The record-union., 1891-09-17
THE NUISANCE AT MECCA.

The New York Medical Record de-
mands the setting on foot Of new cru
sade. We are strongly inclined to second
its suggestion. The idea is that civilized
nations should enforce better sanitary
conditions in Mecca and along the routes
OF the annual pilgrimage to it. When
ever the pilgrimage begins the ogre OF
Cholera rouses from his lair and begins
to scatter death and woe broadcast. AT
Mecca, where sanitary conditions are
wretched, the pest is most virulent. The
city becomes the foulest of cholera breed
ing spots, and sends out the plague to the
four corners of the eastern hemisphere.
We are told that this year the cholera is
worse at Mecca than ever before. 1t ap-
peared there July 18th simultaneously
with the festival of Kurbun-B -Bairam. In
fact the very first caravan of pilgrims
brought in the disease, three deaths be-
ing reported in it the day of its arrival.
The cases increased with each day until
on the fifth day 100 and on the sixth $50
were down with the plague.
1t appears that it is devout ceremonial
on arriving at Mecca to drink zem-zeno,
or holy water, which is believed to be
fairly pureiculture of the comma bacillus.
Bottles of this water are also carried away
by returning pilgrims. Through the
table-lands of Asia Minor the disease is
now epidemic. In Northern Africa the
scourge is vicious, and in Northern Syria
its ravages are frightful. The Medical
Record says:
The public concern is increased by the
knowledge of the total inadeuuacy of the sani-
tary measures of the Turkish authorities.
That the Turks are most anxious to keep the
disease out of their European territories can
not be doubted; but the executive authorities,
10 whom all the measures proposed by the In
ternational Sanitary Board are intrusted, are
SO little to be relied upon that neither the
different cordonS in Arabia nor the numerous
quarantine stations that have been estab-
llShed are of any avail in checking the pro-
gress of the epidemic. The sanitary condition
OF Mecca Is simply shocking. but no Christian
is allowed to enter the Sacred City, and the
ignorance and fanaticism of the Mohamme-
dams prevent any effective sanitary control
by the local authorities. Burton tells US
little of what the condition of things there was
ut the time of his visit, and il is not likely that
Improvement mas taken place since. He
tells OF the sacrifices at Muna, when five or
six thousand animals are slam and their
bodies allowed 10 putrety in the heat not the
slightest effort being taken to cover them
with earth. OF course IL would Ee simple
matter to inter all these bodies in holes or
trenches, but as Burton says, "the spirit Of
III Islam is opposed to these precautions Of
common sense. AT Mecca, the headquarters
of the faith, a desolating attack OF cholera is
preferred TO the impiety OF flying in the face
ofProvidence,' and the folly of endeavoring
TO arrest inevitable DEGREES"
Europe is now threatened with an in
vasion of cholera; winter may suspend it.,
lift does not determine before that. But
cold does not kill the cholera germ; it
will awaken to vitality with the summer
of 1892, and this knowledge accounts for
the great concern now felt in Austria
about it.
Now tss Turkish Government cannot
and viii not do anything to prevent this
annual cultivation of the cholera. The
question then is, Have the rest of the
world any rights in the premises? They
certainly have. They can and ought to
compel the Turk to enforce sanitary reg
ulations among the pilgrims and in the
city of Mecca. The Turk has no moro
right to maintain nuisance that breeds
death for other peoples than A has to
maintain a death-dealing nuisance on his
premises to the injury of his neighbor b.
Now Mecca is the distributing center for
cholera. 1t begins there and from that
point it is scattered far and near. The
nations certainly have the moral and
should exercise the physical right to
compel the Turk to reform Mecca. If it
involves reformation of some of the su-
perstitions of Mohammedism no matter.
The religion should not be interfered
with; let it enjoy its superstitions, but
these must not be INDUCED in to the de-
struction of others.