Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-17
THE CHOLERA's VICTIMS.

The situafion In Mimi Novgor0d Improving
-Prejudtee Against Doctors.
St. Petersburg dispatch says the cholera
epidemic appears to be assuming more benign
character throughout the affected region. A
telegram from Nijni-Novgorod, received BY the
authorities, states that the number Of patients
there is decreasing rather than growing, while
the convalsscents are more numerous. Pro-
lessor Anrep, who was sent to report upon the
outbreak, declares that the cholera has gen
becoming less malignant.
The municipality Of st. Petersburg continues
very active in its endeavors to stop the spread
Of the epidemic. The prejudice against the
doctors which prevails among the masses Of the
people Ia SO deep rooted as to have called forth
a formal and categorical denial from the au-
thorities Of the absurd rumors Of cholera pa :
tients in the hospitals being buried alive. In
consequence of the cholera epidemic the minis
try of education has issued an order that IN
struction shall not be resumed and no examine
tons shall be held in any OF the educational es-
Establishments until September /, and that the
lectures to medical students in their last term
shall not be continued until November l. This
latter measure is taken in order to set students
free to serve In the cholera districts.
1t is believed that the alleged burial alive Of
the cholera patients can be traced to the fact
called attention to by the Vienna physician that
the corpses of those who have persisted by
cholera are for some time after death subject
to convulsive movements Of some muscles, or
even Of whole groups Of muscles. These phe-
nomeIa appear about three hours after death
and last longer than three hours. A professor
relates that on one occasion he had left pa
tient for dead. when three hours later he was
told that the dead man had revived. He found
that the muscles Of the upper arms were giving
short, quick motions, following each other rap
idly, which were interrupted by contrsetions Of
the whole group of muscles, whereby the fore
arm was visibly contracted. The fingers were
also distinctly observed to be moving IS
though playing the piano. 1t was only after
three hours that the movement Of muscles
ceased.
The total number of new cases of cholera re-
ported in Russia yesterday was 1000. The
total number OF deaths from the epidemic
was $500. These figures represent all the
returns received, but two-thirds of the towns
attacked have no telegraphic communication
with the chief town Of the provinces in which
they are situated, which towns make daily re-
ports to st. Petersburg.
The cholera, though abating at Nijni-Nov-
gorod, Astrakhan and in the trans-Caspian ter
ritory, continues excessive in the Caucasus,
Don Provinces, Saratof Samara, Simbirsk and
Orenburs, where the deaths are excessive.
A mob attacked the floating hospital at
Starobelsk in the government of Kharkoff and
completely demolished it. The doctors were
assaulted and would probably have been killed
had it not been for the intervention of the
troops who were summoned to restore order.
The soldiers soon suppressed the riOting and
arrested the leaders OF the rioters.