Posts tagged cholera

I was kind of keen on hearing about CJD, but I would also totally settle for non-prion stuff like cholera? :D (Sorry one of my friends wrote a very compelling post about why syphilis is beautiful & now I'm HUNGRY for disease posts) — Asked by apiphile

Actually, my most recent post on syphilis (a reblog from my history blog) is metaphorical of beautiful syphilides, and syphilis is pretty interesting on its own. It’s a fascinating disease, that’s for sure. Tuberculosis is seen as the “beautiful” disease, though, because of the wasting and pale skin/rosy-cheeked appearance of near-death patients. Ophelia is often portrayed as a tuberculosis patient.

Cholera

Disease in general

Nutritional deficiencies are also fascinating, especially pellagra and scurvy.

I like diseases, but I’m currently on sort of a congenital disorder and natural history kick. I’ll get back to them soon.

cabbagingcove:

Caricatures of Death Personified

From a pre-Revolutionary magazine, first published in Russia in 1906. Illustrations by Boris Kustodiev.

Personifications of death included depictions of the devastating 1906 drought and ensuing famine, and the ravages of cholera, in the midst of revolutionary uprisings in Moscow.

Bacteriologic Chart Gonococcus spp. Pneumococcus spp. Streptococcus pyogenes Micobacterium tuberculosis Vibrio cholerae Corynebacterium diphtheriae Bacterium typhosum Bacterium dysenteriae Achorion Schonleinii [favus fungus] Bacillus anthracis Bacillus aerogenes capsulatus Yeast cells - With buds and ascospores depicted Deadly diseases are almost pretty, when stained and smeared on a microscope slide… Postmortem Pathology. Henry W. Cattell, 1906.

Bacteriologic Chart

  1. Gonococcus spp.
  2. Pneumococcus spp.
  3. Streptococcus pyogenes
  4. Micobacterium tuberculosis
  5. Vibrio cholerae
  6. Corynebacterium diphtheriae
  7. Bacterium typhosum
  8. Bacterium dysenteriae
  9. Achorion Schonleinii [favus fungus]
  10. Bacillus anthracis
  11. Bacillus aerogenes capsulatus
  12. Yeast cells - With buds and ascospores depicted

Deadly diseases are almost pretty, when stained and smeared on a microscope slide…

Postmortem Pathology. Henry W. Cattell, 1906.

earwigbiscuits: Monster Soup, commonly called Thames Water, being a correct representation of that precious stuff doled out to us…satire from 1827 “dedicated to the London Water Companies” (via) Looks about right….though I’m not sure Shigella and Vibrio cholerae look like shrimp and fish under the microscope. o-O

earwigbiscuits:

Monster Soup, commonly called Thames Water, being a correct representation of that precious stuff doled out to us…satire from 1827 “dedicated to the London Water Companies” (via)

Looks about right….though I’m not sure Shigella and Vibrio cholerae look like shrimp and fish under the microscope. o-O

earwigbiscuits

zygoma: The First Cholera Pandemic India’s population has endured cholera’s wrath since ancient times, but it wasn’t until the 19th century when it became global after traders unintentionally carried the disease back to China, Japan, North Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Since then, six outbreaks have occurred resulting in millions of deaths. Cholera is caused by the intestinal bacteria, Vibrio cholerae. Infections are relatively mild (only a small percentage of those infected suffer from severe vomiting and leg cramps, leading to dehydration and shock) but only those immune systems who stay hydrated long enough can easily defeat the disease. The first cholera pandemic struck the European cities during the industrial revolution of the 1800s. As a result, doctors called for cleaner and more sanitary living conditions, believing that “bad air” was the root of the disease. Even though this helped, the connection was finally made to bad drinking water. After the 1800s, people believed cholera was in the past. However, new outbreaks occurred in 1961 in Indonesia and 1991 and pandemics continue to this day.

zygoma:

The First Cholera Pandemic

India’s population has endured cholera’s wrath since ancient times, but it wasn’t until the 19th century when it became global after traders unintentionally carried the disease back to China, Japan, North Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Since then, six outbreaks have occurred resulting in millions of deaths.

Cholera is caused by the intestinal bacteria, Vibrio cholerae. Infections are relatively mild (only a small percentage of those infected suffer from severe vomiting and leg cramps, leading to dehydration and shock) but only those immune systems who stay hydrated long enough can easily defeat the disease.

The first cholera pandemic struck the European cities during the industrial revolution of the 1800s. As a result, doctors called for cleaner and more sanitary living conditions, believing that “bad air” was the root of the disease. Even though this helped, the connection was finally made to bad drinking water.

After the 1800s, people believed cholera was in the past. However, new outbreaks occurred in 1961 in Indonesia and 1991 and pandemics continue to this day.

zygoma

Postmortem ferrotype of infant who succumbed to cholera in the 1880s. Before 1900, around 25% of infants died before their first birthday, and just under half would not see their fifth. Near the end of the 19th century (~1870 onwards), child and infant mortality began to decline, and medicine (not just anatomy) began to make great strides. Still, it wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that a majority of children in all economic classes would reach 5 years old.  More about Victorian post-mortem photography, including some interesting examples. Some information on historical mortality in infants and adults in America

Postmortem ferrotype of infant who succumbed to cholera in the 1880s. Before 1900, around 25% of infants died before their first birthday, and just under half would not see their fifth. Near the end of the 19th century (~1870 onwards), child and infant mortality began to decline, and medicine (not just anatomy) began to make great strides. Still, it wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that a majority of children in all economic classes would reach 5 years old. 

More about Victorian post-mortem photography, including some interesting examples.

Some information on historical mortality in infants and adults in America

Japanese public health poster on the spreading of cholera and how to stop it.

Japanese public health poster on the spreading of cholera and how to stop it.