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19
12. A family of 8 persons, at No.
15, Carr Street, Liraehouse (name
forgotten, and since removed), 5 of
whom had Cholera, one dying,
within 50 yards of 72, North Street,
where the first case occurred in
this district.
13. Out of the 140 deaths from
Cholera and Diarrhoea for the year
1806, nearly 130 were those of
infants, at 1 year and under, in the
Cholera months of July, August,
and September.
14. Of these same 130 mothers,
only 3 died from Cholera and
Diarrhoea.
The Inspector, Mr. Hurlock, was
with me in making the enquiry.
The mother was asked whether she
thought the water had brought on
the Cholera, and killed the child 2
"No," was the prompt reply.
"She never suffered it, and none
of her family was ever known to
drink cold water."
Now, Cholera and Diarrhoea Mr.
Radcliffe himself admits in the epidemic
must be regarded as "interdependent
diseases." And there
can be no doubt about it. If I say
— who will not say? —that the
babies could not have drunk the
water, then of course the water
could not have killed the babies. I
may be met perhaps by some young
aspirant brightening up for fame,
with the suggestion that the mothers
no doubt poisoned them ?
The mere supposition that even
these 3 women died from drinking
the water is too eitreme for ordinary
belief; for if there is any class
who expect, demand, and commonly
obtain the good things of this world
more than another, it is that of
women who are suckling their children.
It is very hard to believe
that even 3 out of these 130 nursing
mothers were carried off by
Cholera from an indulgence in cold
water.