The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-10
THE CHOLERA.

The predictions of the doctors have been
verified. and cholera has broken ont at Mar
settles. The attempts of the local physi-
clans to disguise the truth will not avail
against the official announcement OF the
health authorities at Paris. 1t is best to
assume the worst, and to prepare for il.
Marseilles is in the direct line of travel
from the normal cradle of cholera to The
populous centers of Western Europe.
Steamers leave the port daily for the cities
of the Levant It is in constant intercourse
with Egypt and Turkey, which are exposed
to invasion by germs from Persia. 1t
CHANGED that in the great epidemics of 1882
and 1S49 the disease followed the northern
route from the Caspian to Northern Rus
STA, and thence to Germany. France and
England, and so on 10 this country. But
the outbreak of 1888, which was so deStruc-
tive in Egypt, took the southern route. 1t
appeared at Marseiles in April, 1884, and
again in July, 1sS5-and on both occasions
it created a panic. From MarSeilles 1t
spread to Spain and Italy, in both OF which
countries the sanitary conditions were
favorable to the spread of the disease.
Sporadic cases occurred in Northern France
and In England; but owing to the vigorous
precautions taken the pestilence did not
gain a foothold, and il never reached this
country. The excessive mortality which
was reported from Marseiles and Southern
Spain was undoubtedly due to impure
water, imperfect drainage and popular
prejud ee against measures II sanitation.
Northern Europe is fully forewarned.
There Is ample time 10 take the precaution-
ary measures which proved effective in
1885. Within the past eight years sanitary
science has made progress; what was done
by DR.. Ferran and his cOabOrers can now
be better and more thoroughly done. The
lesson of Hamburg has proved that the
most prolific parent Of cholera is foul drink
ing water, and the experience Of Mr. Stan
hope shows that the development of the
disease germs may be resisted by medical
treatment. In these two particulars boards
of health are better prepared Tor the con-
flict than they were in 1885.
Between Marselles and the American
ports Of New York and New Orleans a
pretty active intercourse is kept up. and if
the disease becomes widely fatal at the
FORMER place, the most stringent measures
Of quarantine will be called for in this
country. Il is to be regretted that Congress
has thus far neglected to pass the bill eStab-
fishing a national board Of quarantine to
take charge of the whole subject. Ii is
understood that the bill is antagon zsd by
the Senators from New York who claim.
probably with justice. that their State is
able and willing to exclude the pestience
But New York cannot say as much for
Louisiana, where the State Government is
feeble and the administration Of law loose;
and it will not serve much to lock the front
door If the back door is left open. A
national quarantine, empowering the Presi-
dent to adopt such stringent measures az
boards of health may recommend at every
port in the country. is the only device which
Will sllay anxiety and promise security.
At the present moment the point of danger
is not New York. but New Orleans. At the
former port the sanitary Gordon may be
made hermetieal. Ships from the Mediter-
ranean may be kept indefinitely in qnaran-
tine and the importation Of rags may be
suspended altogether. But no one knows
how the Board OF Health OF Louisiana
would act. 1t might prove energetic and
thorough, but it might not. Recent occur
rences have not Impressed people with the
idea that the citizens Of New Orleans are
imbued, as a rule, with q profound respect
for law or regard for order. If they are lax
in barricading against cholera it may find
congenial home in the low-lying land on
which New Orleans is built. And here is
where the danger comes in for us. We are
in daily communication with New Orleans
by rail. Ii is quite possible that the cars OF
the Southern Pacific might bring cases from
the lower Mississippi to San Francisco when
there was not a case In New York. 1t is a
good time for people TO keep close watch Of
New Orleans, and, If the news from Mar
settles continues bad. 10 impress on our
representatives in Congress to hurry up the
passage of the national quarantine act. not
as against the northern ports so much as
against the ports on the gulf.