New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-10
THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC.

THE fhULEHA ~ fD'."fN'
The cholera epidemic in Western Asia con-
tinues. 1t is raging in the northern part OF
Persia in the trans Caspian Province OF the
Russian Empire. and on the Asian slopes of
the Caucasus. Baku, an important port on
the western shore of the Caspian sea, is al
nicted with il and that port is closely con-
nectcd by steamships and by railroad with
all the Caspian and Black sea ports OF Eu-
ropean Russia. suspension of commerce on
the Caspian Sea has been ordered and I'M
usual quarantine regulations will be enforced.
Rut these precautions come too late. The
cholera has already made its appearance in
Euroncan Russia, in the valley of the Volga,
and will doubtless spread widely there. The
southern provinces of Russia. with their pesti-
lential climate, their utterly inadequate SANTA
tion. and above all, with the terrible raVages
of famine and typhus fever upon them' ohcf
too easy a conquest for the Indian plague 10
pass them by. The fact that the RUSSIAN
Government las prohibited the publication
Of news of the cholera is most ominous. ouch
4 prohibition would not be decreed were thcie
not serious news thus to be suppressed
There is slight danger, however, of bad
outbreak of the disease in Europe, elsewhere
than in Russia. The military Gordon along
tho German and Austrian frontiers VIII prove
efficient in the work of quarantine. and Will
shut out the plague in that direction. some
ascs of cholera have occurred in Paris but
they we're of local origin and were IN no way
connected with the Eastern epidemic ana there
is no reasonable danger of their number pchg
greatly multiplied or Of the area OF their
occurrence being greatly extended. As ior
Southern Europe. it is not yet threatened.
The endemic has not appeared in Meso-
potamia. or Syria or Arabia. or IN any OF
those regions closely connected by trade ana
hayel with the Mediterranean ports Nor Is
there any fear of direct Transmission OF the
disease from India TO England. The voyage
is too long. and the quarantine AT both ENDS
of il TOO strict. Moreover, sanitary conditions
arc such in most of Europe, outside OF Russia
that Asiatic cholera. if intrQduccd could make
little hcadway. True, the water supply OF
London and Paris and MarseillcS ana louioh
i far from pure. Yet tho contrast between |"
and that of Indian and Arabian cities Is enof-
nous. Note for example. the Thames water
IF London and that of the Holy wen OF Icm-
zcm at Mecca The former contains j grams
If solid matter in the gallon; the latter 20o
Grains. The former has no nitrogen a ni'Ilt''
and only trace rs nitratc> the latter has
grain of nitric and from TO u OF
nitratcs. And a similar, or even greater,
difference exists between the two countries
in all essential respects Of sanitation.
Vigilance, however, is tfc price Of health
a. well a, Of liberty, and even here. with
barrier Of 2 900 miles Of brine between H.
and the plague. it viii be well 10 strengthen
and improve the quarantine system whcrcver
possible There j. no reasonable fear OF a
cholera epidemic here unless through Such
criminal negligence rs we hope IN American
health officer will be never convicted OF. but
even few cases would cast diScrcdlt upon
the guardians Of the public health. All the
world will be visiting these shores ncN year.
Let us sec to il that our guests come 10 the
most hcathfu as well as 10 the !rec't ana
most prosperous country under the sun.