If you're like me, right now you are either self-isolated or you live in a state where you have been ordered to stay home. In fact, my daughter has to carry a letter from her employer just to travel to work. While I felt like the government's response to the pandemic is extreme, I changed my mind after reading about killing epidemics in the Old West.
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| Cholera victim depicted in a 19th century medical textbook. Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images |
Cholera repeatedly reared its filthy head and claimed lives. There had been a Cholera epidemic in 1832 that killed thousands in both Europe and on the North American continent. About half the population of New York City left to stay in the country while cases of the disease continued to spread.
At the time, no one understood the disease and associated it with the poorer classes. Now we know that contaminated water sources cause it to start so it makes sense that the poor who relied on those sources would be the victims. Living in the tight quarters of tenement buildings, they easily spread the disease from one person to the next.
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| Immigrants at Ellis Island, NY. |
In 1873, at least 18 states and territories, including Texas, experienced a new Cholera epidemic. Dr. J. B. Van Velson, a physician in the Dakota territory wrote that his first patients with the disease were Russians who came directly from the port in New York. Like many others of the time, the doctor believed Cholera was brought to the country by immigrants.
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| Cholera Epidemic 1873 |
The idea of germs was very new. But, by studying cases, doctors realized that people who cared for victims of the epidemic stayed healthy by washing their hands and avoiding contact with the fluids produced by suffering victims of Cholera.
Dr. Worth, in charge of the inquiry, summed up his findings with one sentence. "What vaccination is to small-pox, disinfection is to cholera." https://truewestmagazine.com/the-fastest-killer-in-the-old-west/ Amazing, he got to the heart of the matter and didn't even have a microscope.
Consider that and think about 2020. It's no wonder all of the hand sanitizer disappeared first from teh shelves!
So, we aren't the first Americans to face an epidemic or to panic. I am choosing to view this as extra time to read. I hope you are, too.
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Faced with an opportunity to prove he can be a successful
businessman, Bode is desperate to buy into it the business using his
inheritance. His trustee, however, won't release the necessary funds unless
Bode marries that the man's choice of brides by proxy. Easy enough, Bode
decides. After all, he can annul the marriage after the money is in his
possession.
All thoughts of annulment disappear when he meets his less
than shy or wilting Violet. But will Violet stay with him when she learns how
Bode makes his living?
Why do attempts on his life start when he makes it clear
to the people around him that he plans to stay married?
Excellent post, Marisa. I did not realize there were that many large cholera epidemics. I was aware it was often a problem, just not the extent. I also didn't know doctors recognized washing hands and disinfecting was important as early as 1873. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I knew about cholera but didn’t know it was that widespread either.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the timely and interesting post, Marisa.
ReplyDelete