Visited Arthurs;—better as to the original disease, but very severely salivated. Elizabeth Hicks and Mary Martin, recovering. Buried Dunn’s child. Visited Susan Taylor;—gradually recovering, but labouring under great weakness. We had some serious conversation upon the afflicting circumstances which had occurred, and the mercy of God in her own particular case;—her preservation up to the present time, after all she had gone through herself, and after what she had witnessed in others, having herself, not only passed much time as a nurse in the midst of the worst cases of the disease, but having also assisted in the last fearful office for three of its victims. She entered fully into all this in a right frame of mind. Whilst alluding to the state in which she lay under the influence of the collapsed stage, she said she knew what was passing, though she appeared unconscious of every thing; that the sensation produced by injecting the saline fluid into the vein, was that of having taken an unusual quantity of liquid or broth, the stomach seemed to be very full; and when the blood was transfused, she felt it in the jugular vein, on both sides, causing an oppressive fulness, as if it would burst; but it subsided as soon as the process was stopped. As an instance of consciousness being retained in the last stage of cholera,—while the blood was being transfused, though she could neither move nor speak, she heard me suggest that a handkerchief might be lightly thrown across her eyes, lest she should be shocked if she revived and saw what was being done; and Mr. L.’s reply, that it was of no consequence, as she was too far gone.
August 30. One new case, Mary Martin, Underwood. Five cases remaining. Several people suffering from weakness and debility; all who required it, had nourishing things sent to them. By Mr. L.’s advice, I returned home sooner than usual, as I had been very unwell during the last few days.
August 31. Susan Taylor [96] was sufficiently recovered to return to Underwood. No new cases reported to-day. What a mercy! The fearful disease has nearly subsided in this parish, though as yet prevalent in the adjoining parish of Plympton Maurice.
From this time, no death by cholera occurred in the parish; but through the month of September, those who had been attacked by the disease, laboured under great debility. Some new cases were reported; but of a milder character, with the exception of two, which were taken to the Hospital. One was that of an aged woman, who, on the 10th of September, was discovered lying on the floor, at her house at Colebrook, in a state of collapse. A medical gentleman had seen her as he passed by, and called to inform me of the circumstance, at the same time recommending what medicine should be given to her. I found her, as described, lying on the stone floor, with all the symptoms of confirmed cholera, and in great agony. After much persuasion, she took the medicine, and consented to be removed to the Hospital, only upon the condition that I would take charge of her goods, and keep the key of her room. Unhappily, she was one of those whose thoughts are entirely engrossed by the objects of time; therefore her mental agitation and alarm were proportionately increased: and at such a moment, when life was ebbing on the brink of eternity, there was no desire for religious exercise, although at the eleventh hour; and all before her was worse than blank—not a shadow of comfort!
After she arrived at the Hospital, her suffering was very considerable. Mr. L. pursued the same treatment which had been previously adopted, with the addition of active friction, and hot salt in bags applied to the stomach. Warmth was restored in about four hours, and she became gradually better. In three days afterwards, she walked home, recovered.
About this time, a man was found, in a wretched state, cold and collapsed, in an open shed near Ridgeway. He was conveyed to the Hospital immediately. Drinking and dissipation had most probably tended to increase his sufferings, for they were excessive. His habits were well known, and there was every reason to suppose he was in a state of intoxication when seized with the disease. A strong emetic of mustard and salt was first given to him, and active remedies were afterwards resorted to. Some hours elapsed before warmth could be restored, and it was thought the attack would terminate fatally; but God was merciful to him, and he so far recovered as to be able to leave the Hospital in two days. How far he was impressed with the awfulness of his situation, or of thankfulness for his escape from impending danger, rested with his own conscience. He gave no satisfactory proof of any salutary impression having been made upon his mind. He was enveloped in utter darkness, and religious duties were evidently irksome to him.
With the exception of these two cases, nothing occurred beyond the usual routine of visiting convalescent patients, or those taken with slight attacks, from the end of August to the 3rd of October. During that period, the attendance at meetings of the Board of Health, and constant communication with the Central Board, as well as ordinary parish duties, were attended to. On the 3rd of October, it was reported, and with devout thankfulness acknowledged, that the disease was mercifully withdrawn from the parish—the plague was stayed—and the Board of Health was adjourned. Thus terminated the progress of the fearful visitation in this parish. Thirty deaths, chiefly from the village of Underwood, had occurred between the 13th of July and the 27th of August. In the adjacent town of Plympton, where the population by the census of 1831 was 804, there were twenty-two deaths between the 12th of August and the 21st of September.
CONCLUSION.
Here it may be useful to make a brief allusion to some of the circumstances connected with the progress of the disease in this rural district. The first patient who died of the cholera at Underwood, arrived there two days before she was taken ill, from Plymouth, where the disease was making fearful havoc. After her death, nearly a fortnight elapsed, when two other deaths occurred, of persons who were dwelling near the centre of the village. Then the disease visited the extreme western end, taking its course eastward, and at that end finished its career. The time of its duration was between two and three months: its fatal effects were limited to about five weeks.
Nearly a month after the disease had visited Plympton St. Mary, it proceeded to Plympton St. Maurice, commencing on the 12th of August, in the middle of the town; then, as it had done at Underwood, it went to the western extremity, afterwards taking its course eastward, and, on the 20th of September, ceased at one of the last houses in that direction. Although in both parishes its fatal effects were limited to five weeks, it lingered in the neighbourhood some weeks afterwards.