1850 American Gold Tycoon

Cholera was a world disease in the nineteenth century. Google search reading

Due to the short incubation period of cholera, it only takes three to five days to kill the host. For thousands of years, cholera only raged in this magical place of the Ganges River in India.

But everything changed when the British colonized India.

The Indians took a British ship to make a pilgrimage to Arabia, and cholera followed their faith to Arabia.

Following the Arabian region, Africa and the Mediterranean coastal regions soon fell, followed by Afghanistan and Russia, and soon spread to the entire European continent.

By 1832, this terrible disease arrived in North America along with the fast European merchant ships crossing the Atlantic, and the United States also fell.

The entire United States, especially the large cities in the eastern United States, has been under the cloud of cholera epidemic since 1832.

When cholera was severe, even prosperous big cities like New York were lifeless, with hundreds of people dying almost every day.

Doctors are still at a loss to deal with this epidemic, and even the president himself cannot cure it.

President Fillmore, who had just taken office, was determined to eliminate cholera, which was a scourge in the United States.

This was an epidemic that even Britain was helpless to deal with, and it brought people as much fear as the Black Death in the Middle Ages.

If he could defeat cholera, Fillmore would not only be able to enhance his prestige among the people, but also lay the foundation for his re-election three years later. (Fillmore succeeded the president as vice president, not the president who ran for office)

It can also make the United States proud in front of the European powers and improve the international prestige of the United States. It's a beautiful thing that kills two birds with one stone.

Therefore, after Fillmore confirmed that California's cholera prevention experience was indeed effective, he issued a document on California's cholera prevention experience and attached a manual to all states.

He hopes states will try to fight cholera using California's approach to cholera.

New York is the largest city in the United States. In 1850, New York City had an urban population of nearly 700,000.

In 1850, the total population of the United States was only 23,192,000.

New York was the pride of Americans during this period, just as later generations of Chinese people like to compare Shanghai with international metropolises such as New York and Tokyo.

Whenever Americans of this era talk about New York, they also like to compare New York with international metropolises such as London and Paris.

Although there is still a big gap between New York and London and Paris at this time.

London's urban population has exceeded two million, and it is also the financial center of the world. Paris, which is slightly behind London, has an urban population of over one million, making it the second largest city in Europe after London.

Urban planning in this era was generally poor, especially in cities like New York that were founded relatively early.

The urban drainage system is poor, and apart from the main streets, only a handful of streets have been hardened.

Municipal services are also imperfect, the city's sanitation situation is worrying, and people's hygiene awareness is not very good.

Especially in slums where sewage and excrement flow across the street, mosquitoes and flies fly everywhere, and the stench emanates.

This is a hotbed of epidemics.

Except for the politicians who reluctantly come here to win votes during the election, hold their noses in disgust, and make beautiful promises to the ragged poor people, but they are always unable to fulfill them, few celebrities will care about them. This forgotten corner.

Speaking of celebrities, at this time in the New York Medical Association, famous local doctors were gathering together to discuss documents and manuals sent by Washington.

Buildings in New York are getting taller and taller, causing lower-rise buildings to get less and less light.

Even during the day, the New York Medical Association building had to be lit with expensive whale oil lamps.

"The government is desperate to treat the disease. Politicians in Washington, including the new president, don't understand cholera at all. I don't believe that cholera can be cured with the level of wild doctors in California. Many of them are not even qualified to practice medicine." Not even qualified.”

By the light of the whale oil lamp, Slattery, the president of the New York Medical Association, hastily read the so-called summary of California's epidemic prevention experience and the cholera prevention and control manual that he considered ridiculous.

Slattery grabbed the doctors' attention by buttoning the sturdy oak desk.

He stressed: "All of us here are the most skilled doctors in New York, and I don't think anyone knows more about cholera than us."

“These ignorant wild doctors thought they had cured a few cholera patients by chance, so they exaggerated and claimed to have controlled cholera in the entire California.

They even dare to openly question the miasma theory, a recognized authority in the medical community. Are the professional doctors in New York and even London more knowledgeable than them? "

Dr. Gerald, who immigrated to New York during President Monroe's time, also scorned this.

Before immigrating to New York, his father and grandfather were already well-known doctors in London and had treated many nobles and celebrities.

"The words of those doctors in California who are blinded by gold cannot be trusted! Those people only have gold in their eyes."

Slattery said.

He didn't want to believe that the medical skills of New York doctors were inferior to those wild doctors in California.

"The reality is that we, the doctors who know best about cholera, are still helpless to do anything about cholera."

Robert, vice president of the New York Medical Association, disagreed and refuted Straley's view.

"I know this Dr. Robinson. He and I were classmates and good friends. His wife and daughter both died of cholera. He went to California to pan for gold in order to escape reality, get out of this shadow, and find a new life.

His medical skills are better than mine, and I also know his character well. He will not make fun of this matter of life and death.

Gentlemen, I received Dr. Robinson's letter two weeks ago and have used his method to cure fifty-six cholera patients. Only one old gentleman with a weak immune system died unfortunately.

Facts speak louder than words, and I think we should put aside our arrogance and prejudice and adopt all reasonable opinions.

Whether you are a doctor in New York or a doctor in California, everyone is a doctor, there is no distinction between high and low. "

After listening to Vice President Robert's speech, the doctors talked a lot. They had also heard about Dr. Robert's heroic deeds of curing fifty-six cholera patients in two weeks.

But they didn't expect that Robert was using a method from California to cure cholera.

"Even if it is true, what are you going to do? Mr. Robert, New York is an international metropolis. New York City alone has a population of 700,000. The population of the entire California may not be one-tenth of New York's!

If they follow their method to isolate and treat cholera patients, it will require the use of government power, cost a lot of money, and will also have an impact on New York's economy.

If it can be cured, it's a blessing. If it can't be cured, who will bear the responsibility? We doctors? ” Slattery still disagrees with the treatment options.

"Yes, Doctor Robert, many of those cholera patients are poor people in the slums. They can't afford the high medical fees. To cure them, we have to pay for the medical expenses." Gerald stood firmly in front of President Slater. Benefit this side.

"I'm going to visit Governor Hamilton Fish, and since the government has sent us these documents, I think the government is determined to defeat cholera.

Of course, before visiting Governor Fish, I will first visit the mayor to seek his support.

At least let the mayor order the water pumps in the slums to be turned off. I have seen the water there. It exudes an indescribable stench. It must be a contaminated water source and is no longer suitable for drinking. " said Robert.

"Robert, are you crazy? Turn off the water supply in the slums, and those beggars will fight you to death! Let me declare in advance that this is your personal suggestion and has nothing to do with me or the New York Medical Association!" Slattery said.

"California's medical conditions are far inferior to ours in New York. There is no reason why New York can't do what California can do." Robert said to Slattery in a mocking tone.

"Mr. Slattery, you look down on the wild doctors in California, but you are not as good as them now. At least they dare to act instead of sitting in the office drinking coffee and talking."

"Robert! What do you mean?! Please remember, I am the president of the New York Medical Association, and I am also a member of the House of Representatives. Please speak with more respect!" Slattery stood up and yelled. road.

"That is even more disgraceful, Mr. Slattery. Not only are you an incompetent doctor, you are also an incompetent Member of Parliament, Your Excellency."

There is no mutual agreement, and Robert is too lazy to waste words with insects like Slattery.

He turned around and left gracefully. After a short period of thinking, some conscientious doctors quickly made a decision and followed Robert out of the medical association.