New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-18
HEALTH OF THE WORLD.

HEALTH OF THE WORLD.
Reports come from the Far East OF the rayages
Of Asiatic cholera In China, COrea and F0rmos;l.
These are by no means surprising. Those conn-
tries were recently the scene OF devastating
warfare: as, indeed, one OF them still Is. Gov
eminent and order exist in them only In name.
Sanitary regulations always primitive and inefli-
Gent are practically in state OF collapse, whlie
fostering batlcfclds and ruined cities furnish
fertile ground for the propagation OF the plague.
Some cases of the disease have appeared in
Japan. having been imported by returning SOL
diers or others. They have, however. been
promptly disposed of by energetic quarantine,
and no danger Of anything like an epidemic
there or in any other country Is apprehended.
/ In Cuba yellow fever is destructvely active.
There. as in Asa. war has prepared place for
the placue. and il is around scenes Of conflict
and in the camps and military hospitals that the
latter is doing its most deadly work or gen
eral epidemic there is no fear.
These two examples are especially noteworthy
nj this time, because Of the strong contrast 10
the rest Of the world which they present. Every
where else good health prevails. We have now
reached the very heart Of that season of the
year In which plaques and rrImors of plaques do
time all Europe has been uneasy. if not panic
stricken, because of the outbreak Of Asiatic cho
era here and there Nor has America been free
from menace from that source. Consus abroad
and quarantine officers at home have been sorey
taxed In their guardianship Of the public health
against imported pests, and haze not always sue
cecded in keeping the dread visitors from our
doors. Our Gulf ports. too, have yearly been in
II. al. and
now and then few sporadic cases in Florida
have sent IA panjcky futter all over the land.
Nor are domestic plaques TO be forgotten; cspc-
cially typhoid fever. which has In former years
brought disaster aud death to more than one
crowded summer resort.
This year, as kave said, these things are
lacking. Health officers are doubtless rs vici-
liant as ever. as they should always be. Bu, their
watchfuncss has happily been, for the most
part, for foes that have not appeared. There has
been il is true, case of yellow fever at this
port but 1t has caused not the slightest pop
uar apprehension. and there Is no reason why it
should Apart from that. we have had not even
the menace of invasion; and. indeed there i no
pest extant in Europe To invade us. We are now
i'm the third week Of August, and the quarantine
hospitals are empty and likely to remain so.
The typhoid epidemic III StdHiloru "''N> d.
was purely local Ii has long ago subsidized, ana
there is no other elsewhere 70 take its place.
Indeed. the general public health Of this country
and. with the two exceptions noted. OF the wh"ie
world at least so far as cpidemics are concerned,
is in an exceptionally sound condition.
What are the causes OF this happy state or
affairs IT would be difficult 10 say. The weather
has. Oh the whole. been pleasant. but not so
markedly superior 10 the average of other years
as 10 be credited with all the sanitary good. In
this city We have cleaner streets than formerly.
but that is a purely local condition. Elsewhere
some other agencies may have made in the same
direction. But none, nor all of these, can prop
erly claim the credit for the general good health
of mankind There may be some subtle infin-
ences in Nature al present far beyond our feeble
ken which control and determine such things
and which at some times send waves Of health
around the world rs at other times they send
waves of pestilence. As II Is not understanding
the sources of our immunity we may at least
rejoice in II and hope for It's continuance We
may do more than that. We may make ourselves
worthy Of it's continuance, by unremtting vigil
lance in quarantine. by zeal for public ana pr
yate cleanliness. and by sane and wholesome
practices in every course and walk of life.