The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-25
WILL CHOLERA COME?
mn ,JINTTG INQUIRE DTSCU sSES
METHODS FORfTS FRLTENIIOS.
IN. Aid - the Federal Government should
be Invoked ss ~ to kepci the In
Vasion Of Hostile Army.


citation. delivered al the forty-four,h an
o,,.l meeting OF that greatest gathering
.f doctors Ia the world. az Milwaukee,
r,ne e,h. was published in full In the
l.yroal Of the American Medical Associa-
,.on. June 10th. The paper is an able
one. and deals forcibiy with each ques-
uog taken up. Dr. Mcclure has given
m.eh thought to the threatened cholera
endemic. and sees as the most efficient
means Tor It's prevention a strong quar-
sa,mc system. lie takes the high ground
fat au epidemic should be viewed and
u.ltcl in the same manner as an ia
t.lne army lie writes very interest
Dcy on this important feature OF his
..lress. DR. Mcclure says:
nu. NJ The most important questions OF
he hour is that Of quarantine. During
Dbl. past year the apprehensions OF the
country have been fully aroused upon this
s.l5.at. and there is every disposition
ua the part Of the people TO have such
LAS enacted as will render us safe
AGAINST the Introduction Of Asiauc chOle-
r. and typhus fever. The latter has en-
tered one 0f our principal ports. and
las Infected limited number of the pop
NATION NI .Nt CITY "a view l'fAs H0ihH
d. tte efficiency Of the board OF health.
90 BIAS been kept under relative control.
..l is noW abaung. The former. start
Ink from It's home On the East some two
years since. and following the track
r..Ur which % has heretofore Travelled,
lls not only reached the most frequented
ports of Western Europe. but 1t has
rrrl the Atlantic. and during the
lf summer sought admission 20 our
q res Through a number Of fortuitOus
circumstances. rather than by the aid
NJ ary wcli-ordcred quarantine. we have
l..1 spared the misery OF an active in
faa0n. 10 has retreated TO the further
side 90 the ocean. and seems 10 be pre-
rrH- with renewed energy and incrcas-
iaE activity FOR second attempt 70 in
t.l. us. Shall "a succeed?
This is the vital question which we are
called upon % meet. and. # possible 20
.,It. The subject Is not incapable Of So
Htion. but there are difficulties which
I.set MS. owing 20 the character Of our
ir.tItutions and the organic laws under
which we live. Jt has been shown on
more than one occasion that the strict
enforcement of quarantine laws I'm Ameri-
Ga. as well as in Europe. has prevented
contagious diseases from entering the
feaUorts Of a country. when full and iu-
D Sons measures were put into execution.
During the late war between the States
every seaport along the south Atlantic
and Gulf States that was efectually
h1ekaded was spared an invasion Of
yellow fever Even New Orleans, which.
prior 90 that period, had been so fire.
olcutly. visited by It. was kept exempt
from II through the measures resorted to
fr The purpose by the military com
mtu1aut. oven after one case had es-
D|nei the vigilance Of the quarantine
officer. and had taken up IT'S abode in one
0f tine most pOpulOus sections Of the city,
hv prompt removal Of IL 10 vessel I'm
the river, which made a speedy exit from
the port. the disease was prevented from
obtaining n fOOthold; while Wilmington.
Is. O., which, until the last year Of the
war. remained comparatively open TO
vessels plying between that point and the
outside world. was subjected 10 frightful
fcourge from yellow fever. owing TO its
introduction from the Bermudas DO
not these facts warrant the conclusion
that yellow fever is OF alien origin, and
never epidemic in this country? / offer
THIS 10 show what can be brought about
where n preventive system Of quarantine
s. scrupulously carried out.
The circumstances and environments
were such al New Orleans as 10 make
there On keen the disease out OF the
city as the army Of occupation was, ow-
iug 20 the connguration OF the country.
necessarily cncamped within its limits it
was an army recruited from the more
northerlv section Of the United States.
aud unaccustOmed 10 the oppressive and
eneryating heat Of so warm n climate.
Had yellow fever once established itself
that army would simply have been ami
Inflated. and the chr0uiclcr Of the leading
events OF war would have found ade-
Guate figures OF comparison only in the
plague Of London. or the Black Hole OF
Calcutta. These visitatons come TO us.
however I'm the majority Of instances
in times Of profound peace. when It IS
d.mcult 10 induce the authorities Of the
country 10 enact laws sufficiently strin-
gent 90 maintain a judicious quarantine.
JIM America while we enjoy the blessings
~ n freedom never before equalled, yet
the greatest enthusiast will not fail 10
acknowledge that our form % govern
maut has some defects when II is called
upon % Prapple with questions that re-
o1ire the curtailment Of the personal
liberty Of the citizen FOR the benefit Of the
people az large.
There Is another Ira Eback 10 The en-
aetment Of general quarantine laws. our
s arort towns, aa ports of entry. are
8 'ous Of their local territorial trade
p hts grand network Of railroads
s.-eads over our entire country and the
oriirary channels Of trade can be inter
rInfed and the trade diverted into new
directions whenever free ingress ard
ecre-s 20 trahic do not exist at any one
% our seaports Approaching these facts,
ana ever Jealous in guarding their COM
msrclal interests, public sentiment In
such communities always tends TO sup
rr,es the truth at the inceUtion OF an
endemic: and even the press usually
free and outspoken on all matters In
Which the general public ~ interested
remains practically silent until its utter
.-oes coase 20 be news. and a widespread
srllamic has advertised itself. This is
matter Of profound regret; and yet SO |
'0r- ae human nature retains its present
.ilracteristics we may always expect
h causes 10 produce corresponding re-
To depend upon municipal quarantine |
fr fha protection OF this great country
from the. sproad Of contagious diseases
e fo reckon without your protecting host. |
If. soffshnoss Of human nature, the de- |
.r. Tor Gain, the aggressions and The |
potency of wealth. will all be brought |
1 bear uuon those In authority. and Will |
r possible. drive from place ana power 1
rHrc.utious officers. who In the as
.f r.,e % their duty. fan "a comply with +
t.r requests. and Interfere I'm any way /
aln wh8t they consider their rights |
.nd privileges 7 trust that ] shall not
b. hcld as animadyeriing too severely
n.n fhie subject These remarks are /
' Intended FOR any particular locality.
'haf I have stated r. sustained by the
history ~ the past epidemics that have
ken out in our country.
$50 one can ever be safe 50 long as the
Unnf nnff.-fff.c ....rfc 81 s.t,,t ora faff