The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-17
Spreading In Russia At the
Rate Of 5000 Cases
a Day
DANGER Of EMM|GRANTS
CARRYING THE DISEASE
DIR. Wyman Says the Danger liz Not
Great But the Possibility of the
Disease Getting TO This
Country Is Plain

Washington, October 16.-With the
knowledge that for the past month
ch olera cases have been developing in
Russia at a rate exceeding 5000 a day,
the public health and marine hospital
service is exerting itself to the utmost
TO prevent the introduction of the dis
ease into this country. While not as
yet assured of success the service is
hopeful.
'The situation is not so threatening
as in 1893, when we prevented the ap-
pearance of the epidemic in this coun-
try" said DR.. Walter Wyman, surgeon
general of the service, today with eau
tious optimism.
DR.. Wyman said that in Russia be-
tween June 25 and October s there had
| been 332.s81 cases and 153,5S1 deaths
and that the disease is distributed gem
orally throughout the empire That it
| has been latterly on the increase is
shown. he said, by the fact of this num-
ber, 150,2S9 cases have developed be-
tween September and October I. The
percentage of mortality Is normally
| more than so.
| According to DR.. Wyman there are
| in addition to the element of time, four
| lines of defense for the protection of
| the United States. The first of these
| is found in the fact that nearly all Rus
| sian immigrants to this country pass
through Germany and embark at a Ger
man port. Very careful inspection is
made of them by the German govern
ment and in addition all Russian en-
| igrants are held five days at the point
of embarkation. The same course is
pursued if the immigrants attempt 10
find their way through England as
| some do.
Recently the bureau has learned that
! agents of certain lines have been cir
cularizing Russia, advising emigrants to
ship to the United States via Libau on
the Baltic or Odessa on the Black sea-
| to avoid the restraint at the German
ports. At Libau the public health SER
! vice has maintained an office for two
| years andsAto meet the possible situation
| at Odessa the United States consul at
| that port has been cabled by the state
| department to enforce rigidly detention
and disnfection of baggage and other
details of the treasury regulations such
as prohibition of food persons or in
| luggage.
|
| States, strict examination is made of the
ship and the emigrants at the quarantine
station. Every case of sickness is care
| fully inquired into, and If the slightest
doubt exists as to its nature 1t is re-
ported to the quarantine station for OBJ
| servation and the vessel held IL need be-
| The United States consuls at the sea-
ports were cabled by the state depart
ment early in the season admonishng
| them to enforce the treasury regulations
and one of the most experienced officers
of the public health and marine hospital
service has inspected the ports of Bre-
men, Hamburg and Antwerp, and is to-
| day at Havre to observe the enforcement
of the regulations, advise with the con-
suls and to notify the surgeon general
| If additional medical assistance is
| required
| Medical officers are stationed at Naples
and Genoa, and at Naples, the chief
port, intending emigrants are detained
| five days on a vessel anchored in the
| harbor
! AS a measure of extra precaution, while
| 1t is felt that the quarantine defenses
are efficacious, 1t has been determined
to keep track OF immigrants from Russia
and Italy by notifying the state health
authorities of the states for which they
are bound giving the points of destina-
| tion.