1892

cholera epidemic in Hamburg (Brock, 229) brought 100 cases to NY, leading to first municipal bacteriological laboratory in NY via initiatives of Welch et al. (Flexner, 343). Hamburg epidemic proves cholera was waterborne; Koch demonstrates water filtration key to its control (and, more importantly, to control of typhoid fever) (Brock, 230, 255). Threat of cholera leads NYC Board of Health to establish Division of Pathology, Bacteriology and Disinfection, headed by Hermann Biggs and including a bacteriological laboratory (Hammonds, 67-73). Immigrant Russian Jews deemed the “vector” of the cholera epidemic, as with the typhus fever epidemic the preceding February. Osler, Kelly, and Hurd of Hopkins among those in favor of “shutting the gates” to immigrants; President Harrison mandates national 20-day quarantine on immigrant ships (Markel, 89, 97). First program of this new Division was bacteriological diagnosis of diphtheria, with Wm. Park appointed inspector and bacteriological diagnostician of diphtheria. Parke produced first diphtheria antitoxin outside Europe in NYC lab in 1894 (Hammonds, 73-74; Liebenau, 51-52).