TABLE OF CONTENTS. Object of the Inquiry-Queries issued by the Cholera Committee. Five principal theories Plan of the report Sources of information Distribution of Cholera in England in 1848-49-Maps I. and Mortality from sporadic Cholera in different years II. Second general character of a Cholera epidemic, it visits espe- cially and most severely localities having certain features Description of the districts and towns chiefly visited, and of Communications received by the Cholera Committee, showing Sometimes defective ventilation the sole apparent sanitary Parts of towns in a bad sanitary condition sometimes escape III. Third general character of an epidemic of Cholera-its long This character inconsistent with its supposed dependence on a States of the wind, and the mortality from Cholera in London Bearing of this character of Cholera on other theories PAGE IV. Fourth character of Cholera-varying intensity of the epidemic during its continuance in each place Relation of the intensity of the epidemic to season Bearings of these results on the theories Epidemics of contagious disease contrasted with epidemics of V. Fifth character of Cholera, that after a certain time it altogether Hypothesis, that its cessation depends on the absence of fur- Bearing of the facts on the theories VI. Sixth character of Cholera-the degree in which its appearance, Times of its appearance in the different counties of England in Character of the towns earliest attacked. Order in which different towns were attacked in 1849 Influence of site, population, and sanitary condition on the Exceptions to the rule Different parts of towns attacked in succession, not simulta- Characters of the parts of towns earliest attacked Communications received by the Cholera Committee relative Periods of greatest intensity of the epidemic in different parts Periods of its greatest intensity in different towns Exceptions to the rule of simultaneousness The outbreaks in different parts of towns, and of public insti- Cessation of the epidemic in different counties nearly simul- Characters of the counties in which it remained longest. Greater diversity in the time of cessation of the epidemic in Conditions determining the late persistence of the epidemic in Mode of cessation of the epidemic in each town Influence of the state of the atmosphere throughout districts Extension of the epidemic from centres States of the air favouring the diffusion of Cholera Bearing of these facts and inferences on the theories of Cholera They favour the theory that the cause of Cholera is reproduced in the air, and diffused, at least in part, by atmospheric cur- In part they are readily explained by the theory of diffusion by . Objections to the theory of "contagion" as the means of dif A poison increasing in the air may be wholly or in part diffused . VIII. The manner in which Cholera traverses a continent or at sea . Its appearance first at large seaports, after crossing a sea The various rates of its progress in different situations The facts strengthen the belief in the influence of states of the Bearing of these facts on the theories Facts in the general history of the epidemic, favouring the It traverses the ocean more quickly than it crosses a continent Conclusions from the facts examined in this section Circumstances attending the appearance of Cholera in the ports Circumstances attending the outbreaks of the disease in ports of North America in 1832 and 1848 Convincing character of the facts relating to the introduction Origin of the disease in the ships which conveyed the disease Conclusion as to mode of introduction of the disease into new The communication of the disease without human intercourse Is the communication of the disease due to "contagion ?" Arguments in favour of "contagion" Is the disease contracted in washing or handling the clothes of |