New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-03
THE PLAGUE OF SIXTY YEARS AGO.

ONE WHO REMEMBERS 1T AND THINKS THERE
Is NOT so MUCH DANGER.
To the Editor Of Tho Tribune.
Sir: Let me say a word about the cholera and It's
connections etc was in the city during the entire
season OF the first cholera which broke out the MIST
week OF July, 1882. The state OF dread ana anrm
had been increasing for many days, until through
Canada, from Canada II began Its ravaees In New
York BY this time think more than half the popula
t,on had eft the CITY, and comparatively no prepare
lions had been made for the visitation the pubic
schools were turned into hospitals, and there was
q fearful lack OF medical attendance throughout the
town. Many physicians had abandoned the city Win
the peOple There no efficient health departmeht
and no organized system for the protection Of the
public health. think what was known as the CITY
Inspectors Department was then In vogue and con-
timed down to the time about the time the Board
OF Health" was established and 1t was the sorriest
apology for the purposes for which 1t was accredited
10 exist. At the commencement OF the outbreak II
was very virulent, and continued through all the
month Of July and principal portion OF August ana
the ravages ceased almost entirely by the incoming OF
September. notice few points which hope VIII
be an alienation OF the present dread
First-The city, strange AS 1t may seem, Is In
far better condition than in 1882 Then there was no
sewerages and the cutters always In an offensive
condition. All the water supply was from pumps In
the streets and the rivers cutters were never washed
and muluudes died without medical attendance. Now
this culty will not occur.
INird-The medical difficulties fearful the
physicians had 10 work In the dark; they had to COM
mence their work, and, by practice and experiment 10
learn how to treat the scOurge. 1t was all new; and,
go far as concerned, they had 10 learn
how to treat IT what to do with 1t. This prime diff
Guilty Il now thoroughly removed, and the treatment
understood.
Fourth-Should the cholera obtain foothod In
New York, II Is reasonable to suppose IL Will
find the major part of its Victims rs In the first
visitation among the dssipaed and abandoned; hard
drinkers fairly moved down. and the abandoned
classes were swept away. There plague spots in
different parts OF the city then AZ now. There was
block In Iaurensst., below Broome that simply beg.
CARED description. visited every one Of these houses.
| entered one OF the houses the morning the If
teenth body had been carried out and two OF the re-
naming miserable oucasts sat in the hall with pail OF
nard clans opening and eating them raw. Their
recklessness horrible, and their language never
could repeat.
Fifth-My Impression Is that comparatively few
temperate, well-behaved and proyidcnt persons
victims OF the scourge and should there be another
visitation sure there would be like result; such
have occasion for alarm.
Sxth-My fathers family OF eight PERSONS remained
IN the city during the entire season, leaving It for
a single day. The only precautiOn taken TO alb
stain from articles OF food which prescribed and
yet one OF the family had single cholera symp-
tom. We had no fear. and We're cheerful in
ordinary times.
Seventh-To give way to alarm. fear and dread ID
most hurful Cheerfulness is wonderful preventa-
tive.
Eighth was with the sick ard dying day and night
throughout the Whole period, having very little sleep,
and for six weeks not removing my clothes except
% change; catching nap with pillow under my
head the floor wherever mi ght be- toward morning.
But Notwithstanding. my health. strength and mental
elaton were hardly ever better.
Nnth-The sense Of fear was not me through
II all The first was In the building, still
standing, think at the junction OF Watts and Canal
sts., the lower part being occupied by the Winans
Brothers as an iron railing factory AS entered the
house there upon me for some seconds
ton that has never been repeated. 1t nothing
Nike fear, but utterly indesnbable II was just at
sunset. The patient In state OF collapse, and
my words very few, for the poor fellows body
and mind most distressing, and he implored me
10 pray for him. which did. and left. thinking be
would 1--we Tor an hour Strange TO say, found him IL
the morning alive and comparatively weii-except
weak. ). =. HALLIDAY.
brooklyn, sept. 1, 1892.