The record-union., 1892-09-23
some TIMELY ADVICE.
How to Restrict and Prevent Cholera
Epidemics.
Valuable Hints and Instruction offered
by the State Board of Health
to the Public.

The following is published by the State
Board of Health by way of advice and in
struction to people generally, in view of
the possible Introduction of cholera on
this coast:
So long as cholera continues to spread
over Europe. in spite of the persistent
efforts to arrest its progress, the United
States cannot feel exempt from the dan
ger of its introduction.
Ordinary prudence dictates the pro-
prlety of taking such precautions as will
reduce the chances of it's invasion to the
minimum, or. falling to prevent its in
vasion, to adopt such measures in ad-
vance Of its approach as will to the ut
most restrict its spread.
To prevent its admission among our
people will depend chiefly upon the Wig
ilance and intelligence of health officials
at the ports of entry.
To restrict its spread after the disease
has gained lodgment, will depend upon
the people and upon the local Boards of
Health.
In view of the present situation, the
people of California and the health Off
GERS OF towns cannot be too prompt and
energetic in taking such measures as are
best calculated to resist this dreaded foe
While it is possible that visitation of
cholera may be escaped this year, it is the
part of wisdom to be prepared. If all
reasonable precautions have been taken,
the public will be less likely to be seized
with that unreasoning fear and panic that
predisposes to the disease, and is power
full adjunct to its spread. 1t is also true
that all sanitary improvements are of
lasting benefit, and if we now escape this
disease the results of the sanitary work
accomplished will be seen in a better
state OF the public health, less sickness
and a lowered death rate.
The value of action before disease ap-
pears is beyond all comparison greater
than that taken in the presence of an cpl
demic. Public safety will be best Sc
cured by such preparation as is known to
be the most effective before the approach
OF the foe: Notifications cannot be erected
while under the fire of the enemy. The
sanitary barriers which defend from fatal
disease are much the same, whether it be
Asiatic cholera or any other infectious
malady. The watchword of protection is
cleanliness. If we make ourselves clean,
and our surroundings clean, the cholera
may come, but it will fail to find an abid-
ing place.
WHAT TO DO.
What to do will be best understood by
knowing how cholera is communicated.
Cholera is not contagious in the same
sense that scarlet fever and smallpox are
contagious; it is not what is commonly
called catching" If disinfection and
other proper precautions are used, there
is scarcely any risk that the disease will
spread to those that nurse or otherwise
attend closely upon the sick. 1t is the
present belief of scientists that it is al
ways communicated by specific infec-
uon-a living germ, known as comma
bacillus. Every precautionary effort has
relation to preventing the propagation of
this germ and to its destruction. The
disease cannot exist unless the germ ex-
lists. Nor can the disease occur unless
the germ gains access to the intestinal
canal. All measures of prevention are
based on these facts.
The excavations of cholera patient
contain the injecting germ. This is the
primary source.
The cholera germ can be reproductive
outside the human body under favorable
conditions. Vile, filthy, undrained or
answered tenements, filth-saturated
soil from leaky drain-pipes, an atmos-
phere reeking with the gases of decay,
soil polluted with the putrefactive COM
pounds from garbage, kitchen Stops,
sink-drains, overlooking privy vaults,
and the over-croWded haunts of vice and
crime, in which misery compels the poor
also to seek shelter, furnish in the most
inviting form the essential conditions for
the repropagation OF the contagium of
cholera. Less aggravated instances of
unsanltary conditions ere proportionately
dangerous. A warm, moist atmosphere,
into which puterfying organic matter is
discharging the gases of decay, is favor
able to the development of the germs of
cholera. The water from wells polluted
by filth from closely adjacent vaults or
drains, and other sources of water supply
deiled by sewage, if also infected with
the specific contagion of cholera, has long
been recognized as one of the most active
agents in the spread of this disease.
DR.. Shakespeare, in his recent report to
the United States Government on cholera
IN Europe and India, says that the spread
of the disease after its introduction into a
locality is universally associated with
contaminated water supply, filthy habits
and bad personal and domestic hygiene"
Hence it is one of the filth Diseases
With such knowledge of the disease
the measures of prevention are obviously
both general and individual.
THE GENERAL MEASURES.
Should engage the attention of Health
Officers. whose duty 1t should be to en-
force the highest standard of public hy-
giene practicable. A systematic and
thorough sanitary survey of all premises
within their respective jurisdiction should
be made. All nuisances dangerous to the
public health should be promptly abated.
The milk supply and water supply, those
common carriers of infection, should re-
ceive their special attention. The mar
kets should be inspected with reference
to the quality of food offered for sale.
Notice should be taken of every known
means by which it would be possible, if a
case of cholera should occur in their local
ity, that the evacuation of the sick con-
tanning the infection might reach the in
teStlneS OF another susceptible person
In the event of cholera appearing in q
town the Health Officer should provide
for its care by isolating the case, with
proper attendance, and by taking such
action as Will insure, without any doubt
the thorough disinfection of all the ex-
cretlons OF the patient. This is the one
essential thing, above all others. which
he should be sure to have performed.
If the distinction of all the excrementous
discharges of the patient is thorough
there can be no spread of the disease.
Health Officers should also keep under
observation all newly arrived immi-
grants until such time after their arrival
that the incubation period of any infec-
tious disease snail have expired.
THE INDIVIDUAL MEASURES OF PRECAU-
TIoN
Relate to the conduct of the person. The
tendency TO infection varies among in
dividuals. The normal acid Juices of the
stomach can destroy the infection. But
if by any indiscretions of diet or other
influence the digestive powers are inn
paired or enfeebled, and the cholera germ
is not destroyed in the stomach, but passes
OH into the duodenum, where there is
an alkaline reaction, great multiplication
Of the germ becomes possible, with elab-
Grafton of the poisonous ptomaine and
establishment of the disease.
Hence the importance of regular habits
of life-of careful preservation of good
digestive powers. Particularly avoid
drinking large quantities of water be-
tween meals, because between meals
neutral reaction of the gastric juices ex-