CHOLERA COMEDY.

Mataura Ensign, 15 December 1911, Page 3

CHOLERA COMEDY.

QUARANTINE TREATMENT. A TURKISH DELIGHT. The complications which attend the work of a medical officer of health in Constantinople are well illustrated by the story of an incident during the cholera epidemic, which still continues there, though less catively than in the summer. j A case of cholera was reported in a house inhabited by a corps of volunteer firemen. This is a trade peculiar to Constantinople, in which the occupations of pilfering and salvage arc- ingeniously combined. The firemen usually live together in one tenement. On hearing of the case the municipal doctor immediately went to the house, found that the patient lived in a crowded little building with 19 of his comrades, and ordered that ho should be taken to a hospital. lie further ordered that all the rest of the inmates should be con lined to the house and strictly isolated. The doors were accordingly sealed and gendarmes posted' outside to stop anyone from going! in.

The 19 quarantined firemen were thoroughly disgusted by this order of imprisonment, and M of them climbed out of the windows at the back and stole quietly away. The medical officer when he called next day was furious at their escape but could <to nothing. He directed that food and drink and also tobacco should be sent in at the expense of the municipality for the five who stayed behind, and went away again. His amazement was considerable when he called again next day to find! that the number of inmates of the sealed-up house had increased during night from five to 27. Explanation was demanded, and under pressure it was found that the 14 fugitives had heard from the five who had stayed behind of the free food and tobacco, which seemed likely to convert the period of quarantine into a holiday of idleness and plenty. They had therefore returned by tho same windows through which they had escaped-, and had further brought with them eight friends anxious to experience the benefits of medical treatment on 6uch intelligent ! lines.

The doctor, however, was a man of retaliatory disposition. Calling in the assistance of a squad of regular liremcn, professional rivals, and foes of the volunteer tolcunbadjis, he had the 27 stripped and sprayed upon liberally with pungent and noisome disinfectants. They were then attired in ugly and harsh-textured garments provided by the municipal authorities, and were sent, under police escort, to a lonely and inhospitable isolation camp to complete their quarantine under conditions cauculated to make them realise the unwisdom of evading the benefieient attentions of the corporation, or. having done so ; of returning to them again.