Outbreak at Salford Jail.  -- In the Salford, England, jail there was a sudden outbreak of diarrhea of a choleric type, which affected more than half of the prisoners; while of the officers and their families, who were distributed throughout the building, not one was attacked.  The food of the convicts was examined and found to be good; it was evident, also, that the air to not contain the cause of the disease, as both classes above mentioned were under the same conditions in that respect.  Suspicion was therefore directed to the drinking water.  It was then discovered that, though the water supply in all parts of the prison was derived from the same source, there was one sister for the use of the officers, and another's covered cistern for furnishing to the prisoners their allowance, and that the un-trapped overflow pipe of the latter communicated with an open sewer.  On the day of the outbreak of diarrhea in the jail, the water from the cistern was observed to be colored and to taste unpleasantly.

This is definitely an interesting historical footnote, even though it would appear that this case was likely at least 20-50 years old when the author covered it 100 years from the publication of this internet article.  Never the less, it is interesting to learn again how this case was tracked and gain some additional historical perspective.  It helps us to understand the actual situations that led to policy and change and codes in plumbing and more over the years and helps make the current code less distant as if its there for the simple practice of bureaucracy as if we were reading actuarial tables about term life insurance and not a medical guide that might have saved some people’s lives as they put this into practice.

Additional Articles from the Book of Medicine:

• SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE BRAIN, FACE AND THROAT
  
  

  Today were looking at another section, this one reviewing the brain, face and throat. I warn you in advance that the review is somewhat incomplete by the authors of the book and it’s more a review of the image that of any actual body parts. Before you too far into this section I just mention that this seems to be an initial trend of using many words to describe nothing. It’s possible that this medical book was the Seinfeld of its day.

  The Brain And Its Bony Citadel.- the arches, with true anatomical instinct in a rare technical ability in regard to accuracy in minute detail, has performed as part of the work in this illustration with such faithful fidelity to nature that one cannot withhold a word of praise at the grand style and elaborate manner of its execution. This elegant and artistic anatomical plate represents the brain held firmly in position within its strong bony citadel, but collect and 20 from above downward, thus showing its internal mechanism and construction; besides which it gives the internal arrangements of the nose, tongue, throat and neck.

  This initial section, or rather the first paragraph of the of this section provides more praise to the artist and description of the actual topic, which in case you missed it is a picture showing a cross-section of the human head and neck to include the spinal column.  The image is labeled correctly and is in color.the same picture could’ve been provided in a textbook as late as 20 or 30 years ago at a grade school or high school level.  The diagram is accurate as far as labels and body parts are concerned, however they’re drawing and rendering are somewhat untrue to form and don’t exactly provide the insights into the function of the movable parts quite like we may see a representation today.

  The diagram for the tongue in particular is somewhat peculiar looking and seems to show an example of the tongue lopped off or half swallowed.  This aspect of the drying is a little odd, and I suspect the artist may have taken some liberties in their drawing to expedite the process and that all the pieces in their approximate space.

• A Case of Impure Ice Poison
  
  

  A Case of Impure Ice Poison.  — such was notably the case in an epidemic of intestinal disorder which occurred at the watering place of Rye Beach N. H.  from the account of Dr. Nichols, who attended most of the patients, it seems that, early in the season, a mild form of disturbance of the stomach and bowels made its appearance among the guests of a particular hotel at his favorite summer resort.  The symptoms were in general penis, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea and severe abdominal pain, accompanied by fever, loss of appetite and mental depression.  The well and drainage system of the establishment, which had recently been put in complete water, was found almost faultless, and the milk supply of unquestionable purity; but on the attention of the physician being directed to the stock of ice provided for the guests, conclusive proof of its dangers quality was promptly obtained.

• VIEW OF THE BASE OF THE CRANIUM – Brain Cavity
  
  

  today were moving into a new section looking at the base of the cranium.  In this section the book is referring to a top-down view of the skull.  Illustration is somewhat pale and lacking in details.  Nothing in this particular picture is labeled and in a sense the picture only gives the reader a slight point of reference absent the following detail:

   Brain Cavity.  Here in this remarkable illustration we presented to us one of the most wonderful views the anatomy of this goal, or, in fact, at a part of the human frame.  It is a view of the floor of the cranial cavity on which that curious and mysterious, but sublime organ, the brain, rest.  The marvelous skill and ingenuity therein display, of the complex mechanism surveyed, the beautiful and intricate manner in which the nerves of special scents are so elaborately set forth, the complicated perfusion and exquisite design manifest in the distribution of blood vessels for the nourishment and support of the special organ of reason and intelligence — all claim our closest and undivided attention, and we are unconsciously led to revere the Omniscience of Him who could conceive of such intricate architecture, and perform such delicate, unique and perfect workmanship.  The large opening observed in the floor of the cranial cavity is the foramen magnum, through which the spinal cord, together with the cerebro-spinal nerves, escape.

  In this section we once again have a Nonsecular reference of “Omniscience of Him” referring to the God as Creator that designed the base of the cranium in such elaborate detail and perfection, which was then represented in such a lackluster and drab diagram of the same.    The section doesn’t so much describe or explain the workings of the brain cavity as it describes the authors extreme level of off at the ability of a god to create this device like structure area.