New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-05
THE CHOLERA PLAGUE IN EUROPE

Cholera news from Europe IS distressing, Dut
by no means alarming TO people on this side OF
the Atlantic While raging most violently IN
Russia tho disease Is Ginning many victims III
other countries. 1t Is epidemic In ut least one
Austrian provlncc-Galicia bordering on Russia.
Cases are reported here and there in Germany
and in RelgIum and Holland The Mayor OF
Marseilles denies that 1t is epidemic there,
though not that 1t exists. England keeps hcr-
self free. and Spain Also though both those
countries are much exposed to the plague FIN
land is suffering for the first time, for which,
doubtless Russia Is to be blamed NO eSpeclai
manic prevails anywhere. nor even general
anxiety unless in some parts OF Russia; n 1ca'-
urc Of the ease not altogether commendable.
There Is no need Of a panic Of course, Dut
neither i. II fitting that there should be apathy
Nothing could he more deplorable than FOR me
people and their health officers to grow. through
familiarity. tolerant Of this plague ana 10 iooh
upon it> presence among them with Indifference.
Yet there really seems danger of ms coming
70 pass in more than one European country.
Perhaps nothing better is to be expected OF
Russia. But IT IS n grievous rcproach to Bel
GUM thar the disease has attained an eStaD-
lshcd footing there SO that II is actually regard
ed as endemic. And 1t surely ought to be pos
sibc 10 make the sanitary condition OF France S
great Mediterranean seaport better than II Is
As for Russia. II Is. even more than AraDEt OF
India. n menace 10 the health ~ Europe. Chol-
era typhuS fever and other plaques, which nave
no place in civilized communities, seem 10 De
fixtures all through her Southern provinces.
Cholera now Is raging at will in ~. Petersburg
itself and In almost all parts Of tho Empire
II is true that the Russian peasants are. beyond
all other Europeans. ignorant. superstitlons
and filthy In diet and manners or lie. But
that does not excuse ne Government onccrs
for habltually conccallng and denying the exist
encc Of the plague until it breaks out beyond
all bounds or for their amazing inactivity III
the work ~ sccludlng and supprcsSlnS II. IN
the imperial capital Itself. when hundreds OF
cases are occurring daily, they content them
selves with putting up placarlS bearing some
rndlncniarv hints ~ sanitation. They tell the
people 10 drink no vodki. 10 drink only boiled
water. and 10 send for doctor ns soon as
they arr H. Bu, they do not tell where To
find city doctors. nor where 10 get Doll'd
water. and drunkenness prevails ~ never De
fore: while the streets AND canals OF the city
are literally rccking with the deadly discharges
from IN. wlstc.plpes Of the hospitals Surely
a universal quarantine against such "A country
would scarcely be too stringent measure
our own duty is perfectly clear. American
conSuls abroad and quarantine officers AT nome
must maintain fully the rigid inspection OF ail
westward bound vessels which they have prac-
tls,d - successfully for the last two or three
years The municipal authorities who are
charged with the supervision and guardianship
Of the public health must keep mp their good
work. All these things should always be- done,
whether Europe be- 4 Sanitarum or lazaretto.
II they are done now cholera news from abroad
need rouse no fears nor any feelings save those
~ sympathy and ply.