FEAR, A PREDISPOSING CAUSE. 443 



leaped all barriers. The probability is, that some persons 

 are susceptible of the disease, and others not so ; and that 

 the former may escape if they keep within a well-guarded 

 Cordon, whilst the latter are safe even in the midst of the 

 pestilence. But how account for a particular spot being 

 entirely exempt ? And that was the case with the district 

 situated between Majorna and Gamla Warfvet (the Gothen- 

 burg Wapping), both of which suffered dreadfully, more 

 especially as the district in question was inhabited principally 

 by the lower classes, and those of the most depraved habits, 

 and yet not one was carried off." 



Though people might differ in opinion as to the infectious 

 nature of cholera, every one seemed agreed that fear, anger, 

 excitement of any kind, sudden surprise, &c., predisposed to 

 the disease. 



" A much respected gentleman, and a member of the 

 Sanitary Committee," Major Barck stated to me, " called one 

 day on an acquaintance, where he was very abruptly told, that 

 one of his most intimate friends and comrades an officer 

 belonging to the garrison, who was previously in perfect 

 health had a few hours before died of the cholera. The 

 intelligence had such an effect upon the poor man, that he 

 was instantly seized with shivering his face became fearfully 

 discoloured, and on the succeeding day he followed his friend 

 to the grave." And the Major added, that " similar instances 

 were frequent in families of respectability." 



All had likewise the full impression that in the same 

 ratio that fear, &c., predisposed to the cholera, so did 

 coolness and self-possession act as a preservative against 

 infection. 



Few, for instance, of the paid attendants volunteers, so to 



