The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-19
HEALTH OFFICIALS
STUDY PROBLEM
Fully Prepared to Find Cholera
Germs if They Should
Appear Here.
NO DANGER FEARED BY BOARD
DIR. Levy Tells of Precautionary
Measures in Interest of
Public.

In view of the present cholera sit
uation in New York City and the
alarm which 1t is creating. the people
of Richmond will be interested in
knowing that the Board of Health an
ticipated last winter the conditions
which have now actually arisen and
took steps at that time to be prepared
for them. Asiatic cholera has been
more or less prevalent in Italy during
the past year, and the United States
Public Health and Marine Hospital
Service has been regularly sending
TO the health departments through
out the country a list Of immigrants
from Italy.
Germ Is Well Known.
Since the last epidemic OF cholera
in America a great deal has been
learned about the disease. The germ
which is responsible for Asiatic
cholera is we'll known. 1t is also known
that the disease Is contracted solely
by taking into the system some article
oil rood or drink which is contaminated
ny person suffering with the dis
ease If this were all it would be a
comparatively simple matter to quar-
anime all suspects at the port of
entry Tor the proper length of time.
but just as is the case with typhoid
1ever (Which disease is also contracted
IN the same way. II is now known
that the germs may be present In the
intestines in innumerablc numbers for
some time after recovery, or even I'm
inc case of one who. becaGse of tenn
porary Immunity. shows no symptoms
of the disease. These carrier cases"
as they are called, present most
difficult problem, and 1t is believed
that they serve to explain a number
OF the heretofore battling points in
connection with both cholera and
typhoid fever.
Health Board ut work.
Early last winter Chief Health Off
Ger Levy directed the attention OF the
Board of Health to the fact that in
spite of quarantine at the ports or
entry, 1t was entirely possible that
some carrier case" from an infected
port might land in any inland city and
serve as a starting point for an out
break of cholera. AS prompt recoeni-
ton of the first case is always tho
main road to dealing with the situa-
ton, and a s such a case. II it occurred.
In Richmond. could not possibly be
diagnosed promptly by ordinary meth
DDS Dr.. Levy recommended TO tho
Board of Health last March that the
City Bacteriologist, y. II. Straus, be
gwen weeks leave OF absence for
the purpose of visiting the hygienic
laboratory of the United States Publ e
Health and Marine Hospital Service.
In Washing ton. and familiarizIng him
self with the latest methods OF idej If
hcation of the comma bacillus as
the germ of Asiatic cholera is COM
monty called This was done. and the
richmond Health Department is ,.ow
prepared to make archaeological ex-
aminations in any suspected cases.
To Get Quick Diagnosis.
While. of course caid DIR. Levy
yesterday, "if an" exceedingly sus-
picious case of cholera were reported
TO the Richmond Health Department
we would at once notify the Federal
authorities, and while they would un-
doubtedly at once detail a man TO
investigate the case, still. even in such
an event, our own department would
have started cultures which would rem
der 1t possible to arrive at a positive
opinion from six to twelve hours
sooner than II nothing were done
until an outsider arrived on the scene.
1t is not. however in connection with
any such exceedingly suspicious cases
that the greatest advantage OF having
this work done by our own depart
ment arises. True cholera may be very
mild and resemble in every way an
ordinary attack of cholera morbus
While, of course, there is no need
for any alarm in Richmond at the
present time, it Is still exceedingly
desirable for our physicians to bear
in mind the fact that they may any
day run across a case of true cholera.
1t is. therefore very desirable that
physicians should report to the Rich
mond Health Department any cases
presenting In any way the symptoms
of cholera. These symptoms are GER
tain stomach troubles. the patient is
cold and clammy there is profound
collapse. which in severe cases ter
inmates rapidly in death. . view of
the present situation it is very desir-
able that the Richmond Health De-
partment be notified of any cases re-
scmbling the above
No Cnusc for Alarm.
ITO epeat. there is not at tho
present time the slightest cause for
alarm. or even uneasiness. on the part
of any of our people, but 1t is In fore
seeing danger and guarding against 1t
in time that modern health depart
ment has It's greatest field of useful
ness. and the people of Rchmold should
be gratiiied to know that their Health
Department has anticipated this dan
ger. remote though 1t be- and is pre-
pared TO act promptly on the slightest
suspicion"