Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-21
As1ATIC CHOLERA.


That the disease came fr0m ASA some
three or four centuries ago, that IL ragged
in London two centuries ago. that along
about 100 years ago in Japan similar
disease ragged, ana that in 1917 and for
some years after India was devastated are
familiar facts. From Bengal TO Madras,
from Ceylon's isle to the other isles of
the sea, from China to the Persian gulf,
to the shores OF the Caspian, TO AstTak-
han, Orenbrg and Moscow, and so on
by st. Petersburg, Dantzic, Berlin and
Hamburg, to England, the disease took
its way. In June, 1882, only year after
reaching England, it appeared in New
York. For two or three years it prevailed
with more or less violence in this country,
and then dropped out of sight and mind.
In 1S47 it again started from India. In
the spring Of 1913 il reached European
cities, and rapidly moved to New York
and New Orleans. AT the former Amer
lean city 1t was checked by quarantine,
but in New Orleans, the weather being
very hot and other things favorable for
its reception and propagation cases null
tiplied rapidly, and soon it had extended
into Texas and up the Mississippi TO Mem
phis. The next year dS49) following its
appearance in Europe, it broke out in New
York, Philadelphia and many other
places on the Atlantic coast. Starting
afresh in New Orleans, it overspread the
valley of the Mississippi, took up its
habitation with those who were toiling
over the plains toward the land of gold,
and did not from there entirely depart.
For half-dozen years there were occa-
si0nal cases on the shores of the Pacific,
but along some twenty years ago the
cholera took q new start from the east.
It struck Mecca in 1855 and the pill
grims were its food. The city has 40.
600 inhabitants, with an annual influx of
100, 900 to loo, 900 pilgrims, who stay a
week or month. So things 90 on until
last August the disease broke out in Ma
Piles. On the 18th day of September
there were $50 deaths. This was the
eliminating point. There was the usual
subsistence, but now the winter and
spring have passed, it breaks out again
and threatens this side OF the Atlantic.
DR.. Bartlett, from whose rapid review
these facts have been drawn. thinks the
history of the past makes it probable
that we shall have disease in this coun-
try this year, and he asks these pertinent
questions:
What has actually been done in any
city, town or village to meet such an
emergency Are there hospitals ready
for the reception of patients9 If one
case occurs, it is the source from which
there will arise many, unless active
measures are adopted to prevent it.
There is disposition not to report such
hn
sary arrangements been made for
details for disinfecting provided foi 2
Are the people thoroughly instructed as
to the measures they must adopt TO rem
der the spread of the disease impossiblei
Are the authorities Of cities, towns and
villages taking active measures to cause
the removal of all filth and disease breed
ing material, which is the favorite habi-
tat of the cholera germ2 We say the au-
thorities of towns and villages, because
facts prove in many places there is much
more carelessness in regard to drainage
and the purity of water supply in the
rural districts than in cities D
1t was only on the Goth of July last
that Professor Koch gave to his asso-
ciates in Berlin the results of his investi-
cations of the disease in Egypt, Calcutta
and Toulon, and affirmed that q little
organism shaped like like comma {, J,
so small as to be seen only with q high
power under the microscope, was the es-
sential cause of the terrible pestilence.
Soon after two Swiss physicians, Rietsch
and Nicati, in the laboratory of the
Pharo hospital at Marseilles, successfully
inoculated number of guinea pigs, dogs,
and rats with cholera microbes, and
within two days the guinea pigs died,
after having exhibited the symptoms of
cholera as seen in human beings: the
dogs died in about four days after inoc-
ulation, having exhibited the same symp-
toms. Koch's experiments in India
showed wateT-tanks to contain an
Astounding supply Of the comma bacillus,
and it was FROM these tanks
the people had obtained their
water just before an outbreak of
the disease. So, admitting, rs scientific
men do, that the germ theory Of the
origin Of the disease is correct, the ex-
PLANTATION Of its propagation is simple.
The germs arc living organisms, trans
ported easily from place to place, whose
growth is favored by moisture, so that
they iind water tho best medium of
transit.
Among the assisting causes, DR.. Bart
lett mentions fear first. Panic is a pow
erful auxiliary in circumstances like
those which may occur. Any frightened
person presents tho first symptoms of
cholera, and this serves also, as the books
show. 70 spread the disease: q person
breads an attack. and to avoid it, leaves
the place where the epidemic is prevail.
ing, with him go the germs Of the dis.
ease, they find Judgment in the material
favorable for their development, and in
little time cholera appears in that place.
Another cause is any impairment oil
health which tends to weaken the vita
faculties, whether it be over .exertion,
disarraDgcment Of the digestive organs
chronic disease or debility from exposur.
or excess. Bad drainage is an ally o.
cholera. Filth in the shape of decayine
sssl n