Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1892 — CHOLERA WITHUS. [ARTICLE]

CHOLERA WITHUS.

Five Deaths in New York From the Asiatic Plague. Th« New« Spreads Rapidly and a Feelinc of Great Alarm Takes Possession of . the People. The Asiatic plague has obtained a foothold in New York. Five deaths from the disease have occurred, tho first on Sept. 6 and the others on the :0 h, 11th and 13thSuch was the report made by the health officers Wednesday, after having made thorough investigations of all the caseST Now that cholera has developed, it lies within each individual’s power to assure bis own personal safety almost beyond peradventure. Ho has butte drink no water and milk, except such as have been thoroughly boiled, and to eat no food that has not been thoroughly and freshly cooked; he will abstain from butter and cheese, and may then possess his soul in serenity. Cholera wflljiassblfii-by. Ever since tho Moravia arrived in port., as the harbinger of this dreaded plague. State and local officials have been straining every nerve to prevent its gaining a foothold and being spread by various channels to the country at large. The health officials have been strict, even to severity; but. while all were looking seaward, and while, preparations were made to repel an advance from across the water, it-has quietly made its* presence felt in our midst and the five mentioned mark its advent. How did it get in? is thequestion ou every one’s lips. One of the doctors formerly belonging to tho Board of Health, in speaking of tiio probability of the spread of cholera, said: “The present indications point to an epidemic of ebolera which will require tho most stringent measures on the part of the authorities to prevent it from assuming large proportions. The fact that the history of the cases are so far unknown makes the danger all tho greater, as the points of distribution of cholera germs may bo many. Were these centers of infection known measures might be taken to destroy the gorms and guard agains) the further spread. THE FIVE VICTIMS. Charles McAvoy was seized with cramps In the legs on Monday evening, but felt better in the morning, and went to his work. At 11 o’clock in. the forenoon lie camo home and' said ho was sick. He wont to bed and had a fresh attack of cramps The pain extended to the abdomen and kidneys, and violent diarrhea and vbmlting followed? Dr. Robert Boshon, of No. 354 West Fifty-sixth street, was called in. He diagnosed the case as Asiatic cholera, and called Dr. H. Robinson, of No. 413 West Fifty-eighth street, Im consultation. He confirmed tho diagnosis. In the evening MeAvoy died and the doctors notified the Board of Health. An autopsy was held on McAvoy’s bodv and the house was disinfected as a measure of precautionThe result of the autopsy was declared by Dr. Briggs to be *'not at all. suggestive of Asiatic cholera, while showing the familiar signs of cholera morbus.” However, some of the intestinal fluid was taken to sanitary headquarters and an attempt made to raise comma bacilli in it by cultivation in a soil of gelatine and beef soup A fine crop was the result. William Wicman and his wife Sophia were an aged couple who lived alone at Ft Eleyeyth avenue. He was fifty-two znd she sixty-three years old. She was seized first and died after an illness of several days, it is said. Before she wa 8 dead her husband fell ill and died two days later while she lay yet unburied. An autopsy was made upon their bodies at the reception hospital. Dr. Biggs had barely got through with his examination of tho intestinal contents of the two corpses -before ho was called to the hospital to perform an autopsy on Charlotte Beck. That was early Wednesday morning. It was tho discovery of the characteristic signs of the Asiatic pest in her bowels that caused the officials to issue a proclamation to the board i Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Beck was seized with violent eramps in the leg and abdomen Tuesday morning. Dr. Vandergally was called in. He diagnosed the case promntly as Asiatic cholera and notified tho health board. , He saw her at 9:25. At 11 o’clock sbo was ' dead. Sho died in collapse. The fifth case is said to be that of Minnie Levlnger, a child, who died Sept 11< at Nd. 411 East Fortieth street