Notes on the origin, nature, prevention, and treatment of Asiatic cholera / by John C. Peters.

  • Peters, John C. (John Charles), 1819-1893.
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes on the origin, nature, prevention, and treatment of Asiatic cholera / by John C. Peters. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    required five or six years to ti-averse the same space, and tliat of 1865, only sis months. This difference of Bpeed in the jirogression of the various epidemics is most easily explained by the increased faciUties and rate of travel v?hich have followed the extension of steamboat and rail- road enterprises. After 1817, the disease was called epidemic or Asiatic cholera, although twice previously to this date, it had prevailed to such an extent in the town of Jessore and its immediate neighborhood, as to render it necessary to shut the courts of justice, and suspend aU business for a time. Dr. Barnes, resident at Jessore for many years, had medical charge of the district, from 1810 till 1823 ; he had been fa- miliar with the ordinary Indian cholera, during all that time, and considered it a disease peculiar to that section of the country, and one which had superseded the pei'iodical remittent fever, formerly so prevalent in that district. He says, the sources of this disease could not be mistaken, although they were too extensive to be brought imder human control. Putrid exlialations from the constant and rapid decomposition of animal and vegetable matter, and the use of unwliolesome water, were the sole causes. But the extent and fatality of its attack depended alto- gether upon the season, or seasons ; for there were two in which cholera was apt to prevail: 1st. If those violent storms of thunder, lightning, wind, and rain, Avhich annually occur in Bengal, and are known hy the name of northwesters, commenced early in March, and re- curred at short intervals, until the rainy season began, then the hot season as it is called, viz., April, May, and June, was comparatively healthy, and vice versa. It is during this fir.st period that the disease is apt to spread to other countries ;