The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-09-29

Notice also, that the first outset of the
cholera is always the worst, and produces
the heaviest mortality. This is almost
certainly because the germ, passing
from system to system, is only strong
! and deadly at first, and because gradually
"Pasteurized'-to coin word after the
great and noble investigator OF Paris.
At the close of the epidemic the stricken
recover in quite a large proportion, and
doctors have told me that towards it's
disappearance a man may contract real
cholera and never know it, | think
| too, as a result of more than one mark
ed experience, that the disease, when it
is not absolutely epidemic. most certain
| ly declines with a falling temperature
and tends to disappear with the first
| frOsts.
This was decidedly the case in Japan
during the visitation of 1SS9-90, and it
is one of the reasons why have no fear
that your States will suffer much, even if
the horrid little bacillus gets inside. 1t
looks as if the thing were like tropica
exotic, which must have a certain degree
of heat to keep it alive while passing from
system to system. | know, of course,
that there have been winter visjtations
of cholera, but should expect to learn
that it was by the direct passage of
germs from body to body; except in
India, of course, and such regions where
there is always sufficient atmOsphric
heat to keep the bacillus alive even in
water, and perhaps in dust and dessi-
Gated matter.
1t would be very presumptiOus in me
to criticise theactiOn of yourport autho-
rites as to ships and steamers arriving
with the yellow flag. Still will say that
it does seem very hard to shut up
whole mass OF returning citizens and
strangers visiting the States in an in
fected ship. If a port adopts such severe
measures it ought to have comfortable
and healthy quarters ashore for its
hapless prisoners. AS for any such
great country and to paralyze commerce
humbiy considerit is derogatory to the
land, and as unstatesmanlike and I'M
worthy as it is unscientifc
Isolate the suspected ships and keep
apart the stricken people by all means,
but do it in proper places and ways and
not at the cost and risk of helpless and
healthy people. Briefly, [ would not
myself turn an inch out of my intended
path for cholera, and | believe that it
has done more good in promoting SAM
tation and healthy popular habits than
it has done harm. | hope and believe
that you are all quite safe here-now
that the autumn has cOmmenced-from
any serious risk. Don't mistake mean
while every passing stomach ache for the |
thing, which is SO sharp and |
swift when it comes that medicine is
useless and only nursing and nature can
do any good. Very likely this little
spirit of imported epidemic is the real |
thing transmitted from Persia and |
Russia through the Baltic ports.
II it is, it must be pretty we'll diluted |
and "Pasteurized' by this time, and |
should it enter New York, why some
young brilliant physician among you
may cover himself with glory and |
gratitude by finding the specific for it.
The one man in Russia whom | should |
pronounce secure against the cholera |
there is His Imperial Majesty, the Gar,
OF whom l lately read with glow OF |
pleasure and admiration as passing with |
the Czarlna through the wards of q
cholera hospital, bending down over the |
sick, comforting and encouraging them |
and nobly laughing to scorn the plague,
with the strong medicine of love and |
duty to fortifyhim. This is the Sovereign |
who Nihilists would shoot! All, sir, there |
are men amongst US more deadly, cruel |
and dangerous than the little crooked,
pink comma, which puts a full stop to |
the earthly chapter of so many lives
Yours obedientiy,
EDWIN ARNOLD.