304
EPIDEMIC CHOLERA OF INDIA OF 1875 AND 1876.
[Section IV.
that could be spared from Peshawar was marched to Nowshera on 4th August; and with the
large detachments at Cherat, the British garrison was reduced to a minimum. Cherat and
Nowshera were again remarkable for their immunity from the epidemic, and no cases occurred
in either place, notwithstanding the fact that cholera was actually brought into the latter
cantonment."
The aspect of cholera in the Peshawar valley in 1876 differed in no respect from that of
former years. On 10th August, when the districts lying to the
east began to tell that cholera was approaching or had moved
upon the tract then occupied, the shadow appeared in the
Peshawar cantonment, where a single fatal case was noticed; just as in 1869, when a single
case, on 14th August, foretold that cholera might be expected.
There is no certainty as to the date at which the Peshawar valley may be entered in the
monsoon season : in 1862, it was in the first week of July; in 1869, it was in the first week of
September; in 1876, it was on 27th September; and in 1858 and 1872, it was in the first
week of October. No credence is therefore to be attached to any statement which professes
to predict the date at which Peshawar shall be attacked.
As on all other occasions, in 1876 the outburst was simultaneous in the cantonment. In
the city a single death was reported on 13th September; and from 16th to 20th September,
17 cases and 8 deaths showed that cholera was existing. In my report of 1869 I have tried
to trace the period for which a cholera thus showing its existence, incubates in the valley,
before causing a general and simultaneous outbreak. Reckoning the 16th to 20th as the date
of appearance, the parallel seems to hold very exactly. A period of eleven or twelve days
appears to be normal, and the possibility of employing this previous opportunity in moving out
of the valley indicates that this nterval should be recorded in every epidemic, if it should
be found. The case is stated thus in my report for 1869 :
"The first case of cholera recognised in Peshawar city was on 1st September, and on the
13th 92 persons died.
"On the 11th September the area of the Peshawar valley occupied by the cantonment was
visibly affected, and suddenly on the 18th every corps in cantonment and in camp was struck
by cholera. The General Commanding reports : 'It burst as a storm over the station.'
I have shown how in Scinde, far to the south, the cholera of the same invasion culminated on
the very same day. This is, I think, an instance of what I have described under the figure
of the sprouting of the cholera seed, and a parallel to what occurred in the Peshawar valley
in the first week of June 1867, following the invasion of 19th May. The cholera of the
invasion of the 19th May 1867 descended in force on the city and cantonment and was repro
- d u c e d i n p o w e r i n t h e f i r s t w e e k o f J u n e ; i n 1 8 6 9 c h o l e r a d e s c e n d e d u p o n t h e v a l l e y i n t h e
first week of September, and, after the same interval as in 1867, there came the sudden and
universal onset of the 18th."
Following on this shadowed cholera of the 16th September 1876, eleven days later the
cantonment was attacked, thus :—evening of 27th, Sappers and Miners; early in the morning
of 29th, artillery, and 8th and 51st British regiments, simultaneously; 4-13th Battery and
30th Native Infantry, 30th September; October 1st, 8th Bengal Cavalry, 7th Native Infantry
and 20th Native Infantry.
The meteorological phenomena were identically the same as observed before previous out
- b r e a k s . W e s e e m t o b e r e a d i n g o v e r w h a t w a s p r e v i o u s l y w r i t t e n , i n p l a c e o f r e c o r d i n g a n e w
experience :
"There was a peculiar heaviness in the atmosphere at this time, 27th September, dis
- t i n c t l y n o t i c e d b y a l l d u r i n g t h e d a y ; t h e n i g h t s w e r e b r i g h t a n d c l e a r , b u t d u r i n g t h e d a y
there was a powerful sun and the hills were very indistinct with a thick mist hanging over
them, which only disappeared as the sun went down. Previously to the first outbreak heavy
clouds had hung about the station, and it is a noticeable fact that every fresh outbreak during
the time the outbreak lasted was preceded by the appearance of heavy clouds. On the 1st Octo
- b e r i t b e g a n t o c l o u d o v e r a b o u t 9 A . M . , a n d a t 4 - 1 0 P . M . a v e r y s e v e r e d u s t s t o r m f r o m t h e w e s t ,
followed by about two hours' heavy rain, broke over the station; the next day was a bright
clear day, and reports were more favorable during the next few days. The night of the 6th
was a very close night, and early on the morning of the 7th clouds made their appearance.
At 3 P.M. the weather was very close with heavy clouds over the cantonments, and simulta
- n e o u s l y w i t h t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e c l o u d s t h e e p i d e m i c s e e m e d t o i n c r e a s e s l i g h t l y a l l o v e r t h e
station and city; in 36 hours (that is, a few hours previous to the appearance of the clouds and
up to about 12 hours after their disappearance) there were 7 fresh cases among the Europeans,
although previously there had not been a single case for two days among them."
On the same day, the 16th September, the cholera appeared at Dera Ismail Khan.
The sequence of cases from 16th to 26th September is noted in Dr. Bellew's report, page 53;
and from beyond the border, the appearance of cholera among the Waziris was reported in the
first week of October.
In the Peshawar cantonment we anticipated the death of cholera in the first week of
November. The last case occurred on 9th November; and throughout the district in the
month 67 deaths only were registeved last on 23rd November.
The aspect of cholera in the Peshawar cantonment, in 1876, is a natural aspect; and
it is the same which I have defined as typical, in studying the
natural history of the outbreak in the second section of my
original Report.
Invasion of the Peshawar valley
in 1876. Aspect of the invasion.
Aspect of the outbreak in Pesha-
- w a r a n d K o h a t i n 1 8 6 9 , 1 8 7 2 , a n d
1876 compared.