442 CONTAGIOUS OR NOT? 



patience and assiduity : a trait in the character of the 

 people, which redounds highly to their honour." 



Scenes of a revolting nature were, however, by no means 

 uncommon at this period, more especially among the Sjuk- 

 barare. But as no inducement, either pecuniary or other, 

 could prevail on decent people to undertake the degrading 

 and perilous office, it was as a consequence filled by the 

 very dregs of society. 



These fellows, who were almost always inebriated, were not 

 only frequently to be seen staggering from side to side under 

 their pitiable burthens, and stopping at public-houses to 

 get ardent spirits; but when resting on the way, they would 

 seat themselves on the litter by the side of the poor patients, 

 and troll forth songs of their own composition, the substance 

 of which was the cholera and its unhappy victims ! 



The conduct of the drivers of the dead-carts, and of the 

 gravediggers, was almost equally disgusting. The former 

 were seen nearly insensible from drink, lying at their length 

 on the very coffins, and leaving the horses to find their way 

 to the burial-ground how they could ; and the gravediggers, 

 from the like cause, staggering to that degree as to be 

 hardly capable of holding the spade. 



As well whilst the cholera was raging in Gothenburg, as 

 since, it was a greatly mooted question whether the disease 

 be infectious or not. 



"Where so much is to be said on both sides," such 

 were the words of a correspondent, " it is difficult 

 to form a decided opinion. There are certainly instances, 

 such as that mentioned by you at Ronnum, where one 

 has reason to believe a Cordon has kept out the conta- 

 gion, but I dare say there are more of its having over- 



