The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-12
Prof Virchow on Cholera.

The New York Herald Thursday printed
the following interesting interview with
the distinguished Prof. VIrchow:
'In view," said 1, ''of the great anxiety
which prevails ia New York, will you
oblige me with your opinion in regard to
Quarantinep
THE anxiety Is natural" replied the
professor. "Put your questions"
First, then, can cholera be shut out by
QuarantineP'
YES" was the cautious answer, under
certain conditions, which are seldom, II
ever metiwith. II quarantine were abso-
lutte, II countries could be closed hermeti-
cally, the epidemic Of diseases might be ex-
cluded. This was shown in the case Of the
Farce Islands. For ten years at q time
ships did not touch at the a1ds, and as q
result the natives were secured from even
the commonest scourges of childrsnis scarlet
fever and the like until ships began TO re-
visit the islands.
"Give quarantine a chance, however
The strictest precautions should be taken
at the beginning as we'll as at the end of the
journey. Each traveller should be care
fully examined before going aboard. The
Hamburg officials have at last recognized
the truth OF the principle on leaving the
city"
KS It necessary to impose quarantine of
twenty days on i'm nizrationp
That seems an evaporation" said the
professor. "Generally 1t Is held that ono
weeks delay is sufficient"
''Can saloon passengers be safely Quaran-
antined less strictly than Storage passen-
gersl"
They are equally dangerousif they have
been on an infected vessel"
'Do you think it indispensable 10 shut I'D
any passengers on such vessels9"
mot If they can be landed very quickly
without contact with other people, but 1t
all depends on circumstances l have not
boon in New York. II, as you say, there
are islands near at hand where passengers
could be directly transferred, it Is needless
to contiae them to ships"
is there any danger In steamers to land
or 10 the vessels now detained at the New
York quarantine stationp asked, first ex-
planning the relative positions Of the plague
stricken steamers and Staten Island.
"None at all"
CHOLERA cannot be transmitted through
the ait, suggested.
II will answer that by saying that we do
not want to treat harshy our Berlin chol-
era patients in the Moebite hospital, which
helped TO found, and which, although it
once stood In the middle Of the open fields,
now almost touches the surrounding
| houses"
Can cholera be communicated other
than through direct contact with excreta7'
Only through excreta or vomik But
| remember there are many ways of coming
In contact with both. The commonest
medium of contagiou is soiled linen, boots
and shoes. There may be danger if one
bias stepped on a dirty. infected floor.
| Cholera may also be transmitted by the
mouth or by soiled hands,
''On the Prusso- Russian frontier. where
have just had some experience of the nn-
noyances, a quarantine Official whom |
noticed moisten;cg his fingers as he counted
a pile of Russian bank notes asked me if he
risked catching cholera.
II answered, Certainly advising him to
dip his fingers in water instead of licking
| them"
"Is it necessary oisolate cholera stricken
| housesp
No; only to isolate the patients"
| what are the best disinfectantsF'
probably sublimate and carbolio acid
After touching the patients. care should be
taken to wash ones hands"
Gould cholera be spread through the
postp
Pardon me for saying that question of
that sort invites foolish answer. The
point ia not what could or might occur In
| theory: Almost anything is possible but
what does OCCUR.
"On the acquittal Of q certain few the
other day an appeal In behalf of a testimo.
NAL fund was issued. A gentleman who
! signed the appeal soon after received let
ter containing scrap of filthy paper. From
this you see how cholera might be trans
| mitted through the port.
10 reassure your countrymen," added
| the professor, "let me remind them that the
cholera is much less dangerous than diph-
iberia and other diseases which cause less
| commotioD.
NO." he continued, 81 am not going to
hamburg. ! have seen enough Of cholera.
|