The Milroy Lectures : On epidemic influences; on the epidemiological aspects of yellow fever; on the epidemiological aspects of cholera / by Robert Lawson.

Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Milroy Lectures : On epidemic influences; on the epidemiological aspects of yellow fever; on the epidemiological aspects of cholera / by Robert Lawson. 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.

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    ])orting them to the continent of America itself, which really seems to have taken place on many occasions. This ti-ansport of the exciting cause of cholera by a current, at some elevation in the atmosphere, and separated from the earth’s surface by a thick stratum of air which may either be motionless, or forming a current flowing, it maybe, in a different direction, plays a frequent part in connection with the manifestation of that disease. In reading accounts of the circumstances preceding the occurrence of isolated outbreaks in India, one is struck by the frequency with which these immediately follow a thunder storm, or a heavy fall of rain, or even a dust storm, all of which bring a portion of the higher strata to the ground, and with that of course whatever material it may contain; this sequence is quite as remarkable at the elevated mountain stations, as in the plains, and, as was the case at Peshawar in 1862, this was repeated no less than four times between the 7th July and 3rd November,- causing a distinct outbreak of cholera on each occasion. The origin of epidemics of cholera in localities far removed from where the disease has been active, without the population in the intermediate space having shown any trace of the disease, as in the epidemic in Syria in 1875, must have been preceded b}^ a similar combination of circumstances. As regards cholera, ships behave much in the same way as with yellow fever, some have no cause of unhealthiness in them ; in these though even considerable numbers of their crews or pas- sengers may contract cholera, from exposure to its causes on shore or at sea, yet when removed from the source of the disease by change of locality, the fresh attacks usually cease within a few days, and as has been shown above, this also takes place in those some time at sea, when they have been affected there for the first time. There are other instances, however, in which the ship herself became a focus of cholera, and not only those on board suffered, but even persons outside who came within the range of the emanations from her, contracted the disease. This has taken place in crowded emigrant ships only, and has been confined in a great measure to the steerage passengers, the ship's crew suffering but occasionally, and to a limited extent, while the cabin pas- sengers seem to have had complete immunity. The disease in ^ Munro, “ Eeport on the Epidemic Visitation of Cholera in the 93rd Suther- land Highlanders in 1862,” “Army Medical and Statistical Report for 1862,” p. 414.