The evils of quarantine laws, and non-existence of pestilential contagion : the Privy Council, and College of Physicians, the means of prevention and method of cure of the cholera morbus, and the atrocities of the cholera panic / by Captain White.

  • White, William
Date:
1837
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The evils of quarantine laws, and non-existence of pestilential contagion : the Privy Council, and College of Physicians, the means of prevention and method of cure of the cholera morbus, and the atrocities of the cholera panic / by Captain White. 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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    forward. The facts adduced are in favour of the non- contagion doctrine; and the treatment pursued we know, from professional Indian experience, to be judi- cious, and founded on sound principles.’ “ Permit me, after these observations, to submit to your superior consideration the propriety and utility of affording to your numerous readers the opportunity of perusing the accompanying extracts from my pam- phlet on the means of prevention. It is those parts which I submitted to the consideration of the Board of Health. Although it has been treated by that learned body with neglect, if not contempt, until they have denied the practicability and utility of the sug- gestions, have explained their reasons why, and have suggested something better, the public may probably feel grateful to you for any information they can re- ceive, if ever so little, to allay the anxiety now pre- vailing. That, too, not without a sufficient cause from the conduct of the Board of Health. If the disease was now to break out, in the present divided state of opinion on the part of medical men generally, the most dreadful sacrifices of life might take place. The public would be subjected to all sorts of experi- ments ; every species of absurd, pernicious, and im- pudent quackery would be resorted to by the ignorant and needy practitioner, while the difference of opi- nion amongst the most respectable part of the profes- sion wTould lead to the most fatal consequences. “Yours, &c. “ July 1 ], 1831.” “W. White.” Subsequent events unhappily fully verified the correctness of the forebodings contained in those letters. It will be well if my Lord Grey can recon- cile it to his conscience that he has no responsi- bility to his God, if not to his country, for the de- plorable scenes which took place in 1832, in conse- quence of his disregard to the admonition given to him. It will be more fortunate if Sir Robert Peel and Lord Melbourne can discover that for the lives