Cottage scenes during the cholera / being extracts from a diary written in July and August, 1832

by William Isaac Coppard

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.