Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-07-06
PLAGUR o. CHOrNRA.

As4aluAC CuDtGEs4 IS an 0JLtloGLlAG 4AsF
ease of great virulence. It has bean
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-
Gus epidenics in othes countries can
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
tury served TO introduce the 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 1S92it again pre-
vailed In Europe, and 100, 900 people
died from 1t during that year. 1t first
appeared In America during that
year 1882 and was brought here by q
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 il
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 lS45, and
again in 1853. In 1865 it occurred
Irgv& h-z ea1 sAsl
last appearance was in 1873, at which
time it did not prevail to any extent
All the cases that have ever prevail
ed can be traced to pre-exIsting 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 ContG-
giOus material is that causes cholera
is a subject yet OF much investigation
and dispute. The investigations Of
Koch, OF recent years, would seem TO
point toward q 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 Othsrdisease. Yet
these germs, when dried, die in g very
short time.
Now it has been proved that the
contagion OF cholera has been carried
long distances and for spaces of time
IN dry clothing and other manners
! KOch's theory, consequently, is not
/ universally accepted. Some think
! the disease is due to e 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. It undoubtedly effects its en-
! trance into the system through the ali
! mentary canRl-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, cause
/ the disease. Its origin can often be
traced also to water into which some
/ OF the excre tum of cholera patients
! has gained access.
The prevention OF this disease con-
sequently limits itself down to destruc-
ton of the morbid product which pro-
{ OuCC5 H. anu l5OiulLOL4 u LllOS0 aA4CCD-
/ ed with the disease to prevent it's
/ 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-
/ biity of carrying the disease by a
! strict quarantine, both at seaport
/ and inland should be urged. The OBJ
| lection to quarantine is found in it's
/ interference with commerce, but the
interference, as rule, affects only a,
! 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, has taught
/ that the safety OF the masses depends
/ upon the efficiency OF the quarantine.
The symptoms of the disease are
/ too we'll 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
/ One popularity noticed about persons
! dying from this disease is the cOntrac-
/ ton of the muscles, which takes place
q few hours after death. Il is some
! times horrifying to those about the
/ body to thus see a dead man move.
/ A Mr.. Ward reports the following: 81
saw the eyes Of my dead patient open
| and move slowly In a downward de
/ 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