The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-07
CHOLERA MUST BB EATEN
Dr.. Kempster's Exhaustive
Study of the Plague
in Europe.

WASHINGTON. July z, 1S93.-Dr. Walker
Kempster, who for six mouths past has
been travelling abroad as the accredited
agent of the United States Governments
for the study of cholera and its preven-
ton. is approaching the completion OF
his voIuminods and Important report.
His mission was mainly to study the
means of preventing the disease; the In
vestigation of It's medical aspect was only
a secondary point. Speaking genera lly
DR., kempster said: 1.-The prevention
of cholera is not a theory, but an
absolute scientific certainty. Te find out
what the European powers were doin e
was one OF my purposes. Another and
most important object was to investigate
the commerce by which cholera germs
might be imported to this countrys TO
find, as far as possible, whence and how
they might be brought. aud what Precau-
tions would best prevent their coming.
Many seaport towns were visited for this
purpose. Travelled over large part OF
Europe. went into Egypt aud Turkey,
and visited the Iouian Islands. The su-
perior system of the European powers
for dealing with the matter is apparent.
Appropriations which would be consd-
cred here very liberal are made to the
schools and scientists who are best quail
fled to carry on the work.
KoCH'S GREAT WORK.
"As an instance OF what can be done
under the best conditions, there is the
history of the epidemic last winter In the
insane asylum at Halle. More than one
thousand cases had broken out when
Professor Kock was put ia control The
place was reekiug with it. He quaran-
tined she buildings absolutely and then
struck at the origin OF the trouble. In
twelve days hs turned the asylum inside
fnd q a a rRpf
system and stamped the cnOlera out
with boat feet. had the pleasure Of see
lug him do it. Many medical men were
there to take advantage OF the oppor-
tuniLy for study. It was a fine object
lesson. The homo of the cholera. as
everybody knows, is in India. Every
seventh year when the Mahomedans in
dulge in their pilgrimage TO Mecca
wave Of cholera Is started abroad. which
reaches over an important part OF the
world. No doubt their religious Pilgrim
ages are praiseworthy from their moral
Doint or view, but it is rather hard that
the rest of the world. even as far of as
America. should be made to suffer the
effects of them.
ENGLAND HOLDS THE KEY.
"Great Britain holds the key to the
| situation. If she would restrain the
| pilgrims from coming across the Suez
Canal to Mecca, there would be compara-
lively little danger of cholera Invasion
OF Europe. But her interests oppose such
solution of the problem. Her su-
| premacy ia India is assured only so long
ss she humors the religious custo ms OF
| the natives
DR.. Kempster holds that it is possible
to hesp the cholera from city when the
| surrounding towns are tainted or TO Keep
| it from any house in an injected city.
| But the expense is great, aHd the trouble
| exceeds the expense. As an Illustration
| of this he told of house in Hamburg
| which was barred from the outside worlu
during the plague. All provisions were
| taken in on a-hooked pole. the food
| cooked at once and the wraDpings burned.
! All inmates of the house escaped safely
although men were dropping down and
| dying u the streets outside. By proper
precautions, every physician who worked
in the hospitals escaped from Ihe dt-
seRse.
Cholera must be eateu,n remarked
| the doctor, putting 1t epfgram nlatically.
| 1T cannot be absorbed or breathed. The
germs must be taken into the stomach.
If people realize this aud govern them
selves accordingly, they can escape, in
case the germs should reach this coun-
try.n