HIST170 3/10 Notes

Exam Review and Optional Sessions

• Current exam review is optional for students, providing flexibility in preparation strategies.

• The exam is scheduled for next week, emphasizing the need for timely review and study plans.

Animal Fostering by Ashley

• Ashley fostered two kittens, named Malamilo. The act of fostering helps provide temporary homes for animals, promoting their well-being until they find permanent families.

• Fostering opportunities exist in New York, encouraging community involvement in animal welfare.

• The organization involved in fostering is Humane Animal Partners, which aims to rescue and care for animals in need.

• The kittens were successfully adopted together shortly after being returned, highlighting the effectiveness of fostering in increasing adoption rates.

Importance of Campus Resources

• McLaren emphasized the availability of various resources on campus to assist students in their studies, which include:

  • Access to an extensive collection of journal articles at the library, aiding research and academic work.

  • Health services that provide medical care and counseling support for students' mental and physical well-being.

  • Writing assistance to enhance students' writing skills and academic performance.

• An anecdote was shared about the risk of students purchasing journal articles instead of utilizing free resources available to them, underlining the importance of awareness of existing library services.

Topic of Discussion: Cholera

Overview

• Cholera, a severe diarrheal illness, is discussed following last week's topic of yellow fever, illustrating the ongoing conversation about infectious diseases that impact public health.

• The disease is linked to the rapid growth of cities during modern developments, emphasizing the connection between urbanization and health risks.

Origins of Cholera

• Cholera is caused by a bacteria known as Vibrio cholerae, which can be fatal if untreated.

• The disease likely originated in the Ganges River Valley region, primarily located in Northeastern India and Bangladesh, indicating the geographical factors involved in its spread.

• Vibrio cholerae thrives in estuarine environments and has the capacity to survive in various water bodies, which contributes to its transmission.

Life Cycle of Vibrio cholerae

• Unlike many other pathogens, Vibrio cholerae does not require a host to reproduce, enabling it to persist in water bodies.

• The bacteria can attach themselves to copepods and other waterborne nutrients, enhancing their ability to spread.

Pathogenesis of Cholera

• Cholera infection begins once bacteria are ingested through contaminated water sources.

• Typically, healthy individuals can neutralize the bacteria due to their digestive enzymes; however, vulnerable individuals, especially those with weakened immune systems, may be severely impacted.

• The bacteria attach to the intestinal lining and produce toxins, which lead to severe dehydration and electrolyte loss.

• Common symptoms include severe diarrhea (often described as "rice-water" stools) and vomiting, which can rapidly lead to life-threatening dehydration.

Impact of Dehydration

• Cholera patients are at risk of losing a liter of plasma per hour, representing a critical fluid loss that requires immediate medical attention.

• Symptoms can escalate rapidly, leading to death in a matter of hours if untreated.

• Secondary conditions such as uremia and gangrene, resulting from tissue death due to dehydration, can also arise.

Treatment Methods

• Early treatment methods included ineffective practices such as bloodletting and the use of laxatives, which often worsened the patient's condition.

• The importance of effective rehydration was recognized over time, leading to advancements in treatment techniques.

• Leonard Rogers developed a more effective cholera bed with a gradual drip rehydration system in the early 20th century, significantly improving patient outcomes.

Factors Contributing to Cholera Outbreaks

• The 19th century saw urbanization and industrialization lead to crowded living conditions without proper sanitation, facilitating the outbreak of cholera.

• A critical lack of clean drinking water and inadequate waste management systems exacerbated the spread of the disease, highlighting public health vulnerabilities.

Social Perspectives and Blame

• Initially, the bourgeois class placed blame on the poor and immigrants, attributing their suffering to perceived moral failings, reflecting societal biases of the time.

• However, by the 1880s, awareness rose, shifting blame toward elites and policymakers for their failure to address sanitation issues, marking a change in social consciousness regarding public health responsibilities.

Conclusion

• The discussion highlighted the overwhelming impact of cholera during the 19th century, as urbanization contributed significantly to its spread.

• There was a collective recognition of the urgent need for improved infrastructure and public health initiatives to effectively deal with outbreaks and safeguard community health.