Of Pestilential Cholera; Its Nature, Prevention, and Curative Treatment (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1832 Excerpt: ... SECTION II. OF THE CAUSES AND NATURE OF PESTILENTIAL CHOLERA. (36.) There are few subjects which have given riae to greater diversity of opinion, or to more discussion, than the causes of this disease. Suppositions have been adduced, and reasoned from, as established and admitted facts; and repeatedly observed occurrences and corroborated evidence have been explained away or denied, even by those who have given us merely vague hypotheses and chimerical speculations in their place. It must be evident that but little, truly important, can be stated in respect of the causes and nature of this malady, without previously inquiring into, and coming to some conclusion as to its infectious or non-infectious nature. I shall, therefore, inquire, in tiiejirst place, into the evidence which has been adduced in favour of its possessing an infectious property, and as to the extent and character of this property. Its predisposing and concomitant causes will next come under consideration; and, lastly, various topics connected with its nature will be discussed. Chapter. I. The infectious Nature of Pestilential Cholera demonstrated. (37.) The infectious or non-infectious nature of this disease is one of the most important topics to which public attention can be directed; and one which, owing to the manner of viewing it, adopted both in this country and on the Continent, requires the serious consideration of the informed part of the community. Knowing that much important information had been furnished by the medical observers of the disease in India, which was either entirely overlooked, or wilfully neglected, I made it my business to examine carefully the mass of reports to the Medical Boards of the three Indian Presidencies, and there printed, and to which access can scarce...