THE CHOLERA SCOURGE.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 73, 25 October 1884, Page 6

THE CHOLERA SCOURGE.

Ignorance and Superstition Aiding the Epidemic. New York, September 9.— The " Sun's " cablegram from London says : Private despatches from !N aples describe the moral and sanitary condition of the city, in the presence of the cholera scourge, as terrible. The people have lost all self-control, and given themselves up to the wildest superstition. It is impossible to take the proper precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, as families and friends unite to frustrate the regulations of the authorities. Deaths are concealed, and corpses retained in houses until privately buried, from a superstitious drGad that burial in a common grave, without religious rites, imperils the dead person's hope of resurrection. Instead of complying with sanitary rules, recourse is had to supernatural remedies. The streets are crowded with religious processions singing hymns and litanies, and bearing lighted candles, crosses, and banners. Women parado in public places carrying flower-decked statues of St. Gennaro, Naples' patron saint, Even the doctors are carried away by the prevailing panic. Three eminent physicians — Drs. Calterelli, Capozzi, and Schran— all members of the Sanitary Council, abandoned their duties and ran away, leaving the sanitary control of the city in the wildest confusion. Such is the hatred expressed towards them by the populace that they will certainly be lynched if they return. In marked contrast to the conduct of these men, Dr. Dellatorre is a noble example of devotion to duty. He visited the sick and dying in the vilest quarters of Naples, facing death, not only from the disease, but from the frenzy and fanaticism of the populace. He has now fallen a victim to the cholera, and i? not expected to recover. The horrors of famine row threateu the city, in addition to tho plague. Provisions have ceased to be brought there, the channels of communication being cut off and the peasants being afraid to enter the city. Even fruit, the common food of the poor, is scarce and dear. Rome, September 9.— The official bulletin showing the ravages of the cholera in various portions of Italy for the past twenty -four hours gives 628 fresh cases and 275 deaths. The cases in Benevento and Salerno were refugees from Naples. In Naples scenes of misery and wretchedness of the most horrible character occur on every side. King Humbert has been profoundly affected by the sufferings he witnessed, and has made the first donation to the relief fund. All his ministers have earnestly urged King Humbert to leave the city, but the King nas refused to do so. He will visit the populous quarters of the city. While visiting to-day the King met an archbishop, who was upon the same errand of mercy. The meeting of the King and prelate is described as very interesting and touching. Naples, September 9. —King Humbert, after visiting the poorer portions of the city to-day, inspeoted the Christalline Hospital,

He declined the use of disinfectants while making the tour of the Hospital. The King was accompanied by his brother, the Duke of Aosfca, the Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affaire. The burial of the dead from the cholera is found very difficult, owing to the unusually large number so suddenly needing interment. A soldier suffering from a violent attack of cholera was taken to a hoepita l , and in his delirium threw himself from a window. During the last twenty-four hours there have been 800 fresh cases of cholera and 300 deaths in this city. The town presents a gloomy aspect. Images of saints with acolytes bearing lighted tapers were borne at the head of a procession of women which marched through the streets invoking the help of the Virgin. A large crowd assembled outside the Church of San Gennaro in consequence of a report that the Virgin Mary had descended upon the altar and bestowed her blessings upon the people. The doors of the church were closed, and i the crowd attempted to break them open. 1 Troops arriving, however, the doors were opened and the multitude rushed in, fell upon their knee«, and engaged in fervent prayers. ( Naples, September 10. — It is officially announced that during the twenty - four hours ending last night there were 72 fresh cases of cholera in Naples and 250 deaths. Since the beginning of the cholera outbreak in Naples there have been 1,100 interments in the cholera section of the cemetery. New York, September 10.— A London special says : Dr. Bassano, of the Pharo Hospital at Marseilles, telegraphed last evening as fellows*: " Drs. JReitsch and Recati have just informed me that several animals which they had inoculated with Dr. Koch's microbes have died with choleraic symptoms, results which Dr. Koch has himself failed to obtain. lam promised further particulars soon. " Experiments meanwhile are being made at Naples, where the ravages of the pestilence each day are greater than during the worst period at Toulon or Marseilles. It has been demonstrated there that flies play an important part in spreading the disease.