Facts and Observations Relative to the Disease Commonly Called Cholera, as it Has Recently Prevailed in the City of York

Facts And Observations Relative To The Disease Commonly Called Cholera, As It Has Recently Prevailed In The City Of York by J. P. Needham. This volume is a detailed early 19th-century medical study of cholera as it appeared in York, combining clinical observations, nosology, prognosis, and treatment across three stages: choleric/cold stage, collapse, and febrile stage. Needham discusses whether the disease is contagious, presents post-mortem considerations, and appraises various therapies (opium, calomel, saline injections, and cold-water methods) while acknowledging limited therapeutic success. The author emphasizes authentic reporting from medical boards and firsthand accounts, and argues for contagion as the primary mechanism of transmission, while also addressing atmospheric and predisposing factors such as fear, malnutrition, and crowding. The work includes a translation of general results from Moreau de Jonnés and a historical appendix, and it bears dedication to Dr. Thomas Simpson. Written during 1832 in York, the treatise reflects the medical debates of its era as physicians sought rational, evidence-based approaches to a terrifying epidemic.