THE CHOLERA IN FRANCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1210, 29 July 1884, Page 3

THE CHOLERA IN FRANCE.

The cholera was reported as raging in Toulon, France, on June 23rd, up to which date twenty deaths had occurred. ' The city wss in a state of panic, and eight thousand of the inhabitants had left. Camps were formed for the occupation of navy crews, and pupils of public schools were dismissed. The corpses of victims were not allowed to be taken to ihe churches, but wore buried as soon as possible after death in deep trenches with plenty of chloride of lime on them. The troops and dock laborers were chiefly attacked, and quarantine was established everywhere. It is said the first death oc turned on June .4th, but was kept secret. The Minister of Commerce issued a notice on the 23rd, stating that the cholera was sporadic, not Asiatic ; that it was due to local infection, and was therefore confined to the place of its origin. The Spanish Government quarantined against the French shipping and land communication on the 24th, and was followed by Italy, Austria and Egypt. The chateau in Marseilles, formerly belonging to the Empress Eugenie, was prepared for the accomodation of 500 cholera patients. There was a difference of. opinion as to the true character of the disease ; whilst the Government physicians of Toulon joined with the Minister of Commerce in pronouncing it sporadic, physicians generally were of opinion that it was eholerk of the true Asiatic type. The exodus of the frightened citizens from Toulon was continued to the 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, and the 14th of July fete had to be abandoned. 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 July 27th, and six on the afternoon preceding at Marseilles. The Italian Government notified the postal authorities on the 27th to enclose ' all mails intended for Italy in tarred sacks, as they were passed through France. Despatches via London, June 30tb, have special reports in regard to •holera, and give a greater number of deaths than the official returns. M.

Rochard, Chief of the Naval Health Department, reported the number of deatha at Toulon from eight to ten daily, and that the aggregate number of deaths up to date mentioned wes 14 in the navy, and 31 in the town. Rumor* were current that the commander of the Castle at Toulon, committed suicide on the 30th from remorse at having introduced the cholera into Franco. Despatches from ... Marseilles, dated June 30th, say Captain Millet, of the navy, whose wife was seized with cholera, has committed suicide. Dr Koch, Chairman of the Cholera Commission at .Berlin, started for Paris on July 2nd t« offer his services to the French authorities in determining the character of the epidemic. Arrangements were made on July Ist to fumigate travellers at the Paris railway station. Berthier, a -Parisian across, whilst 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 the same day, the Captain and entire crew a-f tbo oibnmer Minstrel abandoned the veaiel, and took to the woods, whore the gendarmes searched for them in vain. On the Ist July'the cholera bad spread to all the '■Tillages in the vicinity of Toulon, and a case had appeared at Lyons, The Pope ■ has'ordered the members of the priesthood in.-ajl cholera infected districts to remain at their posts* and has placed funds at the disposal-of the bishops if the need ie urgent. Advices dated July 2nd state > that five cases of cholera were cured by inhaling pure oxygen. The effect of this is immediate, and consists in restoring '■warmth to the system and making the poise normal. The Times, commenting on the cure, says nervous persona may henceforth trust to the existence of a cure for cholera. Despatches dated Toulon, July 3rd, state that seven persons had been attacked with cholera since 8 a.m., and that five deaths had occurred within that time. The Secretary of State at Washington has received a message from Consul Mason at Marseilles, dated July ' 3rd, saying the situa+ion was worse at Toulon, the deaths averaging ten daily. It is considered to bo Asiatic cholera. Many thousands have left for the interior. Some Paris journals assert that cases of cholera had occurred iu that city on 3rd June. July 4. There were no deaths at Marseilles last night ; there were, however, five at Toulon. Portugal has quarantined all 25n °"1i»lj vessels, and at Geneva passengers flora Toulon aiH Marseilles are disinfected at the railroad station*. The Spanish end English officials have re-. ’ ceived a despatch with reference to precautions against the spread of cholera. .The former attempted to establish a sanitary cordon fifty yards from the British lines, but were compelled to withdraw the cordon beyond the centre of the grounds. The latest despatches from Toslon, daied July sth, state that Dr Koch, the Berlin surgeon, had arrived there, but bad been coolly received iu Paris on account of being a Prussian. Dr Bpuel, naval physician, died on th e ; 'The depression in trade on acoou n t

of the epidemic is great. There were seven deaths since the evening of the 4th and the oxygen cure is pronounced unsatiefactory. The intense heat has aggravated the cholera at Marseilles. It is now proved that the ship Jarthen duci d the cholera into France. She had fourteen cases on board while in the Bed Saa.