Cholera Committee
TitleCholera Committee
ReferenceRCP-CTTEES/CHOLC
Date
1830 - 1892
CreatorRoyal College of Physicians of London
Admin history: The RCP Cholera Committee saw multiple iterations between 1831, when England saw the first outbreak of cholera, to the 1890s. In 1831 the government asked questions of Sir Henry Halford about whether cholera was contagious and whether it could be conveyed by goods. A committee was set up, headed by Halford, with five members of the Royal College of Physicians and representatives from the army, the navy and the customs office. Little evidence exists for the first committee, how it operated and what findings it produced.
The second Cholera Committee founded in response to the 1848 outbreak was headed by John Ayrton Paris. This second iteration was larger and made up of the President, censors, registrars and 21 others. The secretaries for the group were William Baly and William Withey Gull. The purpose of this committee was to gather information, the conclusion of which would be to provide advice to the government on the nature of cholera and the best methods of treatment. Notable activity by the second Cholera Committee was the production of circulars sent to physicians around the country, asking about their experience with cholera patients in their area and asking ten questions about matters such as geography, extent of the outbreak and treatments. The second committee also worked with the General Board of Health, the latter having been founded with the ratification of The Public Health Act of 1848.
A third committee was formed later in 1892 but there is little administrative evidence and no report was published.
Production date 1830 - 1892
Scope and ContentThe RCP Cholera Committee collection documents the activity of the 1800s committees established during each major outbreak of cholera in England. Records largely relate to the 1848 committee overseen by John Ayrton Paris and include but are not limited to administrative documents, published reports, correspondence and answers to the queries asked in the 1849 circular produced by the committee.
The largest parts of the collection are correspondence, reports and responses to queries from physicians in the United Kingdom. The responses to queries may be of particular use to researchers wishing to find out about the treatment of cholera in different parts of the country. Also in the collection is:
- International Correspondence, mostly forwarded by governmental departments from colonial offices
- Case reports from Asylums and Prisons
- Reports on methods of treatment including electricity, heat and medicines.
- Reports published by the cholera committee
The largest parts of the collection are correspondence, reports and responses to queries from physicians in the United Kingdom. The responses to queries may be of particular use to researchers wishing to find out about the treatment of cholera in different parts of the country. Also in the collection is:
- International Correspondence, mostly forwarded by governmental departments from colonial offices
- Case reports from Asylums and Prisons
- Reports on methods of treatment including electricity, heat and medicines.
- Reports published by the cholera committee
Extent5 boxes and 1 volume
LanguageEnglish
Levelsub-fonds