The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-27
THE CHOLERA PROSPECT.

Europe Still Suffers. Hamburg Water Filthy,
and the United States in Great anger.
Engineering Magazine.
The most recent advices are that cholera
is still raging III Russia, and that it exists
IN a slight degree in Hamburg and in some
parts OF France. The pro ba Dilitles are, IN.
less travel and immigration from Russia
are immediately and strenuousiy Interdict-
cd, and unless the water supply OF Ham,
burg is made absolutely pure that cholera
Will Ieappear In an epidemic form in
Germany and France this spring and sum-
mer. But these two contingencies are
within human control. Travellers aud i'm
migrants may be prevented from entering
Germany and purity of the water of Ham,
burg may be secured. While cholera has
not been epidemic in any European port
during the past winter. sporadic OF isolated
cases nave OCCURRED constantly Ill some Of
them. There are some persons-I will
not cay authOrities-whO assert that
true Aslatlc cholera exists In Paris during
the entire year. Certainly it was there
last summer. Assuming these statements
TO be facts We have good reason TO fear
that this disease Will reap2ear in New
York harbOr during the summer of 1898.
But it is quite possible for the city of New
York and the other ports of this country to
be SO protected, and for those coming here
with the disease to be so isolated as to pre-
vent an epidemic In the United States.
As TO the prevention of cholera, much has
time quarantine. The more Ignorant the
nation the more intense and annoying the
quarantine. whether maritime or on the
LAND frontier. During the epidemic of 1885
in Italy and the south OF France the ltal-
Ians outdd themselves in ridiculous
and inefficient and obnoxious rules.
to prevent perfectly we'll people
from going from country
TO the other. England. perhaps, lays less
stress upon maritime quarantine than any
Nfh rafI lint m l nd 10 nf
for immigration. and filthy Immi grants from
all parts of the world do not come TO Der
shores as they do to those of the United
States Those no visit I'm gland come only
as actual travellers or immig grants in trans
itu. If the Russian immigrants who. hav-
ing passed q few days in Hamburg. with
out any cleansing and other sanitary
means, were put upon ships which they in
fected, had been allowed free access TO
New York city last sumner and autumn.
they certainly would in o few days have
so polluted water sources that cholera
would have become epidemic.
We must. therefore, have quarantine
regulations IN this country. But, If ship
comes To New York harbOr. even during
the visitation of cholera. from q nonin-
fected port and has passed seven days
without the occurrence of any case, il
would be folly to retain the passen gers
on the ship. They should De allowed
TO land as soon the facts about
their condition are ascertained. If cholera
has actually broken ont upon "a ship
the healthy Dassenge should certainly
not be retained upon il. when the port is
reached. They should be put on shore in
comfortable quarters, aud after a very
short quarantine. il the disease does not
break out among them. they shonid be- re-
leased. Ii quarantine must be practiced. IL
must lie civilized and humane quarantine.
instead of initiating the Turks and Italians.
If tho quarantine regulations are hon.
estiy maintained. with skill and scientific
knowledge. there need be no tension 81
the disease FROM our barbor. Perhaps IL
will not even be brought there. The effect
upon she Worlds Columbian y position By
the appearance of yho cholera in New York
would. in the nature of things. be extremely