Ryazantsev S.V., Smirnov A.V, Ryazantsev N.S. Demographic, Social, and Economic Aftermath of the Cholera Epidemic in Astrakhan in 1892. Bylye Gody. 2023. 18(4): 1982-1997. DOI: 10.13187 ...

Òåêñò ñòàòüè íà ñàéòå æóðíàëà URL: https://bg.cherkasgu.press/journals_n/1702064970.pdf (äàòà îáðàùåíèÿ 26.12.2023)

Abstract

Astrakhan, due to its location, was always considered to be a gateway of cholera to the Russian Empire. The aim of the following study is to assess demographic, social, and economic aftermath of the cholera epidemic, occured in Astrakhan in 1892, maintaining historical and demographic methods of press analysis as a source, with an assessment of the demographic aftermath provided by the eyewitnesses of that accident. The sources for the study were materials from pre-revolutionary sources. Contact analysis of the press to reveal the demographic estimations of eyewitnesses of the incident, i.e. experts of that time (medical workers, town governors, civil servants, military officers) in relation to the peculiarities of the epidemic development, as well as their subjective estimation of the demographic, social, and economic aftermath of the cholera epidemic were used. The 5th cholera epidemic in Russia lasted within 1892–1894. The 1st wave was the deadliest. In 1892, mainly from May to November, more than 620 thsd people were infected and 300 thsd of them died. In 1893, there were infected 103 thsd people and 43 thsd people died. In 1894, the epidemic occured on a smaller scale. By 1892, cholera caused 13 epidemics in Astrakhan. In 1892, cholera, causing an outbreak of morbidity in the Transcaspian region, ended up in Baku. The deterioration of the epidemiological situation in Astrakhan was facilitated by the mass departure of Baku residents on overcrowded ships, despite the denial by the authorities of the city of Baku of the presence of cholera. After the introduction of quarantine measures in Astrakhan, rumors arose among the population that in cholera hospitals, living people are put in coffins, sprinkled with lime, and buried. During the riots, medical personnel were killed, a cholera hospital was burned, and the infected were sent home. After the riots, there was a sharp increase in morbidity. From the 14th of June to the 20th of September, 1892, in Astrakhan, more than 3 per cent of the city's population died from cholera, and for 10 thsd residents there were 480 cases and 316 deaths. This was the demographic maximum for the cholera epidemic of 1892. The assessment of excess mortality showed an increase in mortality by 278 per cent in June and by 555 per cent in July compared to these months in 1888– 1894. Of all those admitted to the hospital in Astrakhan, about 73 per cent were laborers who were living in hostels (shelters); about 5 per cent were workers on ships, steamships, and barges; 12 per cent are artisans. The social composition by estates was the following: 1983 peasants, 316 soldiers, 262 burghers, 12 Cossacks (kazaks), 8 nobles, and 5 church servants. Natives of Astrakhan and the province accounted for about 11 per cent of cases, 89 per cent were seasonal migrants. Due to supermortality, many children were orphaned. The budget expenditures of Astrakhan to combat the epidemic amounted to 142 thsd rubles, including 33 thsd rubles went to the maintenance of troops who arrived to suppress the cholera riot. The cholera epidemic had a positive sanitary condition of cities, formed new habits of the population in terms of personal hygiene.

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