Coping with Cholera

A cholera handbill from the City of London Board of Health, 1831

CITY OF LONDON BOARD OF HEALTH

The existence of Spasmodic Cholera in London having been official announced, the Medical Officers attached to the City of London Board of Heath deem it important to make known to the inhabitants of the City that this disease is very frequently proceeded for some hours or even days by a looseness and disordered state of bowels. They therefore strongly recommend that all persons so affect, even though previously subject to such complaints, should, without delay, seek medical assistance; and they confidently believe that many lives will be saved by a strict and early attention to this advice. When the attack of Cholera is sudden, it is usually marked by pain at the pit of the stomach, repeated vomitting and purging, violent cramps, coldness of the hands and feet, contracted countenance, and eyes deeply sunk in their sockets.

Numerous other symptoms may be present, but these will be sufficient to mark the nature of the case; and then no time should be lost in having recourse to professional aid. In the mean time the patient should be placed in bed between hot blankets, and dry heat, by means of bottles of hot water wrapped in flannel, or bags of heated sand or salt, should be applied to the spine and limbs. Warm poultices, made with equal parts of flour of mustard and linseed meal or bread, should be laid over the stomach and belly, and the limbs should be unremittingly rubbed in a direction towards the body. In addition to these external applications, a dessert spoonful of flour of mustard, in half a pint of warm water, may be given, withh a view to excite full vomiting. The patient should be kept in a horizontal position, and his powers should be supported by moderate draughts of brandy and water, or spiced beef tea.

From the measures adopted in this city by the Board of Health and the various local Boards with which it is associated, medical assistance will be at all times so readily available, that the above directions are deemed sufficient to occupy the attention of private friends until such aid be obtained. Hospitals for the reception of chiolera patients are now in preparation, to which competent officers will be appointed; and if any patients who may be admitted should prefer being attended by their own medical advisers, these gentlemen will be at all times freely admitted.

To those who feel alarmed at residing in the neighbourhood of these establishments, the following quotation from a Treatise on Cholera, written by a distinguished Physician who visited Dantzic during its prevalence in that city, may serve to give confidence: "The example of Dantzic has already taught us that Hospitals may be established in the midst of other houses, without increasing the number of sick in their vicinity.

In conclusion, the public are reminded that though the treatment of this malady must be confided to medical care, it is to their own attention to sobriety, and cleanliness of person and habitation, that they must look for a probability of exemption from its attacks.

 

Street Signs

Street signs fascinate me.

If you know the fonts (typeface? I never know the difference) of any signs below, let me know ...

Cholera Cruelty

I love this complaint, from a medical man obliged to scour the Thames for cholera cases:

The gentleman, who was in naval uniform, stated that in purusuance of directions from Her Majesty's Government, he was rowed up and down the river every day in the King's boat, with the pendant flying, to afford immediate assistance to any person on the Thames who might be attached with cholera, and remove them, if necessary, to the floating hospital. While engaged in this duty, he had been frequently called alongside barges and small sailing vessels by the bargemen and others to attend upon a person said to be sick or attacked with cholera; but when he got on board he was laughed at and ridiculed. On the previous day, he was told by some bargemen that a man was attacked with cholera on board a ship off the Tower; but when he proceeded there, he found that he had been misinformed and jeers were thrown out. Only a few minutes previous he heard someone call out "Cholera boat, ahoy!" and on proceeding to the barge from which the noise proceeded he was told that his services were not wanted, and a general laugh was set up. In fact, his duties had become exceedingly irksome from this species of annoyance ...

The Times 3 Arpil 1832

Removing a Cholera Patient

Yesterday afternoon, between 2 and 3 o'clock, the neighbourhood of Barratt's-court, Edward-street, Portman-square, was thrown into a state of violent uproar and confusion,in consequence of the messengers of the Marylebone Board of Health attempting to remove to the cholera hospital, in Nutford-place, Edgeware-road, an Irishman, named John Heron who was suddenly taken ill on Thursday, and who was alleged to have been attacked with cholera. The messengers  brought with them the usual sedan chair to carry away the patient, and were attended by five of the police force of the D division, to prevent any interruption being oflered to them in taking the man away. They had no sooner arrived opposite to the house, No. 4, in Barratt's-court, where the man Heron lodges, than they were assailed with groans, hisses, and yells, of a most discordant character from a number of Heron's countrymen, who expressed their determination not to allow him to be removed out of his own apartment. The messengers however succeeded, after much difficulty, and with the assistance of the police, who were compelled to use their staves in placing the man in the chair, and had proceeded with him but a few yards when a simultaneous rush of the Irish, who had by this time assembled in the court to the number of between 500 and 600, was made, and in an instant the policemen were hemmed in by the crowd, and had their staves wrested from them. A scene of the utmost confusion and disorder then ensued, the sick man was dragged out of the chair, and pulled about in a most violent and shatnefitl manner, the chair was broken to pieces, and after much contention and disturbance the man was carried back to his lodging, amidst the shouts of the victorious party, who declared that they would resist any attempt that might be afterwards made to remove him. The disturbance assumed such a serious appearance at one time, that most of the neighbours closed their shops for the remainder of the afternoon. The whole of the neighbourhood remained in a state of excessive tumult during the rest of the evening. The necessary measures were afterwards taken by the police to preserve tranquillity.



The Times, 31 March 1832

In addition to being a strumpet

Yesterday a young woman named Crafter was charged with robbing William Buntline, a sailor, just come home from sea.

Buntline said that he was paid off a few days ago from a frigate which had been some years on the South American station. He knew the prisoner previously to going abroad and kept up a correspondence with her, intending to make her his wife when he came home. On landing, however, he heard some strnage reports about her, such as that she was a mother, and had got two "young uns" while he was away. He would not have minded this much, he said, had she promised for the future to men her course; but when he got into the neighbourhood where she lived, he there learned that in addition to being a strumpet she was also a drunkard. After deriving all the information he could on the subject, Bill Buntline said, that he was about to sheer off, when who should come up and grapple him but the very woman herself. Isntead of expressing any delight on seeing him after so long an absence, the first thing she said was, "Come, let's have a glass." Not wishing to be thought ill-natured, he consented, and they had a half pint of rum between them. He threw down a sovereign on the bar to pay for it, and the moment Moll Crafter got a sight of the gold, she snatched it up and putting it into her mouth, bolted it, as he supposed. She was to be off, but Buntline took her up in his arm, and carried her off to a chymist's shop, with the intention of having a dose administered to her. Her screams, and violent exertions to get free, caused a crowd, as it was suspected that she had been suddenly sezied with symptoms of the cholera; and the belief was increased upon seeing the sailor carry her into the apothecary's shop. The apothecary, on being made acquainted with what had happened, refused to administer medicine for the purpose the sailor required; but advised that the prisoner should be taken before a magistrate. This advice was accordingly adopted, and Buntline was compelled to carry her in his arms to this office, she having refused to walk.

Mr. Chambers inquired whether she had been searched for she might have slipped the sovereign into her pocket or perhaps had it still in her mouth. By direction of the magistrate, a search took place for the sovereign, and it was found, after much resistance on the "lady's" part, in her mouth, under her tongue.

Buntline was rejoiced to get his sovereign back; but said that he had no wish to prosecute her, for old acquaintance sake.

It having been proved that the prisoner was a disorderly prostitute, the magistrate committed her for one month to Brixton.

The Times, 17 February 1832