Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1892 — NEW YORK IS INFECTED [ARTICLE]

NEW YORK IS INFECTED

SIX DEATHS FROM CHOLERA IN GOTHAM. > *V "» - Irimt Case Discovered Week* Ago— Health Official* Profess Surprise and Claim That the Pest Bid Not Pass Quarantine—Official Announcement. No Doubt Now. It has developed that, despite the stringent quarantine, the heroic efforts of the National and State Governments and the oft repeated declarations of the Board of Health to the contrary, the much-dreaded plague has found a foothold in New York City, and has already many victims. Not only did it develop that the cholera had effected a landing, but that the landing was effected at least two weeks ago, the fact having been kept from the public. That the fact was made public was due to an aocident—a slip of the tongue of an attache of the health office, while notifying his superiors of the discovery of a new case. Daily representatives of the press have asked the officers of the Board, of Health if the diseaso had showed any signs of breaking out in the city, and even up to the morning of the .above reported discovery were answered in the negative. When pressed, however, and presented with evidence that their secret was a secret no longer, they reluctantly admitted that they were “Investigating the cases of a number of persons who had died under circumstances which led them to fear that choleraic germs might be present." They could give no deflnite reply to the question, “is there cholera in New York?” however, until they had received the report of (he bacteriologists making the test examinations. Names of the Victims. The names of the victims, so far as could be learned, are as follows: Charles McAvot, plasterers’ assistant, 35 years old. Mrs. Sophia Wigman, died at No. 768 Eleventh avenue. William Wigman, husband of Sophia Wigman, died at the. same address. Minnie Levinger, 20 months old, died at No. 411 East Forty-sixth street, Chablotta BecK, 30 years old, died at No. 1764 Second avoniic. Peter Callahan, aq unmarried stableman, who boarded with his sister at No. 318 East Forty-seventh street, died after an illness of four days; 30 jC&rs of age. * It was admitted that there were a number of suspected cases now under in vestigation, but the names or locations , of. the victims Would hot W divulged. l The reason assigned by the officers for their reticence was that they had no desire whatever to create a pauio until they were absolutely certain that Cholera Asiatics really was the cause of death in the cases under investigation. Whatever doubt may have existed in the minds of the health officers as to the presence of cholera in the city was dispelled when the following reports from the bacteriologists who had made examinations of the cases were handed in. Bacteriologists’ Reports. Carnegie Laboratory, 388 East 24th street. To Charles G. Wilson, President of the Board of Health. Sir— We would respectfully report that very careful biological examinations of the Intestinal contents from the body of Charles McAvoy, who died Sept. 6, have been completed. Autopsy showed anatomical lesion of sporadic cholera, but the biological examination proves that the spiritum of Asiatlo cholera was present in the Intestines. We, therefore, declare the case one of Asiatic cholera. Respectfully submitted, Hermann Biggs, Edward K. Dunham. To Charles (f. Wilson, President of the Health Department: Sir— Mrs. Sophia Wigman, whose body was referred to us to determine the cause of death, died of Cholera Aslatloa, as has been shown by the biological examination of the intestinal discharges taken before death. No reliable conclusions could be drawn from the postmortem or biological examination made after death In this case, or of her husband. Wm. Wigman, and both bodies have been embalmed. We have no doubt, however, that the oause of death In both cases was the same. The biological examination In the case of the child, Minnie Levinger, also shows that the cause of death was Cholera Aslatloa. Respectfully submitted, Herrmann Biggs Edward K. Dunham.

On receipt of these reports bulletins were issued setting fortn the facts regarding the presence of the scourge and its work, as given above. The physicians say that they have been unable to account for the presence of cholera germs in the cases mentioned, as none of the dead persons had been infected in any known way. Every precaution had been taken in each instance to prevent the further spread of the disease. The clothing and bedding of each patient had been burned, and the houses in each case placed under strict quarantine. Thus far no secondary cases have been discovered in the premises occupied by the victims. In the official bulletin it was stated that the body of a Woman who had died under suspicious circumstances was being investigated, and that but one new case had been reported. The bulletin further said that all suspected cases of cholera reported wore being very carefully watched. Fear* Excited ilaiher Than Allayjd. The fact that the board admits that other cases exist and refuses to publish their location has an effect contrary to that which the secrecy is intended to produce. Instead of allaying, it tends to excite, the fears of the people, and keeps them In a condition bordering on a panic. The question uppermost In the minds of the people who are alive to the situation Is, “How did the disease effect a landing If not through quarantine?" The fact that the victims had in no way been brought in contact with persons or things which might have communicated the germs makes the question hard to answer. Dr. Jenkins was interviewed at quarantine. He betrayed the greatest surprise when told of ihe ravages of the plague in the city, but expressed the greatest confidence that it had not gone in through the cordon he had established to keep it out. He said, however, that the best authorities in the world had set it down as an axiom that the most stringent and complete quarantine regulations could claim to prevent but 70 per cent, of the possibilities of the introduction of a disease into a country, quarantine having no control over the other 30 per cent. He said it was possible for a person who had been contaminated to infect others without himself feeling any bad effects from his contamination. Cautioned to Keep Cool. The health offloers are very fearful that the knowledge of the presence of the plague In the city will cause a general exodus of those who can afford to leave the city, and a panic of fear among those who must, perforce, remain, and said that there was very little danger of an epidemic if people would only keep cool and think more of carefully regulating their manner of living and less of the President Wilson said that there was no occasion for excitement in the city, as the cholera would not become epidemic. There was a possibility that it would exist in sporadic form for sixty days or such a matter, until cool weather sets in and stamps out the disease altogether.

The New York World breathlessly asks: “Who is the most remarkable woman In this country?” A million husbands out West could answer if they were not too modest. Thet always talk who never think.— Prior.