The record-union., 1892-08-01
THE EXPERIENCE OF CHOLERA
SEASONS.

So far as can be CLEANED from the Eu-
ropean press and European correspond
ence and some official reports, but one
nation has profited materially by recent
cholera experience. The pest has broken
out in Europe and ravaged sections with
more or less virulence during each of the
last six years, with one exception-in
1891 it was manifest at but very few
points. But Germany, of all the Eu-
ropean nations, alone has taken from
year to year the precautions and pre-
ventive measures essential to resistance
of the plague. Her sanitary regulations
have been not only comprehensive and
thorough, but have been enforced. In
Germany the cholera finds less invita-
ton and least to feed upon than else
where. Improved drainage in cities, en-
forced cleanliness, scrupulous regard for
the directions of health boards, rigid
quarantine, thorough disinfection and
the fumigation of houses where the di-
sease appears, have had the effect of en-
abling Germany to best resist the cholera
Next in the order of excellence of pre-
ventive measures comes Italy. It's ex-
tensive seaboard makes its quarantine
system very expensive and difficult to
maintain and manage. But Italy in
cholera seasons adopts heroic measures.
She not only guarantees ships arriving
from infected ports, but forbids commerce
from such ports and keeps ships from
coming into her waters that hail from
cholera sections. Spain wholly escaped
the cholera in one of its worst years by
employing similar drastic measures.
Russia, Austria, the Balkan States and
the Oriental countries appear to have been
unable to enforce sanitary regulations in
the matter of cholera, assault such as
have been effective with their neighbors
and other nations. 1t is due, probably, to
the fact that their people are not so well
informed concerning the value of pre-
ventive measures, and that superstitious
fears and religious prejudices very greatly
interfere to prevent steps that other Gov
ernments have been able to take.
We do not Hpprehend that the cholera
will reach the United States this season;
yet the possibility of its appearance in
any season when it manifests itself in the
far East should not be lost sight Of Our
means Of travel are so greatly multiplied;
the rapidity and ease of communication
have so augmented that it would seem al
most miraculous if some badly infected
vessel did not arrive upon our shores in
a cholera season and scatter the disease.
To be thoroughly prepared to resist all
such assaults is the part of wisdom. The
quarantine regulations in New York and
Boston are believed to be excellent, but
they are by no means sufficient upon the
Pacific side, nor at any ports on the At
lantic other than those mentioned
The examples of Italy and Spain might
well be followed by the United States,
and so soon as the telegraph informs us
of cholera appearing in European or
Oriental port, close our own to ali ships
from such places and prevent their entry
within our waters. There was a great
cutlery when Spain adopted this policy,
that it was inhuman to turn ship back,
but the better judgment was that human
jty should be first shown to the millions
of our own; that it is better that a few
suffer by being turned back upon their
course than that the spread of the plague
be aidad