Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-17
Is Becoming Grave, Says
Dr., Dloty Of New u York.
Fifteen Cases There, with An
other Death In Past Few Hours,


New York. July 16.-Althoush this
cholera situation at Quarantine is at
present regarded by DR. Alvan II Doty,
health officer of the port of New York.
as being we'll in hand. DIR. Doty did
not conceal tonight his apprehension
that New York is in the very midst OF
threatened invasion of cholera" Fur
Their DR.. Doty declared The quar-
antine department of every port in
this country is facing a very serious
and onerous task during the coming
summer, and added that 1t was not
improbable that many vessels arriving
from Italy during the next few weeks
VIII bring one or more cases of the
disease
Iodays official report of the situa-
ton shows that there are Is cases OF
the scourg at Swineburn island hos
pitai ana TOUR cases symptomatic OF
the disease Within the past "a hours
one more victim has died. The steam
err Perugia is still detained and the
medical stan is preparing to ! make
meteorological examinations in the
case of each of the 24S persons from
the steamer Moltke, who are now under
observation.
1t is possible that Gov. Dix viii be
called upon to take charge at ouaran-
tine. Charles Dushkind. attorney. for
the immigrants. whose charges against
DR.. Doty are being Investigated by
commission, made public tonight a let
ter he had written to Judge Bulger
of the commission. suggesting that
Judge Bulger call upon Gov. Dix To
take charge of the health officers de-
partment. DR.. Doty reviews the sit
uation and points to the element of
danger In a statement issued tonight
In reply to an Interview attributed by
morning newspaper to Judge Bulger.
The statements attributed to Judge
Bulger DIR. Doty says. are so caIeu-
lated to alarm the public in the very
midst of a threatened invasion of
cholera that | feel justified in making
reply"
What can DIR. Doty health officer OF
the port. mean when he allows five men
who have been in daily contact with
persons suffering from Asiatic cholera
TO come to this city in the same clothes
they wore when among the cholera VIC
tins and touched elbows with every
body they meet?" is the question pro-
pounded by Judge Buiger in the inter,
view. DIR. Doty's statement continues
The facts are these. The five men
referred to were called as witnesses by
the people in charge of the investiga-
ton and were permitted to be absent
from duty at Hoffman island for this
purpose. Cholera is not transmitted by
clothing or by the air. but by actual
contact through the mouth with dis
charges from the intestinal tract OF the
cholera victims. There is therefore no
danger whatever from contact with
person who has been in the presence of
the disease
AT the present time. we are dealing
with very serious outbreak of cholera
in Italy and other sections of the Med
iterranean which has increased In vi
olence since last year majority of
the vessels which have recently come
from Italy have either brought actual
cases of the disease or furnished evil
dence of its having occurred In transit
1t is with great difficulty that the lat
ter condition is established and 4. is
only true the most exhaustive bacterio-
logical examination that I am able 10
secure the facts"