Article ID: CBB631964896

Cholera, British seamen and maritime anxieties in Calcutta, c.1830s–1890s (2021)

unapi

From the mid-nineteenth century, seamen were increasingly identified as vectors of epidemic diseases such as cholera. The rising acceptance of the germ theories of disease and contagion and the transition from sail to steam at this time increased the fear of the rapid spread of contagious diseases through these mobile people. This article examines how the British naval authorities, ship surgeons and the medical and municipal authorities in the Calcutta sailortown sought to improve maritime health and hygiene to prevent the spread of cholera among and by British seamen. Nineteenth century Calcutta is an ideal context for this study on account of its epidemiological notoriety as a disease entrepot and the sea route between Calcutta and British ports was one of the most closely monitored for disease in the Empire. The article argues that a study of cholera among British seamen can generate important insights into the relationship among disease, medicine and colonialism and in doing so shed light into a neglected aspect of the history of nineteenth century cholera, the British anxiety regarding disease dispersion, practice of hygiene and sanitation and British seamen’s health.

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https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB631964896/

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Authors & Contributors
Jorland, Gérard
Ismail, Shehab
Fabio Terence Palmi Zoia
Marissa Moorman
Bhattacharyya, Debjani
Teicher, Amir
Concepts
Sanitation
Public health
Hygiene
Germ theory of disease
Great Britain, colonies
Colonialism
Time Periods
19th century
20th century, early
20th century
18th century
17th century
Places
Great Britain
Calcutta (India)
Hong Kong
United States
France
India
Institutions
Botanic Garden (Calcutta, India)
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