The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-22

Tine water of the Sacramento river
should always be boiled before Icing
drank, for, III truth, it is but a sewer fot
large portion of Northern California;
and as many of our residents would
doubtless flee to the mountains the mo-
menI the hrst case of cholera appeared
amongst US, it is hardly conceivable that
the germs OF the disease would fail to be
conveyed wherever a habitable spot was
found. That it would thus be carried to
the mountains, and that the germs of the
disease would soon find their way into
one or the other of the thousand sources
OF the river, and thence to our doors and
houses, goes without saying.
ana, as a matter of history, it is a
TACT that whenever cholera exists along
the Nile or other river in it's ma
tive country, those drinking of the
waters thereof rarely escape the dis
ease.
The epidemic of cholera in 1866 in Lon
don is very instructive on this point, as
told in the British Medical Journal.
When it first broke out in East London,
where it made $1,000 victims, DR.. Ernest
Hart, fully believing in the logical deduc-
tons from the great researches of Snow
and the confirmatory investigations of
Fare and Simon, 1elt assured that it
could only be due to pollution Of the water
supply. Acting on behalf of the great
journal mentioned, and of which he is
the editor, he appointed an inspector
with view to determining the truth or
ialslty OF his reasoning. At first, of
course, he met with flat denial that any
thing had occurred in connection with
their water supply which could explain
the distribution of cholera through that
water supply. a refusal to accept any
such point plank denial and a patient
investigation, in which the officials gave
all necessary aid, though under protest,
at last made 1t plain that, owing to
changes having been made in their filter
Ing apparatus, the company had sent out
FOL few days untiltered water, or water
III very partially filtered state, direct
from the River Lee. Subsequent inquiry
proved that just at that moment the waters
ofthe Lee had been infected with choleraic
discharges from cottage whose sewers
We're connected with the Lee, and III
which family had come to reside who
had reached southampton injected with
cholera, and were allowed to pass on,
alter they were supposed to have recov
cred.
at has also been observed that
when sudden treshet takes place during
the prevalence of cholera there invari-
ably occurs perceptible diminution of
cases. And why? Simply because the
stream is increased in volume, its velocity
is also increased, and the germs are car
RED rapidly to the sea. AS soon, how
ever, as the waters subside, and the peo-
pie resume bathing therein, the disease
Increases.
Before closing / desire to say few
words regarding an item L observed in
the San Francisco Chronicle Of the 18th
inst. over the initials of j. Ii. Co. He
says: 'Overripe fruit is sure to give
cholera t. those who are delicate; tainted
meat produces this disease, and the ut
most care has to be exercised that the
flesh be absolutely fresh Now, let me
say that while neither overripe fruit nor
tainted meat should ever be eaten under
any circumstances, neither of them will
produce the cholera any more than it
VIII give rise to measles, Whooping
cough or smallpox. Either may and
often does produce diarrhea. but cholera
cannot be produced by anything other
than It's specific germ, any more than
either of the other diseases mentioned
can arise from anything other than the
germ or injecting principle peculiar
thereto. To produce cholera from fruit
or tainted meat the germ must first be
deposited upon those articles of food, and
must not only be swallowed, but must
reach the intestinal canal before its effects
become manifest.
"All funerals of persons who die of
cholera should be strictly private, and
should take place as soon after death as
possible. The body should first be well
washed with one or other of the solutions
mentioned; it should then be closely
wrapped in a cloth or garment wrung
out of similar solution and placed in a
closely sealed coffin and conveyed with
out ceremony to the graveyard, and
should be deposited in grave not less
than five feet deep. After burial, those
performing the rites should wash their
hands and faces as heretofore instructed
before returning to their families.
1.-THE recommendations OF the Local
Government Board of London contain
the cream of all that need be said as
means of prevention, and are as follows:
Boil all the drinking water; filtering is
inadequate. and the addition of wine or
brandy valueless. Boil all milk white
wash all uncleanly premises; prevent
overcrowding; enforce ample Ventila-
ton; enjoin and adopt the cleanest do
mestic habits, and the removal or de-
struction of all refuse. Isolate persons
suffering from infective diseases, and
thoroughly disinfect everything that is
used in or comes from the sickroom. In
case of diarrhea medical treatment should
be Immediately adopted.
but l hear someone saying, 1T is i'm
possible to be absolutely cIean' This is
literally true, but all of us can and should
be far cleaner than we are, for in proper
JlOQ 10 our ODSoTNducS 10 LllS DVgl0nlC
principle so will our healths and lives be
prolonged; and just as our bodies are
kept pure and clean SO will our hearts be
also. And it is not merely because a ter
rible scourge is now threatening us that
we should be possessed with spasm of
righteousness and cleanliness, to be
wholly forgotten when the tempest is
over. The lesson should sink deeply
into our hearts during our lives, and
should daily bear fruit for the good of
mankind throughout all time
"God never intended that his creatures
made in His own likeness, should die
prematurely or from any filth or avoid
able disease. He did intend, however,
that he should run his course of an hum
dred years and then pass from earth
softly and gently to the bosom of his all
kind Father. Observing His precepts we
would move along hand in hand with
fair Hygiea, without pain or sickness or
distress of any kind, and when tired at
last and longing for sleep, all-kind En-
thanasia will lift us softly upon her
bosom and rock us to eternity"
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