Brief remarks upon the cholera as it appeared at Cardiffe [sic] and Dowlais in the summer of 1849 / by G.E. Webster.

  • Webster, G.E.
Date:
[1850]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Brief remarks upon the cholera as it appeared at Cardiffe [sic] and Dowlais in the summer of 1849 / by G.E. Webster. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    BRIEF REMARKS UPON THE CHOLERA AS IT APPEARED AT CARDIFFE AND DOWLAIS IN THE SUMMER OF 1849. By G. E. WEBSTER, Esq. Read on Thursday, December 6,1849. Having been resident for some consi- derable time last summer at Cardiffe and Dowlais during the visitation of cholera, it is my intention to record a few of the various incidents which struck me as worthy of remark, and to notice any causes which may seem to have accelerated, retarded, or obstructed the progress of this malady in those places. Epidemics of all kinds are very fre- quent in the town of Cardiffe. It is an over-populated, densely-crowded sea- port, having considerably increased in commerce and population within the last few years, without due attention being paid, either by public enterprise or private speculation, to the domestic comforts, necessaries, and conveniences of the humbler classes. The site of the town, from lying almost on a dead level, afforded no facilities for drainage; con- sequently over-flowing cesspools and stopped-up drains were of too frequent occurrence. In addition to these evils the Glamorganshire canal, which ruus through the centre of the town, acting as a convenient receptacle for all sorts of filth, was entirely drained of its water for some distance, owing to re- pairs being requisite, leaving the refuse matter exposed to the scorching rays of the sun. In this locality, and the small streets composed of lodging-houses filled with Irish to an extent almost incredible, the disease committed the greatest ravages. The interference of sanitary measures was not less needed at Dowlais than at Cardiffe, though, the former having the advantage of being situated on the side ot a hill, the natural drainage was good. The people, generally speaking, were in a better condition of life, their wages good, and work constant; their habita- tions, however, and conveniences equally bad. In conjunction with these the severe and exhausting nature of then- employ men t, and the consequent incite- ment to drink, mustbe considered among the predisposing causes of disease. The experienced eye might frequently detect in the patient’s appearance and expression of countenance indications of the forthcoming evil. My attention was drawn to this point by Dr. Sutherland, a commissioner of the Board of Health, in order to induce persons to leave those localities where cholera had made its appearance, and my own subsequent observation fully bore out the truth of tliis assertion. Purposely passing over a minute de- tail of the symptoms of cholera, I may remark that the cramps and vomiting usually commenced and recurred toge- ther ; but what relation they bore to each other in the shape of cause and effect I cannot tell. It was remark- able, in almost all those cases which recovered from the stage of collapse, how well the mechanism of life was depicted, and what functions are most necessary for supporting and prolonging human existence, an alteration taking place in those functions first, and se- condly, in those which cannot be consi- dered essential to life. Thus nature, gradually reviving, begins to develope a degree of animal heat; the pulse, re- turning at intervals, ultimately becomes quick and hard, the respiration is some- what easier, the features and hands become less blue, the vomiting and purging gradually cease; the excretions being changed in appearance often as- sume a greenish or dark cast, and, finally, the secretion of urine, before so totally suppressed, is restored. I found there was no difference in the time of day in which persons were