New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-17
SAYS NEW YORK NEED
NOT FEAR CHOLERA
But Or. O'ConneII Is Taking
Every PreCaution as to
Turkish Situation.
BIG JOB FOR THE VlCT0RS
Health officer Declares World
Will Watch How Bulgars
Aid Plague Victims in
Conquered Land.

Health Oficer OConnell Of the Port
of New York, referring last night TO
the cholera situation in Turkey and
Bulgaria and it's effect on immigra-
ton from Adriatic ports to New YORK.
said:
New York need not be alarmed, but
It would be very unwise not 10 De
deeply concerned in the pathogenic con-
ditions which are the outcome OF the
war In Turkey. All wars that are ex-
tens,ve are productive Of disease, and
wars in the East are always produc-
tive of cholera epidemics. We expected
such a situation as may come TO our
ports from the Italian-Turkisif war,
but the perfect organizations OF the
Italian forces and their utilization Of
scientific preventive and quarantine
methods confined the cholera to the
field of military operations.
I'm Turkey we have the reverse
conditions. The crushing defeats that
have overwhelmed the Turkish en-
pire have thoroughly demoralized its
military and sanitary forces, and the
latter were not Of the best at any
time. Consequently, the world has con-
siderable TO be anxious about IN the
renorts of a wave VI cholera sweep
ing over the military camps thrown
lin in the outer defences OF Constan-
tinople. An army wrecked, Starving
panicstricken, broken by blow AFTER
blow, cannot stand up against any
endemic of cholera, and a govern
ment paralyzed in its military arm
cannot apply, even II It could formu-
late. the necessary sanitary measures
IN the premises.
ut will be measure of the civiliza-
ton OF the vlctors TO see how promptly
and effectively they will send the best
physicians and most thorough and
modern ssnitarians TO deal with the
suffering people OF the conquered do
minlon. The Balkan States and Greece
have an immediate interest Of the ut
most gravity in the checking OF this
disease, and the interest of Austria
and Italy is hardly less intimate and
less grave.
THE great stream OF immigration
that comes to this port from the East
ern Mediterranean and Adriatic ports
brings us into the community OF in
terest for from such ports In the year
that ended last July came more than
$4,000 immigrants to New York. or
these there were 1886 Turks, $685.
Syrlans, 5,222 ArmenIans. 3l.bss Greeks
and 1857 Bulgarians, servians and
Montenegrins.
1T would be very foolish not TO ex-
pect that this stream Of immigration
will be contaminated to some extent by
the Turkish situation, and. indeed, In
the expectation OF such an exisency, We
have been giving special care to the
examination of passengers from Adri-
attic and Eastern Mediterranean ports
for some months.
I'VE may escape cholera in this port,
but it will be remarkable II we do so,
and We must be prepared to meet II
and hold it at Quarantine do. not
think 1t will get beyond that. We have
been making improvements for the last
eight months with just such a situation
in view, but we should go much fur
Their and perfect tie physical equip
ment here. so that all the passengers
we may have to remove from incoming
vessels may be accommodated without
difficulty and without the danger at
tendant upon the last cholera vista
ton Mt this port