Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-24


porary, made from time TO time to tide over
the present eSigency.
Quarantine alone will not do it, rs it is
n dclusion and n snare. lie says;
Modern quaran,nes are inspection stations,
where the application of gcrmacides may bo
made most safely and efficaciously. Smul.
taneousIy with the crystalizatiou of medical
thought upon the truth OF the germ theory OF
contagion. there has come-not less in the in
terest OF commerce than of scence-a demand
tor the more speedy and efectial application
OF germacide; for the more speedy dcstruc-
ton Of the germs, the earlier the release Of
the vessel, and her restoration to the carrying
trade fleet.
DIR. Rauch says thatit is "an uudisputcd
fact that Asiatic cholera never originates
on this side of the Atlantic. For us the
disease is a foreign enemy which, by in
ternational comfy, should be prevented
through the good Offices of friendly pow
ers, from attacking us"
Doctor Peter says; "The disease always
prevails for one or more years in Europe
before it appears in this country so that
there is always an abundance of time to
prepare for it. 1t has always come in
ships, on board which the pcstlcnce has
already broken out at sea"
Dr. Wood seems to accept without argu-
meut the theory which gives the East
Indies as the endemic home of cholera;
and he introduces his contribution with
the simple statement In the space al
lotted to me | shall consider the question
how to avoid the cholera if it overleaps
the feeble barriers of North American
quarantine.
Lastly, DR.. Leale says, after brief
statement tracing the cause Of the epi-
demic now following the shores Of the
Mediterranean in Spain, and giving Stats
tics of the number of its victims, that
such violence indicates that this rcsem-
bles previous epidemiCs, which have gen
| orally ended in America after having
passed to the Rocky Mountains or the
Andes. Each time, in its course from
India, the disease has proved fatal to more
than million people
From these facts and suggestions the
Toledo Commercial Telegram concludes,
as follows:
II appears, therefore from the convictions
of these five experts, that cholera has its
home in India and that a perfect system of
quarantine would chain it within the country
OF its birth; that it is never endemic in Amer
zen; aud that perfect system of quarantine
against it would exclude cholera from ever
entering the United States.
Failing in such precautions, there is moth
ing left to US but to fight the monster on our
own ground The use of quarantine is only
reliable in cases where gcrmicides have
been injected into every infected rag OF
clothing and every particle of impure air.
The chief rules for treatment are very
simple. They import absolute cleanli-
ing. Fruits are not peculiarly obnoxious, as
is too often supposed. Simple ripe fruit
in season. il easily digestible, is better than
any other diet which is not figestible DR..
Peters says emphatically, "No amount OF i'm
pure water will cause true Asiatic cholera,
unless the germs OF the disease have already got
into it. But contaminated and polluted water
will render the cases of Asia,C cholera hope
less" Again: "No imprudcnce in diet alone
will cause Asiatic cholera, unless some of
the articles have been handledby those already
suffering from the disease, and then a piece
of bread will be as dangerous as an apple" The
utmost stress is laid upon the care of the
discharges, which must be thoroughly treated
with disinfectants and germicides, aud not
under any circumstances be allowed to reach
any water course or sewer pipe. The primary
colored discharges are Just as inyeCtyo as the
later, more characteristic ones.
Ice is not only not prohibited, but is rec
commended, as containing pure water, gath
cred at seasons and places not affected.
We close with the three rules quoted by
DR.. Leale, which seem to cover the whole
ground of preventive measures:
|. Cleanl mss Ia all thi g}-the streets, the
home, and the person. Keep the cellars,
zion. For the person n daily BATH also n
wash OF the face, hands, teeth and mouth
after each meal.
2. Proper clothing, easily fitting and com
Portable. 1t is better to have too much than
too little. A broad flannel band around the
abdomen, worn day and night, will be use
iul
3. Temperance in all things with gen.
erous diet Of all wholesome articles fish,
meat, vegetables, and clean, ripe, scasonasle
fruit, with extras to proper degree. II any
article is known To disagree with you, avoid
it, DO not eat or drink indiscriminately be-
tween meals, and if any distress is caused by
improper substances in the stomach reject
them at once.
In connection with this we may add that
there has just been issued from the gov
crnment printing Office, in Washington.
a new volume OF United States Consular
Reports, entitled Cholera in Europe in
1884," and that copies Of this very
valuable work can be obtained by
those who wish it, through General Keifer,
we presume. Among the reports made
was one from Consul General Frank H..
Mason, formerly of the Cleveland Leader,
who was at Marseilles, whose conclusions
concerning the facts Of the prevalence of
the plague in the city named are as lo-
lows:
Some OF these results were as follows: The
fact that there WAS n notable absence OF ozone
in the atmosphere during the epidemic, and
that the death rate in hospitals was largely
diminished by the introduction OF arti-