The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-09-21
The Dreaded Cholera.

Cn0lera Is an ancient disease. Aue
East Indies are never entirely free from
it. The pestilent deltas Of the Ganges
and Brahmaputrs are regarded IS the
breeding places Of this disease. During
the long period when there was practic-
ally no communication between that 10
cality and other parts Of the world, it was
confined to the native Indian population,
and when it made its appearance among
the Europeans at Calcutta and other cit
les Of India it was believed to be 3 new
disease. Its known history begins with
an epidemic in Ceylon in 1904. In lSl1
it ragged with great violence in Calcutta
and spread all over India. 1t broke out
in the army Of the Marquis Of Hastings
quartered near there, and counted its
victims by the thousands. In 1919 1t
made its appearance in Ceylon and was
carried to the coast of Africa. The next
year it appeared in Asia and followed the
rivelJ into China. On the island Of Java
alone 10000 people died.
Cholera made its first appearance in
Europe in 1922, just seventy years ago.
II was carried across the Persian gulf by
vessels, and spread in many directions,
following the waterways. Il was then
checked for seven years, when it broke
out again in Russia, without any appar-
ent cause, and in 1880 occurred the first
general spread of the disease in all parts
of Western Europe. In 1881 it reached
Central Europe, breaking out in Berlin
in August and England in October. The
next June it had reached America, ap-
pearing first at Qlebec and Montreal. It
was especially violent in New York, and
spread rs far west as Chicago. It was at
this time that Henry Clay presented a
resolution to Congress requesting the
President to set apart day for humilis-
ton and prayers for deliyersnce. In 1888
the disease reached the ports on the Gulf
ofMexico and Cuba, and was carried
thence to Spain, and spread along the
coast to all the cities of the Mediteua-
mean.
1t 1897 the cholera disappeared from
Europe, bat ten years later it reappeared
through the same gateway from the ORR
ent, following practically the same
course. Itreached Hamburg in Septem-
Der, 1888, and two months later broke
out simultaneously in New York and
New Orleans, brought over by immi-
grants. Its next appearance was in 1855
81, when occurred the terrible epidemic
at St. Petersburg. The next visitation
was in 1865, when 1000 persons died in
Paris in five months. The following year
the Prussian army passed through dis
trict which had been infected by cholera
the previous year, and more soldiers died
than had been lost in the Austrian war.
In 1S7S-75, and several times since, chol-
era has prevailed in some parts Of Eu-
rope, but this country has enjoyed long
period Of immunity. This year the story
has been repeated. The disease reached
Russia from Persia, appeared next in
Germany and other parts Of Europe, but
it has been days instead Of months on its
journey, because of the rapid transit and
wide communication between the coun-
tries.
But we have learned the vast import
ance of sanitary observations. We have
made also some advance, doubtless, in
the methods of treating cholera and pos
sibly of preventing it, and while there is
cause for apprehension, and for every
sanitary precau;ion, there is no reason
for panic or undue disturbance Of the usu-
al conditions. Our boards Of health are
and should be alive to the necessity Of
the adoption Of strict measures and the
frosts will be here in few weeks with
their purifying touch.