Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-28
FIGHTING THE CHOLERA.


| Vnoiora, III IL arrives, Will nave 10 nBn
for b foothold on United States soil. While
the Marine Hospital service is aroused to .
| vigilance exceptionally active in guarding
the coast against the dreaded invasion, the
health authorities at the various seaports
have made quiet but thorough preparations
| to meet the enemy, even to the laying in ol
large extra supplies OF carbolic acid and
other disinfectants. Should the disease get
started in the cities-it becomes epidemic
only IN crowded communities sanitary
police Will be organized to go from house to
house in the infected districts. visiting each
dwelling once or twice every day, for the
purpose of inquiring If any one is troubled
with diarrhoea and to supply proper rem
edies. This system proved very successful
during the cholera plague of 1S4s in Great
Britain.
In such an event, an important part of the
measures adopted will be the thorough dis
injecting Of infected houses. Experience
has proved that in this way the disease can
be most efectually and speedily stamped
out. During tho last cholera epidemic in
New York in 1866, 1,oOo cases occurred in
widely-separated localities, 362 dwellings in
the city being infected; but in no instance
did the disease spread beyond the house in
which it first appeared. A peculiarity of
cholera, which has not yet been satisfac-
in several places simultaneously.
Danger From Pittsburg's Wells.
Another precautionary measure will be
the filling up of all city wells, which are al
ways apt to breed infection. There are still
. few wells in New York which have not
been closed by the authorities. The town IL
built over bed of gneiss, in which are pock-
cts filed with stagnanr water that is never
hu Wi
Wherever there is q well the water finds 1t
way to it from these pockets, together with
the sewage that has percolated into 1t. One
might as well drink poison as New York well
water. Pfttsburg wells are no better. To
greater or less extent like conditions are
found in all centers of population.
This country is most advantageously sftu-
ated for defense against invasion by cholera.
from which it is protected by two wide
ocean barriers. Fortunately the germ OF
this disease never requires more than three
days for its incubation. In other words,
more than that time does not elape between
the moment of infection and the appear
ance of the first symptoms. Therefore, any
person who may arrive at one OF our ports
from Europe without exhibiting any signs
OF the complaint can be safely presumed to
be free of it. Briefly, 1t is not possible for
people to contract the cholera abroad and
fetch it across the Atlantic without being so
sick by the time they reach this side as to
make advertisement of the fact, whereupon
they would be promptly quarantined. Yes
tanned, Of course.
Cholera II Portable Disease.
Nevertheless, cholera germs might posi-
bly, be conveyed across the ocean in clothing
and merchandise. 1t is known to medical
science as q portable" disease. For this
reason steerage passengers on the Hamburg
American steamship line have been SUBJ
jected for three weeks past to a severe and
N ba rdz zh in, n hain0
compelled on arriving at New York to take
o bath. Merchandise and clothing from all
infected ports are subjected to disfnfecting
processes. Although cholera germs are
under ordinary conditions. except in the
alimentary canal of human being or other
animal. They will multiply rapidly on
gelatine in q "culture-tube," but they could
on board of vessel. The moisture they
require for that purpose would quickly
cause anything edible to decay and be de-
stroyed.
Among the auxiliary causes of cholera,
fear of the disease is rated high. Depressing
emotions and intemperance are likewise to
be avoided. The panic which commonly
prevails during epidemics of the complaints
for itself the name OF "choleraphobia-" Un-
der such conditions ordinary diarrhea
usually affects large number Of persons
without eventuattng in cholera At the
same time there is no wonder that 1t occa-
sions alarm, inasmuch as the dread disease
itself gives no warning of its attack, aside
from mild diarrhea. So little are patients
conscious of their danger that often they
apologize for giving the physician the
trouble of visiting them, when glance suf
fees to show him that they are on the verge
of fatal collapse. ei..
The First Thing in Case OF Attack.
The first thing requisite is to check the
diarrhea. If prompt measures are taken
for that purpose, the patient will nearly al
ways recover without further symptoms
But delay Of half an hour is often fatal.
Collapse supervenes, and then there is little
hope. A few drops of laudanum with CAM
phor, in repeated doses, will stop the
diarrhea. However, the best remedy, ac-
cording to Austin Flint, the famous au-
thority and author of the "Practice of Medi-
cine" Is salt Of morphia in doses of one
grain each, placed on the tongue and re-
peated at intervals of 80 to 45 minutes until
the diarrhea ceases. Where vomiting rem
ders this method impracticable, the remedy
should be given oy the rectum, and, where
the symptoms are urgent. both methods
should be tried. Every moment Is precious,
for, If the object is not promptly effected,
collapse is likely to ensue; the diarrhsa
Cholera is bacterial disease. The germ
that causes it by attacking the alfmentary
canal has been named the comma bacillus"
because Of its peculiar shape. 1t was first
discovered by Prof. Koch, of Berlin, whose
"1ymph" for Consumption recently excited
so much discussion. There Is recent news,
fected and will yet prove cure for incip-
lent consumption. as we'll as for other COM
plants Of O tubercular nature. Koch sue
ceeded in isoating and Identifying the chol-
era bacillus during the epidemic of cholera
in Egypt in 1884. His publication of the find
was at first pooh poohed by French physic-
ians. between whom and the German doctors
there was at that period particularly vtgor-
Berlin succeeded in demonstrating his facts
beyond controversy. He was sent to India
by the German Government for the purpose
Of studying the disease at its home.
Germs Scattered Through the Sewers.
In order to prevent the spread of cholera,
the most Important thing to know
is how the germs are distributed. The COM
plant being q disease of the alimentary
canal, the bacilli are only contained in the
discharges from tho bowels of the patient
and in the vomit. Accordingly, these must
be promptly destroyed, and not thrown
away. They should not be permitted to pass
into the sewers, because the latter empty
into rivers usually. 1t IS probable that the
germs most commonly fnd their way into
the body in drinking water, though they are
that cholera might be transported into this
from Russia through Siberia and |
across Bering Strait from Kamtchatka, but |
such an event would not seem very likely.
India, as has been said Is the home OF |
cholera. The disease is always alive there |
In some localities. Religion is chiefly re- |
sponsible for its cpread. The pilgrims. who |
gather periodically from all parts OF the |
country at native shrines, fetch the disorder
with them. 1t spreads rapidly among their |
assembled multitudes, no sanitary precau- |
tions being taken. and they distribute the |
Infection in all directions III dispensing.
RENE BACHE.