The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1895. CHOLERA.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 269, 17 May 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1895. CHOLERA.

The sad death of General Feilding from cholera in Siani inclines us to turn our attention to that dreadful scourge of Eastern countries. Periodical ravages are made in Europe by this disease— mostly introduced by pious Moslem pilgrims to Mecca, who yearly visit that holy, but by no means healthy shrine. Sanitary science renders Europe each year less susceptible to this plague, while the researches of specialists, such as Pasteur and Koch, tend to lower the rate of mortality. But it is unlikely that the Western nations will be entirely free from this unwelcome visitor until they rid themselves of the " sick man of Europe " — the unspeakable Turk. But whether or no that day will ever arrive it is worthy of note that in Asia itself steps are being taken both to lessen the sway of cholera and to prevent its birth. In India the much abused British rulers are teaching the people to protect themselves against this fierce foe. Oholera is an exclusively water-carried disease, and, therefore, when their President last December was addressing the first Indian Medical Congress, he merely was tracing cause and effect in his words, " Whereas in 1860 not ono single town had» a supply of pure water, now nearly all the largest cities aud cantonments had wellplanned waterworks, One result was lhat the death rate among the British troops had been reduced from 69 to 15 per 1000." A few days before these words were spoken, a yet more important address was delivered at the Medrisse College by Mr Hart, the editor of the British Medical Journal. He spoke on the prevention of cholera among pilgrims at Mecca. The son of the late King of Oude presided, and at the conclusion of the address he strongly advised his co-religionists to adopt the course recommended, viz., to appoint committees of enquiry in all Mahomedan countries, and then to bring such suggestions as they may make before tho notice of the Sultan. It is quite possible that if this course be thoroughly carried out cholera may practically become a thing of the past. But in the meantime, we may be thankful for the valuable protection raised by science in Europe, for the important work already accomplished in Asia, and for the still more important work indicated above, which promises to touch the very fountain head.