The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-06
\ STARTLING STORY.

A startling story comes by telegraph
from London to the effect that scores of
thousands of tons of non-disinfected rags
have since last summer been shipped
from Europe and distributed i'll America;
that these rags came from the cholera
districts of Europe largely; that our
Government was notified long ago of the
fact, and warned against the shipments
in time, but nothing was done to prevent
the landing of the goods. 1t is added that
our Government some time ago appointed
an expert to look into the matter, and
that there is now on file at Washington
ample documentary evidence of the truth
OF these statements. This story is tele-
graphed as coming from an American
medical official now at Marseilles.
1t seems to be too monstrous for belief;
it is out of all reason to ask US to believe
that the Treasury Department, either
under President Harrison or President
Cleveland. would be guilty of so grave an
offense as that charged-it is incredible
Nevertheless it may be true that the rags
came in without the foreknowledge re-
ferred to; it may be that the Treasury
Department knew nothing of the facts
But the customs officers did know, as
the rags were admitted, just where they
came from, and it was their duty to have
notified the health authorities. True, it
may be said that the customs officials
know only of the point from which the
rags are shipped, which may be one not
within a cholera district, and that they
could not know whence the rags were
collected. But to this it is to be replied
that all customs officials at great Atlantic
ports do know that rags are not alone
from the port of departure of the bales,
but that they are gathered from all over
Europe, and that certain districts con-
tribute more than others. The officers
ought, therefore, to have had proof of the
thorough distinction of the rags before
permitting them to be taken into the
country.
All this is, of course. predicated upon
the truthfulness of yesterdays dispatch
to which we have referred. We enter
tain the hope that it is ill-founded; that it
is indeed wholly unwarranted, and
grows rather out of fear and over-caution
than of cold fact. But this we do know.
that tens of thousands of bales of rags
are annually imported from Europe. 1t
is fair to assume that this importation
has gone on since last summer as usual.
All that remains. therefore, in doubt, is
whether the rags were disinfected by being
boiled or otherwise treated whether the
Washington authorities were informed
that the rags coming were not disinfected.
mitted without being first subjected to
disinfecting processes.
The Importance of having early and
reliable information upon these points,
despite the belief that the Washington
officers have not been guilty as is charged.
arises out of the well-known fact that the
cholera germ can be and is transported IN
rags; that it will lie dormant in them for
many months and revivify when the con-
ditions are favorable. We know as a
matter OF fact that the bacillus of the
disease has been carried repeatedly In
rags, and that few years ago the cholera
entered Europe from Asia by means of
that vehicle. If there is truth in the
story telegraphed; if rags have in large
quantity been gathered in European
cholera districts and shipped to and dis
tributed here, and if any considerable
quantity of them has not as yet been
made up into paper, then there is imme-
diate and great danger of development of
cholera in the United States. For wher-
ever these rags are stored. or wherever
bales are opened. the liability of the dis
ease breaking out exists.
NEW IDEA.