The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-19
By JOSEPH II. BAIRD United Press Staff Correspondent

Washington, July 19.-(UP)A More than 500 Chinese in three Chinese cities have fallen victim to fresh outbreak of the dreaded Asiatic cholera, official reports to Washington revealed today.
 What toll the plague has taken in the thousands of isolated vil- lages already long scourged by famine, flood and bandits was not known. The reports revealed, however, that the cholera has be. come epidemic.
 In the Shanghai International settlement 29 foreigners have died. In Ranking and Tientsin the for eign quarters so far have been inn mune.
 Diplomats who have served in the Far East pointed out that chol- era is frequent summer visitor to the Orient and that the natives have a high resistance to it. For eigners carefully protect them- selves by modern sanitary meas ures.
 Yet the reports show a rather high death rate. Briefly summar-ii ized. they are:
 Shanghai Cholera increasing. Within the International Settle ment and greater Shanghai there. had been, on July 16. 1887 cases. resulting in 82 deaths. Tn the one week between July ? and 9 there were 317 new cases and 21 deaths.
 Tientsin-An sEnoffieial. survey. placed the number of native deaths before June 23 to $50. Foreigners unaffected.
 Nanking-Before July 1 there were 329 cases and 77 deaths. The national health administration dis infected 4,756 wells.
 Cholera, first identified in the 18th century, has often swept over Asia and Europe, leaving a coun- try-side scattered with crosses. Summer and autumn are the sea sons in which it spreads, usually being carried out of India by mer- chant ships. Agonizing death may come to the victim within AS hours after he is stricken.
 One of the most terrible cholera epidemics in history was that of 1880. Starting in the Far East. it spread over Europe and finally to America. leaving thousands of dead. Other epidemics smote Eu- rope in 1866. 1869, 1883, and 1887.
 The last great cholera epidemic was that which continued with brief respites in India from 1910 to 1925. Scientists estimated that fully 100000 persons died in h. dia in 1918 and 1919 alone.
 In recent years modern science has found ways to combat the dis ease, which is carried in the clothes of infected persons, in food and in water.
 Foreigners, particularly Dr Peters, connected with the Shang- hai municipal council and the Red Cross, have used the vests most advanced medical science against the, disease in China.
 This campaign, starting about 1918, was carried to all parts of China-Canton. Foochow, Shang- hai and Ranking particularly.
 Giant parades, sponsored by To- cal officials, with bands, glaring posters and the Oriental firecrack- CTS were staged in the cities. Dr Peters and a staff of Chinese medi- cal workers made street-corner speeches outlining prevention aids.
 This attack on the disease was credited with stamping out fre- quent outbreaks of cholera in the years between 1919 and 1924, all though there were sporadic epi- denies in many districts. One of the most severe epidemics in recent years was in Foochow, Fukien Province. in 1918. This city of about 100000 population over period of seven weeks, recorded weekly death list of 10000.
 People died like flies on the streets. in their homes, wherever they happened to be. It was no uncommon sight to see a coolie. carrying a burden along a road, suddenly collapse and die within a few moments. The residents died so fast they could not be buried, bodies lay on the streets for hours. spreading contagion.
 The officials. attempting to stop the plague. ordered cremation of victims in ono vast funeral pyre. This was done, although 1t was di- rectlng opposed to all Chinese tra- dltion and custom. Other bodies were thrown into the Min river to be carried out to sea. From the same river came ali water for cook .