Tanulmányok Budapest múltjából 33. 2006- 2007 (2007)

Tanulmányok - Gönczi Ambrus: Az 1892-1893. évi kolerajárvány Budapesten

Gönczi, Ambrus THE 1892-93 CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IN BUDAPEST In 1892 a significant cholera epidemic broke out in Europe, which reached Hungary in June. The first cases of cholera were diagnosed in Budapest in September the same year. During the epidemic almost 1000 citizens were infected in Budapest with a serious death rate: more than 500 people died by the end of the epidemic. The essay tries to give an account of the epidemic in the Hungarian capital, of all the measures that were made by the national government and the municipality of Budapest, finally focuses on the reaction of the population to the disease and the above mentioned measures. Most of the people infected with the disease were representatives of the so called lower classes: peddlers, brick-layers, maids, and many other types of workers. After the epidemic the authorities tried to prove that there was a direct connection between the water-supply system and the cholera germ but eventually no evidence was found which could support the theory. After examining all the statistics linked with the victims the only obvious connection between them and the epidemic is the hygienic circumstances. Some of the regulations declared by the authorities (e.g. the closing of pubs, restaurants and cabarets, the banning of selling of goods in the streets) were neglected or disregarded by many citizens and the work of disinfection caused disturbances in several occasions among the poor. On the other hand the wealthy and rich did not leave the consequences of the tragedy unattended, many of them donated considerable sums to the orphans or other relatives of the victims of cholera. By the end of 1892 more than 15 thousand Florins were gathered to help the needy. The readers of the newspapers could follow day by day how the work of donation continued and who gave money and even how much, to help the cause. Naturally, almost all members of public life took part in the gathering of financial means. The epidemic returned the next year but did not cause as many casualties as in 1892. The authorities were better prepared and more effective and even the citizens of Budapest took the threat more seriously than before.