Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-19
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Decision Rendered Relating to Boun.
ties-The Cholera Scourge in Europe
Dying Out.
WASHINGTON. Oct. L..

NASHlNGroN, Oct. Ia.
Second Comptroller Maynard has made a
decision in the case of Maj. L. Middleton,
late fireman, U. S. NJ, that upon the dis
charge of claimant, the government cannot
retain any part of the local bounty received
at the time of enlistment. Middleton enlisted
in August, 1864, for two years, and received
$500 bounty from the town to which he was
credited. He was discharged in August, 1865,
because the government no longer required
his services. When paid off, the pavmsster
deducted from his paw $3.50, being one-half
of the local bounty received. The comptroller
holds that this deduction was unauthorized
by law that the local bounty of the claimant
belonged to him by virtue of the contract
made with the municipality paying it, and
that the United States could not lawfully
appropriate any part of it to its own use.
The final report, dated Oct. /. describing
the gradual subsidence of cholera at Toulon
and Marseilles, has been received bv the
Secretary of State from U. S. Consul Frank
II. Mason. The most fatal day at Marseilles
was the 2lst of August, with n death record
of 90 that of Toulon the 27th of August
when the death rate reached AZ. The subsi-
dence of the scourge has been gradual and
the deaths now occurring are nearly all
among fugitives who have returned to their
homes without due precautions in respect to
ventilation and disiniection. or have been
imprudent in their diet or in their habits
The epidemic of 1885 had claimed in Mar
settles, from the outbreak to the date of the
report, 1880 victims. Assuming that this
dispatch will be the last one of the series,
Mason says retrospectively Its pleasure
to be able to close the record of this epidemic
without including among its victims the name
of any citizen of the United States. This is
more gratifying as that malady was particu-
larly in its earlier stages, peculiarly fatal to
foreigners, notably English and Scandina-
vians. The few American families
who reside here are mostly in cir
cumstances which enable them to
spend the hot months away from the city
Two American vessels were in port during
the most fatal stage of the epidemic. Their
captains were informed of the exact sanitary
condition of the port and were cautioned as
to the diet of their men. They were also
provided with a formula of the remedy TO be
used Immediately in all cases of diarrhGe or
choleric attacks. Both vessels, after dis
charging their cargoes here, went to Hyeres
small port near Toulon, where they loaded
with salt for Boston and New York. While
here and at Hyeres, there were in all, in both
vessels, nine cases, including both captains,
of acute choleric diarrh9a. One of these
masters was selzed during the night while
his vessel was moored in the worst part of
the port, with all the symptoms of Asiatic
cholera. He used the remedy, called no
physician, and two days afterwards the vessel
cleared for Hyeres. All the cases on both
ships were similarly treated and all survived
The usual result of the experience is
to inculcate the extreme diffidence with
reference to the many alleged specifics for
cholera, There are circumstances under
which all remedies seem alike powerless and
ineffective. but if the experience of the past
summer can add thereaputic suggestion
to what has been said in previous reports of
this series it would be to recommend rem
edy which was used in the case of these
American captains and their crews 1t is a
prescription of the lamented Dr. Valentine
Molt OF New York, one of the foremost ply
sclans OF our country, and was used by his
son during the pestilence of 1884 at Toulon
with extraordinary results. Its formula is
Tincture of rhubarb, ten parts; laudanum,
four parts; syrup of bitter orange peel fifty
parts; syrup of ether, fifty parts camphor,
one-half part; one teaspoonful in little
water and repeat until the symptoms cease.
If cannot be said that the epidemic of thi.
year has been futile in scientific results
Little comparatively has been done either
here or at Toulon in the direction of expert
ment or scientific inquiry.