The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1909-12-18
German Expert Predicts Epi-
demic in Europe.
Physician Narrowly Escapes Death as
Result of Tales of Murder Be-
lieVed by Mob-Bad Status
in, Cars Land.

Berlin.-"Asiatic cholera undoubted-
ly will be epidemic in Europe next
spring and summer and the terrible
scOurge will come from Russia, where
cholera is raging in many localities.
Notwithstanding the official statement
that the empire is free from the dis
ease"
This IS the opinion of Prof. Rhein-
furth, a noted German medical ex-
pert. An article based on his personal
observations during a recent visit to
Russia appears in the Nord Deutsche
Zeitung
THE methods of the Russian bu-
reaucracy in dealing with the people
in the districts affected with the
scourge certainly are open to criti-
cism." writes the professor in his ar
ticle. 'The people are kept in dense
ignorance of even the most common
means of fighting cholera and of rules
governing cleanliness. dirt and sani-
tary conditions. They are ruled
through their superstitious fears and
politics enters largely the official
fight against the disease.
1T is through the ignorant and SUI
perstitious ideas of the people that the
political factions in Russia wreak re-
venge on the government by harass-
ing. even imperiling the lives of gov
eminent agents. The result is that
careful measures against cholera are
carried out in a careless. perfunctory
manner. Thousands die who under
another system could have been saved.
But what of that? 1t is only peasants.
Jews-mere human animals-and so
it goes on. faction fighting faction. and
all fighting the government"
To illustrate his view the professor
relates an incident of which he was a
witness and which occurred few
weeks ago on the island of Talahak.
in the great Russian fishing district
of Pskov.
when 1 arrived at the island chol-
era had broTSen out among the fisher
men," writes Prof Rheinfurth. "A
DR.. Voljanski had been sent by the
government to the official barrack
hospital to assist the local physician.
Several weeks previously a party of
students from the University of Dor
pat had visited the island to study the
fishing industry. Soon thereafter chol-
era broke out and interested persons
went among the peasants and wild
rumors were circulated. The students
had been sent by the government to
poison the people. it was said. and
they had been seen throwing powders
into the lake of Pskorska.
August 10. the anniversary Of q
former cholera epidemic. crisis was
reached A meeting had been called
in the islands council house Some
one started the talk about the stu
dents. Instantly cries arose all over
the hall-the students were called Of
fetal murderers. DR.. Voljanski had
been sent to kill the people. it was
asserted, and if he did not confess,
kill him. was the cry.
unfortunately. Dr. Voljanski en-
tered the building at that moment He
heard the cries of the infuriat ed
people and ran toward the Office OF
the chief of police. followed by the
peasants. They surrounded the build.
ing and demanded that the doctor ne
turned over to them. A police officer
sent by the doctor TO the harbor to
get a boat ready for him to leave the
island was almost killed by the mob
DIR. Voljanski evidently was a man
of courage. for he faced the crowd
and persuaded 1t to agree that it
would permit him to leave the island
Two of the leading men promised to
escort him to the harbor and they
started for the shore. But the greater
part of the mob was beyond control.
The physician and his protectors had