Killer Diseases in Britain c1750-1900

CholeraCholera first arrived in Brtain in 1831. Although cholora had been known in India for many centuries prior to it reaching us.It was frighting as people could day within a single day and it spread so vastly that thousands of unfortunate people died within weeks.

What diseases made people vulnerable?Cholera - spread through bacteria in food and water.Diptheria - spread through tiny droplets when coughing/sneezing and/or contact with an infected person.Smallpox - spread through touch, or sneezing/cough droplets.Tuberculosis - spread through coughing/sneezingTyphoid - spread through bacteria lingering in food/water and/or food infected by flies.

Treating Cholera-burning clothes/bedding of the dead person(s)-praying-cleaning the house and scattering chloride of lime around (this was used in whitewash to make things look clean)-smoking cigars-using lucky charms-burning barrels of tar or vinegar to create smoke in the streets-making 'special mixtures' of liquids and pills that were supposed to cure all ills.

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