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Prevention of Communicable Disease: Asiatic

FOREIGN DISEASES A small class of communicable diseases sometimes occur in the United States as the result of infection from foreign parts. Notable among these are Asiatic cholera, bubonic plague and leprosy.

Asiatic Cholera. - This disease is native to India. Thence it has spread in epidemic form from time to time throughout the civilized world. It is caused by a specific 3 micro-organism sometimes called the "comma" bacillus on account of its shape. The presence of this is often the only test by which this disease can be distinguished from gastroenteritis, ptomaine poisoning and other similar diseases. Asiatic cholera closely resembles typhoid fever as regards modes of infection, and should be treated in an entirely similar manner. Like typhoid it may be spread by healthy carriers and communicated by the mild or "walking" cases of the disease. There is an anti-cholera vaccine similar to the anti-typhoid vaccine, by means of which the death rate has been greatly lowered. This disease is entirely preventable if the precautions recommended under typhoid fever are observed. Needless to say a physician should always be summoned even in the mildest cases.

The period of incubation is from one to five days, although it may be greatly prolonged. The symptoms are similar to ptomaine poisoning: vomiting, diarrhea, sub-normal temperature, loss of pulse, suppression of urine and collapse. They are common to the action of various poisons and can only be distinguished by a competent physician.