Part 7

In consequence of the Board of Health not having been regularly constituted until above a month after the commencement of the disease in the parish, no returns from medical practitioners were received before the 22nd of August; and even after that period, so constantly were those gentlemen occupied, and worn out with fatigue, the returns were very imperfectly supplied. Therefore, a statistical account of cases, dates of seizure and recovery, cannot here be attempted. It must, therefore, suffice to state, that between 200 and 300 in this parish were more or less affected with the disease; and in Underwood alone, about 200. The proportion of deaths, in cases which had advanced into the second or cold stage before medical assistance had been obtained, was about one out of three. In the foregoing Extracts, only a portion of the cases of confirmed cholera are mentioned; omitting those which are termed incipient.

It cannot be too strongly impressed upon the attention of every one, that if the atmosphere surrounding houses is corrupted by the effluvia of stagnant water in pools and ditches, unwholesome sewers, choked drains, or any accumulation of filth—if badly ventilated rooms are crowded with an excess of occupants—if the diet is low and unwholesome, and the habits of the people are dirty, particularly if they are addicted to drunkenness and dissipation,—diseases of various kinds are engendered as a natural consequence; therefore, under such circumstances, what can be expected during a visitation of an extraordinary epidemic like that of cholera, but its baneful effects, and those of a most aggravated and appalling character.

It is essential that due attention be paid to the very first indication of indisposition during the prevalence of the epidemic. Vegetables and fruit should be avoided. Strong affections of the mind, arising from anxiety, alarm, or excess of grief, are extremely injurious; therefore the mind should be kept calm, and if any symptoms, however trivial, should occur, medical advice should be obtained as speedily as possible.

If, through neglect, or any other particular cause, the second stage has come on, with violent sickness, cramp, cold extremities, weakness, and sinking of the pulse, &c. the disease is extremely dangerous. I have not heard of any specific having yet been discovered, which can be recommended with assurance of success. But even from this stage, and under the most disheartening circumstances, several patients have recovered.

It is hoped, that a plain statement of some of the remedies which were resorted to in this parish, may have a place here, without a risk of being objectionable; especially as it is unaccompanied by any attempt to encroach upon the prerogative of those whose professional education and experience entitle them to be the sole arbiters and directors of such subjects.

Many instances occurred, when medical aid could not be immediately obtained; and some, when there was every probability of considerable loss of time. Under such circumstances, to prevent, if possible, the early stage of the disease assuming a more serious character, much benefit was derived from the following recipes, supplied by Mr. Langworthy; due regard being observed to circumstances as they arose at the time, as well as to the proportions usually allowed for difference of age, sex, and constitution:—

Powdered rhubarb 8 grains. Powdered ginger 6 grains. Carbonate of soda 20 grains. Calomel, occasionally added 3 or 4 grains.

It appeared to us, that in most cases which came under our observation, where the use of heating or spirituous liquors had been resorted to, for the purpose of allaying pain in the bowels, it did more harm than good.

In cases which were attended with aggravated symptoms, five, ten, fifteen, or twenty grains of calomel, with nearly an equal quantity of powdered ginger, were given by Mr. L., according to circumstances, and in an hour or two afterwards, from half an ounce to an ounce of castor oil, with one, two, or three drachms of tincture of rhubarb.

When much irritation has been going on, soda water, in a state of effervescence, or a teaspoonful of carbonate of soda, and the same quantity of salvolatile, have tended to allay sickness, &c.

In more advanced stages of the disease, the following mixture, drank cold, has given relief:—

Carbonate of soda 1 drachm. Common salt 1 drachm. Oxymuriate (chlorate) of potash 3 or 4 grains.

To be mixed in a quart of water, and drank when the patient complained of thirst.

When internal cramp has caused great suffering, dry heat, by the application of a bag of hot salt, to the pit of the stomach, has been beneficial in relieving the pain; and, in the cold stage of the disease, the use of friction with stimulating liniment, and mustard and vinegar poultices applied to the extremities, have been attended with good effects. In extreme cases, on the verge of death, recourse was had to injecting some principal vein with saline fluid. This invariably stopped the sufferings of the patient; but in the application of the experiment by Mr. L., it did not succeed in saving the life, unless a small quantity of blood was afterwards transfused into the vein. This was done only in the three cases here, of Wm. Gully, Susan Taylor, and Mary Taylor. The two former recovered, and are living at the present time. The latter was in a weak state of health before the attack of cholera, to which the failure of the experiment was attributed. The two former relapsed after the injection of the saline fluid alone, and were rapidly sinking; but upon a repetition of the process of injection, with the addition afterwards of blood, they recovered.

It was remarked, that if calomel effected any degree of salivation, the patient recovered.

