Cholera in Victorian England

Throughout Queen Victoria's reign, the country suffered from several epidemics of cholera, the first occurring in Sunderland in 1831. It attacked because a ship had recently docked which carried sailors who were carrying the contagious disease from Hamburg. London experienced their first case in 1832 but it only claimed 800 East end lives and in that year, a child born at Bethnal Green was expected to live up to sixteen years at the most! Also in this year, tuberculosis was a bigger killer than cholera.

Cholera is a horrible virus which is passed through water and food contaminated with the disease. It causes dehydration, vomiting and severe diarrhoea. The faeces come out ridiculously quick and cause extreme loss of bodily fluids. Because of the lack of medicine and no NHS (For those who dwell in England), there was a near 100% chance of death for one of it's victims! In Lewis Square, Nottingham in 1856, a census recorded that 616 people were killed by cholera. 

To add to the terrible, unhygienic water sources and the disgusting condition of the water itself, the majority of the population lived in cramped, affordable but unsanitary housing. As a result the disease spread quickly moving among families. The water that the people used for washing, cooking and drinking was pumped from the nearest water pumps. Sadly some of these pumps were situated next to the lavatories and sometimes the sewage pipe would crack, allowing rare sewage to be mixed with water, thus spreading the fatal illness.

The British government did attempt to warn the public about the risks and problems of cholera by putting up posters and having cartoons printed in newspapers. But, to be absolutely honest, the majority of adults probably couldn't read (although a law was passed that ensured that all children, no matter what their status was, would receive an education during Victoria's rule) and newspapers were expensive for the communities who were threatened by cholera.

Although cholera is less of a threat today in the MEDCs (more economically developed countries) people still die as a result of this disease in many LEDCs (less economically developed countries) because they do not have enough money. Save the Children Charity provides medical care for children who are victims of cholera. To donate, click here.

Sources:
~ A Web of English History: Cholera comes to Britain
~ Science Museum: Hidden Extras- Cholera comes to Victorian London
~ Victorian Web: Cholera
~ Mayo Clinic: Cholera Symptoms
~ Save the Children: Cholera Outbreak