1 86 EFFECTS OF CHOLERA. 



recovered, I am of opinion that new villi would have 

 been formed, and to some extent have replaced those 

 which had been removed. As I have already 

 remarked, in a given area of intestine in cholera 

 cases there are fewer villi and fewer Lieberkuhn's 

 follicles than in health, and I believe that many 

 victims of this disease had been suffering from 

 degeneration of their villi for a long while before 

 the occurrence of the attack of cholera, which 

 proved fatal. The constant introduction of bad 

 food and water, and in many instances terrible defi- 

 ciency' of food of all kinds, will sufficiently account 

 for the marked changes which have been described. 

 I think the evidence advanced in favour of the view 

 that healthy persons die of cholera is defective and 

 inconclusive, and believe, if this scourge is ever to be 

 prevented, it will be by constant and unremitting atten- 

 tion to the food and general habits of life of the poor, 

 not merely while we are appalled by the actual pre- 

 sence of the scourge, but at all times. There seems 

 reason for thinking that it is possible by good manage- 

 ment to prevent people from being attacked by cholera. 

 Have we not reason to conclude that much may be 

 done to prevent people from becoming subjects for the 

 cholera poison ? We know, alas ! that we can do little, 

 sadly little, to cure those attacked though, perhaps, 

 very much to improve the health of those liable to 

 attack. We might thus mitigate to some extent the 

 severity of the disease, and improve the patients' 

 chances of recovery. I should waver in these views 



