Cholera Epidemics & Hygeine

In October 1832, a vessel landed at Swansea dock with two crew members dying of cholera.   An epidemic spread, eventually burning itself out in March 1833 at Merthyr.   Incubation was about six days with symptoms of faintness, sweating, vomiting and diarrhoea.

In 1848, 7,000 Londoners died.   In 1849 the Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian stated handbills were issued informing the public that sewers would be flushed between 9 and 10am each Saturday morning with chloride of lime - 2 oz to 2 gallons of water.

In 1853 the Pontypool Company issued a public notice:

"All rubbish is to be put in readiness for carting away by the Company

at the beginning of every week.

Pigsties are to be moved so that they are at least 30 yards from dwellings.

All houses to be whitewashed inside.   Lime can be obtained from the

general office at Pontymoile, or from No. 1 Engine, Blaendare.

Every garden, passageway, landing or vacant space must be swept and

cleansed twice a week."

Chloride of zinc was to be scattered in each room.   Its cost was a

farthing a gallon.

People were to avoid stale, raw and half-cooked foods.

Inter corpses as soon as possible.

Improve ventilation in houses.

People realised the importance of hygeine to health.

(Prior to the introduction of the Asiatic cholera Britain had suffered their own less severe cholera, thought to be salmonella from unhygeinic food.   (No sell-by dates in those days.))

A Gray Jones, 1970, History of Ebbw Vale, Starling Press.
Keith Thomas, Heritage & History of Ebbw Vale, Vol. 1.
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/Cholera.html