The Holbrook news., 1911-10-13

K
 of Asiatic cholera in the gov
 ernments hospitals in New
 York harbor, as the result of
 infection brought from abroad, resulted in calling to public attention two intensely interesting discoveries made in recent years in connection with the disease.
 The first is that the ailment is not nearly as likely to spread in centers where it is not actually epidemic as has generally been believed hereto fore; the second is the fact that there are persons who are cholera carriers" accounting in many in stances for longer incubation period than the formerly accepted one, which was from a few hours to five days.
 These gains in knowledge should have a most reassuring effect on the public mind. It has been learned that cholera is not carried along by the wind; and persons who have been in the vicinity of cholera patients do not carry the germs of cholera away with them in their clothing unless such clothing has been contaminated by in fected discharges from the sufferers.
 The disease must be taken in through the mouth, so that, although extremely virulent and fatal, it is only infectious in the same manner in which typhoid and some of the other levers are transmissible.
 The recognition of a class of per sons known as cholera carriers" has resulted in a determination to extend the detention of all persons suspected of having been in direct contact with the disease until it's presence or ab- sence can be certified to after search ing meteorological tests. This ex- tended detention period goes a long way toward eliminating the danger of permitting the disease to gain foot hold within our gates.
 The disease-fghting machine built up by Dr. Alvah H. Doty, the health officer of the port of New York, in his long years of service has kept the city and, to a large extent, the entire country remarkably free from import ed contagion.
 Asiatic cholera, a special irritant poison, which acts upon the gastro- intestinal mucous membrane, is re- garded by some as contagious dis ease which progressively loses its virulent qualities. It is a native of Hindustan thought to consist of cer- tain microscopic germs which, on be- ing received into the system, propa- gate their kind, cause an intestinal Aux and destroy the -epithelium It is believed by many that these minute bodies are products of the rice plants on the banks of the Ganges.
 Rapid depression of all the mental and physical faculties is an early symptom of most cases of cholera The senses are irritable, the. head aches and Is confused, there is a dis inclination to sleep, the limbs totter under the weight of the body, the pulse is frequent and feeble and the skin is cool and bedewed with per spiration. As the attack advances the patient falls into a dull. nstless and motionless state due to the exhaus- tion of all the faculties of the mind and body. Blood accumulates and in the veins, giving to the bluish, leaden or violet tint like that of a cyanotic child.
 The cause of cholera is unknown. A high atmospheric temperature is everywhere associated with it's preva- lence and 1t always attains it's great est intensity during the hot months of the year. It is most apt to be se- were when excessively dry weather follows a wet period. Some physicians have thought cholera poison to be of an aerial nature, but its diffusion has no relation whatever to the ve- Iocity or the direction of the wind. Its progress has never exceeded that of a man on land or water. nor has 1t