A national quarantine : speech of Hon. J.H. McGowan, of Michigan, in the House of Representatives, May 27, 1879.

  • McGowan, Jonas Hartzell, 1837-1909.
Date:
1879
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Credit: A national quarantine : speech of Hon. J.H. McGowan, of Michigan, in the House of Representatives, May 27, 1879. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    aramuiiition. Shall we wait until his preparations are complete and then furnish him a fleet for the transportation of his troops, or shall we take measures for our own safety ? But our immediate danger is not confined to the South nor to yel- low fever. The cholera in Asia and European Russia is epidemic. It is true that late reports from the alfected regions are more favor- able. But such reports, coming through such sources, should not be implicitly relied upon. It is a disease that goes rapidly along the lines of travel, and has never prevailed any great length of time in an epidemic form in Europe without reaching the United States. Dr. Peters, in his History of the Asiatic Cholera, claims that ever since 1756 (one hundred and twenty-three years ago) it has recurred as an epidemic in periods of twelve years each, corresx)ondiug with the twelve yearly festivals of the Hindoos. The disease is native to India, and constantly exists there in some form. During these festi- vals, which are pilgrimages to the various shrines, thousands, and even millions, leave their homes and journey and mingle together. In this way the disease is spread and becomes epidemic. It follows the great routes of travel to the west and northwest until it passes through Asia into Europe and eventually to America. In 182G it be- came epidemic in Hindostan, its native home, and gradually spread until, in 1^39, it was distributed throughout Russia, reaching Eng- land in 1S30-'31. In the spring of 18:]2 it was brought to Quebec, from whence it was carried up the Saint Lawrence and across the lakes to Detroit, where it met the United States troops going to the Black Hawk war. It was distributed to all the national posts and forts in the then extreme West, being specially severe at Fort Dearborn, Chicago, Fort Crawford, near Prairie Du Chien,. and Fort Armstrong, at Rock Island. From the latter place it was carried down the Mississippi River, striking New Orleans in October of the same year. Twelve years thereafter, or in 1841, this contagion started in another tour around the world. It was found at Hnrdwai in 1843; at Afghan- istan, in Persia, in 184.5; at Teheran in 184G, and Astrakhan in 1847. In 1848 it reached Havre, and was carried to New Orleans in some German eiti igrant ships the same year. From New Orleans it followed the travel up the Mississippi and along the Ohio. From Saint Louis it was carried over the emigrant route to San Francisco, and event- ually was distributed over nearly the whole country. Thus it will be seen that within the space of fourteen years the country suffered two visitations from the terrible plague. The first time, being intro- duced at Quebec and following the rivers and lakes, it reaches New Orleans by goiug down the Mississippi; the second time, it starts at New Orleans and goes up the river, and is thus distributed. Each time it follows the great national highways, and each time it is largely distributed by the United States Army, which it at the same time decimates. The last great twelve-yearly cholera epidemic commenced in India in April, 18G5. By means of railroads and steamboats it traveled more rapidly than it had in previous years, reaching Mecca, on the Red Sea, by May 2, Alexandria by June 2, and England by the 10th of July. Emigrant ships soon brought it to New York City, where it readily passed the local quarantine, made a center of distribution of the great city, and from thence spread along the railroads and highways of travel a'll over the country. This author, Dr. Peters, who I believe is a resident of New York and a member of her board of health, writing previous to 1874, says : In 1877 and 1879 we may expect an outbreak of the disease sucli as there was in 1781-'83, lal7- i9, lo-29-'ai, 1841-'43, l»53-'55, and 1865-'67.. And he adds: In our next contest with the disease our whole safety lies in quarantine and thorough disinfection. Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that I have thus shown the power of