Letters on the cholera morbus; containing ample evidence that this disease, under whatever name known, cannot be transmitted from the persons of those labouring under it to other individuals, by contact / By a professional man of thirty years' experience, in various parts of the world [i.e. J. Gillkrest].

  • Gillkrest, J. (James), -1853
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Letters on the cholera morbus; containing ample evidence that this disease, under whatever name known, cannot be transmitted from the persons of those labouring under it to other individuals, by contact / By a professional man of thirty years' experience, in various parts of the world [i.e. J. Gillkrest]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    get to it, the carriages were obliged to take a long circuit through a sandy road, which occupied an hour at least; and if we add to the exposure to the air, the fatigue of this removal, and the time which elapsed after the invasion of the disease, the deplorable state of the patient on his arrival, and the great mortality may be accounted for/’ “ The progress of the disease was the same as in other places; it was at the moment when it arrived at its height, and when, consequently, the greatest intercourse [Observe reader!] took place with the sick, that the number of attacks wonderfully dimished all at once (tout a coup), and without any appreciable cause. The points of the city most distant from each other were invaded. Numbers of families crowded [entasses] who had given aid to cholera patients, remained free from the disease, while persons isolated in high and healthy situations [usually healthy meant of course] were attacked. It especially attacked the poorer classes, and those given to spirituous liquors. Scarcely twenty persons in easy circumstances were attacked, and even the greater part of these had deviated from a regular system.” The inferences drawn, according to a medical journal, from the whole of Dr. Gaymard’s communication, are— “ 1. That the system of sanatory measures, adopted in Russia, did not any where stop the disease. “2. That without entering on the question as to the advantages to be derived from a moral influence arising out of sanatory cordons, placed round a vast state like Franee, these measures are to be regarded as use¬ less in the interior, in towns, and round houses. “ 3. That nothing has been able to obstruct the progressive advance of the disease in a direction from India westward. “ 4. That the formation of temporary hospitals, and domiciliary succour, are the only measures which can alleviate this great scourge/’ A letter from Dr. Gaymard to Dr. Keraudren was read at the meeting of the Academy, in which it was stated, that in an Hospital at Moscow, in which Dr. Delauny was employed from the month of December, 1830, to the end of December, 1831, 587 cholera patients, and 860 cases of other diseases, were treated—1“ Not one of the latter was attacked with cholera, although the hospital consists of one building, the coridors com¬ municating with each other, and the same linen serving indiscriminately for all. The attendants did not prove to be more liable to attacks. The relatives were suffered to visit their friends in hospital, and this step pro¬ duced the best impression on the populace, who remained calm. They can establish at Moscow, that there was not the smallest analogy between the cholera and the plague which ravaged that city in the reign of Catharine.” Dr. Gaymard declares, that, having gone to Russia without preconceived ideas on the subject, et he is convinced that interior quar- rantines, and the isolation of houses and of sick in towns, has been accompanied by disastrous consequences.” Is there yet enough of evi¬ dence to shew that this disease is positively not to be made communicable from the sick ? Honour still be to those of the profession who, from conscientious and honorable motives, have changed from non-contagionists to contagionists