Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-21
THE CHOLERA IN LONDON.
A Case Pronounced to BE the Tru
Asiatic Disease.

Twenty London physicians declare that Rob-
ert Leigh is sick in that city with the terrible
Asiatic cholera Yesterday the New York Her.
aid correspondent interviewed Leigh. Yes, "
answered Leigh to q question, II put on differ
ent clothes tho day landed here. The coat
and trousers bought in London, but some OF
the undergarments had brought with me from
India No. had not worn them on shipboard
in fact, never had worn them. The flannel
shirt put on Monday morning was one had
got in Hong Kong"
In view of this statement it is easy to under
stand how the cholera germs may have been
carried from India, dormant in the sailors I'M
used clothing, only to break out when the in
fected garments were put on. Leigh went on
doctor thinks that in few days he will be out
of danger. Mind added the latter,
cautiously, Il say he will probably be out of
danger but there may come a relapse which
would carry him off like q shot. Asiatic
cholera, you know, is q disease you can never
just as well you got out Of this room. You are
the only person except a physician who has
seen this man since he was brought here
took u farewell look at Leigh before with
drawing and cannot say that he struck ME as a
very agreeable spectacle. His eyes we're sunken
ana very bright; his face, bronzod by exposure
was drawn and haggard and his skin was as
dry as parchment. The sick man is of medium
size, intelligent looking and about forty years
Of age.
why should an outsider catch the disease
any more than a physician inquired when
we had passed into the adjoining room of the
hospital.
Because physicians know better how to take
precautions against it."
What are those precautions"
IDn1I 70 xhnx -
passes from the patient is thoroughly disin-
fected, and secondly, to have no fear"
do you think, sir, that this man may have
spread the germs OF the cholera before he en-
tered the hospital?"
"Cnquestionably You see, he was wander
ing about all day Monday wherever he pleased,
and he was at that time quite capable of con-
terminating others. II Is very possible, how
ever, that the sanitary measures which have
been taken since may be sufficient to extermi-
nate the cholera virus which Leigh, 80 to
speak, put into circulation"
Then there il no doubt about his being a
genuine case Of Asiatic choleraf''
Not the slightest Our visiting surgeon has
had thousands OF cases to treat during previous
epidemlcs, and he says it is Enthusiastically Ash
atlc cholera ana OF most malignant form"
Leaving the hospital / visited the BRITANNIA
coffee house In Whitechapel, where Leigh put
up on landing from the steamer Sunday night.
The proprietor, Thomas Still. conducted me
up two flights of stairs to little room. where
the sailor had passed two nights. Workmen
were ripping off the wall paper and dlsinfect-
ing everything
Here's where he slept sir, and healthier
looking man never saw. He was allus the
first one up Of a morning, and he ate like a
horse"
went down to the Victoria docks. where the
| steamer Duke Of Argyle was lying / asked the
first officer about the case and he poohed-
poohed the whole story. declaring that Leigh
no more had Asiatic cholera than he had.
why" he exclaimed these London doc
tors don't know what Asiatic cholera is and
after ALL why should they? We do. though.
don't wo captain" turning to hearty-lookinp
seaman standinanear Capt. Miller of the CITY Of
| Oxford, another steamer just in from Calcutta
We'll, rather" answered the latter. I've
seen a man eating his breakfast in perfect
health at o'clock. seized at 10, dead at 3 and
buried at s. That's what l call Asiatic chol.
| era"
just then Marine Inspector Scott came uu
| and joining the talk, expressed the most posi-.
| tive opinion that Leigh never had had a shadow
| vi real Asiatic cholera.
| Hes fallen i'll because he has no lungs
and no constitution" he said, land has con.
| tracted in India diseases about az bad as chol.
era. Anyhow, that's my opinion"
| statistics show that cases Of English cholera
| have been more numerous than usual in Lon.
don during the past two weeks and the deaths
| from diarreGa have numbered 262 a week
! against an average of 236. The same return,
| show l2S deaths per week in London above tho
| average deaths OF the same week for ten wear,
past. This NAV or NAV not be significant