New-York tribune., 1894-06-26

hora had Uttle opportunty for studying 'ne
suhiact From the facts, however, tna' 'ne
pIoguo roces only in the flthiest quarters ana
that the European residents OF hohs ho'-'
whose homes and habits Of life are cleaiis' eh-
,oy o,uost entire immunity from II. we may
oone1en,lv assert that II Is a filth disease, ana
.,,, q "a NOT likely 10 extend into places where
decent sanitary laws prevail. When IL r'seu }"
t,,,rono centuries ago cleanliness and sanitation
were practically unknown arts. Two hunui'"
o,d ,h,r,v vcars ago il declmated London; but
that city was then physical ana hor"l oe''
pool. 1t appeared in France for the laS' 'ni''
in 172O. but scarcely spread beyond MaIS'lii'N'
a,o ~ rho hottest and dirtiest Of French cities
Its marc recent visits 10 Europe have been III
Southern Russia. where uncleanlness pr'v"ii'
-, o,r,oct nowhere else In the world; and lts
.,oosionaI onnoorance in Constantin0ple ana
Cairo is always amid the foulcst OF ENVIRON
ments Moreover, 1t IS now raging III 'il,n' ,
only In the crowded native slums, where MIN
exists 10 degree beyond the comprehension VI
any one who has not visited those places Inc
s,rccts soys n writer on the spot. present the
o,nooronce of Chicago hog ranch; they are
simply recking with filth OF every dcscr'p"on'
THAT such conditions are not only necessary
for the propagation of the disease bnt tli', 'n''
ore actually the generating cause OF H. II 'I'
conviction Of the bcst-informed pnyslciahS' ~.
Lowson. superintendent of the 'Nh iioSP','"
m Hong Kong. says the poison Is propa"'! uc
yclopcd from atmospheric conditions INV '"-
thc ho,ISrs in a certain district ana II c'uS'"
hv noyrrty and dirt. Under ordinary 'ohul''""'
the disease is not contagious. but II hcathy per
sons remain In the same atmosphere there II
rroh,hIitv of their catching It, He believes 'u'
rnison to be more chemical than bacterial III
Lowry. who studied the Plague careiuH! 81
p,lkhoI in 1Ss2. SAYS II IL caused by exfr'n'
dlth Lack of ventilation and hear. lie d'S'I'"'
II os q sppcitic contagious or infectlouS l'N''' VI
short duration. IT appears TO be allied to typhu'
fcvor more closely than 10 any other dlSe'S''
,bout 90 per cent Of those stricken win II "''
ccncrollv within two three days. 10 'h'Se
statements may be- added signihcaht ia''
obout thc present outbreak: English anu "'h'r
f,roi,,n residents Of Hong Kong are numerous
and constantly exposed 10 the disease" nun
drcds of Them are daily working among ih' SICK
and dcod Vet while down Ia fortnight A@"
,housonds of thc natives had taken The dis';lS''
and nine out Of ten died only ten foreigners
r,cIish soldiers engaged in sanitary work hld
h.cn stricken. ana Of them only one had di'"
rbcrc WAS q time when A,iatic cholera rAG'h
T., this country with almost the deadly force
uo,v shown bv the Plague IN China. To-day we
hold II in easy check The change indicates Inc
rroor.ss madc I'm sanitary and medical science
and in general cpdcm!ology An Am'rl''"
..,,,.,unitv would h, disgraced Sh nd ch"era
become epidemic there: for II would be- CONVICT
cI 81 the crosscst neglect ~ the elementary
urinciplcs ~ health Even more diSgra''lul ~
vell os more disastrous. would II be Tor any
community In a civilized land to suffer VISTA
,i,n ~ fhe Plague: or for our quarantine system
., lat q single caS,. of II occur ON American sol"
I'non tbn sad scenes In Canton ana hphE
Kong we must look with pity. Bui we may IT,
carl them without fear 80 long aS our own
health officers are viglant. aud our own clu'S
KEEP, clean Perhaps The most pra''''a' P"N
,t,, =, osk f., not how great are ihe raNaG'S
cf the epidemic In China. nor what ar" 'n'
chances - quarantine holding r. n bay bu'
wh,, * the sanitary condition II the East Sid'
~ Ncw.York. where the population Is aS dense
as fl Is In Canton iiSelfF