Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-06

which Gives sucb absolute assurance OF
potoner 10 the three great factors OF
quarantine. disinfection, and isOiae'yn,
and which enables every one to ION IN Wy Wy
WORT Of keeping out the disease oy slhp.s
keeping himself aloof from u ana rom nc 80
well-known influences which neip "
propagate n. Ii %,
If there il env one thing in the world on
which the doctors seem to agree ~ ~ 'he
proposition that cholera Is generated "
a specific infectious material when coHio9
from India only.
DOCTORS AGREE AT LAST.
Professor Virchow said that this propo-
sition was SO firmly established IN Oer-
many now that you could scarcely g Tt
dissenting opinion on the subject. Inc
diffusion of tie poison material has no
references whatever 10 the velocity or d.
rection of the wind. In no instance Wnaet
ever has its rate of progress exceeded tnae
OF a man on land or water, nor has II ever
taken n direction different from CONNER
cial or military movements. On land Il
has crept from place to place. and though
il has sometimes seemed TO overlap the
sea II has never invaded any inland town
or seaport without first having been
brought there from point already ahecteu
with the disease. More than this .expe-
risnce mas proven that il can generally De
quarantined with success. Ot fourteen
epidemics of cholera that have reacheSui
our quarantine station AZ Staten lslanu m
but four were prevented from reaching tue
city.
When cholera does overleap the quarah-
tine barriers, the doctors say, the reason
can always be traced without mucn dlni-
Guilty. IL has done 80 because OF some
neglect, criminal or criminally careless, on
the part OF some one connected with the
Gordon of health.
BOIL YOUR WATER.
There is little doubt that the main chan
mel of infection, the one through when
cholera is generally disseminated, Is drink
ing water-water which has been contaml-
mated by the specific germs OF the disease
The specific cause is thus taken into the
almentary canal, and thus acts directly
upon the parts which are so Affected.
Given pure drinking water, as we believe
our Croton TO be, and one half OF the dan
ger is gone, but there are still other ways
by which the poison may DO spread II the
authorities give il chance 20 start.
You cannot catch cholera any more than
YOU can that devils offspring, typhoid
fever merely by poverty, filth, crowdiIg
and depression OF spirits, all OF which
have been named as predisposing causes,
though YOU can materially aid Its progress
by means of them. The same holds true
Of all cOntaminating diseases. Anything
which tends to weaken the constitution
opens the doors TO infection. Drunkards.
therefore, are in a better state 10 receive
infection than men of abstemlOus HABITS,
but the fact that theY drink but little
water is an element of safety 20 gentlemen
of cornwall habits. Still there Is the
happy mean Of mineral waters, when
leave no excuse for either cholera or H.
toXication to creep IN.
CPEN YOUR WINDOWS.
But II is not bad water alone which ls
friendly TO the disease. Bad air is great
help. Iusaiubrity OF climate gives the
endemic d big boost. The great houses
Standing on the backbone of New York,
along Fifth avenue. are much safer places
In case of a visit from the epidemic than
are the tenements of the lower east or
west-side streets. The rich never are Of
fected in any like proportion TO the poor.
And in battling with the disease tho doc
tors have always found that they made no
| material progress until they had improved
the hyglenic conditions of the people who
were suffering.
subject. | find that the authorities all agree
on the following rules tor escaping from
the cholera:
WISDOM N A NUTSHELL.
First. keep cholera away from You by
establishing 4 quarantine Gordon That Will
not be fooled, and which makes no ex-
ceptlons 10 its rules for safety. IL must
hold suspected ships and their crews and
cargoes until they have been cleaned be-
vnnd peradventure of infection. This Is
the frst and great rule, and the second is
| like unto it:
You must keep yourself away from
cholera. To do this be clean, be sober, bt
calm. DO not run away at the first whisper
of danger. for fright is one OF the 6ee'
conductors of disease known to the doc
tors. See not only that your own property
is IN a condition TO delight the sanitary IN
spector but your neighbours also. II the
| atter's be not so send in compliant 10y
first mail to the Board of Health. BY this
means you Will be showing that you love
your neighbor as yourself.
Look TO your plumbing. Better q big
plumbers bill in the house than AsiahC
| cholera. Do not overload your stomach.
| Eschew trash. Drink no water which IS
suspicious. Touch not the water OF Jer
sew City nor Newark unless you have II
boiled and filtered. Keep far away troa
Philndelphia's "Gqid purG." One case Of
| cholera up the Schuylklll might bring al
| epidemic upon that unfortunate city. But
| don't drink Whlskey on TIE plea that II Is
preventive. ii You must dislnfect your
insides take carbolic acid plain. 1t IS {
quicker death and more decent one thar
drunkenness.
DO not derange your digestion. II il
| opening the door to cholera. as any COOS
doctor will tell you.
Above all, don't worry yourself into
| fever before the disease gets foothold
Keep one eye on Providence and the othei
on Dr. Jenkins, and nine chances out OF
ten you will pull through all right and thu
rest of the town with you.