The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1893-02-25
CHoLERA,S THREAT.

DIR. Geo. +. Schrady, one OF New
Kork's sanitary inspectors, correspond
ing to the San Francisco Examiner,
sounds the keynote of warning in the
following timely article: In attempting
70 make prophecies it is safer to discuss
probabilities than to challenge fate by
positive statements. Such is the posi-
tion of the question as to whether or not
cholera will visit the United States dur
ing the coming season. When the
clouds appear, when the barometer falls
and the wind blows for rain, we are apt
to have a storm. Such is the appear
&nce of the horizon concerning cholera
to those who are on the lookout. Chol
era still exists in various parts of Europe
and Asia. In spite of the best directed
efforts of the sanitary authorities to
these countries the plague is quietly, yet
surely, maintaining it's foothold and do
ing it's deadly work. There is an omi
nous virulence in the disease germ that
keeps itself alive and active during the
frosts of an exceptionally severe winter.
Although it is well known that cold
weather does not kill the germ, its per-
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this season is an indication of a gather
ing storm which students of epidemics
view with becoming alarm.
There are four main propositions to be
taken into account in reference to the
appearance and spread of cholera. First,
there must be the seed, the infectious
germ, the comma bacillus. Secondly,
he Ioo roodx- for ho
This comprises number of conditions
humidity, heat, defective drainage, filth
and contaminated water supply.
Thirdly, we must estimate individual
susceptibility to an attack from the dis
ease, as it is well known that all exposed
persons do not suffer even during the
most virulent period of an epidemic.
And, fourthly, there is what might be
called the epidemic influence, which has
peculiarities and laws of its own, the
true significance of which is not yet en-
tirely understood.
With the fresh start of cholera with
werner weather, and its almost inevita-
ble spread in new localities throughout
Europe and Asia, it will be next to i'm
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this country through the many channels
which commerce and travel may open
for it. We assume that the germ must
be again i'm ported, as it will hardly be
impossible for it to renew itself from the
few cases which occurred in New York
during the past autumn.
The only lines of safety would be in
Aho 0f - -
every means that will tend to prevent
the growth of the poison and check its
spread by making the condition of its
development as unfavorable as possible.
This is the surest way of stamping out
the disease. 1t is a pity that in q ma
tion 30 highly civilized as ours there
Ghould be enough personal dirtinees to
make it necessary to consider it as
public menace. But We must do SO
nevertheless. All uncleanly persons
will be, when summer comes, walking
threats to their fellowmen.
But by far the most important problem,
next to general quarantine, which pre-
sents itself, in view of the danger. of
cholera, is not personal cleanliness, but
municipal cleanliness. If the summer
of 1893 brings with it an epidemic of
cholera, it will be observed after it
has ended that those cities with the
eleanest streets, the best sewerage sya-
TENS and the most thorough plan of
sanitary inspection were the ones to
suffer least. No expense, no labor
should be spared in the effort to keep
Americas cities clean in every way.
Every city in America ought to put its
self through 'spring housecleaning,'
4his year such as it never knew before.
No consideration of politics or petty
economy should have the slightest
weight. Every effort should be made to
avoid ''scare," but, better yet, every
every effort should be made to prevent
qualification of q scare. The department
Of street cleaning in every city of the
Union should be put on its mettle and
kept there. If these things are done
II America aAd Americans keep clean
and thus attain high general standard
of health-we need not fear a cholera
epidemic. But If in the face of this
seriously threatening danger, the laws
Of national, municipal and Individual
common sense are violated, we are
almost certain to receive a punishment
chat will leave black blot upon the
pages of American history.
The Olympia senatorial muddle con-.
tinues without any. evidence fan end