Arizona silver belt., 1893-07-08
CHOLERA AsIATioA.

history of cholera, it's origin, propoga- tion and prevention.
 Asiatic cholera, an acute specific dis ease, occurring in temperate climates chiefly, and in epidemic form, was first known to the world historically through the epidemic of 1877, wh6n it origina- ted in the low lands. of India and spread through Asia and parts of Europe. Since then it hes appeared in four great epidemies spreading throughout the world, leaving behind 1t as land marks, moro grief, despair, disaster and death than the armies of hundred devastating conquerors.
 The birthplace of this horrible scourge seems to be in the delta of the Ganges where vast hordes of dirty Hin doos annually eengregate to bathe in certain pools in observance of religious rites; hundreds of thousands of them collect there and bathe, and drink the water, into which is drained all their filth, excremeRta and emenations, yer itable hotbed for the production of the disease producing fungie; cholera is here their constant companion, and when the rites arc over and the people dis psrse, they, alas, only too frequently carry the dread pest with them into other localities, from whence it IS sent as a messenger of death ts the world at large
 Cholera first appeared in North America in the epidemic of 1892. It gained entrance through cholera in feeted emigrants who were landed at Quebec aud came through Canada into this country It again visited the United States IF 1S49. and caused much havoc, and the mortality in certain cities was greater than ever before Especially was this the case in St Louis where it held high carnival and killed of 6,OO0, One-fourth of the then population, It has appeared in this country since 1S49, but the mortality was not quite so great; still it has caused lot of damage to life and prosperity at its every appearance.
 The propagation of cholera is m doubtedly by means of q minute organ ism, the comma bacillus, first dis covered and isolated by Dr, Koch, of Germany. This germ finds entrance to the human body, chiefly, through the driaking water, and, possibly, sometimes by milk. It is claimed by some to gain entrance through eating fruit and vegetables, especially cabbage and the like when eaten raw, as in cold slaw, The gsrm is eliminated from the body in the discharges of the in tsstine, and these are the chief means of contaminadng the water
 With few exceptions the places in which the water and air are most Yitiated from privies, cesspools, drains, decaying animal and vegetable refuse, or oyercrording and concentration of human amenations, are those in which cholera has generally bean most fatal and widely spread Impure air seems to have an important part in keeping up the disease after it gets foothold,
 The water contamination is the chief factor in causing the spread and con tinuanoe of the malady and by some is held as the only means of introducing the germs into the body. The nature of the soil does not seem to be of great importance as very few places, if any, arc exempt from the disease. Yet loose, sandy soil and easily drainable ground seem to have the advantage over clayoy land.
 Elevation above the sea level seems to offer more safeguards than the low CT countries, yet when it does appear in elevated regions the course and severity do not seem to be materially different than ia less favored localities. Bad food, undigestible and illy-cooksd, have thsir effect in its production when the germs arc preseNt. The presence of certain zymotic diseases, induenza, diphthsria, scarlet fever, etc, arc cer- tainly liable to act as fuel to the cpl demic.
 It is, however, not communicable directly from man to man, and can only become epidemic in places which present certain local conditions of at- mosphere and soil. The disease ceases to spread-become extinct during Q continuance of cold weather, and is favored by moist but not saturated condition of the soil. Summer and autumn are the most favorable seasons for its development, and it is promoted by alternating dry aAd wet weather, and checked by drouth. Individual preCis- position is shown, especially in poverty, mal-nutrition and chronic alcoholism. The bad influence of excesses in diet have often been Hotic0d in the course of an epidemic One attack of cholera does not afford protection against another,
 The results of treatment s-e on the whole unsatisfactory. The first re- ouiraments upon tha appearance of the