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CHOLERA EPIDEMIC 1832, SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH.,…
CHOLERA EPIDEMIC 1832
The Cholera Epidemic was unique as:
-40%-60% of those who contracted the disease died from it.
-It hit with speed.
There were 30 recorded cholera-phobia riots in cities throughout Britain.
The worst impacted was Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter and Sheffield.
Liverpool Riots were some of the worst: there were 8 major disturbances between 29th May and 8th June 1832.
The riots were not against the disease, but they believed that cholera victims were taken to hospital and when they died, the bodies were used for dissection.
This belief was held for two reasons:
-In 1826 33 bodies were found at the Liverpool docks.
-In 1828 surgeon William Gill was found guilty of grave robbing system.
In Exeter the authorities proposed regulations on the disposal of cholera infected bedding and corpses. Local gravediggers were attacked as they refused to bury cholera victims.
The riots were not due to the government not being able to contain the epidemic, but the fears that arose.
-There were theories that:
-Medical students were using cholera bodies in anatomy classes.
-Doctors were murdering cholera victims
-And that corpses were being buried on unconsecrated ground.
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The government did not take action on diseases like typhoid and tuberculosis, but they were forced to take action on cholera.
1831 They sent two medical commissioners to ST Petersburg in Russia to assess the outbreak. Their report and the alarm of government officials meant that a temporary board of health was created.
This board of health was a London based organisation to collate information and give advice on the Cholera epidemic.
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The board of health encouraged local governments to set up their own boards of health to deal with problems at a grass roots level.
-They often had one or more magistrates, clergymen, householders and one or more medical men.
Local boards of health appointed district inspectors to comment on food, clothing and bedding of the poor.
The local boards of health also issued advice like:
HOUSES WERE TO BE WHITEWASHED AND LIMED AND FURNITURE TO BE FUMIGATED.
STRICT QUARENTINE WAS IN PLACE.
FOOD AND FLANNEL CLOTHING WAS GIVEN TO THE POOR.
TEMPORARY FEVER HOSPITALS WERE SET UP.
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The contagionist theory suggests that Cholera was spread by contact with other cholera victims. Therefore, houses and streets had to be put into quarantine. This was met with opposition that it would decrease trade.
The miasma theory suggested that cholera was spread by "miasmic filth". Therefore, getting rid of heaps of excrement would be a positive change.
In 1831 the lancet, a journal made by doctors for doctors highlighted that a group of Jews from Wiesniz had kept themselves cholera free by rubbing in an ointment of wine and vinegar.
Patent medicines grew in number and multiplied. The most popular was Moxon's effervescent universal mixture. Because many survived they grew a following.
Prayer- the Church argued that Cholera was a punishment for morally laxed behaviour so repent and all would be well.
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