Volume 1

A system of medicine / edited by J. Russell Reynolds.

Date:
1866-1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A system of medicine / edited by J. Russell Reynolds. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    146/976 (page 126)
    EPIDEMIC CHOLERA. By Edward Goodeve, M.B. Definition.—An epidemic, and in some places an endemic, disease of great mortality. Typical Epidemic Cholera is characterized, in its developed stages, by vomiting and purging of watery fluid ; by rapidly causing a state of the body called collapse, in which there is extreme depression or diminution of nearly all the functions of life ; by termi- nating in death, often within twenty-four hours from the first symptoms of the disease, or in healthy reaction, or in various dangerous sequelae, mostly of a typhoid nature. Synonymes.—Cholera Morbus—Epidemic Cholera—Asiatic Cholera —Algide Cholera—Cholera Asphyxia—Cholera Spasmodica—Blue Cholera—Malignant Cholera. The disease called by the above names is a severe epidemic affection, well known in India, and which has at intervals ravaged different parts of Europe, Africa, and America. In Calcutta and Bombay it prevails so constantly that it may now be said to be endemic there. It appears frequently in our camps and stations in India, and its occurrence therein, in violence, is a signal for unwearied toil and labour to our regimental and other surgeons, and of anxiety to all. And it may well be so, so widespread is its diffusion, so destructive are its effects, and so resistant is it to treatment. It demands, indeed, the careful study of all who practise medicine, add most especially of those who pursue it in our Indian territories. History.—In a practical sketch such as this, it would be vain to occupy space and time with inquiries as to whether Cholera was, or was not, known to ancient writers. There is little room for doubt that our forefathers were acquainted with it in Europe. In India, Cholera has been observed several times since the English have had possessions there. There is evidence of its having been known iu Madras in 1769, 1770, and 1774. It attacked the artillery com- manded by Colonel Pearse, marching to join Sir Eyre Coote, in 1781, and the troops under Colonel Cockerell, in 1790. Its occurrence in three or four places in different parts of India, in the beginning of the present century, is well authenticated. The epidemics, though