The natural history and epidemiology of cholera : being the annual oration of the Medical Society of London, May 7, 1888 / by J. Fayrer.

  • Fayrer, Joseph, Sir, 1824-1907.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The natural history and epidemiology of cholera : being the annual oration of the Medical Society of London, May 7, 1888 / by J. Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3/S 2i. THE NATURAL HISTORY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CHOLERA* Mr. President and Gentlemen,—It is in obedience, sir, to the behest of your predecessor that I occupy this evening the post assigned to him who, in compliance with ancient usage, is entrusted with the duty of com- memorating the inauguration of the Medical Society of London by delivering ah annual oration which shall deal • with matter germane to the purposes for which the Society was founded. I am as deeply impressed with a sense of the honour conferred on me in being selected for this duty, as I am with that of my inability to do it the justice it merits. I can only, at once, offer my grateful acknowledgments, and crave indulgence for the shortcomings from which I cannot hope to escape. The subject I have selected to bring before you is “ The Natural History and Epidemiology of Cholera.” It ap- peared to me, after revolving in my mind other possible subjects for this address, that I could hardly select one of greater interest at any time, but especially now, that the dark shadow of this mysterious pestilence which has so recently loomed over Europe, has passed away, after threatening, though not invading, our own islands—thanks, no doubt in a great measure, to the protection afforded by a system of sanitary administration which, whilst preserv- ing the general health of the people, has rendered them less susceptible to disease, the local causes of which it has contributed to diminish, if not to destroy. I do not propose to dwell on the pathology or thera- * Being the Annual oration of the Medical Society of London, May 7th, 1888.