The Last Asian Cholera Epidemic in Warsaw in the 19th Century – Prevention, Treatment and Course in Light of 1892-1894 References

Abstract

At the beginning of 19th century, endemic cholera in India left its backwoods and began its journey around the world. Thanks to population migration and the development of means of transport in this century the cholera pandemic reaped a harvest five times all over the world. Firstly, it was noticed as an unknown scourge, later – mainly empirically – people found how to prevent cholera and forms of treatment. Immediately after an outbreak of the fifth pandemic, in 1883 Dr Robert Koch discovered and proved that the bacterium vibrio cholerae was responsible for spreading the illness. Recognition of the aetiology of cholera made it possible to make some kind of preparation for its appearance in Warsaw. The epidemic appeared in September 1892, the following year it was mild, it became serious only in 1894. It expanded mainly among the lowest social strata, where 1514 people were infected in that year, of which over a third died. In comparison to 1852, when 11042 Warsaw inhabitants fell sick (4747 died), the last epidemic of 19th century was mild, but nonetheless the mortality was still high (39.9%). The causes were seen in lack of access to clear, filtered water in the biggest outbreaks, in Szmulowizna, Mokotów and Ochota, poor sanitary conditions and an inadequate diet. An additional impediment was the delayed arrival of cholera patients in hospitals, who often ended up there nearly dead. This was the result of the rumour throughout Warsaw that hospital doctors were poisoning patients in order to end the epidemic. Despite the difficulties, the epidemic in Warsaw ended in Autumn 1894 and the worldwide pandemic ended two years later.