John Persons The Pit |TOP|
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"'Such, dear Mary, was the degraded condition of M'Bongo and his courton our arrival; but it has been my happy lot (under Providence) tochange all this, and my endeavours have not been without even an earthlyreward. Only think, Mary, M'Bongo's ear-rings are now my own, my veryown. They will reach you by the hands of Mr. Mackenzie, a worldly-mindedScotch merchant, but honest as to earthly things. On no account, dearMary, in disposing of these priceless treasures, have anything to dowith the jewellers, who I am told are extremely dishonest persons. Youhad better try to sell them to the South Kensington Museum as curios,or at [Pg 54]some fashionable bazaar; or failing these, to some wealthy butunworldly person, who takes an interest in our working in Africa. Do notforget to mention that they are royal ear-rings.'"
We cannot hope to prevent any disease unless we have a correct knowledge of its causes. As regards the cholera, many persons, indeed, consider that its causes are well-known, and also the means of its prevention; and they attribute its continued existence and extension entirely to neglect of the requisite measures for its suppression. Every candid observer must admit, however, that a great deal has been done within the last twenty years in the way of presumed sanitary improvement, much of it with the best results as regards the general health of the community, and all of it with the best intentions. Yet the cholera of 1849 was much more fatal than that of 1832, and now, on its third visit to our shores, it is prevailing to a more fatal extent in Newcastle than was ever before witnessed in this country. These circumstances clearly show, that the causes of cholera are not generally well understood, and that the true preventive measures have not been applied.
The first origin of cholera, like that of other epidemic disease, is hid in obscurity, and will probably remain so. It has been proved, however, by various documents quoted by Mr. Scot,* that cholera was prevalent at Madras in 1769, and that it carried off many thousands of persons at various places in the peninsula of India from that time to 1790. (*Report on the Epidemic Cholera. 1824. P.5.) From this period we have very little account of the disease till 1814, although, of course, it might exist in many parts of Asia without coming under the notice of Europeans. In June, 1814, the cholera appeared with great severity in the 1st Bat. 9th Regt. N.I. [Native Infantry], on its march from Jaulnah to Trichinopoly, while another battalion which accompanied it did not suffer, although it had been exposed to exactly the same circumstances, with one exception. Mr. Cruikshanks, who attended the cases, and made a report thereon, writes as follows:--
Before pointing out the precautions which these views [367/368] suggest, it will be well to examine what light they throw on the progress of cholera, and what confirmation they receive from general and particular facts connected with its history. It has been observed, in all parts of the world, that nothing assists the spread of cholera more than want of personal cleanliness. When we consider how free the evacuations from the stomach and bowels of cholera patients often are, both from colour and odour; how suddenly and copiously, and with what force they are generally discharged, it is evident that the hands, both of the patient and his attendants, are liable to be soiled with them. Unless great care is taken to wash the hands frequently, the more especially before taking food, or handling and preparing the food of others, small quantities of the evacuations must necessarily be accidentally swallowed. The influence of dirty habits in aiding the spread of cholera is thus clearly accounted for. It is analogous to what occurs among house-painters in regard to lead-poisoning. Those of cleanly habits escape; while others constantly swallow a little paint with their food, and become affected with colic. The scarcity of water, of course, is an obstacle to cleanliness, even when the inclination prevails; and this has been frequently observed to be connected with the unusual extension of cholera in a town or neighbourhood. The reason why Medical men, and other persons of cleanly habits, who do not stay to eat and drink in the sick room, are scarcely rendered more liable to cholera by their avocations, while it often fares differently with the social visiter, is perfectly explained by the above views. It is evident, also, why the Medical man can make inspections of the dead bodies of cholera patients with impunity; while they who wash and lay out the body often suffer. The Medical man is certain to wash his hands after his operation, while the persons who perform the other offices mentioned, especially among the poor, are almost as certain to neglect that duty. It is obvious that, where a whole family live, night and day, in one small room, in which the cooking is done and the meals are eaten, that the food is very liable to become contaminated, in the event of a case of cholera occurring; and, where several families live in one room, the risk amounts almost to a certainty. Now, under these circumstances, cholera is observed to spread through the family and household; while cases occurring among the well-to-do, who have separate kitchens and sleeping-rooms, are seldom observed to spread the disease. The great havoc which cholera has made in certain asylums for pauper children and pauper lunatics, to which it has gained access, is explained by the crowding which existed, and more particularly by the difficulty of maintaining cleanly habits among these classes of persons. On the other hand, the almost total escape of the inmates of the model lodging-houses in 1849, although inhabited by a class of persons who usually suffer more than others, was due to the excellent arrangements for cleanliness, and the proper separation of apartments and offices required for distinct purposes. About a month ago, certain German emigrants, on their way to America, who had crossed the sea from Hamburg and Rotterdam, where cholera was prevailing, to the port of Hull, and had gone thence by rail to Liverpool, were seized with cholera (some of them fatally) in the latter town; and it is most likely to the well-regulated Emigrant's Home, in which these cases occurred, that the town of Liverpool owes its present freedom from the epidemic.
The colliers of this country suffered much more from cholera than persons in any other occupation whatever, both in 1832 and 1849,--a circumstance which can only be explained by the mode of communication of the malady above pointed out. Pitmen are differently situated from every other class of workmen in many important particulars, as the following reply, which I received a few days ago from the agent to a colliery near Leads will show:--"Our colliers descend at five o'clock in the morning, to be ready for work at six and leave the pit at from one o'clock to half-past three. The average time spent in the pit is eight to nine hours. The pitmen all take down with them a supply of food, which consists of cake, with the addition, in some cases, of meat, and all have a bottle, containing about a quart of 'drink.' I fear that our colliers are no better than others as regards to cleanliness. The pit is one huge privy, and of course the men always take their victuals with unwashed hands." It is very evident, that when a pitman is attacked with cholera while at work, the disease has facilities for spreading among his fellow-labourers such as occur in no other occupation. That the men are occasionally attacked while at work I know, from having seen them brought up from some of the coal-pits in Northumberland in 1831-2, after having had profuse discharges from the stomach and bowels and while fast approaching to a state of collapse.
In 1831-2 there were no waterworks in Newcastle. It was supplied in an insufficient manner with spring water, which generally had to be carried some distance to the houses from "pants" in the streets. The epidemic cholera was pretty severe at this time. In 1849 Newcastle and Gateshead were plentifully supplied with water unpolluted with sewage, by the Company above-named, who had then no occasion to have recourse to the Tyne. At this period these towns escaped with a very slight visitation from cholera. The existing epidemic, under the circumstances above narrated, has carried off more than six times as many persons in Newcastle during the first four weeks of its presence, as it carried off in a similar period in 1831-2; and more than twice as many in Gateshead. [368/369]
5th. When a case of cholera appears among persons living in a crowded room, the healthy should be removed to another apartment where it is practicable, leaving only those who are useful to wait on the sick. 2b1af7f3a8