The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-31
MAY SCOURGE A WORLD.
THE COURSE OF THE CHOLERA EP-
IDKMIC IN ASIA AND EUROPE.

It's First Appearance on the Persian
Frontier 1t Ravsges India in the
South and Attacks Russia on the
North-How the Contaaion is Pre-
vented - Quarantining Against 1t
throughout the World.
tCopur10ht1
NEW YORK, July 30.-It is now two
months since the cholera first made its APP
pearance at Djami, an un:mportant place
on the frontier line between Afghsnistan
and Persia, and the little flame Of appre-
henson then kindled has since spread TO a
degree that has filed all Europe with
alarm. The possible danger to which the
United States has thus became exposed
through the channels Of immigration that
discharge their currents within its borders
creates natural and widespread American
interest in the subject In spite Of all
efforts made to stem the danger at the pres
ent writing it has assumed and retains more
formidable aspect than ever before. The
extension OF the trouble into Russia, where
it first took root and which we must now
consider the most prolific source Of danger
to ourselves at once suggests the import
ance of getting the Russian version of the
matter in preference TO those necessarily
garbled accounts which filter into our
newspapers through English sources.
The truth is that we must seek for the
birthplace of the cholera epidemic within
the confines of British Irdia, or at least in
those sections OF the Indian empire which
are practically under British control. In
Russia a grave suspicion exists that the
English resident at Cabul, in Afghanistan,
knows more Of the true inwardness of the
difficulty than he or his superiors have ever
been willing to admit. AS early as April 20
last several cases of cholera were reported
in the valley OF the Helmund, a river that
flows between Ksndahar and the Persian
frontier.
The British resident, hearing OF the out
break, sent a cipher dispatch to the govern
ment officials at Calcutta. whence iustruc-
tions we're forwarded TO Lahore directing
the Shipment OF disinfectants in quantities
to the Anglo-Afghan border. No public ex
planatiou was made for this action, as 1t
was considered advisable to keep matters
quiet. Meanwhile the Russian governor of
Samarkand, Count Rostofzell received in
formation that gave him reasonable cause
TO form the conclusion that at the instance
of the Indian government cholera patients
were being quietly carted over on to Per-
sian territory from Atghanistan aud there
left to shift for themselves.
Ii is not for us to takes sides in the con-
troversy, for that is really what the above
occurrence has called forth between Russo
phobes on one side and Auglopbobes on the
other. The Russians practically charge the
English with malice in trying to throw off
from their own territory into the ad jaoent
alien regions of Central Asia the incubus OF
an impending plague. The British resident
however, it Is only fair TO say, had a plain
duty to perform toward his country and
was obliged TO perform it without gauging
the possible results 60 others. Besides, Rus
siau jiDgoisn IS akin in its unreasonable
ness to the British variety. Each side sees
IN the other the perpetual vision of a
menaciug bugbear, and there is an equal
prejudice and suspiciau between them as to
reciprocal designs.
In seeking 10 trace the origin OF the
tt uole It must fairly be admitted that the
TraUscasp plan railway, notwithstanding its
lnsnlfesJ advantages, has from the start
favored the dissemination OF disease. 1t
traverses desert region which before its
construction acted as a barrier between
Russia and Asia, efRectually shutting of
the possibility of transmitting disease Now
that the railroad is an accomplished fact
connecting he Central Asian and European
provinces u Russia, it is perfectly easy for
Infection to be carried to and fro. Baku
the great port on the eastern side of the
Caspian sea, has proved in the present To-
Being the western terminus of the Trans
caspian railroad system, it is the entrepot
OF commerce between Asiatic and European
Russia, and its Inalign influence as a center
of infection can scarcely be underssti-
mated.
The writer's knowledge OF the town sug-
gests como interesting details. which are es-
pecielly timely. 1t is populous city, con-
tanning distinctly floating" population.
They come and go successfully seeking,
finding and abandoning the employment
which is there obtainable in connection
with the great petroleum springs aud the
railroad freight sheds. They are mainly
composed Of Persiaus. Bokharites, Khivans,
Turcomans and Hebrews. The prevailing
racial characteristic there is Asiatic,
and it is supertuous to say that IL
carries with it the inevitable
acco apartment of uncleauliuess
There is thus confronting the observer of
social conditions in Baku state Of affairs
which, apart from It's individual interest,
supplies a general key to the position
Russia occupies toward other nations in the
face Of the present cholera crisis. Here we
find congregation of human souls which
herds amid almost indescribably horrible
sanitary surroundings and menaces other
nations by reason of its migratory tendency.
The petroleum industry subordlnates all
other commercial interests to its FREEDOM
inant Claims. Even the Common necessities
OF sanitation are disregarded in the pursuit
of gain, and the largest employers
of labor-the Nobel Brothers, who
principally control the output of
the oil wells are comparatively Indifferent
TO the condition of their employees Per-
haps they cannot be criticised very sharply
for this, because they are dealing with a
class OF men practically upamenable to con-
siderations Of decency, as understood by
Arysn peoples. The town of Baku is almost
destitute Of drainage, and apart from the
few government buildings it contains forms
a collection Of poor and sQualid dwellings
overcrowded with their miserable tenants.
When the writer was in Baku, less than two
years ago, a case OF smallpox broke out
within 100 yards of the residence of the
srchemandrite or governor of the town.
Let Americans imagine the case as one OF
local occurrence IN any of their cities or
even minor towns. Beyond question the
officials a responsible for the public
health wonld have promptly re-
sponded to the needs of the occasion, eff
fectually quarantine the sufferer and taken
the other requisite measures for stamping
out the disease. Not so. however in Baku,
where the police, absorbed in their custom.
airy task of chasing Nihilists-real or irnagi-
nary-had no time to devote to a secondary
matter like the preservation of public
health. The patient was allowed to have
his case treated in a private house, whore
he WAS in constant contact with othar mar