Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-04-19
To the Citizens of Mir eral Pofnt t.

importance of strict and prompt
sanitary measures necessary for our
public health, l will give the follow
ing extract from the report of the
State Board of Health, and as the
horror of this deadly visitor is still
fresh in the minds of many of our
old inhabitants, | have no doubt but
that immediate steps will be taken
by all to put our city in its health
lest condition:
A wARNING-CHoLERA
Some thing has already been said
concerning this disease and the
prospects of its reaching Wisconsin,
in connection with the reports of the
occurrance of diarrhoea, dysentery,
etc, but in view of the fact that
cholera has already actually been
brought to this country recently,
some information with regard to the
disease and the outlook seems prop
er in this connection.
The facts with respect to Asiatic
cholera appear to be as follows;
Two vessels, on board of which
cholera unquestionably existed at
the time of their arrival, or had oc-
Cured during the course of their
passage, reached New York in Sep
tember and October. The passen-
gers by these vessels, the Alesia ard
Britannica, were detained by the
quarantine authorities Of New York
and sent to Hoffman and Swinburn
islands, where subsequently other
cases of the disease were developed
among them. At n somewhat later
date third steamer arrived, the In
dependent, having, according to the
New York authorities, Il clean bill
of health, and with no cases of
sickness of any kind on board.
And still fourth ship from Med
iterranean ports, the Powhattan,
reached the same port and was suf-
fered to land her passengers after
examination.
Concerning this last vessel no
controversy has arisen, so far as !
am informed, but it has been said
both of her and the Independent
that the examination to which they
were subjected was of very cursory
character. The Independent, it is
said, touched at Palermo, a city in
which many cases of cholera existed
at the time of her landing there,
and took on board a number of pas
sengers at that place. 1t is said,
moreover, that some of these people
having passed quarantine at New
York went directly to Chicago,
where they were traced out by the
health commissioner of that city,
and their baggage was carefully
disinfected under his directions. 1t
is also reported that a party from
the same ship was found in Phila-
delphia, where It's members were
taken in hand by the health author
ities of the city.
Many serious deficiencies were
noted, both in the arrangement and
management of quarantine statutes,
but that which we in Wisconsin are
chiefly concerned, is briefly stated
as follows:
"Your committee feels called up
on to comment upon the absence OF
an adequate force Of watchmen,
patrolmen and attendants. As a con
sequence of these defects Of organ
ization, the well recognized require
ments Of a quarantine of obserya-
ton could not possibly be fulfilled.
The possibility Of occasional clan
destine communication between the
detained emlgrants and their friends
| by means of small boats, constitutes
danger 10 the country difficult to
estimate, and against which, so far
as we could learn, there was no
| precautions.
To lay the simple statement Of
these facts before physicians who
are In possession of modern knowl
edge concerning the nature, cause,
mode Of production, and means Of
| prevention of such a yiruIentIy in
| fectious disease as Asiatic cholera,
is to prove beyond doubt or ration
al dispute that the present qparan.
tine, as q safeguard at the ports un-
der consideration, is essentially and
dangerously imperfect
not to speak Of the dan
ger tnattbreatens the whole country.
The suffering, exposure and loss OF
/ life that have occurred among the
passengers OF" the Alesia
have been due 70 the imperfect man
ner in which the measures OF quar-
autine haxe been carried out.
Il will thus appear chat the danger
/ Of introduction Of Aiatic cholera
into Wisconsin is by no means
triHing one, or to De overlooked or
sighted 81 our local health author
ities, and il is with them that the
responsibility Of preparation chiefly