L'épidémie de l'an 2

On 26 Ventôse, the general council of the district sent two health officers to André sur Cailly: Jean Jacques Gamare, a former surgeon of the Hôtel-Dieu, hereafter First surgeon of the College of Surgeons of Rouen, and Pierre Gosseaume, chief physician of the Hospice Général de Rouen. Nothing less! They stayed at the hotel of the horse station held by Mrs. Gamare.

In this place, the epidemic had killed the 15-year-old daughter of the house, a postillon and a maid was sick with a lot of fever. Another postillon of this relay died at his father's house and several people in his family were sick.

These health officers visited the patients in Pibeuf where they met Mr. Cordier, the health officer of Cailly, who was trying to cure them. They discussed the nature of the disease and the treatment used.

In André sur Cailly these doctors informed the council of the commune of the reason for their presence. Guided by Mr Gamare, they visited the sick of the town and the surrounding hamlets. They visited a very severely struck young patient at the home of Father Ravette, who died two months later. They returned to the Vert Galant hotel at 8 p.m. after experiencing the difficult roads of the region.

The next morning, they learned that there was a new sick person at the inn as well as a carter. They then headed to Cailly where they had an appointment with citizen Cordier to resume their visiting the sick. They treated the sick in Carqueleu and then in Cailly, including one of the mayor's daughters.

Back in Rouen, these health officers wrote their report where they described the disease:

• ° Malignant fever

• ° Sore throat

• ° Fatigue

• ° Loss of appetite

• ° Headache

They also described what they recommended as care for the sick:

• ° Cleanliness (washing clothes before wearing them again)

• ° Air renewal by ventilation

• ° Air purification by fire and vinegar

• ° Taking conventional treatments at the time such as cinchona.

We do not know which disease these citizens suffered from. However,  there were 35 deaths at Cailly and André sur Cailly in 1794 instead of 14 in 1793.