Constantinople

1913 · 055948 — Rodosto & Constantinopoli: Manuscript & Typescript 3-9 October 1913. 1913. No Binding. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. A one-page typed letter with autograph marginal notes and a two-page manuscript report in black ink. Both are written on bifolia papers with "Renage's Mill" watermark One is "Banknote Paper" the other is "Extra Strong". "Agenzia Consolare d'Italia Rodosto" & "Consolato Generale d'Italia in Constantinopoli" letterheads. 27x21 cm. The letter is in Italian report is in French. 1 p.; 2 p. Signed. Except for the horizontal centre-fold in very clean condition. A letter written by the Italian Consul General in Constantinople to the Italian chargé d'affaires accompanied by a historically significant report from the Consular Agent in Rodosto provides valuable first-hand information about the outbreak of epidemic diseases such as cholera and typhus among humans and anthrax and bubonic plague among animals in the Ottoman Empire in 1913. It also sheds light on the authorities' failure to address these public health crises while offering significant insights into the Muslim immigrants arriving in convoys to the region during the ongoing Balkan Wars. This is an invaluable firsthand account of the Sixth Cholera Pandemic in the Ottoman Empire "a time when the Empire's foundations were shaken by the Balkan War military defeats territorial losses the plight of refugees and immigrants and the dreadful calamity of the cholera epidemic between 1911 and 1913 during which no reliable official records exist regarding the exact number of cholera cases and deaths". Unat. The manuscript report opens by stating the number of direct death cases as rendered in the translation: "I believe it is my duty to inform you that on the 27th a case of cholera followed by death was reported in the town. The day before yesterday there were four other cases two of them fatal; yesterday four new ones two of which were fatal; today another case. So out of ten cases there have been five deaths." The letter goes on: "The other municipality requested a credit of 1000 piastres from Constantinople to take the measures required by the circumstances. Unfortunately no reply has been given and our local officials do not know to which authority they should turn." "Cholera is present in Kirklareli Quarante Églises Baba-Eski Babaeski à Vise Vize à Bounar-Hissar Pinarhisar à Luli Bourgaz Lüleburgaz à Ouzun Keupiru Uzunköprü and aound Krichan Kirikhan. In Tchorlou Çorlu typhus is wreaking havoc and smallpox is present here. Our entire region is devastated by an epizootic outbreak: smallpox and foot-and-mouth disease among the sheep anthrax and bubonic plague among the oxen and buffaloes. Money and serum have been requested from the Ministry of Agriculture but there has been no response. The chief veterinarian I spoke with assured me that it would be impossible to do anything until he has serum to treat the livestock and that if the epidemic disease continues to spread like this the livestock will be completely wiped out in our region." The Royal Consular Agent states that during and after the war between the Turks and Bulgarians also known as the Battle of Kirkkilise which was part of the Balkan Wars Muslim immigrants who continually flocked to Kirklareli and the surrounding areas brought cholera and other epidemic diseases to the region. "Regularly there are convoys of migrants who had left their villages in the surrounding areas of Adrianople Quarante Églises Lüleburgaz etc. before the Turco-Bulgarian War arriving from Anatolia by steamships. They are the ones who brought us cholera and the epidemic disease." He ended his manuscript report by stating there is no way to convince the authorities to have them disembark elsewhere outside the city or to prevent the arrival of these immigrants who are being directed utilizing forced requisitions to areas where cholera is spreading. This report was presented to the Italian chargé d'affaires with this letter additionally as below: "Healt <br/> <br/> Manuscript & Typescript, 3-9 October 1913. unknown