New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-22
CHOLERA IN RUSSIA.
Yiezcs of Epidemic by DR.. Metch-
nikof, of the Pasteur Institute.
Paris. April IL.

The sanitary authorities in Paris have re-
ceived from Russia oficiaS information Of the
alarming spread OF cholera. and precautionary
measures are already being taken in France to
avert or mitigate the epidemic should It make
its appearance in Western Europe the coming
summer. The choIera-aIways existing in
demic form on the borders Of the Persian Gulf
developed with acute activity in January when
1t extended across the Russian frontier Of the
Caucasus. and reached Europe The epidemic
set in along the banks of the volsa. and made
considerable and rapid progress. 1t IS now rag
Ing throughout Astrakhan. where hundreds OF
deaths reported. Owing 10 the alarming
development Of the epidemic. favored and has
tened by the poverty and misery Of the affected
regions, which have greatly suffered from the
consequences OF the war and of internal agra
rian agitation, a congress Of a thousand Rus
sian physicians assembled at Moscow to take
effcacious steps against the disease and 70
confine it within the provinces already affected.
This congress remains in permanent session
DR.. Metchnikof. of the Pasteur Institute,
whose archaeological investigations Of cholera
are recognized by scientific men in Europe and
America among the most far reaching and
thorough that have been made in recent years.
has communicated to the Editor Of the journal
des Debats' his views in regard TO the
present epidemic OF cholera that is causing
| such devastation in the valley of the Volga-
DR.. Metchnikoff states that the Russian gov
eminent actually forbade the assembly in con-
gress Of the one thousand physicians at Mos
COW. the ground that such a gathering was
an excuse for a revolutionary movement di-
/ rected against the Car. The congress was most
arbitrarily dispersed. Three weeks later, how
ever. the Russian sanitary officials submitted
such grave reports of the spread Of cholera
that the central government finally authorized
/ the congress to meet and deliberate Dr. Metch-
nikoff says that the latest sanitary improve
ments adopted in Germany, Austria and
France suffice to prevent a repetition OF the
terrible cholera epidemics that invaded West
ern Europe in 1880 and in 1S47. but he pointed
out that those epidemics began in Astrakhan.
and followed the banks Of the Volga, Just as is
now reported in regard to the present outbreak
| Of the disease. The cholera epidemic OF 1880.
/ first noticed in Astrakhan in November and De-
| cembeT spread over Russia in a few months
| time and became acute at Warsaw in April
| 1881. 1t reached Germany in July. extended 70
London in February. 1882. crossed TO Calais
on March 10. and broke out in Paris toward
| the end of March, where It lasted for six
months. causing 1902 deaths.
| DR.. Metchnikoff who is familiar with cholera
| in every form, stated that the measures TO pre-
vent ones taking cholera when among cholera
| patients quite simple For many years I
/ have mingled freely with cholera patients and
| the measures that I have taken are merely
| those that common sense indicates when ex-
| posed to diseases that are capable Of trans
| mission by the digestive tubes These ele-
| mentary precautions have always proved eff
| cacious. and I can earnestly recommend them
| Indeed, they are, in my opinion the only ones
| that really worth anything. First Of all.
| one must eat and drink IN moderation. and
/ DhV fat
Take regular but not violent exercise. Never
go to meal without previously washing the
| hands; never eat raw fruit or raw vegetables.
/ which are so common in the summer season,
| such as radishes. artichokes. tomatoes. cucum-
| bers. parsley. lettuce. etc. Never drink water
| or milk unless thoroughly boiled. Water must
| not only be boiled a few seconds but 1t should
| be boiled as long as quarter OF hour or
twenty minutes in order 10 destroy dangerous
| microbes. The immunity of certain individuals
| from cholera is usually due TO their having
| their intestines carpeted. as it were, with
| fora teeming with refractory microbes which
| neutralize the mischevous effects OF the cholera
baciIla discovered by Koch in 1888. Very slight
security is afforded by drinking mineral waters.
] which without exception are susceptible OF
/ transporting the microbes of cholera"
! DR.. MetchnikOf is not an aIarmist He ex-
| presses confidence that the present cholera cpl
/ demio will not become virulent outside of Rus
! STA. even should the sanitary authorities Of
| Western Europe fail to prevent the epidemic
| spreading to Germany Austria Hungary Italy
and France. The consensus of opinion OF the
best sanitary authorities, such as DR. BrouardeI
and of the best qualified medical men and sci
entists is that if the cholera makes it's appear
| ance at all in Western Europe during the com
ing summer it will be in a most mild form
C I r