New-York tribune., 1908-09-21
PLAGUE GRIPS RUSSIA
RAT4GES OF CHOLERA.
Hundreds Dying IN Capital Schools
Made Hospitals.

the grasp CT Asiatic cholera. which already has
exceeded in severity the visitation OF 1898 The
disease is Increasing daily at an alarming rate
and unless the authorities show a much greater
degree Of ability TO cope with the situation than
4hev have shown there is every reason TO fear
-hst Il viii get beyond control
The government has Threatened TO apply the
urovisions Of martial law, and this threat has
driven the municipal authorities to bend all
their energies 10 the campaign of clearing the
city OF the scourge The Aldermanic Council
to-day voted q preliminary appropriation of
$4,000 10 enlarge the hospital space TO pur-
chase and distribute disnfectants the supply Of
which in ST Petersburg is nearly exhausted.
and 10 expedite the burial Of bodies. The dead
houses are overcrowded.
Under his authority Prefect Of St. Peters
burg General Drache1sky prohibited on Satur-
dsy the sale of liquor throughout the city. in
Gliding the government vodka shops, until Sep
teuber -. and he has further ordered that
after that date the sale Of liquor shall be sus-
pended al 2 p. N on Saturday until 10 a. m
MONDAY. This action has been taken in order
TO diminish alcoholic excuses. which ma
teriauy increase the liability to infection and
spread OF the disease
The public schools were transformed to-day
into hospital wards number Of the gram
mar schools were closed and 1900 of the stu
War has opened stores to supply immediate
needs and army field kitchens have been sent
70 the poorer quarters TO dispense free food.
The situation. which has always been serious
since the first case was reported. assumes
graver aspect from the appearance to-day Of
very virulent type of the disease In two
cases death followed within fifteen minutes OF
the first symptoms
OFFICIAL REPORTS DISCREDITED
As announced by the official bulletins. the
cases numbered $40 and the deaths I2S during
the twenJy-four hours between Friday noon and
Saturday noon This was considerable de-
crease from the preceding day. but there is
doubt OF the accuracy Of the official statement
The record for the same twenty-four hours
oer1ained from unofficial but trustworthy
sources. shows the actual number 70 have been
far in excess of that Whether or not. however.
there was an actual decrease the disease re-
sumed its march on Saturday. the statistics
posted showing that from Saturday noon until
Sunday noon there were 39S cases and 141
deaths This being the largest number so far Of
fciany announced
II is feared that the cholera viii make further
gains for at least another fortnight, this being
predicted on the basis Of former epideuaics. All
varieties Of Asiatic cholera have now developed
here. there being numerous cases Of the Algid
ty-pe. which is accompanied by the greatest suf-
tering.
The Metropolitan Of St. Petersburg caused
prsve-s for seliverance 10 be read throughout
me diocese today. in which the pestiIence is de-
scribed as q punishment for the peoples law
lessness
Premier Stolypin has sharply reprinanded the
municipal officials for the appalling conditions
At Obuchof Hospital. which he visited on Sat
urdav. ne found that three bathrooms were do
ing service for three hundred patients. The
physicians were po7verless to carry out the
proper course Of treatment, and the mortality
at this hospital has been three times that at
other hospitals Three Of the nurses at this in
stt1ution were stricken with the disease yester-
day making total Of nine nurses now under
treatment for cholera
Practically nothing has been done up to the
present 10 put the city's market places in sani-
tary condition They are places Of indescriba-
bic filth the atmosphere reeking with foul
odors one hundred carloads Of fruit have been
Ructioned of and forwarded TO Warsaw. wilma
and other towns which the cholera has not in
vaded and the possibility Of infection from this
source is very great
As q city St. Petersburg is wofUlly unsani-
tary. and the disease finds conditions most suit
able for its propagation II first made It's ap-
pearance among the poor people herded in
ing 10 the better classes, and has broken out
II tha barracks among the troops.
TNCAPACTTy OF AUTHORITIES.
The authorities had every warning of the
coming Of the disease, and their utter ina billty
to take proper precautions 10 prevent its spread
has brought out storm of indignant criticism
As an example Of the ineficiency and negli-
gsnoe displaved. II Is sufficient to cite the fact
sAst many cholera cases have been conveyed
70 the hospitals in city cabs, which are nuTner-
ses in 81. Petersburg. and afterward these CABS
Se-e permitted without disinfection, TO re-
turn to their work in the streets.
The cholera was first reported this year about
the end Of July It was OF a virulent type and
the percentage OF mortality was high The dis
ease spread rapidly into the provinces along the
vnlga down both coasts Of the Caspian and In
the territory Of the Don Cossacks-the eastern
and southeastern districts Of European Russia
By the end OF August leo cases on an aver
age we're reported each week, with a mortality
of upward Of 30 per cent
On August Il IL was announced that ST
Petersburg was threatened with the scourge'
and on September 5 il was announced that the
disease was in the capital On September II
here were ffty-eight cases there, and the as
ease WIS prevalent in all quarters Of the city
The record Of cases and deaths from that cate
Until the nresent showed alarming increase, and
IL is The genersl belief here that the health au-
tkoritses. in a desire to prevent the people from
becoming panicstricken, are holding their Of
hciaI reports down TO a minimum
ALL RUSSIA IL GRIP OF DISEASE
Advlces from all parts Of Russia show that
the alarm is general. and that there Is good
reason for it. At MOSCOW quarantine mas