New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-01
CHOLERA At THE GATE.

Tho arrival of cholera ship in this harbor
is an unuecome but not unexpected event
4 week ago it seemed likely that the 1nlec'ioh
was already crossing the Atlantic, ana lis APP
pearance here was only question OF DAYS
The Morayia which has earned an unenVlapie
distinction, comes straight from Hamburg ana
sailed before the Hamburg authorities h"d
officially advertised the true character OF 'he'r
local visitation. Her doctors, following mis-
chievous precedent, were content to call by
mildor name the disease which in ten days killed
twenty two of her passengers but there H.
unbappily. not the slightest reason to doubt
that it is true Asatic cholera, whose presence
in several Western European ports is now IN
contestable, and which is reducing the popuia-
tion of Hamburg at the rate OF 300 DAY.
Here. as in London, lax and feeble policy
might have produced alarming results. The So
called " cholerine'' is itself deadly enough 10
be vigorously guarded against, and the expert
encc of Hamburg and Antwerp expose the radi-
cal folly of attempted concealment. for'u-
nately. our sanitary guardians keenly alive 10
their present responsibilities, are not encouraged
70 increase them by unreasonable timidity ana
their prompt disposition of the plague-ship ana
her passengers offers substantial guarantee
for the public safety.
As the Moravia is probably only the first OF
several vessels that may transport the mice
ton to this hemisphere, it is high time for a
general strengthening of our means OF defence
n, all points If the disease should once gam
\ foothold on Manhattan Island, it would con-
,ost = dislodgment much more stubbornly than
the black typhus that came in the MassIila
Our still imperfectly cleaned streets would
become germ-nurserieS every clogged SINK or
lealy water-pipe would aid the propagation
and the budding inmates of our unclean tene-
ment-baracks would constitute formidable
and active agency for distributing the con-
taeion. At the same time, it is long step
from Hoffman's Island to the East Side. BE-
fore any of the Moravias passengers or crew
arc turned loose. they and their belongings
should be washed, fumieatcd and detained
under close official inspection long enough 70
DESTROY absolutely their power OF contamha-
ton, and the ship itself treated with correspond
ing care Confidence in the efficiency OF the
present municipal Health Board is, unhappily'
seriously impaired by recent designations and
if DR.. Jacob and his old associates can be
persuaded again to offer their service, the pub
tic welfare mperatively demands its acceptance.
| One strong point in New-Yorks favor is It's
pure and copous water supply. The timely
nublication of official circulars, the strengthen
| ing of the street scavenger force, and rigid
execution of the health ordinances by an en-
larped sanitary squad will also immensely lessen
the risk. Much must, however, depend IN any
! event on private corporation, and every good
citizen should appoint himself temporarily a
sanitary agent to expose nuisances, and stimu-
late by his own example higher degree OF
general cleanliness.
As 10 outside communities, the fact that
several crowded steamships are nearly due In
the St. Lawrence from the Moravia's port
couplcd with the knowledge of Canada's
wrctched quarantine, should sufficiently admon-
ish dwellers on our Northern border. In a
contingency like this every man is more or
less at the mercy of his neighbor, and the rule
holds as to nations. Mr.. Spaulding, the Acting
! Secretary of the Treasury, announces that the
co-opeIation of the National and State quar-
antinc services makes the existing quarantine
practically a National one" No good reason
exists why the condition should not be made
absolute. Civilized persons surely need no
warning as to the deadly office of the plague
and the explicit assurance that one traveller
from an infected district is as likely to bring
death as another, and that every inlet is equally
assailable, should appeal effectively to all in
authority. As the Morayia has demonstrated
the length of the ocean passage generally re-
moves the excuse for official blindness; and
while the use OF infected food may start tho
| disease in a healthy port, six-days' quafan-
tine and acquisitions involving the use of only
fresh provisions should operate everywhere rs
an absolute safeguard, in connection with the
ordinary chemical processes. The grotcsque
imbecilty of the London quarantine arrange
ments whole city is now deplorng; and the
disgrace of the Hamburg official, whose foolish
| conccament of the facts led to the spread OF
the plague in Germany. should contain salu-
tary lesson for all Americans. With the Ham
burg mortaity-rate in mind, and the story OF
$50. 900 deaths in Russia, none can complain
of lack of notice. On former occasions the
plaeue has advanced with slow and stcalthy
steps on unsuspecting communities, i-prcpared
to evade it, This year it has swept directly
to our coasts from the heart OF Asia with hardly
a pause yet the news of its evil GRAND has
outStrpped it, and are ready to meet and
resist it without dismay.
|
| THE CANVASS IN THIS STATE.