Cottage scenes during the cholera : $b being extracts from a diary written in July and August, 1832 — John Shaqi
Cottage scenes during the cholera : $b being extracts from a diary written in July and August, 1832Coppard, William Isaac
Religion
Cottage scenes during the cholera : $b being extracts from a diary written in July and August, 1832
Coppard, William Isaac
Cholera -- Great Britain; Coppard, William Isaac, -1865 -- Diaries
At ten o’clock, went to John Andrews’s to see his daughter, whose
symptoms could not be mistaken. As she had medical aid, I returned to
Hurl’s. Mr. L. was there, and we both went to see West, who had been
unwell a few hours, but was becoming seriously ill. Mr. L. took a very
small quantity of blood from him. West then expressed a desire to avail
himself of the present opportunity to offer up a prayer to God.
We returned to Hurl’s. The little boy was much worse; but quite
sensible, and very patient, though suffering much from cramp. At twelve
o’clock, I went again to Andrews’s. The little girl relieved as to
sickness, and other symptoms much mitigated. Went home for medicines,
and was afterwards occupied at the houses of Hurl, Andrews, and West, all
near neighbours, until late in the afternoon. At five o’clock, Hurl’s
child died.
A messenger came in haste, begging me instantly to go to the western end
of the village to see William Parsons, as he was in a fearful state of
suffering, and no one could be induced to go near the house to help the
family. On entering this cottage, the scene was truly appalling. The
room inhabited by the family, consisting of the man, his wife, and five
children, is sixteen feet by fourteen—two beds in it, and on the ground
floor—every thing indicating poverty and confusion. The man, aged
thirty-nine, lay on his bed, an object horrifying to the
beholder,—writhing in torture from the cramp, and groaning dreadfully—his
countenance much distorted—his flesh ashy blue—his fingers puckered and
twisted, and his nails purple—his knees drawn up to his chin!
Medicine had been left, with directions, by Mr. L., who had been called
away to other patients. Only one nurse could be found. A child, three
years old, in a cradle in a corner of the room, discoloured and cold, put
aside, by the mother and nurse as in a hopeless state, as “just dead.” I
applied a mustard poultice to the pit of the stomach of the poor man, who
was shrieking in agony; but he would not permit it to remain on five
minutes. We rubbed his arms with a stimulating liniment. I gave him the
medicine which was ordered. This frightful scene before me, and the
offensive effluvia in this wretched place, overcame me. I thought I must
have retreated from it; but if I had done so, the whole family must have
perished, the case having been reported so malignant, that no one,
excepting the two medical attendants, together with Susan Taylor, and one
neighbour, who called occasionally, would venture near them.
An effort was made to revive the child, as by holding a piece of a broken
looking glass to its mouth, it appeared that she still breathed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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