Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-09-17


Several ships upon which cases of
cholera have occurred are now 10
quarantine in the port OF New York,
and by the time this is published
other infected ships will no doubt be
here and At other ports IN this country.
The first cases on board tho ships
have occurred among immigrants, and
the special danger from this class has
been recognised by the Presidents
proclamation that all ships having inn
migrants on board and coming from
cholera infected countries, must un>
dergo q quarantine of twenty days.
The effect OF this is that the chief
lines OF Atlantic steamships are refus>
ing to bring Storage passengers,
which no doubt is q good thing.
The gravity OF the situation is appar-
ent though the present tendency of
the press is to exageerate it.
A few figures will show better than
many words how We stand as regards
cholera. The total number of deaths
in Europe due to tho cholera epidemic
OF 1865-.S7, was about 100000, OF
which 100000 occurred in Austria,
$4,000 in Turkey. $1,000 in Spain,
44,2OO in France, 81, 800 in Belgium,
and l4,37S IN England. In London
there were 5,54S deaths, or 1.8 per
1000 of population; in Paris the
death rate was &C, in Brussels lS4,
in Berlin 8 8, in Madrid 1912, in St.
Petersburg 9.S, 10 Vienna 81 per
1000.
In the epidemic Of 1873 in the
United States there were $500 deaths
out of 1856 known cases. In the
epidemic of 1876 Europe lost
about $50, 900 lives, of which 10000
were lost in Spain alone. The pres.
ent epidemic has caused about 1907
900 deaths in Europe, the greater par.
having occurred in Russia. The
heavy death rate always falls on the
ignorant, the filthy and the panic>
stricken. No great epidemic occurs
in a city unless the water supply is
polluted.
The present outbreak in Hamburg,
with its thousand cases day, took its
origin from the pollution of the river
Elbe near the City Waterworks, by
drainage from q Russian immigrant
camp. The detailed report on the
cholera OF 1873 in the United States,
published by the Government, shows
in many cases the direct connection
between polluted wells and small
local outbreaks. Hamburg is q city
of canals and shallow waterways, and
it is almost certain that the water in
these has been contaminated by chol-
era discharges: but it is the pollution
of the main water supply that is the
main cause of the epidemic in that
place.
AS we stated last week-quarantine
has kept cholera out of this country
before now-and it may do it this
time, but it is at least even chance that
it will cot, and therefore it is tho duty
of every municipality to look carefully
to its water supply with reference to
its possible contamination by cholera
discharges. The effect Of fifty cases
of cholera in the worst tenement dis
trct 10 New York City will be moth
ing in spreading the disease in com
parison with the discharge of single
cholera stool into one of the branches
Of the Croton by sick tramp. There
should be no fear Of persons affected
with cholera; they may DO handled,
lifted, washed and cared for with all
most no risk, provided care be taken
to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect
the hands and any part of the clothing
which has become soiled by contact.
The essential thing in dealing with
cholera discharges, soiled bedding,
etc., is to disinfect them before they
have chance to become dry.
All these matters are we'll under
stood by our health officers, and we
have not the least doubt OF their
ability to promptly stamp out the dis
ease, should it appear at any point in
the city. The danger will then not
be to New York City, but to other
communities to which the persons first
in contact with the GASES may fee be,
fore the health officers get bold OF
them.
With regard to the quarantine, it
does not appear to US that passengers
apparently we'll should be compelled
to remain on a ship that is supposed
to be infected. The period of incuba.
ton of cholera is from one to five
days, but few cases have been Oh.
| eo.v.d l., which IL waa annaPentlv IF.