Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-07
TO PREVENT CHOLERA.
DR.. Kempster on the Result of His Inves-
LEGATIONS Abroad.
The Prevention of the Disease ia Not q
Theory, but Scientific Certainty-How
the Germs Are introduced.

DR.. Walter Kempster, who for six months
past has been travelling abroad rs the accredited
agent Of the United States government for the
study Of cholera and IT'S prevention. Is
approaching the completion Of his voluminous
and important report. His mission was mainly
to study the means Of preventing the disease;
the investigation Of its medical aspect was
only secondary point. Speaking generally of
the RESULTS Of his investigation, DIR. Kempster
said:
1.-The prevention Of cholera is not q theory
but an absolute scientific certainty. To find
out what the European powers are doing was
one of my purposes. Another and most i'm
portant object was to investigate the COM
be imported to this country, to find
SO far as possible whence and how
they might be brought and what pre-
cautions would best prevent their coming
Many seaport towns were visited for this pur-
pose. l travelled over large part of Europe,
went into Egypt and Turkey and visited the
Ionian Islands.
SUPERIOR SYSTEM OF EUROPEAN POWERS
1.-The superior system Of the European powers
for dealing with the matter is apparent. APP
proprivtions which would be considered here
very liberal are made to the schools and scien-
fists who are best qualified to carry on the
under the best conditions there is the history
of the epidemic last winter in the insane asy-
lum at Halle. More than 100 cases had broken
out when Prof. Koch was put in control. The
place was reeking with It, He quarantined
the buildings absolutely, and then
In twelve days he turned the asylum
inside out, renovated all the draining and
water system, and stamped the cholera out
with both feet had the pleasure Of seeing
him do it, Many medical men we're there to
take advantage OF the opportunity for study.
1t was fine object lesson
1.-The home Of the cholera. as everybody
knows, is in India. Every seventh year,
when the Mohammedans indulge in their
pilgrimage to Mecca, wave Of cholera
is started abroad which reaches over an i'm
portant part of the world. No doubt their
their moral point Of view, but 1t is rather hard
that the rest of the world. even as far off as
America, should be made to suffer the effects
Of them.
THE KEY TO THE SITUATION.
"Great Britain holds the key to the situation.
II she would restrain the pilgrims from coming
across the Suez canal to Mecca there would be
comparatively little danger Of a cholera inva-
sion Of Europe. But her interests oppose sue b
a solution of the problem. Her supremacy In
India is assured only so long as she humors the
religious customs Of the natives"
DR.. Kempster holds that it is possible to keep
the cholera from q city when the surrounding
towns are tainted or to keep 1t from any house
in an infected city. But the expense IL great
and the trouble exceeds the expense. In illus
tration of this he told Of house in
Hamburg which was barred from the out
side world during the plague. All provisions
were taken in on hooked pole, the food
cooked at once and the wrappings burned
All inmates of the house escaped safely. al
though men were dropping down and dying
in the streets outside. By proper precautions
every physician who worked in the hospitals
escaped the disease.
"Cholera must be eaten," remarked the doc.
absorbed or breathed. The germs must be
taken into the stomach. If people realize this
and govern themselves accordingly they car
escape in case the germs should reach thii
country"