The Washington times., 1902-09-09
Contagion Has Many
Times Held City in
Its Grasp.
VISITATION OF CHOLERA
Struck Washington in 1892 and Caused
Many Deaths-So Many Deaths Oc-
Cured Bodies Could Not Be Buried
History of Plague.

The appearance of typhoid fever
has recalled to many old citizens of
Washington past yisitations of plague,
| beside which the extent of disease now
in the city appears insignificant. Old
timers explain that methods of fighting
various scourges have vastly improved
since their early days, and the records
of the Health Department show to what
extent sanitary measures of today have
been able to prevent the spread of dis
ease
The Health Department does not call
the prevalence OF typhoid fever in the
city an epidemic hut the minutes of
the Office contain proof of the fact that
Washington has, on many occasions.
been held tightly in the grasp of con-
tagious disease. At times in the history
of the city Washington was paralyzed,
were not enough citizens brave
enough or strong enough to bury the
dead.
OF all the ills in the history of
Washington the visitation of the cholera
in 1882 was the worst. That the Capital
was ever terrorized by this plague has
been forgotten by all but the very oldest
residents of the city. The disease is
centuries old
Came Here From Ireland.
The plague was brought into America
from Ireland, and made its first appear
ance on this continent on June 6, 1892.
1t was carried by the brig Carricks from
Dublin, with lis emigrants. bound for
Quebec. One-fourth died before Canada
was reached. The survivors were per-
mitted 10 land. and the cholera began
its march southwark, which finally re-
suited in the appearance of the disease
in Washington
1t reached New York on June 10. 1882, |
and in the next month it broke our with
fury in Philadelphia and other Eastern
cities. 1t appeared in Washington in
August. The city was thrown into a
panic.
In July the Board of Health, through |
It's president Dr. Henry HUNT, pre-,
pared a sanitary report. in which was
pointed out TO the city the best means |
of preventing the spread of the plague. |
On July ) the clergy of Washington, |
and Alexandria met for SOL |
enn consultation at DR.. Laurie's church. |
Mayor Van Ness. on July &c. issue |
recommending:
"Agreeably TO earnest invitation of a |
meeting of the clergy of Washington,
and Alexandria, August l |
is set apart as day of fasting. hui
and prayer. in special refer
ence to that dreadful malady, the |
Day Solemnly Observed.
Accordingly the day was solemnly OBJ
served throughout the city, places of
business were closed. and services were
held in the several churches
The idea that the disease fell most
severely upon the poorer class is erro-
neous. All classes suffered equally, al
though some localities seemed to be
more unhealthy than others. On Ninth
Street, for instance. between ID and f
Streets northwest, there was at that
lime cluster Of filthy. damp houses
IN these houses. within few days after
he pestilence made its appearance In
eleven deaths occurred.
Smallpox Epidemic.
The records of the Health Office show
hat in 1872 the Cap,aP was visited by
IN epidemic of smallpox. which swept
lway hundreds. From January. when the
lisease made It's appearance, until it
vas finally stamped out, there were LBS
ases, of which s27 were fatal, or 36 per
ent.
The southeastern and southwestern
ections of the city were the localities
rhich suffered most. and for time the
lague threatened to desolate these por-
ions of the city.
A great advance in sanitary knowledge
hat had been obtained since the out
reak of cholera in 1892, and forty-nine ]
avs after energetic hostile measures
ad been taken against the disease. the {