Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-28
CAN CHOLERA BE AvERTED

In the North american Rerielg for Au-
gust Dr. John B. Hamilton, of the marine
hospital service, Dr. John II. Rauch, DR..
John C. Peters DR.. H. c. Wood and Dir.
Charles A. Leale, debate the question,
-" Can Cholera be Averted?7 To epitomize
their ESSAYS would be too extended in re-
suit for ordinary reading. DR.. Hamilton
declares that the old doctrine of detention
at quarantine, with its barbarous and cruel
exaetions, has gone to the limbo of ex-
ploded dogmas, for it is established that
the morhifc properties of the poison Of
cholera elections may be preserved
for an indefinite period if the matter
is dried during the period of bacteria in
cubation, or of infection matter dried dur
ing the period of activity. The dried par
tieles of cholera poison may be carried in
clothing, bedding, etc. to any distance,
and when liberated may find their way di-
rect to the alimentary canal through the
medium Of the air. So Dr. Hamilton
holds the practice of detention to be de-
fusion and a snare, and that the germs
must be absolutely destroyed. This may
be done by the speedy application Of
germic'des. The President of the Board
of Health Of Louisiana was the first to test
the efficacy Of the new theory. He takes
all the baggage and all the passengers at
once from the ship to a room, where pow
erful disiufection IS applied, and all fabrics
submitted to boiling water and the hot
iron The clothing worn is exchanged for
other already treated, and this in turn is
disiniectcd Meanwhile the ship has
been clcan-ed and disinfected. The pas
seugers are detained the prescribed time
The di,iufection Of a ship is done 10y
means of hose, hot water and powerful
germicidal ea~c-, driven by a fan into
every part Of the ship. The decks are
treated with hichloridc of mercury, the
most powerful and unsparing germi-
cidal agent known. Dr. Hamilton calls
attention % the fact that Congress
has not provided for the proper equipment
Of our quarantine stations for resistance Of
entry Of the germs. He urges municipal
cleanliness, isolation Of the sick, disinfec-
iion Of dejec,a and the thorough disinfec-
ton or destruction Of all organic filth in
cities, whether iouqd in the ground or in
the water supply. Every city should pro-
vide for the most careful inspection Of all
houses, streets, alleys and by-ways, mar
kets, etc, and for frequent chemical and
microscopic examination Of the water, and
if cholera breaks out, special hospitals and
laundries must be provided, and he dead
should be srsaatcd As to incubation, the
facts thus far developed by experiment do
not prove its efficacy One attack by
cholera really predispoSes the person to a
second.
DIR. Rauch holds that as cholera never
originates in America one can guard
against 1t by rigid and thorough sanitary
supervision over immigrant travel on ar
rival in the roadstead, at the point of land
ing, and at the point of ultimate destina-
ton. He would detain ships long enough
to establish perfect sanitary condition in
her, and every thing on or about the ship,
and no person Of the ship should be re-
leased until every possible disinfectionary
precaution has been exhausted. He he
lieves 10 thorough quarantine of observa-
ton and sanitation, and has no sympathy
with the iaisses.iajre policy that condemns
quarantine. He believes in quarantine at
State boundary lines, house TO house inspec-
lion, public and private, and especial efforts
for the sanitation of water supplies, the
emptying and disinfection of all vaults,
and the draining off and disinfection of all
stagnant waters. Isolation of patients and
the surveillance of all persons related to
the house infected is insisted upon.
DR.. Peters says cholera always comes to
MS in ships, and always gives us, by its
prior appearance in Europe, one or two
years for preparation. Cholera discharges