During the 1854 cholera epidemic in Turin, a rumor had spread among the populace that the disease was caused specifically by a whitewater source due to deadly substances that were said to be found in the water wells. Because of these and other rumors, many did not want to drink any water anymore.
Don Bosco was called to the bedside of a dying man, and after administering the sacraments to the patient, he saw that the man was burning with a great thirst, yet he did not want to drink.
Don Bosco prepared a pitcher of water for him and told him to drink it without fear when thirsty. Don Bosco left a boy to serve him through the night and to visit others who were ill. After a while, seeing the sick man getting worse, that young man offered him the water to drink.
The sick man, oblivious to Don Bosco’s assurances, refused and glared at the boy.
“Take it and drink,” urged the young man, handing him the pitcher.
“What are you saying to me? Leave, leave this room immediately!” said the sick man.
“Drink, and you will feel relief,” replied the boy.
“Why don’t you leave?” cried the sick man. Then, in a frenzy, he jumped from his bed and staggered to get a rifle next to the door; the young man rapidly left by the stairs.
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Attribution for photo used:
"1924:Carabinieri in piazza San Marco (Venezia)"
by Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-00249
cc-BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/....
Shadow increased,vignette added, scaled.