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.

    151/976 (page 131)
    foul places, as privies, cesspools' &c., ancl shifts of wind have been known to have been followed by subsidence of the . disease. It declined after a hurricane which took place in Madras in 1818. In Europe there was no fixed relation between the quarter lrom which the wind came and the intensity of the disease. Though Cholera appears to travel with the wind in many instances, it does not always do so. Orton reports that it travelled across a great variety of country, from the Nerbudda to Bombay, directly opposed by a strong wind blowing- night and day for half the year, at the same rate of progress that it passed from Madras to Cape Cormorin, with the breeze in its favour. Absence of horizontal movement of the air, or a stagnant atmosphere in combination with heat and moisture, has already been alluded to. Electricity—Ozone—Barometric Pressure.—These have not been found to exercise any decided influence, or to have existed in different conditions during different epidemics. Most extended observations on some of these points, by Mr. Gflaisher, are to be found in the appendix to the Cholera Report for 1853-54, and in the report of the Indian Sanitary Commission of 1862. Much has been written on the influence of meteorological states upon the spread of Cholera, and there is much confusion and apparent contradiction in the results and on the inferences drawn. Some con- nexion between atmospheric states and the epidemics does exist, but it is not that of cause and effect. It is very probable that heat and moisture, which are so favourable to most organic actions and to chemical changes, may promote the multiplication of the Cholera poison, and that a calm stagnant atmosphere may allow of its concen- tration. We do not look upon heat and moisture as the cause of a tree or plant \ but we find them very influential in their developments. Mr. GlaisheTs observations in concluding his report on the Meteorology of London, in relation to the Cholera epidemic of 1353-54, alludes to those of 1832 and 1848-49, and shows that the atmospheric conditions durmg the prevalence of Cholera are well worthy of attentive study lie says “ The three epidemics were attended with a particular state ot atmosphere, characterized by a prevalent mist, thin in high places dense m low-during the height of the epidemic; in all cases, the trhlkngto i Sq r°iT«eZ ™s/emarkably high and the atmosphere ck. In 1849 and 1854 the temperature was above its average, and a total absence of ram, and a stillness of air amounting almost to calm, accompanied the progress on each occasion. In places near the river, the night temperatures were high with small diurnal range a dense torpid mist, and air charged with many impurities arisino- from the exhalations of the river and adjoining^alhes a d S v S electncity and as shown in 1854, a total absence of tone most nro hably destroyed by the decomposition of the organic Saferw tb which the air in these situations is strongly charged ” “In 1 84Q cmrl 1 QXA P.I In 1849 and 1854, the first decline of the disease wa<? marl 1 i decrease m the readings of the barometer and - d by a uooroase m uie readings of the barometer anrl to 7 * air and water; the air, which prevailng“ iv A