Discover the story of the disease that devastated the Victorian population, and brought about major changes in sanitation. Drawing on the latest scientific research and a wealth of archival material, Amanda Thomas uses firsthand accounts, blending personal stories with an overview of the history of the disease and its devastating after effects on British society. This fascinating history of a catastrophic disease uncovers forgotten stories from each of the major cholera outbreaks in 1831-3, 1848-9, 1853-4 and 1866.
Amanda Thomas reveals that Victorian theories about the disease were often closer to the truth than we might assume, among them the belief that cholera was spread by miasma, or foul air.
| Acknowledgements |
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7 | (1) |
| Preface |
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8 | (1) |
| Introduction |
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9 | (6) |
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Chapter 1 An Ancient Disease: The history and epidemiology of cholera |
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15 | (16) |
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Chapter 2 Brandy is the Cure: The 1831-2 cholera outbreak |
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31 | (29) |
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Chapter 3 The Wretched State of the Poor: The influence of politics and philosophy on the living and sanitary conditions of the poor |
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60 | (19) |
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Chapter 4 Cholera and Tooting's Pauper Paradise: Workhouse conditions and how cholera devastated a children's institution |
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79 | (20) |
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Chapter 5 Births, Marriages and Deaths: The General Register Office and the work of William Fair |
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99 | (14) |
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Chapter 6 The Graveyards Overflow: The effect of population growth and cholera on traditional burial practices |
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113 | (16) |
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Chapter 7 Dr John Snow and the Broad Street Pump: The emerging theory that cholera is a waterborne disease and the modern myth of Dr John Snow |
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129 | (33) |
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Chapter 8 The Stink of Cholera: The improvement of London's sewage system and Sir Joseph Bazalgette |
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162 | (11) |
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Chapter 9 Cholera Returns: The 1866 East End cholera outbreak and the Princess Alice disaster |
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173 | (18) |
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Chapter 10 A Modern Disease: Genetics, vaccines and new theories |
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191 | (13) |
| Notes |
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204 | (25) |
| Bibliography |
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229 | |
| Index |
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AMANDA THOMAS is an author, historian and linguist; she has previously worked in journalism, and public relations for television companies including The Walt Disney Company and Television New Zealand. In her early career she was involved with the PR launch of satellite television in Europe. Her 2010 book, The Lambeth Cholera Outbreak of 1848-1849 prompted London's Lambeth Council to commission Amanda to write a heritage plaque dedicated to the victims of the epidemic which was erected on the South Bank in 2011. She has advised on the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are?, The One Show and, in collaboration with English Heritage, on The Flying Archaeologist, in which she also appeared. Born in Chatham, Kent, Amanda is passionate about the history and heritage of the Medway Towns and edits the historical journal The Clock Tower for The Friends of Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre.
