The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-27
STEPS AGAINST CHOLERA
A Quarantine Inspection Commission
Appointed by the Conference.
The Executive Committee Issues Statement
Regarding the ScOurge-Membsrs Of the
C0mmission-~What Will Be Done.

certed action on the part of the health and
sanitary officials shall prove effective in ex-
GLIDING 1t. The first step In this direction
has already been taken by the international
conference of the State health boards of the
Unned States. Mexico and Canada, the ex-
ecutive committee of which met in this
city, at the Bates House, yesterday. The
committee Is not an executive body, but In
times like this it is part of its duty to take
the initiatory steps, and recommend to To-
cal, State and national health boards what
shall be done. The executive committee is
composed of DE- J. N. Mccormack presl.
dent, of Bowling Green. KY; Dr.. &. 0.
Probst. of Columbus, o.. DIR. ID. IL. Baker.
of Lansing. Mich; and DR.. Z. N. Metcalf, of
this city.
DR.. Mccormack arrived In the city late
Thursday night. and early yesterday morn
ing DR.. Probst got here. Yesterday morn.
ing's session of the committee was COM
posed of Drs. Mccormack. Probst and Met
calf, DE-. Baker not arriving until 1880.
The meeting was called by President Mo-
Cormack, and Its object was to discuss the
advisabiiity OF appointing committee OF
sanitary experts TO visit and inspect the
quarantine posts of the Atlantic sea- board
from Quebec to Galveston. Tex.
When Dr. Baker had arrived the commit
tee went to work to prepare a statement to
be sent out over the country which defines
the duties of the quarantine inspection
commission appointed and gives some idea
of the precautionary measures necessary
to guard against the Introduction of choi-
era into this country. The statement pre-
pared ~ as follows:
That the quarantine inspection commission
shonld act IN concert with, and secure the CO.
operation OF. the United states marine hospital
service III the prosecution OF its investigations,
Ii being the purpose OF this conference to unite
and cooperate with all the sanitary organiZa-
tons on this continent in excluding cholera and
restricting its spread should IL gain an entrance.
1t was voted that, while this executive CON-
mittee attaches great Importance to efforts to ex-
clude cholera by an efficient quarantine system
on che sea-board, az urges upon popular atten-
ton what is so well known 10 sanitarianst TO wilt:
The importance of such prompt municipal and
domestic preparation now Will cause the germs
OF cholera to fall upon sterile soil should the dis
ease gain a foOthold upon this continent In the
history OF former epidemics cholera was most
y1rulent and fatal i'll the undratDed, filthy cities
and towns with polluted water supply, while
clean places and those which had made proper
preparations In advance escaped entirely or were
but lightly scourged. Cholera Is not caused 10y
fear nor by any article OF diet alone, but by the
germs which spread, directly and indirectly,
from the Infected person.
Especial care should be taken that the danger
Gus excreta Of immigrants be no longer scattered
along the rail OF every railroad across the coun-
ing and insuring that all such excreta voided on
board cars shall be received in strong dsinfect-
ant solution, as cholera Is usually spread along
lines OF travel by those only slightly affected by
the disease. The Importance of these precau-
tons cannot be overstated.
After the four mem bers of the executive
committee had voted unanimously TO ap-
point quarantine inspection committee
of seven. kilograms were sent over the
country to at least dozen sanitary experts
to see how many of them were in position
to accept places on the commission. Many
answers were received. and after careful
ed as follow: DR.. j. n. Mccormack, Bowling
Green. KY; DR.. II. Il. Baker. Lansing,
Mich; DIR. Irving Watson. Concord, n. h.;
DR.. z. III. Bryce. of Toronto, Can, a nephew
of Peter Bryce of this city; Dr. j. X. Lame.
of Sacramento, Cal; DR.. Domingo Orvana-
nos. of Mexico City: either DR.. Joseph Holt
or DIR, L. Z. Saloman of New Orleans.
Gall was at once sent out for the COM
mission TO meet at Toronto. Canada next
Wednesday. from whence it will proceed
to Quebec, where the first post will be in
specteo. All the posts from there to Gal
YES ton. on the Atlantic eea-board. Will be
inspected In their order. Dr. Mccormack
says he did net Intend to convey the idea.
as stated in ali afternoon paper, that he
thought the quarantine poets are made
quate in many places. He says he hopes
the commission will lind them In q condi-
ton to cope with the scourge.
had in operation" said Dr.. Mccormack
yesterday afternoon. for some time,
o system known as the interstate.
which includes also Mexico and the
Dominion of Canada, by means Of
which. when certain locality 10 threat
ened with an epidemic all the State health
boards included in the international con-
ference are at once notified. There is an
express agreement that no facts in regard
to the matter shall ever be concealed; and
o. IA n n In ia
diagnosis of O case If the fainteSs suspicion
is aroused that II is yellow fever or any
other disease of that character the fact
shall ut once be sent out to the various
State boards of health. If such a system
had been employed throughout Europe
think il is fair to assert that that country
would not now be suffering from the
ravages of the scourge. The officials there
even made al effort TO conceal the facts in
order to avoid a pane
The present epidemic" continued DR..
Mccormack, has been spread with re-
markable rapidity by the immigration of
Russian Jews The first epidemic OF cholera
which spread to America was introduced
through the bort of Quebec In 1882, while
the next three epidemics. occurring in 1s49.
1854 and 1866, entered through the port of
New York. The last time cholera reached
the United States was through New Or
leanS In 1873. In 1884, 1885 and 1856 cholera
was again epidemic in Europe but the
stringent measures adopted by the health
and sanitary officials in this country WAS
the means of keeping it out IL reached
South America. however, through the port
of Buenos Ayres, and spread across
the Andes to Chill. For while the
people of the United States were alarmed
lest il should be introduced through q Pa
ciic coast port. but fortunately 1t was kept
out. Cholera is ever present about the
mouth of the Ganges. in India. and from
there is spread by the pilgrims travelling
TO Mecca. Since the great epidemic of 1917,
which killed many thousands of natives
and English soldiers. every successive cpl
demic has been carried up the Persian gulf
from Bombay, Surat. Kurrachee and other
ports on the western coast of India. and
thus reached the mediterranean. Black and
Caspian seas and the mel III boring countries
by the sO-called Persian gulf route. This
time the epidemic crossed Persia from In
dia to the Caspian sea. and from there was
introduced into Russia"
Yesterday afternoon the executive COM
mittee, while In session. received the fol-
lowing telegraphic communication. from
Chicago:
The Illinois state Board OF Health and the
health department of Chicago beg to suggest to
the executive committee tho expediency OF
memorialiZng President Harrison, praying that
he Issue a proclamation prohibiting immigra-
ton pending the prevalence OF Asatic cholera in
Europe. signatures to he secured from boards OF
trade and other similar organizations. from Rep
resentatives. Senators. members or Congress,
and other influential citizens. To suspend immi-
grafton Is To make the prevalence of cholera in
America impossible.
fIAct yuTr