1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 88 The New President's Ambition

Cholera was the world disease of the nineteenth century.

Due to the short incubation period of cholera, it only takes three to five days to kill the host. For thousands of years, cholera has only been raging in the magical place of the Ganges in India.

But everything changed when the British colonized India.

Indian Christians took a British ship to make a pilgrimage to the Arabian region, and cholera followed their beliefs to the Arabian region.

After the Arab region, Africa and the Mediterranean region soon fell, followed by Afghanistan and Russia, and soon spread to the entire European continent.

In 1832, this terrible disease arrived in North America along with the fast merchant ships across the Atlantic from Europe, and the United States also fell.

The entire United States, especially the large cities in the eastern United States, has been under the cloud of cholera epidemic since 1832.

When cholera was severe, even a bustling big city like New York was lifeless, and hundreds of people died almost every day.

Doctors are still helpless with this disease, not even the president himself.

President Fillmore, who had just taken office, was determined to eradicate the cholera that plagued America.

This is an epidemic that even Britain is helpless, and it brings people no less fear than the Black Death in the Middle Ages.

If he can defeat cholera, Fillmore can not only enhance his prestige among the people, but also lay a solid foundation for his re-election three years later. (Fillmore succeeded the president as the vice president, not the president who ran for the top position)

It can also make the United States proud in front of the European powers and improve the international prestige of the United States.It is a beautiful thing that kills two birds with one stone.

Therefore, after Fillmore confirmed that California's experience in cholera prevention and control was indeed effective, he issued a document on California's experience in cholera prevention and control to all states and attached a manual.

He hoped that states would try to fight cholera the same way California fought cholera.

New York is the largest city in the United States. In 1850, New York City had an urban population of nearly 70.

In 1850, the total population of the United States was only 23192000.

New York is the pride of Americans in this period, just as people of later generations like to compare Shanghai with international metropolises such as New York and Tokyo.

Whenever Americans in this era talk about New York, they also like to compare New York with international metropolises such as London and Paris.

Although there is still a big gap between New York and London and Paris at this time.

The population of the urban area of ​​London has exceeded two million, and it is also the financial center of the world.Paris, which is slightly inferior to London, has a population of more than one million, making it the second largest city in Europe after London.

The urban planning of this era is still relatively bad in general, especially in cities like New York, which were established earlier.

The city's drainage system is not smooth, and apart from the main streets, there are only a handful of streets that have completed road hardening.

Municipal services are not perfect, the sanitation situation in the city is worrying, and people's hygiene awareness is not very good.

Especially in slums where sewage and excrement flow across, mosquitoes and flies are flying all over the sky, and the smell is exuding.

This is simply a hotbed of epidemics.

Except for the fact that during elections, some politicians will reluctantly come here to pull votes, hold their noses in disgust, and promise beautiful but always unfulfilled promises to the poor in rags, almost no celebrities will care about it. This forgotten corner.

Speaking of celebrities, at this time the New York Medical Association, well-known local doctors are gathering together to discuss the documents and manuals sent by Washington.

The building floors in New York are getting higher and higher, so that the lighting of low-rise buildings is getting worse and worse.

Even during the day, the New York Medical Association building had to be lit with expensive whale oil lamps.

"The government is rushing to the doctor. The politicians in Washington, including the new president, don't understand cholera at all. I don't believe that cholera can be cured with the level of wild doctors in California. Many of them even practice medicine. No qualifications."

By the light of the whale oil lamp, Slattery, the president of the New York Medical Association, hastily read the so-called summary of California's epidemic prevention experience and the cholera prevention and control manual that he thought was absurd.

Slattery buckled the solid oak desk to attract the doctors' attention.

He emphasized: "All the doctors here are the most skilled doctors in New York. I don't think anyone understands cholera better than us."

"These ignorant wild doctors, thinking that they have cured a few cholera patients by chance, exaggerate and claim to have controlled cholera in the whole of California.

They even dare to openly question miasma theory, a recognized authority in the medical field. Could it be that those professional doctors in New York and even London are less knowledgeable than them? "

Dr. Gerald, who immigrated to New York under President Monroe, also scoffed at this.

Before immigrating to New York, his father and grandfather were already well-known doctors in London and treated many aristocrats and celebrities.

"The words of those doctors in California blinded by gold cannot be trusted! Those people have only gold in their eyes."

Slightly said.

He did not want to believe that the medical skills of New York doctors would be inferior to those wild doctors in California.

"The reality is that we doctors who know cholera best are still helpless against cholera."

Robert, vice president of the New York Medical Association, begs to differ, refuting Straley's point.

"I know this Dr. Robinson. He and I are classmates and good friends. His wife and daughter died of cholera. He went to California to seek gold in order to escape reality, get out of this shadow, and find a new life.

His medical skills are better than mine, and I know what he is like. He won't joke about this matter of life and death.

Gentlemen, I received a letter from Dr. Robinson two weeks ago, and by his methods fifty-six cholera patients were cured, and only one old gentleman, who was immunocompromised, unfortunately died.

Facts speak louder than words, I think we should let go of our arrogance and prejudice and adopt all reasonable opinions.

Whether it is a doctor in New York or a doctor in California, everyone is a doctor, and there is no distinction between high and low. "

After listening to the speech of the vice president Robert, the doctors talked a lot. Before that, they also heard the heroic deeds of Dr. Robert who cured fifty-six cholera patients within two weeks.

It's just that they didn't expect that Robert used a method from California to cure cholera.

"Even if it's true, what are you going to do? Mr. Robert, New York is an international metropolis. The population of New York City alone is [-]. The population of California may be less than one tenth of New York's!

If they follow their method to isolate and treat cholera patients, the power of the government will be used, and a lot of money will be spent, which will also have an impact on New York's economy.

If it is cured well, it is a blessing. If it is not cured, who will bear the responsibility?Are we doctors? Slightly still disagreed with the treatment options.

"That's right, Dr. Robert, many of those cholera patients are poor people from the slums, they can't afford the high consultation fee, and we have to subsidize the medical expenses if they are cured." Gerald firmly stood by the president Slater This side.

"I'm going to visit Governor Hamilton Fish, and since the government sent us these documents, I think the government is determined to defeat cholera.

Of course, before visiting Governor Fish, I will visit Mr. Mayor first, seek Mr. Mayor's support first.

At least let Mr. Mayor order to shut down the water pumps in the slums. I have seen the water there. It emits an indescribable stench. It must be a polluted water source and is no longer suitable for drinking. said Robert.

"Robert, are you crazy? Turn off the water in the slums, and those beggars will fight you hard! I declare in advance that this is your personal suggestion and has nothing to do with me or the New York Medical Association!" Slightly said.

"California's medical conditions are far inferior to ours in New York. There is no reason why New York can't do what California can do." Robert said to Slightly in a mocking tone.

"Mr. Slightly, you look down on wild doctors in California, but you are not as good as them now. At least they dare to act instead of sitting in the office drinking coffee and boasting."

"Robert! What do you mean?! Please remember, I am the president of the New York Medical Association, and I am also a member of the House of Representatives, please be respectful!" road.

"That would be even more shameful, Mr. Slightly, you are not only not a competent doctor, but also an ineffective MP, Mr. MP."

If they don't agree with each other, Robert is too lazy to waste words with insects like Slightly.

He turned around and left smartly. After a brief consideration, some doctors with conscience quickly made a decision and left the medical association with Robert.

(End of this chapter)