health officers
| from all parts of the state.
The subject of diphtheria, which is TO US Of
vast aud immediate Importance, will also be
considered. This, in the northwest, is the
one subject of vital interest to all parents as
well as health officers.
DIR. S. D. FLAGG.
! DR.. Flagg, another eminent authority, on
being questioned, said that he thought
there was a decided probability of
our having cholera this year; there
was, lie said, strong probability of
a general epidemic of the dread disease,
his opinion being based on the fact that it
had started on its march in the regular way
and that it would reach this country in due
| time as on the occasion of former epidemics.
As the best means Uf preventing or mitigat-
| ing the ravages of the disease DR.. Fagg said
that the paramount consideration or factor
was thorough cleanliness of the persons first
and then stringent, civic and municipal regu-
lations; the course of the epidemic, he said,
was erratic, but in view Of the theories adj
yanced concerning its approach the people
of this country could not be too careful.
DIR. TALBOT JONES.
DR.. Talbot Jones, another eminent author
ity, on being questioned said:
| do not pretend to be a prophet, and I
| surely would not like to be regarded as an
| alarnist, but think there is great proba-
| bility Of our being brought face to face with
Asiatic cholera in this country next sum mer.
| During the last flfty-four years six distinct
| epidemics OF this scOurge have prevailed in
| Europe, and il is matter of history that each
of these epicemics have also visited the
United States. 1t is apparently the law of
] an epidemic of cholera To start in Bengal,
thence proceeding westward on its travel to
visit Europe, the United States, and after
| wards make the circuit of the globe inha5-
! tied by civilized nations. Cholera is again
in Europe, and II past experience during six
| cpidemics goes for aught, we may expect 1t
here the following summer.
hardly think it premature for YOU to agi-
| tate the subject at the present time. Indeed,
! this is already being done at other places.
| The numerous articles relating to the subject
in the secular press, the increased activity Of
| all state and local boards OF health,
aid the proclamation by the president
| in July last, have all tended 10
arouse even the most Indifferent to a realiz-
! ing sense of our impending danger Locally
| the special message by Mayor o Brien to the
1.
| since indicates that the matter is receiving
due attention here, and this will doubtless
be promoted by action of our state and local
| boards OF health at a sanitary conference to
be convened in this city ON the 2Sth inst. II
| public sentiment could be sufficiently
aroused upon this question, the subject IT.
self presented clearly and dispassionately
and concerted action taken whereby our
| state and local boards Of health would remedy
| certain radical defects known to exist here,
| even though we should escape a cholera cpl
/ demic the general sickness rate would be
| greatly diminished in this city and the NOR
/ tality prOportOnatcly lowered. BY actual
statistics il is shown that every cholera agita-
| ton IN New York city effects reforms in
/ tenement houses, sanitation, unhealthy
! trades, etc, in spite OF the protests Of citi-
| zeus, which diminishes permanently the
sickness and death rate Of the poor fully
! 8 per cent; and one Of our best
authorities there declares, as n result Of these
sanitary clesnsiugs, that if.they could always
/ live in the immediate apprehension OF an
! epidemic of cholera, New York would be the
/ heaithiest city in the world II thus becomes
apparent that great epidemics are 10y no
/ means unmitigated evils. / do not hazard
| an opinion as TO whether or not cholera will
/ visit this city during the next six months,
| but il Is highly significant fact that il has
! prevailed here twice in the past. when 1t WAS
| elsewhere in the country. 81. Paul is now
( rather densely popu ated, is the natural gate
way 10 the northwest of large number Of
! immigrants coming directly from various
/ ports IN Europe, aud is also the landing
I place Of steam boats from the south. A foot
/ hold once gained on our shores Il is reason
/ able to think cholera might be brought 10 our
city by emigrants or boat
/ II Is difficult 20 answer your question. what
/ Is cholera. The subject is very Omplex.
! The researches OF Dr. Koch, Of Berlin. seems
/ to render il highly probable that the essence
! OF the disease, II no; the disease Itself, Is a
minute. microscopical organism which from
/ is resemblance In shape TO the comma used
I'm printing, he calls the cOmma-bacillus.
/ After a thorough study Of this subject in In
dis. Egypt and elsewhere, where he made
more than hundred agtopsies Of those dead
! OF the cholera, he Invariably found these
bacillus In the blood aud tissues Of cholera
subjects. Their inTaria6le absence in the
blood and tissues Of persons sick Of any other
disease, or in the well subject, has led him
10 the conclusion that they are the ultimate
cause Of cholera These bacili OF cholera
! have been isolated aud successfully cuItiva-
ted outside Of the body and wien inocuisted
10 the dog, gulnea-pig or other Of the lover
order Of animals. they speedily die Of ali the
| sym D,nms % cholera