To Dr. Cormack, editor of Association Medical Journal.

  • Macloughlin, David, 1786-1870.
Date:
[1855]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: To Dr. Cormack, editor of Association Medical Journal. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    11/16 (page 7)
    preceded by a diarrhoea; it may be concluded, that cholera, that is, vomiting, spasms, etc., is invariably preceded by a diarrhoea, and that consequently diar- rhoea is the first, the most important, the most essential, the most invariable symptom of cholera, and that consequently cholera is not an entity, a disease, sui generis, independent of, and a superfoetation on, diarrhoea. Therefore, the late General Board of Health were in error when they stated, in 1850, that cases of cholera occurred without a premonitory diarrhoea, and they were further in error when they further maintained, in 1853, that the very worst cases of this formidable disease a?^e those where these symptoms,purging and vomiting, were wholly or partially absent''' Therefore, whatever benefit has been conferred on medical science, and whatever advantage humanity may derive from having the connection which exists between diarrhoea and cholera ascertained, it is evident that the late General Board of Health are not entitled to the credit of having pointed out this pathological fact, and much less are they entitled to the credit of having called the attention of the pro- fession to this second pathological fact,—that every individual is warned, for a few hours, or for a few days, or for a few weeks, by a diarrhoea, sui generis, that he is about to be attacked by cholera, and that it is therefore in the power of human foresight to ward off an attack of cholera. Believe me, my dear Sir, Yours very sincerely, D. MACLOUGHLIN, M.D. London : I'Wi February, 1856. Member of the Legion of Honour. a t, Bruton Street, Berkeley Square.