New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-29
TO REPEL
CHOLERA EPIDEMIC
Health Officers Ordered to
Watch Vessels from
Affected Areas.

As precaution against cholera con-
ditions created by the European war;
Dr.. Joseph J. O'Connell, Health Officer
Of the Port, yesterday issued the fol-
lowing special order:
Cholera having been reported in
epidemic form in Eastern Russia, in
Austria and among the troops engaged
in hostilities on the eastern frontier
of the present European war, it is or
dered that all vessels coming from
ports on the A4riatic seacoast east Of
the Italian boundary on the Ionian Sea
the Egean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea
east of Italy, and the Black sea, shall
be subjected to most careful eXamlna-
ton as to their sanitary condition, ana
all passengers on board thereof and all
members of the crews Of said vessels
shall be carefully examined Tor eYi-
dences Of cholera.
"This order shall remain in force
until further notice"
DR.. O'Connoll was advised by cable
yesterday morning that similar precau-
tiOns against the ports on the Eastern
Mediterranean had been taken by the
Italian government. At his direction
DR.. Oscar league, director of the new
Quarantine laboratory, is organizing a
corps of cholera experts TO contend
with a possible outcome of the present
hostilities, which may affect the mari
time commerce of this and other AmeI l.
can ports. The new laboratory affords
accommodations for scientific work by
a large corps of psychologists.
DR.. O'Connell said: "These precau-
tions need not alarm anybody; but, on
the contrary, should be reassurIng IN
their effect. Ali quarantine authorities
throughout the world expect that the
experiences Of former years will reeur
because Of the great conflict now going
on.
"On the one side, we have the fact
that this war is more extensive and
more destructive than any other war
has been. The desperate condition OF
the cOmbatants requires them to devote
much attention to destructive opera
tions. From the theatre of the war
have come reports which indicate that
offensive operations have weakened the
sanitary forces of the various govern
ments. In other words, the nations en-
gagged have now arrived at a stage
where the destruction of the enemy is
the main object, and the saving Of life
must not be allowed to interfere with
the offensive efficiency of any army.
This creates u condition which is dis
quieting, and the results of it on the
eastern battle line may be seen in the
reports of cholera in Vienna and Buda-
pest, on the Austrian side, and in Ser
via among the countries Of the allied
nations.
Against this we must weigh the
fact that sanitary science has been
much developed since the last great
war, and that there is an intelligence
behind the public health work which
did not exist before this time.
ain New York we are we'll prepared
for any eventuality, as we have board
ing officers trained in the cholera yisi-
tation two years ago. The new director
of the laboratory, DR.. Oscar league,
besides being recognized expert in
plague work, has had an invaluable eX-
perience in the bureau Of science in
Manila during the cholera epidemic in
the Philippines. New York has par
ticular reason to be active because of
the fact that it is the greatest port of
the world and receives 80 per cent of
the immigration of the United States"