Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-09-03
ALARM over CHOLERA.
Efforts Made to Keep the Plague
from This Country.
Precaution Taken at New York, Phila-
delphia and Baltimore.

A despatch from Washington, says: In
view of the strides which cholera is making
in Europe the Treasury officials have placed
the machinery of the Department in active
operation for the prevention of the spread Of
the disease in this country Though little
alarm is felt, precautions have been taken to
ward off the possibility of the evil. whether
it be likely to come in merchandise or be
brought by Iersons arriving from infected
districts. In reply to Assistant Secretary
Spaulding's telegram to DR.. George O. CLAWS,
of New York, attorney for all the Atlantic
Steamship lines, asking his cooperation in
preventing the introduction of cholera into
the United States, letter was received from
the latter, in which he says:
Your kilograms respecting the epidemic
outbreak of Asiastic cholera at Hamburg
and Havre have been received, and were at
once communicated by me to the different
steamship lines who are fully impressed with
the gravity of the situation and beg me to
assure that nothing shall be omitted on their
part, and every safeguard applied to prevent
the bringing here the effects of immigrants
which are not carefully disinfected.
The Departm mt issuei the circular pre-
pared at the Marine Hospital Service to col
lectors of customs medical others of the
United States Marine Hospital Service,
agents of foreign steamship lines local quar-
antine officers, and Others. This circular
contains the following:
1t having been shown that an epidemic of
cholera prevails in Persia, India, and Russia,
and that it has also reached Germany, Aus
tria, and France, and in view of the danger
which arises through the importation of rags
from cholera infected districts, and of the
n 4. =. L.
Gus ports, of accurately determining the-lo-
calities in which rags are actually gathered:
Furthermore, because of prevalence from
time to time in various countries of small
pox, scarlet fever diptheria and other CON
tagious diseases liable to be conveyed by rags,
therefore it is hereby ordered that on and
after September 90 1892 rags from auy
foreign port will be refused entry into the
United States unless said rags are accom-
panied by a certificate from the consular
officer at the port of shipment to the effect
that they have been disinfected in accord
ance with the methods herein prescribed.
1t is also ordered that rags gathered in or
shipped from any port or place where cholera
is known to prevail in epidemic form be de
MED entry to the United States absolutely
on and after the date of this circular, except
such as were then ahoat which must be dis
infected ON arrival. All previous depart
ment circulars relative to the importation
and disinfection of rags conflicting with the
provisions of this circular as hereby amended
to conform herewith
The following dispatch was received at the
State Department from the United States
consul at Hamburg:
Hamburg emigrants must be regarded as
coming from cholera infected districts. Shall
see that steamers AMI baggage are disin-
fected.
This Department had more reassuring news
from Havre, France, relative to the reported
epidemic of cholera there. Consul Williams
telegraphed that the Paris and Havre medi-
cal experts have had conference, ond after
a full examination admit the presence of
is Asiatic cholera The disease is not spread.
ing, and the alarm is now subsiding. Great
precautiOnS have heen takeIl in tha nlatta.