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Lastly, as to the circumstances of the families in which the attacks took place.
Twenty of the cases of fully developed cholera occurred in families either with all
the conveniences and comforts of life about them, or in such circumstances as precluded
the idea of neediness. Of these 15 or 75 per cent., were fatal. Fifty-four of
the cases, on the other hand, occurred in families in which there were more or less
distinct evidences of poverty; some of them being without blankets or other bedclothes
; others receiving aid from the parish; others unable to procure proper food, &c.
Of these 40 or about 74 per cent., were fatal. In the remaining cases it was not
apparent whether there was any need—such as families of mechanics and artizans in
work, &c. In these cases the fatality was less than in the classes better and worse off.
It appears, therefore, that the attacks of cholera were less frequent in proportion as
families were better off in worldly circumstances; but that the fatality was highest
where there was distinct poverty ; and, on the other hand, where the luxuries of life
were attainable.
The weather, in its relation to the two waves of epidemic influence.
The three weeks preceding the 27th July, when our Elder Walk outbreak
occurred, had been remarkable for two things as respects the weather. There had
been no rain and not much wind; indeed, for several days in each week a calm had
been observed, no movement in the air being perceptible. It was at the end of this
period that our outbreak occurred—a period particularly favourable to the uninterrupted
extension of an influence (such as a ground mist would be) spreading along
the low levels, and gradually rising towards our higher ground from the east end of
the metropolis. In the second week of our outbreak, that ending August 4th, there
was twice as much movement of the air, and rain fell to the extent of half an inch.
Rain now fell, fortunately, every week; and in the week ending September 8th, when
our choleraic attacks first abated at the end of the first wave, nearly two inches fell,
and there was considerable movement of the air. Week after week, from this time,
the movement of the air became less; and with this lessened movement cholera
became more frequent—our second wave was rising as the aerial motion lessened.
In the week preceding the week corresponding to the top of this second wave, and
in that week itself, little or no rain fell; and the movement of the air was again
slight, with several days of perfect calm. These were the weeks ending September
29th and October 6th. In the week ending October 13th, when we had 21 choleraic
cases, there was no rain, but rather more wind; but in the next week, when there
fell 0.85 in. of rain, our cases fell from 21 to 6. In the next week, when more than
an inch of rain fell, our cases continued to lessen. From other observations I have
made upon the influence exerted by rainfall or drought, and by movement of air
upon sickness, as well as from the experience of former epidemics, I cannot avoid
regarding the fluctuations I have attempted to describe as etiologically associated with
the origin and progress, the recession and subsequent advance, and final recession a
second time, of the epidemic amongst us. Had the weather, from the 4th of August