Year: 1866




The Philadelphia Inquirer, under the above
caption, has the following:


The name Asiatic cholera indicates the
the invariable origin of this dreadful dis
ease. When, in modern times it first ap-
peared, about thirty years since, there were
various theories as to its causes. Some said
that in the rice diet. and light food of the
Asiatics the disease took its rise. Later OBJ.
servation has demonstrated that the filthy
habits and wants of personal cleanliness Of
the Orientals cause the dreadful scourge,
which commencing where the provoking Cir
cumstances are most abundant, travels the
earth wherever it finds food. Of course, in
the time of infection, the cleanly who are
exposed to the fatal influence often suffer
with the negligent, but the fact is undisputed
that thorough ventilation and cleansing dis
arm, if they do not prevent the pestilence.


The French Government, as our readers
are aware, some time since dispatched a corl-
mission to investigate the causes of cholera.
The conclusion reached by their investigation
is, that the Mecca pilgrimageis sort OF pes
thence center. The introduction Of steam
navigation has doubled the danger and the
deaths. Blu. cholera by no means succeeds
upon every annual pilgrimage to Mecca. So,
admitting the evils which follow the pilgrim
age, we must look to the daily careless hab-
its of the Orientals for the scourge that cul-
inmates at distant intervals. Nothing could
be farther from the truth. Many of the
much talked of ablution are mere forms, not
so thorough even as those of Tittlebat Tit
mouse. Ho did wipe off the soil with damp
towel. But thousands Of the Asiatics are
crusted in dirt, which stays with them from
childhood till they 60 back to the kindred
dust in which they lived all their days in
closer relationship than Christians have any
idea Of


A book recently published in England, the
work Of governess in the harem OF the
Turkish Sultan, represents the whole estab-
lishment as varying only from gilded to un-
gilded nastiness. The wives, whom the poets
would have us think scarce human in their
ETHEREAL personal purity, are dreadfully dirty,
with populous heads, and, except at intervals,
in a slovenly disbabille which Brigham
Young would never endure. And their toll.
els are said to be made without any regard
DO the useless trouble of soap and water. The
poor negroes of Africa are thousand times
os cleanly.


These facts incline US to the opinion that
the functions of the skin need special oare
and attention, if we would fend oft the
scourge.- It is necessary that the public au-
thorities do their duty, that all offensive sub
stances be removed from the streets and lanes,
aud that house holders carefully clear their
premises Of all decaying matter.


But there are those who have not the op-
pcrtunity, and there are too many who have
not the inclination TO attend strictly enough
to personal cleanliness. If public baths could
be established in our crowded districts, and
the people al we'll as the premises be secured,
a vast benefit would result. The wearing OF
flannel next the skin, especially by laborers,
is another precaution which all who can
should adopt; and the army shirts, now SO
common, would facilitate the general intro-
duction of the custom. This flannel should
b7vftur, vLaos~I -f.laily, sonruui.-the 1attsp
1t has the advantage that it is easier to wash
than cotton, and thus the want Of time of
INDECENT house keepers would be favored.
The sensible mechanic or laborer who will be
sure not to sleep in the same flannel in which
he has labored through the day, and who will
not wear the same two successive days (even
though that which he lays aside is merely
ventilated, would find it such cheap and
easy course of hygiene, added to proper care
of his premises and reasonable attention TO
diet, preventive not only OF cholera, but OF
many other diseases. Sailors choose flannel
shirts for wear in the tropics. When once
accustomed TO them they are found more
pleasant than any other fabric.