Cholera : an analysis of its epidemic, endemic, and contagious character; with original and peculiar views of its mode of propagation and the means of counteracting it. Showing also by analogy that the means of preserving organized bodies from decay point to the only true curative principles in the treatment of fevers generally, and more especially cholera / by Henry Stephens.

  • Stephens Henry surgeon.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cholera : an analysis of its epidemic, endemic, and contagious character; with original and peculiar views of its mode of propagation and the means of counteracting it. Showing also by analogy that the means of preserving organized bodies from decay point to the only true curative principles in the treatment of fevers generally, and more especially cholera / by Henry Stephens. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    8/52 (page 4)
    disease will often, in my opinion, for a short period, when raging in situations favourable for it, as in crowded and unwholesome places, develope a decidedly contagious property, which property ceases again for a time, and is again manifested, so that an observer becomes puzzled— being satisfied at one time that it has no contagion, and at another that it has ; it will also at times exhibit an endemic character, taking up its abode in particular districts, in low situations, observing the course of rivers, &e. Hence arises a wide discrepancy of opinion. Contagious diseases, as small-pox, measles, scarlet-fevers, &c., will at some period prevail simultaneously over a wide district, having universally a type and character of fatal malignancy which belong not to them under ordinary circumstances ; and there can be no doubt there is some epidemic influence, some circumstance at such times, which give to them an additional character of extension and malignancy. Malarious or endemic diseases are ordinarily the diseases of a district, having a local origin and a local habitation, yet occasionally they will assume the march and character of an epidemic,* for example, the intermittent fever, or common ague, the inhabitant of a marsh, will at times take up its abode for several seasons in districts where it had not been known for many years, the oldest inhabitant but barely remembering its former visitation, and at such seasons the ague districts are more than usually affected by it; but although usurping in