The Washington herald., 1911-06-18

i
| Lists of immigrants who announce
their purpose of coming to Wash
ington are sent by the New York
authorities to the health officials OF
the District, and 2 close watch is
kept on the arrival here of for
eigners. Health inspectors take
them in charge, and each immigrant
must pass examination before he is
given clean bill of health.
EPIDEMIC IN 1882.
Washington has not had case Of
cholera since 1882, when 45s deaths re-
suited from the malady. Health depart
ment records were written at that time,
1 and some clerk of the old board Of
health registered the fear with which
any zorm of cholera was viewed. At
the beginning of the epidemic, 1t was
believed that the disease was ''the
deadly typhus fever" but after investi-
CATION II was found the victims had died
of cholera. Health officials then began
the study of the proper methods Of fight
ing the disease.
Thinking that vegetables and fruits
were responsible. lists of foods which
should be barred from the market stalls
were prepared for the good OF the public.
This list included cabbages, green corn.
,cueumbers, peas. beans, parsnips, car
rots. pears. apples, peaches, plums, egg
,lo fna frle
pumpkins, watermelons. cantaloupes.
muskmelons. damsons, cherries, pineap-
pies, oranges. CLAIMS, crawfish, crabs, and
Holsters. In addition. they tried to close
the saloons for ninety days.
But the malady was not checked. Dur
ing August and September the deaths
were numerous. -
A report written after the epidemic
had subsidized attributes the disease to
atmospheric conditions. Notwithstanding
the presence Of several thousand laborers
who had recently arrived from foreign
countries, the health officers said they
were not responsible. OF the 45s deaths,
the free blacks apd foreigners seemed
to have suffered most. A page Of the ac-
count, written January /, 1888 entitled
aThe authentic report Of cholera In
Washington" says:
1--WE, the physicians Of the board of
health, have had no time to study the
epidemic, but as some citizens have ,ex-
pressed solicitude as to the real cause
of the ravaging cholera, we submit the
following:
Due 10 the Atmosphere.
.sThe disease owed its existence with
US solely to atmospheric influences. We
do not believe it was brought from
abroad At the time the cholera appeared
In Washington the condition Of many citi-
zens was against health. The presence
Of many foreign immigrants. principally
Germans and Irish, who had bad habits
regarding health. made the danger felt
These men did not understand our Ian
guage. nor were they accustomed to our
climate. habits, or modes Of living. Their
manner Of habitation. living, and occu-
pations peculiarly exposed them to the
disease
The disease bore heavily on this class.
also on the negro population. especially
the free blacks But above Rll, II seized
upon the sntemperate and the dissolute
of every description Among the various
tained, the use of fruits and vegetables
Of different kinds Is found to have been
far the most in the production Of the
cholera.
bad clothing and lodging. exposure to
night air, drinking cold water, and the
use OF ardent spirits, indigestible and
gross feed Of every kind. excessive ia
ague. any undue excitement Of the pas
sions. and whatever else checked the
or DESTROYED the balance OF
action IN the system,
The report seems to have been ac-
cepted by most citizens OF the city, and
they dropped cholera for some years. |
t-eetiug mostly with sanitary methods.
the abolishing of hog stys" within the
city limits, and vaccination for small
pox. Vaccination was new at the time |
Before the report appeared, the ten
dency TO believe In signs was apparent |
In report which announced:
'srhe epidemic was preceded by sew
eraI weeks by premonitory signs
This was IN part due TO the cases OF |
three negro women and q printer about
twenty-five years old, all Of whom were
attacked with typhoid fever about two |
weeks before the appearance OF cholera |
The cases were referred TO as the |
deadly typhus fever.
rntemperate Habits.
Tnesa persons were said to have been
Of intemperate habits. The three servants
mot nssroeszwers the property OF re-
spected citizens OF Washington. whose 1
nafn6s were given. The printer, whose |
asa. residence. and past life were re-
viewed. was said to be an hapitaal
dflIhkard
D. n P. Canz'n. n letter to the |
board. eaid
doubt thu existenee Of Aslalic |
cholera. The caees af d Eendalrs /
we're typhus lever. l do not Ike new /
diseases
In my c1inion 4 IS s6nfrarT to the |
sound prineIpies Of philosophy and tae