Evening star., 1934-07-01
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Cholera scares were perennial fifty
years ago, when the true nature Of
that disease and its means
OnoIeFa of transmission were un-
Scare known. Nearly every Sum-
mer fears were felt in this
country lest it be visited by that
scourge. Thus The Star Of July 5,
1884, says:
In miles Toulon and Marseilles
are long way off. With the present
speedy means of communication, how
ever, it does not take much time for
an infectious disease to travel from
one seaport to another, nor, indeed,
to cross the widest ocean on the face
of the globe. The traveller may come
from Toulon to New York easily In
side of ten days, by steamer. and
that is the way the cholera will prob
ably reach this country from that
locality, If 1t comes from there at all.
BY sailing vessel from Marseilles the
transit would probably not be made
under four to six weeks, but even
that Is not q very long time. and,
supposing the disease to be introduced
in that way, it would still have from
four to six weeks to work destruc-
ton in before cold weather arrives to
give it setback. But even that does
not always check its ravages, as the
history of its course in all countries
clearly shows.
These are the possibilities Of the
case and there is great danger that
they will become probabilities, unless
prompt and effective measures are
taken, both to keep the disease out
of the country and to stay its march,
should it once gain foothold on
our shores. The general Government
will doubtless do all it can, by pre-
cautionary measures and the en-
forcementof stringent quarantine reg
ulations, to prevent the introduction
of the disease into the country. These
steps may be effective and they may
not. But at the best, they of them
selves are not enough and they must
not be relied upon solely. Should
the disease once pass that barrier it
would surely and speedily spread over
the country by all communicating
lines of travel, and wherever it finds
congenial spot it will reap its har-
vest of death and sorrow. Obviously,
then, a serious duty is imposed both
upon the local municipal authorities
and upon the people themselves.
"It is a well-settled fact that cholera
thrives on filth, and that it finds its
best subjects in persons of irregular
and intemperate habits. Nothing is,
therefore, simpler or palmer than the
proposition that every city and village
in the country should at once be put
in the best sanitary condition possible.
Furthermore, every effort in this di-
rection on the part of the authorities
should be encouraged and supplement-
ed by citizens of all classes and de-
grees. Not only should streets, alleys,
sewers, etc., be at once carefully
and thoroughly overhauled and
cleansed, but all public and private
premises should be subjected to the
same processes. It will be well, too.
to be scrupulously careful as to what
they eat and drink, especially during
the heated term. Unripe or stale
fruits and vegetables should be avoid
ed entirely. and even those ripe and
fresh should be used in moderation.
Eating stimulants should be fore
sworn entirely, and ice water, If drank
at all, should be used sparingly, and
never when the system is heated. In
other words and in short, be cleanly
In person and In surroundings, and
see that your neighbor's premises are
likewise IN good condition"