Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-09-21

CHOLERA 'SSIA
Dread Disease Has a Fir ~ lin
Capital of the MAJ
DRASTIC MEASURES TO FIGHT IT
Unsanitary Conditions Greatly Assist
in Spread of Scurge.
PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS HIGH
Large Portion of the Empire Afflicted
with the Disease.
PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS HIGH
OTHER NATIONS GUARANTEED
authorities ROundIY Berated for
Failure 70 Take Proper Precau-
lions in Earlier Stages of
the Outbreak.


ST. PETERSBURG. Sept. POST. Peters
burg is In tho grasp OF the Asiatic cholera
Which already has exceeded in severity and
numbers the visitation Of 1885. The disease
Is Increasing daily to an alarming rate
ana unless the authorities show in the fu-
ture greater degree OF ability to cope
with the situation than they have in the
past, there Is every reason to fear that
II VIII get out Of hand.
The governments threat to apply the pro-
visions Of martial law has driven the mu-
nicipality officials to bend all their energies
to clearing the city of the scourge The
aldermanic council today voted, $25O,OOO to
enlarge the hospital space, to purchase and
distribute disinfectants. the supply of which
In 1t Petersburg Is well night exhausted
and to expedite the interment OF bodies,
which has been notoriously slow The dead
hones are owe cr wded and many 20 pses
~ unburlcd.
Under his authority as prefect OF St
Petersburg. General Dracheffshy on Sat
urdny prohibited the sale of liquor through
out the city, including the government
vodka shops until September o. and he
has further ordered that after that the
sale Of liquor shall be suspended at 2 D. m,
on Saturday until 10 a. m, on Monday. This
action has been taken in order to diminish
alcoholic excessea. which very materially
increases the liability Of cholera infection
and he general spread Of the disease.
A beginning was made today when public
schools were transformed into hospital
wards, number OF the grammar schools
were closed and 1000 students sent to their
homes. The department of war has opened
stores to supply immediate needs and army
field Kitchens have been dispatched to the
poorer quarters TO dispense free food
Disease More virulent.
Tho situation assumes a graver aspect
from the appearance today OF a very viru-
lent type OF the disease In two cases in
which death followed within fifteen minutes
of the fret symptoms. As announced by
the official bulletin the cases numbered $40
and the dnthes rs during the twenty-four
hours between Friday noon and Saturday
noon. THIS WAS a considerable decrease
from the preosding day, but there is doubt
OF the accuracy OF the official statement
The record for the same twenty-four hours,
aHcertained from unofficial but reliable
sourcss, shows the actual number to have
been far IN excesS Of that Whether or not
however, there was an actual decrease The
disease resumed It's march on Saturday the
statistics posted showing that from Satur-
day noon until Sunday noon there were s9s
cases and 1A death this being the largest
number so far officially announced.
1t is feared that the cholera will make
further gains for at least another fort
night, this being figured on the basis of
former epidemics. All varities of Asiatic
cholera have now developed here. there be-
ing numerous cases Of the algid type, which
is accompanied by the greatest suffering.
The metropolitan Of et. Petersburg caused
prayers for delverance to be read through
out the diocese today, in which the pest-
lence Is described as a punishment for the
peoples lawlessness.
Premier Stolypin had sharply reprimanded
the municipal officials for the appalling
conditions. At Abuchoff hospital which
he visited Saturday, he found that three
bathrooms were doing service for 300 pa
tients. The physicians we're powerless to
carry out the proper course of treatment
and the mortality at this hospital has been
three times that of others Three of the |
nurses at this institution were stricken
with the disease yesterday, making a total |
Of nine nurses now under treatment for |
cholera.
Opportunity for Spread.
Practically nothing has been done up to |
the present to put the citys market place |
indescribsble filth with the atmosphere
reeking with foul odors. One hundred car !
loads Of fruit have been auctioned off and |
forwarded to Warsaw, Wilma and other
towns which the cholera has not invaded,
and the possibility OF infection from this
source is very great.
As city, St. Petersburg Is woefully un-
sanitary and the great disease finds here
the conditions most suitable for it's propa-
cation. 1t first made it's appearance among
the poor people herded in wretched tene-
ments, but 1t is now spreading to the bet
ter classes and It has broken out in the
barracks among the troops.
The authorities had every warning of
the coming of the disease and their neglect
TO take proper precautions to prevent its
spread has brought out a storm of indig-
nant criticism. As an example of the in
efficiency and negligence displayed, II is
sufficient TO cite the fact that many chol-
era cases have been conveyed to the hos
pltals in city cabs, which are very numer-
Gus in St. Petersburg. after which these
same cabs were permitted, without dlsin-
tectlon, to return to their work on the
streets.
The cholera was first reported this year
about the end OF July. II was Of a vir-
ulent type and the percentage of NOR
lallty was high. The disease spread rap
loly into the provinces along the VoIga,
down both coasts OF the Caspian and in
the territory of the Don Cossacks, in
other words in the eastern and south 1
eastern districts OF European Russia.
Alarm Il General.
AdVices from all parts OF Russia show
hat the alarm is general and that there
s good reason for H. At Moscow a guar
antine has been established at all railway
aepots and passengers are placed under
lhe strietsst surveillance. Up 70 the pres
INT Moscow has been immune. A death
aas occurred at Helslngfors from the di-
tease and the Russian steamers have been
ienied entrance into Viborg harbor for
Nading quarantine at Trangsund, a road
Head eight miles from that port Several
uspicious cases have been reported In the
GT-atInusd ON Recond p,.oA