Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-10

and to Jaha and Jerusalem, to which latter
places they found that it il the custom OF
devout Russians to make pilgrimages. In
Jerusalem the commissioners saw hun
dreds Of Russian pilgrims just arrived
from the provinces Of Russia where
famine and cholera were then prevalent.
The pilgrims came through without quaran-
tine examination and we're camped or grouped
in one building in the suburbs Of Jerusalem,
living in dirt and adding to the unspeakable
filth Of the city.
American and English residents there are
greatly alarmed at these pilgrimsges and dur
ing the past winter they united, both Jews and
Gentiles, in petition to the Sultan Of Turkey,
in which they offered to keep Jerusalem clean
and supplied with pure water without any ex-
pense whatever to the Turkish government. and
the request was denied. As the original sewer
conduits and water supply pipes which were
built originally by King Solomon and which are
almost intact. although not now in use, and the
water supply now going to waste are adequate,
this proposition involved but a comparatively
small outlay. The whole subject was surveyed
by EnRish engineers. The money was raised
to carry out the work, but the permit Is with
held by the Turkish government and the city
is in consequence terribly filthy.
FOCAL POINT OF coNrAaIoN
At Jerusalem the pilgrims come in contact
with travellers from all nations, hence this city
becomes a focal point Of contagion from any
epidemic disease.
From Jerusalem they went to Smyrna in
Asia, from which port came the woods, goat and
came's hair, rugs and carpets from the far
east, from those countries where cholera COM
monty prevails.
From Smyrna they went to Constantinople,
where . very rigid and thorough examination
was made, not only with reference to the pos
sible outbreak Of cholera at that point,
but to investigate the methods en-
to prevent the invasion Of the disease
from other parts Of the eastern world, with
which Turkish ports are in direct and i'm
mediate contact through the shipping which
passes from the Black sea through the Bos-
phorus.
Also they were authorized to investigate tho
extent to which leprosy, smallpox and other
infectious or contagious diseases prevailed and
what was done, IL anything, by the several
governments to prevent the introduction or
spread Of epidemic diseases through their re-
spective dominionr.
QUARANTINE IN NAME ONLY.
At Constantinople 1t was found that quaran-
tine WAS q name only, vessels being permitted to
pass through the Bosphorus from Odessa and
other ports on the Black sea without re-
striction. The medical officer charged
Will tuc VI oBtAOusuluR quarantine re-
strictions told the commissioners that it was
impossible to carry out proper quarantine
regulations for two reasons. First, because
there was no money to enable him to estab-
ish them. and second, because whenever
any sanitary measure is suggested by
him the Koran must first be consulted
and il the expOunders of the Koran find
nothing in the book which by their interpreta-
ton does not authorize the proposed sanitary
measure then 1t cannot be done The Koran
comes first and science afterward.
1t WAS at this point also that special investi-
cations were made to determine the existence
and extent OF the cholera in southern Russia
and the methods by which 1t was introduced
through Russia and into Europe during the
previous year, and which, by proper sanitary
regulations. might all have been prevented.
THE ROUTE OF THE CHOLERA.
The investigation at this point shows that it
was through the routes taken by pilgrims to
and from Mecca and other holy cities, and the
channels through which commerce passes, that
the cholera came from India to Mecca, pass
ing thence northward through Persia to points
on the Caspian sea, being especially severe at
Teheran, where during the autumn Of 1892
the daily deaths from cholera were upward of
1900. 1t was at this time and place that Mr.
Theo. Childs contracted the cholera and died
OF 1t at q small suburb outside of Teheran.
Thence the disease passed through commercial
the terminus Of the Southern Russian railroad
system and the point at which large guam
titles of petroleum is raised from wells and
sent through all the southern and eastern
parts OF Russia, going by boat to the Voga river,
also across the country by the Southern Rus
sian railroad to Batoun and points on the
Black sea. From Astraksn, at the mouth Of
the Volgs, the disease spread with rapidity and
virulence toward the north. following the course
Of the Volga and its tributaries until 1t reached
Moscow and st. Petersburg on other water
courses closely related to the Volga, the dis
ease being most virulent along all the water
ways
IN SOUTHWESTERN RUSSIA.
During the past winter and spring it has pre-
vailed in the southwestern provinces Of Russia,
bordering on the Black sea, and following the
Dnieper and Dneister rivers, again going
northward through the territory of Russia into
that part known as Old Poland, being especially
severe in the province Of Podolia, where at one
time during the month Of March over 500
deaths per day were recorded.
1t was from these provinces that under the
recent edict Of the Russian government the
Hebrews were expelled. They soughte exit at the
port Of Odessa, and thence by wav Of the Black
sea through the Bosphorus and Mediterranean
to ports in Sicily, Italy and other places
on the Mediterranean. 1t is believed that in
this manner the presence Of cholera in Mar
settles is accounted for. this being one of the
principal seaports to which many coast trading
vessels enter. From Marseilles, however,
there has been no immigration for some
months and there is none now.
From Constantinople the commissioners pro-
ceeded to Athens, Corfu. Palermo, in Sicily,
and Naples, from which places there are large
shipments OF commerce and immigrants to the
United States. At Naples, by reason of the
reported outbreak Of cholera at Marseilles,
Surg. Irwin was detached and sent to Mar
settles in April to aid the consul in the pre-
ventive measures necessary with regard to YES
sells and people bound for the United
States. DR.. Kempster then continued
the investigations alone, proceeding
from Naples to Rome and Florence,
from which places many Of the kidskins, rabbit
skins and wool products are sent direct to the
United States. Also to Leghorn, Venice,
Trieste, near the Austro- Hungarian borders,
at which points merchandise Of the latter class
passes freely into Italy, investigation showing
that quantities Of these skins come into that
territory from the southern provinces OF
Russia.
EMIaRANr TRAINS FROM SOUTHERN EUROPE.
From Milan DR.. Kempster followed the route