The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1892-09-07
Cholera.


half dozen varieties of cholera, oesloes
the Asiatic cholera whichis the DREADED
| sc purge of the East. 1t lis characterized
by profuse discharges from the stomach
and bowels. severe cramps and absence
of the pulse, blueness Of the sAln aho
suppression of the urine. Many persons
<uccumb in few hours after the attack
As 8 general thing 5 TO copper cent. OF
the persons attacked with the olsease
will recover with ordinary treatment.
Those who live in filth and poverty
suffer most.
Hippocrater, 400 years before Christ,
makes !menti of the disease and oes
cribes it in such way as to snow that
he was acquainted with the true cholera.
Areteus, of Cappadocia, in Asia Minor,
described the disease with great accu-
racy so years after Christ. Other wn-
ters. after that date, mention the dis
ease, showing sn acquaintance with lts
SYMPTOMS. The'epidemics If 1856, ]70S
and 1,ol have been well described oy
several writers. This is what is known
as twelfth-year cholera, because In
Hindostan, the home Of this disease,
they have great festival every twelve
.ars. Thousands of people from all
sections spend some time together ana
when the caravans start homewaro
they scatter cholera on the line OF
march. The epidemic Of 1917 was one
the most noted of modern times. The
MARQUIS of Hastings was then carrying
on war against the Mahrattas with an
army of 10000 men. Ten thousand OF
the native soldiers had died at Allaha-
bad. Hundreds of soldiers dropped
out from the line OF march and died by
the wasside. 10 two weeks 5000 lnen sue
cumbed to the disease. The epidemic OF
tha, year spread Northward and West
ward reached the Mediterranean coast
where it died away in 1891. In 1876
the disease originated at Burdwar,
near the source Of the Ganges where
three million pilgrims assembled for
great fes ivaI. From that place 1t was
carried in all directions and passed
through Russia to Moscow. F'om that
elace it was carried to England Ireland
Scotland and Germany and In the
S,,ring of 1892 it re tchsd Canada ana
the United States. That was perhaps
The first general Introduction OF ne
disease to our country. 1t moved
westward and dow the Mississippi to
New Orleans by October OF 1882. Six
thousand died out of population OF
i 50, 900. In fS41 another great epidemic
began in lower Bengal snd spread by
degrees until it reached New Orleans
in 1s4s. In 1865 India was the starting
place of the disease. The increased IA
cilities for transportation carried the
epidemic to the Mediterranean and
Atlantic coast. In 1866 it struck New
York and was distributed in every di
rection by railroads and steamboats,
even as far as the Smoky Fork in Kan
sas. Fort ellsworth, town only SIX
weeks old, suffered with the disease.
That year it extended to rural districts
is- awav from thc-ong fares "f tr{vel:=
rhe first death in North America from
cholera was in Quebec, June 1882.
From 1888 10 1885, Egypt, Italy, France
and Spain suffered much. In 1884 there
were 5000 to $4,000 deaths in French
| towns. Ten thousand were reported
in Italy. In 1885 it broke out in most
yirulent form in Spain and ragged for
months. About one third Of the cases
were fatal. The reports were carefully
made up showing that there were 2oo,-
600 cases with $4,000 deaths. Abou;
this time the subject of incubation was
discussed and it was tried by the Span
ish government. They were very hope
full as to the results. But after trial
and the careful investigation Of experts
It is considered doubtful expedient.
The specific cause of the disease is a
living organism. The famous Koch
claims that he has discovered it and
SAYS that it is capable of multiplication
and propagation.
This disease has always had its origin
in the over crowded districts OF middle
and Southern Asia. Poverty, poor food
and 6lth are most favorable conditions
for its spread. In countries where ii is
not epidemic, it attacks those who are
crowded in tenement houses or. who
live in mean and filthy homes. Drink
ing water, when infected with the
germs spreads the disease rapidly. The
clothing OF cholera patients is a prime
cause of the spread Of the disease. Such
| is a short sketch of the terrible disease
which has been gradually spreading in
the East for year or more.