The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-12-28
PLAGUE OF
Hon the Dread Disease has Penetrated America
Several Times.

from the Pittsburgh Dispatch.
Asiatic cholera is an epidemic dis
ease of great virulence. 1t has been
known from a very remote period.
and has visited at one time or anoth-
er almost every country on the globe.
The first account published in detail
was in the first part Of the sixteenth
century. The disease seems to have
prevailed first in India, and the vari-
Jus epidemics in othes countries n
be traced as having been brought from
that country. The invasion OF India
by the Portuguese and atterward by
the English during the sixteenth CEN
fury served to introduce tine disease
into Europe. 1t again was
brought into Europe during the
eighteenth and the early part of the
nineteenth century by the English in
vasion OF India. In 1921 again pre-
vailed in Europe, and 1901 900 people
died from 1t during that year. 1t first
appeared in America during that
year (1S32) and vas brought here by n
French emigrant ship. which disem-,
barked along the st. Lawrence river
and spread the disease to the various
towns along the river and the great
lakes as far as Fort Dearborn, near
where Chicago now is. From thence
it spread as far as the Mississippi. In
the same year another ship brought it
to New York, and from thence it
spread southwark along the coast to
the gulf. and westward into the inte-
rior, along the course of the great high
ways OF travel.
1t first appeared in Pittsburgh in
1888. 1t next appeared in 1945, and
again in 1858. In 1865 it occurred
again, but had limited extent. and its
last appearance was in 1878, at which
time it did not prevail to any extent.
All the cases that have ever prevail
ed can be traced to pre-exlsting cases
OF cholera, proving that it does not
arise spontaneously, but is always
caused by pre-existing cases. This is
almost absolutely proved, and teaches
a lesson with regard to prevention of
the disease. What the specific conta-
gious material is that causes cholera
is a subject yet o. much investigation
and dispute. The Investigations of
NULL, vi LcCoIlO yt6iSJ "Oulu StCHl W
point toward g micro-organism as the
cause, an organism called the comma
bacillus. Yet this is not absolutely
proved. and in fact there are some
grave objections to the theory. This
organism Is found in great numbers in
the intestinal canal OF cholera pa
tients. and it is not found in patients
suffering from any otherdisease. Yet
these germs, when dried, die in q very
short time.
Now it has been proved that the
c%ontagion OF cholera has been carried
long distances and for spa ,es of time
in dry clothing and other n
Koch's theory, consequently, is not.
universally accepted. Some think
the disease is duo to O chemical COM
pound, which IS unstable. Cholera
prevails during warm weather, and is
most fatal in tropical climates. Cold
weather is almost sure to stop an cpl
demic. 1t undoubtedly effects it's en-
trance into the system through the ali
mentary canal-that is, stomach and
intestines-and does not enter through
the lungs, in all probability. Yet in
effect it is much the same, as the con-
tagious material often disseminated
by the atmosphere may lodge in the
mouth, and, being swallowed, III
the disease. It's origin can often be
traced also to water into which some
of the excretum of cholera patients
has gained access.
The prevention of this disease con-
sequently limits itselfdown to destruc-
tion OF the morbid product which pro-
duces it, and isolation OF those affect
ed with the disease to prevent its
spreading-the destruction of every
thing about these patients calculated
to retain the poison. The best meth
cd of doing this is by fire and disinfect-
ants.
We think that not only should the
clothing be burned, but also the bod
les of those who die Of the disease. |
The safety of the community at large
depends upon the thoroughness with
which this is done. Isolation of the
patients and prevention of the posi-
bility of carrying the disease by a
strict quarantine, both at seaport
and inland should be urged. The o0-
lection to quarantine is found in It's
interference with commerce, but the
interference, as q rule, affects only q
minority of people, and the rule that
few should suffer for the benefit of the
many should be applied here. Expe-
rience, the great educator, a taught
that the safety OF the masses depends
upon the efficiency OF the quarantine.
The symptoms OF the disease are
too well known to need repetition.
During the first part of an epidemic
the disease usually is more violent and
the mortality greater than later on,
the disease seeming to spend itself, to
wear itself out. In very severe cases
death may take place in a few hours.
dying from this disease is the contrac-
ton Of the muscles, which takes place
a few hours after death. II is some
times horrifying to those about the
body to thus see q dead man move.
A Mr.. Ward reports the following: al
say the eyes of my dead patient open
and 10 slowly in q downward di-
rection. This was followed, a minute
or two subsequently, by the move
menus of the right arm, previously
lying by the side. across the chest"
Another case is reported ofthe body
turning clear over by the Muscular
contractions On one side of the body.
In many cases OF cholera no treat
ment is OF avail. In tine less severe
forms it is of the utmost Importance
for the patient to have early treat
ment. DR.. Austin Flint attaches
great Importance to this, and says
that in an experience OF three epidem-
les, during which he attended hundreds
of cases, recovery was the rule if he
saw the patient early in the disease.