THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IN FRANCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4061, 28 July 1884, Page 3

THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IN FRANCE.

There.was great consternation when it was reported that cholera was raging at Toulon. On June 23rd 20 deaths had occurred, and the city was in a panic. Eight thousand of its inhabitants fled from it. Camps were formed for the occupation of the navy crews. All the pupils of the public schools were dismissed. The corpses of tho victims were not allowed to be taken to the churches, but were buried as soon as possible after death in deep trenches, with plenty of chloride of lime. The troops and dock laborers were chiefly attacked, and quarantine was established everywhere. It is said that the first death occurred on June 4th, bnt was kept secret. # ' The Ministry of Commerce issued a notice on June 23rd that the cholera was sporadic and not Asiatic ; that it was due to local infection, and therefore confined to the place of its origin. .A. chateau in Marseilles formerly, belonging to the Empress Eugeie was prepared for the accommodation of 500 cholera patients. There was a difference of opinion: as to the true character of the disease. While the Government physician of Toulon joined with the Ministry of Commerco in: pronouncing it sporadic, the physicians generally were of opinion that it was cholera of the true Asiatic type. Tno - exodus of frightened citizens from Toulon continued on June 26th, on which .day eight deaths took ; place in : the hospital. Fires were lighted in the streets for purification. Business, both in Toulon and Marseilles, had come to a standstill. The mountain passes of France were narrowly guarded to prevent the passage of infected; persons, and a military cordon was established along the Spanish frontier. .- Ten deaths were recorded at Toulon on June 27th and six in the afternoon of the; proceeding day. at Marseilles/ The Italian Government notifisd to the United States postal authorities on the. 27th: of June to enclose' all mails', intended for Italy, in tarred sacks in consequence of their haying to pass : through" France. Rumors were current that the commander of the castle at Toulon committed suicide on June 30th, through remorse at having introduced the cholera into France, The mosquito plague at Marseilles increased the gloomy prospect.. A . thousand bonfires were kindled in various parts of the city to disperse the pests. Billet, of the navy, whose wife -was seized • with cholera, committed suicide. - Dr. Koch, chairman of the cholera commission at Berlin started. for Paris on July 2nd to offer his services, to the French - authorities; in . determining ths character of the epidemic. Arrange-.; nients were made on July Ist to fumigate travellers-at; the Paris railway stations. Madame Berthier, a Parisian ..actress, while taking/part in a play at Marseilles on July... Ist, heard • that one of the audience had been seized with cholera, and thereupon immediately fled to Paris •in her theatrical costume;. The audience had their admission money refunded. .At Toulon, on"'the' same day the captain and entire, crew of the. stoamer Mistral abandoned the vessel and; took to, the. woods. . The gensdarmes searched for them in vain. ; On the. Ist of July the cholera had spread to all.the villages in the vicinity of Toulon; and a case appeared at.Lyons. The Pope, ordered the "priesthood in .all cholera infected districts to remain at their posts, and placed funds, at the disposition;.of/ tho; Bishops if tho need were urgent. : On> July 2nd recourse was'had-in five cases of _ cholera to inhaling pure oxygen,,.and it is stated.that; they were -all cured, the effect being immediate,and consisting in restoring warmth to the system and making the pulse normal, -The London ; Times; - commenting on, tho/ cure, -. said,. ■" Nervous , persons - may henceforth trust in the existence of a cure fo- cholera." Notwithstanding this there were 13 deaths at Toulon on July,2nd, and it was conceded that the disease was Asiatic cholera. On July 3rd there wero no deaths at Marseilles, and only fivo at • Toulon. Thereweresevon. deaths in Toulon since the evening of the 4th, of July, and the oxygen cure has .been pronounced unsatisfactory. Tho intense heat .had aggravated the;cholera at: Marseilles. • It is how. proved; that. the ship,.Jarthe .introduced the "cholera into France. She had fourteen cases on board while on the Red Sea. ■••.-■■ •'-:-.-