The morning call., 1890-10-16
AGAINST CHOLERA.

DR.. Beverley Cole informed the State
Board of Health on Monday evening that the
machinery for disinfecting ships arriving
from ports where epidemicS are raging is
now complete, and that the process of fumi-
cation may be completed in from twenty
four to forty-eight hours. The arrangements
for diSinfeeting cargoes and baggage have
not yet been completed, and couple OF
weeks will elapse before they are. We hope
the proper authorities realize the response
bility which devolves on them. Cholera IS
raging with severity in Japan, one-halt the
cases terminating fatally. The germs OF the
disease are almost sure to be brought to this
Coast in the baggage of passengers, or pack
ages of merchandise shipped at infected
centers. Every days delay adds 10 the dan
ger in which we stand.
An opinion has prevailed in many quar-
tiers that cholera as an epidemic has about
run its course, and this notion derived sort
of inferential confirmation from the fact
that the disease appeared to be travelling
from west to east, instead of from east to
west, as formerly. But there are no scien-
tifc grounds for indorsing this comfortable
belief. The first epidemic of cholera which
attracted the attention of the Christian
world was that of 1892 But there is every
reason to believe that it had frequently been
epidemic in India before that date perhaps
throughout its history, which antedates
Christianity. Wherever mass of decaying
vegetable matter on low, swampy lands is
exposed to the rays of the tropical sun. and
the neighbOrhood is inhabited by dense
population ignorant of the laws of hygiene,
and improperly fed, cholera in some form or
otbar ic a, in IN hraoly If nsf
always be remembered that the line of de-
narration between what the doctors call
simple cholera and Asiatic cholera is narrow
and sometimes difficult 10 trace.
There is one comfort for us. No imported
epidemic can long flourish unless it be sup
piled with its normal food. If the conditions
of its existence are wanting it will die out even
without repressive action. Now here in San
Francisco the conditions which are favorable
for the spread of cholera are not plentiful.
We have neither swamps in which vegetable
matter decays, nor tropical sun which gen.
crates malarial exhalations, nor the degree
of heat which seems required to cause the
bacilli of cholera to thrive. Our city is
dry, is supplied with natural drainage down
the slopes into the bay, is swept by constant
cool winds and rarely suffers from extremes
of heat. Into such locality cholera may
be brought and it may make some victims,
rs it has at intervals in the past. But 1t Will
soon die out if we exercise proper care.
These, however, constitute no reason why
we should neglect to barricade against the
epidemic. Modern systems of quarantine, il
honestly carried out, constitute barrier to
the entrance of the disease ard they are free
from the objections which rendered the
quarantine system of the last century so in
tolerable. No traveller can reasonably COM
plain of delay which will not exceed few
days and trade is not seriously injured by
the disinfeeting of vessels and cargOes, so
long as the process is not tedious.
1t would be agreeable to learn that Japan,
which may be regarded as the outpost of our
trade with the Orient, was awakening to the
necessity Of adopting modern systems of
sanitation and of battling with epidemics on
its own soil. That will doubtless COME by
and by. In the meantime we must look out
for ourselves.