| Faction: Contagionist Ideological Reference: William Budd |
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You believe that Cholera is contagious, and you support the infection theories postulated by William Budd. He argued that Cholera infections are transmitted to humans by a fungus via effluvia. Also note the difference between one who believes in infection and one who believes in “true” contagion, such as James Copeland, who limited contagion to transmission by touch. GENERAL DIRECTIVE: You are a member of the special Sanitary Committee of the Board of Governors and Directors of the Poor of St. James Parish. On 14 August 1854, you and your colleagues on the General Board of Governors and Directors of the Poor voted to forgo standard meeting protocols and form this special emergency response committee to address any threat of Malignant Cholera throughout the parish. Collectively, you wield the power and financial backing to make whatever arrangements you deem necessary regarding administrative courses of action, medical responses, future meetings, etc. |
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REQUIRED READINGS
• Chapter 1 of The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson (2006).
• Chapters 2 and 10 of Disease Maps: Epidemics on the Ground by Tom Koch (2011).
• Anticontagionism between 1821 and 1867 by Erwin Ackerknecht (1948).
CHARACTER-SPECIFIC ONLINE RESOURCES
http://collections.nlm.nih.gov/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-34630810R-bk
http://books.google.com/books?id=rWXjOQ0NE-kC
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YOU ARE IN THE “Contagionist” FACTION.
You and your fellow Contagionist members of the Board believe that Cholera is transmitted by the direct passage of some chemical, physical or biological agent originating from a sick person and transmitted to a susceptible victim by contact or fomites or, for a relatively short distance, through the atmosphere. The Anti-contagionist members of the Board believe that the Cholera outbreak may be explained by a number of factors, including: classic Hippocratic epidemic constitution, atmospheric influences, elevation above sea level, miasma arising from exposure to decaying animal or vegetable matter, diet, lifestyle and socioeconomic status. No human-to-human transmission is invoked. The Indeterminate members of the Board do not have fixed opinions as to the origins of Cholera. As such, sound scientific arguments made by members of the other factions may sway the opinion of these Board members. PLEASE NOTE: Although you and your faction colleagues may agree as to the general Contagionist notions of disease, your specific beliefs may be quite different. Over the course of our debate, and even outside of class, you may (and should) consult with one another to identify those issues upon which you can agree as well as those upon which you disagree. For the purposes of final voting on any measures of remediation and prevention, some degree of consensus is required; it is particularly clear that you cannot advance the Contagionist agenda without soliciting the support of other, dissenting Board members. So, it will be important to develop arguments that will be convincing to Indeterminate Board members, whose votes will allow you to champion your own beliefs. Once you learn who are the Indeterminates, wisely use you time during the debate sessions and outside of class, via emails and in person as necessary, to compel them to join your cause.
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SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS: The format of the meeting is divided into two class sessions. For Session I, you will prepare a short (< 1 page) written statement that introduces your character and your ideologies on Cholera. You will deliver this statement as a speech of roughly 1-2 minutes, detailing your position and making specific suggestions that can be debated and brought to a vote in Session II. You should address three questions: What is the source of the outbreak? How is Cholera communicated from person to person? And, what steps should be taken to contain the outbreak?
MEETING AGENDA
CLASS SESSION I: OPENING STATEMENTS AND PROPOSED RESPONSES
The Special Committee convenes on the evening of Thursday, 7 September 1854. In the course of your research, you should familiarize yourself with what has occurred over the past week. When invited by Chairman Frederick Crane, you will stand and offer your personal statement based on Budd’s fungal and effluvial theory of Cholera and James Copland’s definition of infection. Also, listen intently and take notes as your colleagues make their presentations. Be sure to propose any specific remedial actions by the end of Session I so that these issues may be debated and brought to a final vote at the end of Session II.
INTERLUDE: JOHN SNOW GIVES HIS TESTIMONY AND RECOMMENDATION
Between the two class sessions, Dr. John Snow requested to be heard by the Board and has testified that the Cholera outbreak is being driven by contaminated water originating from the pump located on Broad Street. He has recommended that the Board remove the handle from the Broad Street pump immediately, so as to interrupt public access to what he considers as a tainted water supply. In preparation for Session II, use the online Cholera Data Manager to examine closely the data upon which Dr. Snow bases his arguments. Also consult Dr. Snow’s map and the accompanying Excel spreadsheets to conduct your own analyses of these data and raise further questions and/or support for your arguments. You should also examine William Farr’s data and figures and utilize them similarly.
Keep in mind that William Farr is a general miasmatist and believes that Snow’s science remains unsubstantiated.
CLASS SESSION II: DEBATE AND FINAL VOTING ON PROPOSED COURSES OF ACTION
Whenever necessary, you will strongly argue along the lines of Budd’s research, that a fungus is the causative agent of Cholera, and that Cholera is a contagious disease. You feel that there is adequate scientific data supporting the general idea that Cholera is a contagious disease, so you will not question the utility of removing the pump handle from the Broad Street pump. You will also argue against that perceived “inconvenience” that this will cause to Parish residents that frequent that pump for water.
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“Contagionist” FACTION STRATEGY Your faction, the Contagionists, may disagree as to the specific nature of contagion, but you will likely vote for Dr. Snow’s recommendation. Personally, you believe that Snow’s arguments will lead to the committee taking relevant, decisive action at minimal expense to the Parish, and you will do everything possible provide supporting arguments once debate continues in Session II. You might also argue that the current “Anti-contagionist” approach of widespread limewashing of buildings throughout London has done little to stem Cholera outbreaks. Of course, you anticipate opposition but are also confident in your understanding of John Snow’s and William Farr’s contributions to understanding Cholera and rather steadfast in your convictions. Be prepared to influence the Indeterminates with solid arguments based on scientific data, and do your best to argue for the idea of the biological (i.e. fungal) origin and waterborne transmission of Cholera. |
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SECRET OBJECTIVE Have the Board vote on the removal of pump handles from ALL pumps (i.e. not just Broad Street) on the streets that are most heavily hit by the Cholera outbreak, as defined by numbers of mortalities. |