THE CHOLERA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4085, 25 August 1884, Page 4

THE CHOLERA.

There was only one death from cholera at Toulon on August Ist, but there were _3 cases of the disease in the Bona Recontra

Hospital and 93 cases in the St. Mondricr. On the same date one death from cholera occurred at Mountfort, and eleven deaths at Marseilles. Fugitives from Toulon _ and Marseilles aro now returning to those cities, Avhich are becoming more animated, tho shops being- re-opened. The present condition of the epidemic is that it is decreasing at certain points, but extending in area. The municipal authorities of Toulon excited a good deafof indignation by refusing to allow a procession of Avomen to parade the streets. The Avomen desired to offer prayer for the cessation of the scourge, Despite the attempt of the French scientist to minimise as much as possible the cholera panic on the Continent, it is iioav admitted that the German expert, Dr. Koch, Avas justified iv those horrible predictions Avhich alarmed all Europe. Cases are reported from Brisrnolcs, Aries, and the environs of Paris. On'the 20th of July the Marseilles Chamber of Commerce voted 10,000 francs for the relief of the sufferers. Throughout Italy and France nearly all tho summer resorts have been closed because of the entire lack of patronage. At Lake Kentinugala, in Northern Italy, at last accounts there Avore 2090 travellers imprisoned under quarantine, rich and poor herding together. The sanitary condition of the hospital there is reported as dreadful in the extreme. Quite a panic Avas created at Toulon on the night of the 22nd of July by the arrival of 100 coffins, ordered from Marseilles. In order to allay the excitement it Avas found necessary to scud tho coffins back. Tho medical officials in Paris deny the existence of cholera there, assorting that the deaths attributed to cholera in the Paris hospitals Avero really due to other causes. The Lisbon vegetable merchants have entered a protest against the stringent measures adopted to prevent the epidemic reaching there, and the Toulon apothecaries threatened to close their shops because the civic authorities Avere distributing medicines free. A despatch from Marseilles, dated July 21th, says, "Tho aspect here is becoming more sombre, as the only .steamer arriving weekly from Algeria is suppressed, the lineto Syria is stopped, the South African packets have ceased to call, and the Customs offices and quays are deserted. Many of the funerals occur during the night, the burials being performul by the aid of lanterns. The Mayor has interdicted tho annual fair, and forbids processions." On August 15th an official enquiry Avas held at Marseilles into the death of twelve Sisters of Charity and almoners of the nunnery. Tho evidence showed that tho last rites of the Church Averc performed over the body of the first sister avlio became a victim to the disease, and that neither the clothing nor the cell of the deceased had been disinfected. The director of tho Bank of France met the heads of tho banking houses of Marseilles, and it Avas agreed to refuse the request, of the merchants to extend the time for the payment of bills becoming due At Aries main- people became insane through fear of the cholera. A patient in the hospital at Toulon committed suicide on July 20th b} r plunging a knife iv his heart. Tho appearance of the cholera at Aries produced the same extraordinary phenomena as at other places. The .Prefect could not even got a chop, tho butchers haA'ing tied, and two doctors from Marseilles having put up at the chief hotel were offered the keys by the proprietor, Avith the Avords, "I am going ; do the best you can." One of the greatest diiiiculties in dealing Avith the plague arises out of tho insensate fears and extraordinary ignorance and superstition of the poorer people. In Marseilles the poor families aro convinced that tho physicians aro determined to keep up the epidemic, and they force the doctors to take their own medicines first before the patients touch them. Tho people sometimes shut their doors in the doctors' faces, and in one ease threatened the doctors with knives. The Italian colonies in Franco carry off the palm, as usual, for obstinate folly. In one A'illage, Avhere there aro a number of fishermen, the doctors are afraid to enter the houses on account of the hostility of tho inmates. Though there were se\'cral eases of cholera, neither prayers nor threats could aA-ail anything. The Italian Consul had to be asked to intervene. The classification of deaths by eholer.i in France, made up to July 31st, gives the folloAving results:—French, 798; Italians, 332; Spanish, 13; Greek, 9; English, 1; Austrian, 1 ; German, 1 ; American, 1. In

the French Chamber of Deputies, on July 29th, a deputation under the leadership of M. Clemenceau, appointed by the Extreme Left to visit the places afflicted Avith cholera, reported that the people of Aries Avere fleeing to tho farms in the A-icinity, Avhere they huddled together iv hovels and slept as they best could. The sick avcto entirely neglected. Cases of cholera Avere kept secret from the authorities, ammo surveillance Avas observed. The deputation inspected the madhouse at Marseilles, and found numerous cases of cholera there. A. mild form of cholera appeared in St.. Petersburg, Cliarkofi', and others toAvns of Russia on July ''oth.