In the event of a recurrence of such a fearful pestilence, from which, may it please God in mercy to protect us, it may be worth consideration, that Boards of Health become legally constituted as soon as possible; that they may be empowered to provide for cases of emergency, and engage medical assistance, in proportion to the requirements of the district, with a remuneration to the medical gentlemen commensurate with their arduous duties. Also to provide an adequate attendance of efficient nurses. In the case of our Board of Health, there was no legal authority for making orders for assistance, until the 22nd of August, nearly six weeks after the disease had commenced in the parish. One medical gentleman only, with the aid of his relation, had to attend nearly all the poor people who were ill, in addition to his own private patients; and the other medical practitioners were fully occupied. The consequence was, that, in some instances, much valuable time was lost. The difficulty of procuring nurses at the time, has already been adverted to.

Under these circumstances, the consequences would have been still more lamentable, if a subscription had not been raised to meet the emergency; as extra expenses, to a large amount, which had been incurred by a series of such fearful sickness and distress, during a period of six weeks, were met by that resource.

In justice to those parishioners who had the means, it should be mentioned here, that, in addition to their benevolent and liberal subscriptions, all aided in relieving the necessities of their poorer brethren, and mitigated much of their distress, by providing, from their own houses, many things which could not be obtained in the poor man’s home. Some of the principal families were absent at the time; but they took a lively interest in the progress of events, and repeatedly gave directions that the poor sufferers should be supplied with whatever they required, from their houses.

In concluding this plain record of some fearful occurrences among his parishioners during the visitation with which God, for wise purposes, afflicted them, the writer, in adverting to the many acts of Christian beneficence, cannot refrain from expressing his grateful remembrance of the affectionate kindness which he himself experienced, from the highest to the lowest of his parishioners, to which was added, an unexpected but gratifying testimonial of regard from the parishioners in general, and another from the village of Underwood in particular.

In these Extracts from a Diary relating to one particular subject, many minor details have been omitted, as superfluous; and the mention of some circumstances of a painful nature, as to the state of mind or conduct of particular individuals, has been avoided, from consideration for the feelings of others. If, however, it should be asked, what effects this awful warning produced upon those who witnessed its solemn call, it must be confessed, in general terms, that, with the exception of a few individuals, no permanent change of character was perceptible. There were then, as unhappily there are now, persons upon whom no passing events, however striking, make any salutary impression—who make light of the most solemn calls to repentance and amendment—run through life utterly heedless of the one thing needful; and when they “pass through the valley of the shadow of death,” they have no staff to rest upon for comfort and support. The state of such people calls for the deepest commiseration. Much do they require the Christian’s prayer, that they may be converted and live. Well will it be for all of us, if, in viewing the judgments of God in the world, we acknowledge them as such; and in the endeavour to theorize upon second causes, we do not overlook the Great First Cause. The hand of God must be acknowledged, when, by either of His sore judgments, whether of pestilence, famine, or the sword, He afflicts a people for their iniquity. His divine blessing must be sought, with the earnest prayer of a contrite heart through faith in the Saviour; for without His blessing, without His Almighty aid, all our endeavours to escape the rod of His displeasure will assuredly fail.

Whether as a nation or as individuals, let us not be regardless of the warnings and mercies which we have from time to time experienced at the hand of God. Let us remember the word of the Lord addressed to his rebellious people of old, “Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast,” &c. And again, “If ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you.”

During a succession of many generations, the judgments of the Lord, either of pestilence, famine, or the sword, have visited our land at different periods. On these occasions, days for public humiliation have been resorted to, with confession of sin, and vows of repentance and amendment. The prayer of the nation has been invariably heard, and the scourge withdrawn. The mercies thus experienced have been acknowledged by national thanksgiving. But notwithstanding these things, we have been a rebellious people. It was only within the last year that another of God’s judgments called forth our humiliation, and public prayers for deliverance. Again a supplicating nation was heard—the calamity was withdrawn; and this was acknowledged by a general thanksgiving. The Lord has hitherto been merciful to us; and still, as a nation, we are wonderfully blessed. But fearful signs and warnings have been hovering around, to awaken us from spiritual lethargy, and forgetfulness of the past. In addition to this, the storm which has recently burst forth upon our continental neighbours, and shaken the foundations of thrones and empires, whilst it bids us to be thankful for the privileges we enjoy, calls upon us to put our whole trust in Him who hath hitherto succoured us. Therefore, amidst all the foreboding signs of the times, and the internal convulsions that threaten other nations, may we have grace so to acquit ourselves consistently with our Christian profession, that God may yet be merciful to our land, and continue to us His blessing.

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AT a Vestry meeting, held this 13th day of January, 1833, in pursuance of a notice duly given,—

Resolved, “That a small stone, in the shape of a cross, with the date, 1832, engraved upon it, be placed as a memorial at the head of all the graves of persons who had died of the awful disease of cholera.”

SUBSCRIBERS.

Adams, Mr. Peter, Plymouth. Allen, Rev. John, North Huish. Allport, D. H. Esq., London. Andrews, Mr. H., Modbury. Andrews, Peggy, Underwood. Andrew, Mr. John, Ridgeway. Ash, Mr., Topsham. Aylwin, Robert, Esq., Blackland, Plympton (four copies).

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