The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-05
No REASON FOR ALARM
Even II the Karamania is a Cholera
Steamer.
THE HEALTH OFFICER ALERT.
Every Precaution Taken and All suspi.
cious Cases to be Investigated-Health
Commissioner Edison Discusses the Stu.

otlOu anu OucrS Nhioapio SuSBcbtAoho
New YORK, Aug. 5.-The steamship
deaths occurred during her voyage from
Naples to this port, still lies in Quaran-
tine. DIR. Jenkins, the health officer
again visited the steamship yesterday and
IAade another examination into the matter
of the supposed presence Of cholera on the
vessel
DIR. Jenkins says that while he can find
no evidence that cholera exists, or has ex-
listed, on the Karamania, he deems the
circumstances sufficiently suspicious to
hold the vessel and passengers until all
doubts are removed.
DIR. Edison, Health Commissioner, sent
out this order yesterday;
CHARLES 4. ROBERTS, Sanitary Su per-
intendent
'DEAR SIN: Yor are hereby directed to
have the Chief Inspector of the Bureau Of
Contagious Diseases have all localities
where deaths from diarrhoeal diseases
occur visited forewith and written re-
port of tho facts covering each case for
'warded TO you and filed in your Office.
Cyrus EDsoN, Health COMMISSIONS"
an. B. In case of adult deaths from
these causes and in all suspicious deaths,
material for bacterial research must be pro-
cured"
DIR. Cyrus Edison, Health Commissioners
of this city, will say in the forthcoming
issue OF the American Druggist and Phar-
maceutical Record: sit is to be regretted
that some of the newspapers resort to SEN
sational head lines, and thus unnecessarily
alarm the public In connection with con-
tagious and infectious diseases. While
much good is accomplished through
leading the people to observe the laws of
sanitation in their own persons there is
also much harm done through unreason-
ing fear and nervous dread which are caused
by these sensational methods.
The mere fact that the Karamania was
detained at quarantine yesterday should
not be a source of great alarm, for never in
the history Of this country has its sanitary
condition been so good.
Cholera has been generally prevalent
in the interior of Russia and in Asia ever
since last year, and has been known to be
epidemic in the south of France since
March of this year. Its existence in Ma
Piles has recently come to life, though it
has not yet become epidemic there. The
north of Europe has been free of cholera
since April, when some cases occurred in
Laurent, one of the northern provinces of
France. / have said that the sanitary
condition of the United States in general
is excellent, and this Is more especially
true of large cities. Since the great source
of infection is the water used for drinking
it is around this that the most stringent
safeguards should be thrown. This has
ft,llu racnoniyal In fIo 1or ,tfiac
and thanks to the energetic work of the
various boards of health, there is little or
no cause to fear as to impure drinking
water. Sojourners at summer resorts,
however, should exercise particular eau
tion, as the drinking water used at these
temporary places of residence is frequently
contaminated, not at present with cholera
germs, but with ether germs of diseases
which may weaken the system and SO af-
ford lodging place for cholera germs
should these be introduced later.
''That the health authorities of this city
are able to combat the disease, even should
it reach this country, a contingency which
i scarcely class among the possibilities,
was amply demonstrated in the way that
the few cases were handled which appear
ed here last year, and further 1t may be
said that the sanitary condition of the city
is better now than it was then.
"There are just three points to bcar in
mind:
"First-That cholera can only be taken
into the body by means of food or drink
"Second-That even if taken into a
healty stomach cholera germs are harmless,
as the acid gastric juice at once kills and
digests them.
Third-That they are certainly killed
when submitted TO the boiling tempera-
ture.
Bearing these facts In mind, every per-
son may face the problem If the cholera
comes with eqanimity, feeling assu red of
his ability to care for himself"
QUARANTINE, Aug. DIR. Jenkins,
with his deputy, DIR. Talmadge, Wis
tied the Karamania last night and
inspected the passengers. All are
well on board. The health officers then
visited Hoffman and Swinburne islands.
Owing to the extensive repairs in progress
on Hoffman Island, the passengers will be
taken to Hoffmsn Island first, where they
will be bathed and then sent 10 Swinburne
Island for observation. Arrangements
have been completed to isolate them while
bathing on Swinburne Island. One ward
will be strictly isolated for patients should
new cases develop.
The Anchor line people sent provisions
TO the boarding station. They were taken
TO the steamer on the steam launch under
charge Of the health officers employees.