There were seven cholera pandemics and the one of 1849 was the one during which a young English doctor deduced that it was caught be drinking contaminated water when he noticed that local deaths had all consumed water from a certain public pump.
Cholera killed through dehydration. Diahorrhea and sometimes vomiting reduced the body's water to a stage that sometimes turned a victim's face blue through lack of blood.
The passengers and crew of the immigrant ship Mooltan might have believed that they had escaped the epidemic when they left Britain for New Zealand in 1849. They were sadly mistaken.
LATEST ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE.
[From the "Otago News," December 29.] The fine new ship Mooltan, from the Clyde, arrived here on Wednesday, the 26th instant, after a run of 106 days. On leaving Greenock she had 158 passengers on board; but lost nine from an epidemic similar to the cholera, which broke out during the passage, and six from various other causes: reducing the original number to 143, all of whom, with two exceptions, are for this place. By the arrival of the Mooltan we are placed in possession of English news to the 11th September. Trade had been very dull, owing in some measure to the uncertainty of the harvest operations. The cholera in London and some of the provincial towns was on the increase, carrying off the rich and the poor in its deadly embrace. Her Majesty and Prince Albert were residing at their shooting lodge on the borders of Loch Muick, near to Balmoral. -Wellington Independent, 16/1/1850.
The following correspondence oh the subject of cholera having appeared on board the Mooltan on her passage from the Clyde to Otago, will be read with interest. For thus speedily setting the matter at rest, the public cannot but feel thankful to Mr. Fox. —
To the Editor of the Wellington Independent.
Sir, — As a report has reached this place of the cholera having appeared on board the New Zealand Company's ship Mooltan lately arrived at Otago, and daily expected here, I have to request that you will publish the enclosed despatch from Capt. Cargill to myself, from which the public will learn that a competent board of medical officers, acting in concert with the government, authorities, has pronounced the ship clean, and declared that "no contagion is to be apprehended."
I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,
William Fox, Principal Agent N. Z. Company.
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Otago, Dunedin, Dec. 31, 1849.
Sir. —The arrival of the Mooltan passenger ship, was reported to me here, on the 20th instant, by the master, and Dr. Purdie, accompanied by two of the cabin passengers in one of the ship's boats. They stated that the cholera was in Greenock when the ship sailed, but that they had got to sea on the 11th. September with 153 emigrants all well, and had continued so until past the latitude of Madeira, when the cholera unhappily broke out and carried off nine of the 'tween deck passengers, within 18 days, and before crossing the line, that the cholera had then entirely and finally disappeared, and that with the exception of one or two cases of hooping-cough, all I on board now were, and had continued to be, from the date referred to, in a state of perfect health.
I was not aware of the existence of any regulations bearing upon such an occurrence, but feeling the necessity that every precaution should be taken for the satisfaction of the authorities, and of the public in New Zealand, I requested the whole party immediately to return to the ship, and to hold no communication with the shore until a medical investigation could be had, and which they at once complied with. I also sent an express for Dr. Williams whose medical experience and professional standing in England is known to the settlers, and to the Court of Directors at home in order that he might unite with Dr. Purdie, the surgeon superintendent, a practitioner of 25 years standing, and late member of the Edinburgh board of health, in making such report as the occasion seemed to call for. I have now the pleasure to enclose the report of these gentlemen; together with a copy of a note of instruction to them, and which I hope will be satisfactory to yourself and to his Excellency the Lieut. Governor, to whom you will have the goodness to make the necessary communication. And I have further to report that, as Mr. C. Strode, who has a copy of the government regulations with respect to quarantine, had also enquired into the case, and decided upon there being no necessity for putting the ship under quarantine, the landing of the passengers and cargo was proceeded with on the 29th instant. I cannot but express gratitude to divine providence that a man of Dr. Purdie's experience had been in charge, and that his own strength, which is not robust, had been preserved to him. You will also not fail to notice our obligations to Capt. Chivas for his admirable and humane conduct as noticed in the medical report, and spoken to by all the passengers.
I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant,
W. Cargill, Resident Agent.
William Fox, Esq., Principal Agent of the New Zealand Company, Wellington.
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Dunedin, 26th, December, 1849, 6 o'Clock, a.m.
Dear Sir, — I have to request that you will immediately proceed to Port Chalmers and wait upon Mr. Macarthy, and Mr. Strode if there, to ascertain whether the Mooltan, passenger ship, has been placed under quarantine, and if not, that you will board that vessel, and communicate this note to Dr. Purdie, the surgeon superintending, in order to unite with him in a careful investigation and full report upon the late and present state of the health of the people on board, and your opinion thereon, as to there being any grounds for the suspicion of contagion.
Mr. Cutten our Agent for Emigrants will accompany you, in order to ascertain from Mr. Macarthy or Mr. Strode, whether the vessel is to be placed under quarantine, or any further steps to be taken, and if not, that the landing of passengers and cargo may be proceeded with.
I remain, dear Sir, Your's faithfully ....
(Signed) W. Cargill.
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Dr. Williams, Dunedin. Ship Mooltan, at Port Chalmers, Otago, 28th December, 1849.
Sir. — In compliance with your request, we have made a careful investigation of the state of health on board the ship Mooltan during her voyage from the Clyde, and on her arrival in this Port.
We find, on reference to the ship's log, and to the journal of the Surgeon Superintendent, that altho' the Cholera was in Greenock when the ship sailed on the 14th September last, all on board were in good health, and remained so until the 20th September, in latitude 31° 27' N., when the cholera broke out, and continued until the 15th October, having carried off nine persons, as shewn in the annexed statement.
We find that, since the last case on the 10th October, in latitude 2° 52' N. longitude 20° 15' W. the cholera has entirely disappeared, and are of opinion that the present state of the ship's health is good, and that no contagion is to be apprehended.
We also find that four children had died from ordinary causes, namely —
Oct. 4, Elizabeth Purdie, 2 months, lat. 12° 0' N. 14, Agnes Kirkland, 5 months lat. 3° 58'
Sep. 20, Ann McNeil, 5 years, off Madeira.
Dec. 17 Clorinda Harrison, 6 months lat. 44° 39' S.
And we beg to record our opinion of the admirable arrangements for the health and comfort of the passengers, and of there having been no lack, under a trying contingency, either of medicines or medical comforts; also as to the humane and excellent conduct of Captain Chivas — and that the ship presents on arrival at this port the most exemplary specimen of cleanliness and good order — together with warm expressions of gratitude for good treatment on the part of the passengers.
We are, Sir, Your most obedient servants,
{Signed} 1 ROBERT Williams, Surgeon, &c,
WILLIAM PURDIE M . D .
Name of emigrant. Date of Death. Nature of Disease. At what Place lat. N. long.W;
Mrs. McNeil, 20, Sept. 21 cholera 31 27
Mrs. Barr, 48, Sept 27 cholera 22 32, 18 28
George Perkins, 42, Oct. 3 cholera 13 8
Peter Harrison, 45, Oct. 3 cholera13 8
Mrs. Harrison, 25, Oct. 3 cholera13 8
Mrs. Proudfoot, 25, Oct. 6 cholera 832
Jeane Gebbie, 1, Oct. 8 cholera 7 17
Mrs. Kirkland, 26, Oct. 8 cholera 7 17
Agnes Peterson, 5, Oct. 15 cholera 2 52
(Signed) ROBERT ILLIAMS, Surgeon, &C.
William PURDIE, M.D.
Capt. W. Cargill, Resident Agent of the New Zealand Company, Dunedin. -Wellington Independent, 19/1/1850.
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