The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-14
HOW TO PREVENT AND CURE
CHOLERA,

To the Editor of the Eagle.
/ see from the article, Heading of
Cholera" in the EAGLE OF March %,
that the people of Wichita are beginning
tc take steps to prevent cholera from
getting foothold in your city. This is
move in the right direction that can
not be made too soon. Wichita, from
its location and surroundings, unless
measures are early taken to ward it off :,
will, like other large cities be likely to
suffer severely if the cholera should get
started there.
Scientific physicians claim that chol-
era is not, like typhoid fever, measles,
smallpox and scarlet fever, contagious
disease that can be communicated by
disease germs that float in the atmos-
phere, but that it is an infectious disease
and tine germs that produce It are taken
into the system either through the food
people eat or the liquids they drink.
The latest discoveries go to show that
cholera is caused by vegetable para
site, a living germ, that has been named
! the comma bacillus" This germ was
first discovered in 1888, by DR.. Koch, q
a German physician, and since then eX-
| periments have been made by different
| scientists, showing that it can be cult
waited or propagated outside of the hu-
man system, and that Ill water impreg-
mated largely with vegetable matter it is
propagated very rapidly. When this
comma bacillus enters the human
| system its seat of propagation is in the
| alimentary track, and particularly in the
| colon. The colon, as is well known, is
the receptacle where the poisonous and
effete matters Of the human system are
collected, and owing to the bad dietetic
habits of the people, this organ is liable
10 become loaded with material which
makes first class breeding place for this
comma bacillus"
Cholera is disease that is gen
Grated in filth, and the more
filth there is. both inside and outside of
the people, Immediately surrounding
trem, the more rapidly will this 'bacil
lus" increase and produce its destructive
effects. Its propagation takes place in
that portion OF the alimentary canal
whose secretions are alkaline in their re-
action, rather than in those portions that
are acid. 1t does not propagate IN a
healthy stomach, on account of the
strong acidty of the gastric juice; but
when the stomach becomes disturbed i'll
its function it may become somewhat
alkaline, and serve as a breeding place
for the c!olora germs. When the .chol-
era bacillus enters the aiimentarv canal
if conditions are favorable il multiplies
with wonderful rapidity, millions of
them being generated within a few
hours. 1t soon disorganizes the mucous
surface, causing desquimation of the
epitheiial coats OF that portion which it
attacks. 1t produces an irritated and
infiamatory condition of the fol-
licles and DEVELOPS an acrid
poison which finally enters the
blood circulation. When this poison
is taken into the blood it is claimed that
it attacks the red corpuscies, causing
their destruction or an alteration of their
function. creating great disturbance and
rapidly destroying life.
The success met with in the treatment
of cholera in New York, as well as III
Russia and some European countries, in
1892. indicates that cholera can be pre-
vented Had the Russian government
been prepared for cholera when it first
made lis appearance in that country as
we'll as it was after the epidemic had OBJ
tanned a foothold, it is probable they
could have stamped it out in the first
city It entered, by destroying all the
germs.
United States Consul General Craw-
ford, of ST. Petersburg, has made re-
port OF the cholera epidemic in Russia in
1892, that contains many facts that are
of great value to the people of this coun-
try in regard to this dreaded disease. its
propagation and lis treatment.
From this report we learn that
the cholera in Russia in the year
1892, obtained a foothold first at Samar-
cand, went rapidly TO Bakoon and from
there to Astrakhan. From Astrakhan it
spread up the Nolga. The first effectuai
effort to stamp out the disease was made
by Governor Baranotf Of the province OF
Minnie Novgorod. The people in the
towns where cholera first made lis APP
pearance were bitterly opposed 70 the
efforts Of the authorities 10 stamp it cut
Tney thought the rights Of the citizens
were interfeyred with, and that tAe pre-
cautions taken would not prevent the
spread Of the disease. Governor Baraa-
off. however. assumed the attitude of 8
dc ator in the matter, and so rigid was
he in enforcing the regulations IN regard
20 il ;ha: all persons arguing that the
disease was not an epidemic Of Asa,ic
cholera, and all persons opposing the
orders Of the sanitary commissioe ard
Of the doctors. were immediately arrest
ed aud imp. ;soned He also ordered
severe Punishment "a al persons
WHO were found guilty o! spread
ing alarming and exaggerated reports
of the disease. He organized system.
attic pan OF d.siniecii-H, the first aaG
foremost of which was The thorough
cleansing OF the city. Public streets,
sewers closets, cellars and buildings. as
well as private houses and grounds Ia
the city were thoroughly cleaned and
dlsintec;el with either water, carboiic
acid. blchloride Of mercury, ftrrIc sui
phaie, dry heat. steam CT boiling water
He also Organized rigid inspection Of
all kinds OF food that were believed 10
Ue especially liable to carry Infection
and all fruits and vegetables no. ALSO
.u,ely fresh and clean were gathered up
bv the authorities and summary de
<,roveh Use work CARED -ou there
shows that the very best system Of dIsiu-
lection was that Of cleanliness. rot only
in the city. but IN the houses ot the FSo
pie. and OF tire people themselves. 4
rigid system was enforced u prevent
Tie spread and breeding 81 cholera