Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-07-21
COMBATING TIE CHOLERA

As the cholera is continuing its course
to the westwsr1 proper means Of combating
it are daily becoming more important. This
disease has never originated in America of
its own accord, no matter how bad the sani-
tary condition has been, but has been i'm
ported. II quarantine measures were abso-
lutely perfect, of course America need have
no fear of q visit from the plague. But no
system of inspection or quarantine has ever
proven adequate in all respects. Consul
Mason of Marseilles in his report says:
EVERY vessel from the port Of MsrseiIlss is
isbls if not likely to be infected despite
every precsution other officers and although
the most careful inspection may fail to dis
cover any flaw in her sanitary record
or present condition" 1t then remains
to fight the disease when it comes
to our shores, however great the efforts of
the United States Consuls are in preventing
the sailing of infected vessels. Indeed the
greatest danger may be from regions where
the Consuls do not know the cholera exists.
Whenever the disease breaks out in city it
is kept secret IS long IS possible. 1t ex-
listed in Marseilles for nearly year before
the fact was made public, and Spain denied
the existence Of the disease TIL she was
forced to admit the truth. The system Of
notification adopted by our Government
embraces "only vessels sailing from infected
ports or from ports in the vicinity Of infected
localities. From this il is easy to see the
risk. The August number of the North
American Review contains discussion on
the subject Of cholera by the eminent PhyG-
clans JoHS B. HAMILTON, JOIN Fl. RAUcH,
JoHS c. PErERs, II. c. WooD and
Gas. A. LEAtE. DR.. RAUca says
that the disease has always been intro
6ucsd by immigrants and that it is not
practicable to learn in advance what i'm
migrants are dangerous in this respect.
improvements in our quarantine methods
are urged, and the safety of this country
can only be assured BY enforcing thor
ouVh system of sanitary supervision over al
immigrant travel from the time of the ar
rival of the vessel in the roadstead to the set
Element Of the immigrant at his ultimate
point of destination" DR.. HAMILTON says
that the practice Of detention alone" at
quarantine is - delusion and snare.
The germs must be destroyed" To do this
I the vessel and all is cargo must be thor.
ouphIy disinEected Meanwhile it is urged
that all over the country the strietest sani-
tAry measures should be adopted
Every town should have an efficient
Board of Health. Dr.. LEALE says that
"neitber fright nor bad food, nor impure air
nor filth, nor the Vilest dissipation, cause
cholera" bat when the disease Is once in
troduced these things render the recovery Of
patients almost hopeless In case the dis
ease appears, certain sanitary and police
measures viii become necessary. They may
all be summarized in few words: munich
pal cleanliness, isolation of the sick, disin-
lection Of dejects and all things in proximity
with the sick" Especial attention should
be paid to having pure wstsr. United
States Consul FLErCHER, speaking of the
outbreak Of cholera at Genoa says: "Ex-
perts we're appointed to thoroughly invest.
gate the matter and their verdict Is that the
spread of the epidemic in all parts of the
city was caused By impure water" Who're
the disease becomes prevalent to
any great extent in q section it
Is almost impossible to keep the
water from becoming infected With the
germs Or. WooD says that %the person Who
lives ct home during . cholera epidemic