Sanitary measures and their results : being a sequel to "The history of cholera in Exeter in 1832," to which is now added a short account of its occurance in 1849 / by Thomas Shapter, M.D.

  • Thomas Shapter
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sanitary measures and their results : being a sequel to "The history of cholera in Exeter in 1832," to which is now added a short account of its occurance in 1849 / by Thomas Shapter, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    pigstyes, kept in such a state as would beggar description ; and similar notes are frequent;—of poultry kept in confined cellars and outhouses ; of dung-heaps everywhere ;—one cottage was visited in which the accumulated filth and soil of thirteen years were deposited, and esteemed so valuahle a property that its removal was strenuously resisted. To add to this picture of filth and dirt, it is stated that the visits of tlu; scavengers in many parts took place but once a week. Mortality Thousfh the position and general characteristics of Exeter from Cholera & r o in 1832. were those of health and. pleasantness, such was the prevailing condition of its lower and neglected portions, when, on the 19th of July, 1832, the Cholera burst upon the City. Betweei this date and the 19th of October, in a population of 28,24i' 402 deaths ensued from this disease, besides 142 attributed other causes. This, doubtless, was a very large amount f mortality, especially when it is further considered that tL' former deaths were, as regards locality, very unequally distributed, amounting in four of the twenty parishes, whic' comprise the City, to three-and-a-half per cent, upon thei. population in the short period of three months. Now the.-' four parishes, together with some few other isolated spots, wei precisely those characterised by bad drainage and a generall y ill-cared for and unwholesome state. Mortality Wg j^q^ tm-Q to the sccond part of our inquiry, and we fiu(i from Cholera ^ / i t j 111 1849. on the recurrence of the Cholera in ]849 (when Londou, Bristol, and Plymouth, suffered as in 3832), that Exeter with a population increased to 31,312, experienced deatL from the 19th of July to the 29th of October, tli period during which this epidemic prevailed, from Cholera and from diarrhoea, amounting to forty-three only ; and even this number should be stated with some abati - ment and modification, for of these, eleven died, not \ Cholera, but from the consecutive fever; while thirteen, being travellers and strangers to the City, came into it ill an died within a few hours. Assuming, however, that the whol number of forty-three were deaths proper to the populatioi..