Origin and Progress of Cholera at Albany.

The following report made by the medical staff of Albany to the Board of Health, furnishes some interesting information relative to the origin of the epidemic, and the character of the diseases which preceded its appearance in that city.

“In presenting to the Board of Health the following tables, showing the bills of mortality of this city from the 22d ult., when the board directed the deaths to be recorded, up to this day, we deem it our duty to make some remarks relative to the health of the city during the above period, and likewise in relation to our future prospects, and the measures we consider useful to accelerate the departure of the pestilence from among us.

“We stated in our last report to the board, that immediately prior to the breaking out of the epidemic, our city was unusually healthy. Until about the 20th of June, few diseases prevailed, and the mortality was less than common. From the 22d of June to the 3d of July, only eleven deaths occurred—of those, six were children. In a population of twenty-six thousand, an average of less than one death a day for near two weeks, indicates a degree of health almost without a parallel. From the 30th of June to the 3d of July, not one single death was reported. It was, however, but the calm which precedes the storm. All other diseases gave way to the silent but the irresistible march of the epidemic.

“Although but few deaths took place from the 20th of June to the 3d of July, there was considerable sickness; and experienced physicians foresaw the coming danger, in the usual prevalence of diarrhœa, and common cholera morbus—hence it was that your board was urged to make all ready—to be prepared with hospitals, physicians, nurses, &c. and to this timely warning, and the preparations made in consequence, we may, under Providence, attribute the limited ravages of this fell pestilence.

“On the 3d day of July, the epidemic assumed its malignant and characteristic form. From that time until now, it has maintained its residence among us. For the first week it gradually extended, and during the second it has been rather stationary, the number attacked varying a little from day to day and but little.

“It is now a fortnight since the first deaths took place. The number of cases reported within that period is two hundred and forty-five, and the deaths seventy-two—or a little over one-quarter of the whole. It must however be recollected, that during the same time hundreds had been attacked with Cholerine, or the slightest influences of the epidemic. None of these have been reported, because by timely aid, the disease, in its more formidable shape, was prevented. We can, we believe, say with truth, that few have entirely escaped the influence of the disease.

“From a consideration of all the circumstances connected with the visitation of Providence, we think our citizens have great cause for thankfulness, that we thus far suffered so little. Compared to our neighbours of Canada, we have suffered less than we had cause to anticipate. The disease has been among us for a fortnight; has passed all over the city, and in one form or other has affected more or less persons of all classes, and yet the deaths have not much exceeded five in a day, whilst at Quebec and Montreal, in a population not much exceeding ours, the deaths some days exceeded one hundred, when the disease had not been so long among them as it has been with us. From the history of the disease in other countries, and the circumstances connected with its progress in this city, we would fain indulge the hope, that it has already spent its venom, and that we shall ere long be free from it entirely. For the last two days, notwithstanding the number of cases reported and the high state of mortality, we are inclined to believe that we see, in the character of the prevailing disease, indications of returning health.

“We have as yet, had no cause to change our opinion respecting the nature of the prevailing disease—we consider it essentially epidemic. It continues to attack people in different parts of the city, and had not been traced from one person to another, as might have been done were its progress dependent on contagion. It is true, in some houses, several persons have been attacked and died; but this only shows that similar causes produce similar effects in individuals placed in like circumstances—all were equally exposed to the local and general causes which engender this disease. The disease may, under certain circumstances, be contagious, but no very striking instances of the kind has yet come to our knowledge in this city.

“We cannot reprehend in too strong language, the cold-hearted and inhuman conduct of many of our people, to the unfortunate victims of cholera. They are too often abandoned to their fate, even their friends being afraid to do to them the ordinary offices of charity. Were they labouring under the plague of the Levant they would not be looked upon with more dread. All this is folly. The risk of taking the disease from the sick is little or nothing; much more is to be dreaded from foul air by which the disease is engendered. The first care of friends should be, not to run away, but to take the sick into more healthy and airy lodgings.

“We would also protest against the indecent haste with which the scarcely cold remains of the dead are hurried to their last abode, without a neighbour to follow, or a friend to mourn. Such conduct is discreditable to the character of a Christian people. We trust that we shall not again have to complain of similar indifference to the performance of the duties of charity and humanity.

“To the members of the medical profession, and particularly its younger members, we willingly award due credit for their attention and diligence, under circumstances of no usual difficulty.

“We would again most earnestly entreat our citizens not to neglect to apply for medical aid the moment diarrhœa, or sick stomach and head-ache take place. We have not yet known one instance in which the disease in its malignant form, was not preceded by one or more of these symptoms, for some hours, if not days; and we have not seen or heard of a single instance where these premonitory symptoms were properly attended to, an attack was not prevented. It cannot be too strongly or too often impressed upon the minds of our citizens, that cholera, in its early stages, is easily cured; but that when neglected, in a majority of cases, no human aid will avail. Almost all the deaths have occurred in persons of intemperate habits, and of broken constitutions. A few estimable citizens have fallen victims to it, but these were either aged and infirm, or had neglected the premonitory symptoms, or had tampered with medicines, without proper advice.

“To our constituted authorities we would recommend the most assiduous attention to cleanliness in our streets, along our wharves and docks; to our citizens, strict attention to cleanliness in their houses and persons, to pay due attention to dress, avoid exposure to the night air, and observe strict temperance, not only in drink, but in food. We would caution them against the free use of fruit, ripe or unripe, and the employment of Glauber or Epsom salts as medicines. Several cases of cholera have been brought on by their operation. If due attention be paid to all these precautions, we have every reason to hope that the epidemic will soon cease to prevail among us.

“JONA. EIGHTS, Chairman.”

Bill of Mortality from 22d June to the 7th July, 1832.

June22,2—1poison,

1small-pox.

23,——

24,1pneumonia,

25,1convulsions,

26,2—1convulsions,

1marasmus,

27,2—1convulsions,

1consumption,

28,1scarlatina,

29,2—1consumption,

1unknown,

30,——

11deaths from 22 June to July 3.

July,3,2cholera,

4,——

5,4cholera,

6,2cholera,

7,3cholera,

8,4—3cholera,

1intemperance,

9,5cholera,

10,8—1apoplexy,

7cholera,

11,9cholera,

12,4—1consumption,

3cholera,

13,8—6cholera,

1congestion of the brain, after cholera,

1typhus fever,

14,7—1hydrocephalus,

6cholera,

15,7—1debility,

6cholera,

16,7cholera,

17,8cholera,

78

Cholera72

Other diseases6

CHOLERA REPORTS.

July3,Cases2Deaths2

4,10

5,74

6,122

7,103

8,113

9,185

10,227

11,289

12,103

13,287

14,276

15,176

16,297

17,238

Total,245Deaths,72