The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-09-08
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To Kill the Cholera Should 1t Come Among

To Kill the Cholera Should 1t Come Among
Us.
The following note of warning and
authoritative counsel was yesterday
sent broadcast over Texas by State
Health Officer Swearingen. 1t has
the right ring about it, and should
meet with immediate compliance with
all its advice everywhere in the state:
QUARANTINE DEPARTMENT, l
AUSTIN, Tex, Sept. /, 1892.
DEAR DoCToR-The rapid spread
of cholera from Russia to Germany,
thence to France and England, adj
monishes those familiar with its his
tory that the disease has begnn its
tour around the world.
During the last quarter century
while cholera has been dormant In its
natural home, with an occasional out
break in Eastern cities, maritime
quarantine and sanitary science have
been advancing; and we are better
prepared than ever before to measure
strength with this formidable enemy.
To the county health officers and
city physicians of this state, who con-
stitute the army of defense, the state
health officer respectfully submits the
following suggestions:
The state quarantine authorities
have already instituted vigorous
measures to prevent the introduction
of the disease through any sea port
into Texas; but the extensive border
lines to be guarded, should 1t secure O
foothold in any of the other states, or
in Mexico, renders the chances of ex-
clusion by quarantine extremely
doubtful.
This threatening danger calls for
the exercise of unceasing vigilance on
the part of the health authorities, and
an intelligent and cordial co-opera-
tion on the part of the people. should
It Glade the vigilance Of our sentinels
on the outposts sanitary science must
be invoked to stay its ravages.
Cholera is essentially filth disease;
and while 1t may not originate de
novo In filth, it is certain that unsani-
tary conditions favor its rapid propa-
cation; hence the necessity for rigid
| observance of the laws of hygiene,
public and private, general and per-
sonal.
| 1t is known that the dejecta of
cholera patients constitute the princi-
pal source of infection, and that it Is
through this medium that the atmos-
pbere and water becomes contaminat-
ed. Pure drinking water is Of para
mount importance. Springs, wells,
creeks and rivers are easily polluted,
either by seepage from vaults, or by
| hA h fvn rs l.
these dejecta are too often thrown
through ignorance of their danger.
Whenever pollution of any water sup
ply Is suspected the water for do
nestle purposes should be boiled be-
fore being used.
Cleanliness, absolute and continued,
should be maintained in and about
every home, upon every farm, in every
village, town and city in the state.
All privy vaults should be filled up
with dit, and portable boxes or tubs
should be substituted for them; these
can be easily emptied and made inoc-
uous by the free use Of lime, zinc or
bichloride of mercury. 1t Is an estab-
lished fact that privy pits are capable
of communicating with deadly effect
wells and running streams. even miles
away from them. Health officers of
cities and incorporated towns are
strongly urged to impress, with en-
phasis, this important fact upon the
authorities, and to insist that their re-
spective city councils at once, by suit
able ordinance, require all under
ground sinks and pits to be immedi-
ately filled up and abandoned; Sc
we're penalty being imposed in every
case for Noncompliance with said or
dinance.
Should city councils refuse or fail to
enact such ordinance, appeal from
them to the people. If every citizen
could be made to appreciate the i'm
portance of aetting his own house in
order, and be induced to do 1t, epi-
denies would be of short duration,
and the death rate greatly lessened.
trust and believe that every health
officer will feel the responsibility rest
ing upon him and come up to the full
measure of his duty. 1 have the honor
to be your obedient servant,
II. M. SwEARINGEN,
State Health Officer.