Page:Short account of the origin and progress of the cholera morbus.pdf/8



From the spread of the pestileneepestilence [sic], over the whole eountrycountry [sic], there was eonsiderableconsiderable [sic] excitement and fear, in the Spring and Summer months, of it reaehingreaching [sic] our town. A board of health was formed, near L.500 was spent among the poor in food, fuel, and clothes; a soup kitchen was opened and continued for thirteen weeks; but it was generally thought, from the openness of our town, and the eomparativecomparative [sic] eomfortcomfort [sic] of our inhabitants, if it did come it would not be severe. How vain are the thoughts of man! We were long spared, but it came at last, and raged with a virulence unexampled almost in any town in Britain, the shortness of the time considered.

The first easecase [sic] of Cholera, in Dumfries, was a fcmalcfemale [sic] of the name of Paterson, in English Street, on September 15. She died next day. Some persons in the neighbourhood were also seized. It rapidly increased; but, instead of lingering in the loealitylocality [sic] where it showed itself, simultaneously appeared in various parts of Dumfries and Maxwelltown. People are slow to believe what they do not wish to be true; even at this advaneedadvanced [sic] stage of the disease, many denied that it was amongst us. Many now were in awful consternation, which prcdisposedpredisposed [sic] them for the disease. MuehMuch [sic] was said, "but they spoke not aright." If mention was made of any place being spared, it was, "the provost is very active."—It was observed that during the wholcwhole [sic] last week of September, the sky assumed an unusual appearance.—The newspapers of October 2, give the following report:—

From the commencement on the l5th to the 24th of September, Cases 17; Deaths 9; Recoveries 0.