44
REPLIES TO QUERIES ON THE TREATMENT OF EPIDEMIC CHOLERA. [Appendix
Query No. 11,—continued.
some cases occurred during the 36 hours subsequent to removal from Valetta ; but the plague
was stayed, and those fresh cases did not prove fresh sources of contamination. At Neemuch,
in 1860, when cholera was in the regimental hospital of the 95th Regiment, three cases
originated amongst the patients, following each other in succession, in a space of 16 hours. The
patients, 60 in number, and the establishment, were at once removed into tents on an elevated
ridge two miles to windward of the cantonments, and no further cases originated amongst the
hospital patients, although cases were received from the barracks, and treated in a row of tents
contiguous.
Guise, J. A., Deputy Inspector General. Ben. I.—The benefit resulting from this step is un-
questionable, and it is greatly to be regretted that so useful a measure should be rendered liable
to miscarriage, by not leaving more discretion to the local authorities, as to the circumstances and
manner in which it should be carried out.
Holloway, J., Surgeon Major, Ben. B.—I consider that troops occupying old cantonments
or fortresses, should move out sooner on the appearance of cholera among them than those
quartered on new sites, the air of the former being more or less impure, and the soil generally
infiltrated with animal and vegetable matters. The cantonments may possibly be less tainted
with the disease than the surrounding district, and by affording ample room in barracks, by
putting half of the occupants in tents, many of the disadvantages of a move to a cholera camp
in bad weather will be avoided. These are, bad cooking, wet bedding and clothing, and great
personal discomfort ; and even with the most liberal allowance of tents and carriage, men in
camp must be closely packed, or else the labor of pitching and striking camp will be excessive.
Yet massing men in any degree in such times is much to be avoided, as favouring the spread
of the disease, and the greatest purity and free play of air in tents seems necessary to afford
security. At native fairs and pilgrimages, where the people in masses occupy light tents or
newly-erected shelters, the disease often originates and spreads rapidly, in spite of the structural
advantages of such tenements, and, latterly, of good sanitation as well. We cannot but
reflect how often the troops left in an affected cantonment remain comparatively free from
the disease, while it pursues relentlessly those who have left it for camp.
Hastings, T., Deputy Inspector General, Ben. I.—I consider an early removal from the affect-
ed locality of great importance. I will mention one instance of the good to be derived from it,
which occurred under my observation. In 1865, in July, cholera broke out in the jail at Agra,
at night, first among the female prisoners. Next morning, these women and several hundred
men were moved into camp, and on the following morning more were sent out ; in all 900 still
remained whom we could not move for want of tents. Among those so moved but another
case occurred, while among those who remained in the jail, cases continued to occur almost
daily for nearly one month.
Hendley, J., Surgeon, Ben. B.—A most important measure ; and, in the case of soldiers,
frequent change of encamping ground seems advantageous.
Holmes, A. W., Assistant Surgeon, Ben. I.—Epidemic cholera appeared in Kohat on the
11th July 1867, but the first case in the regiment (1st Sikh Infantry) was on the 29th of
the month ; another man was seized on the 7th August, and two more on the 10th. The regi-
ment moved into camp on the 11th, and afterwards not a single case occurred in camp.
Machan, Α., Surgeon, Bom. Β —I am of opinion that epidemic cholera is preventible,
and that it can be excluded from any community by the adoption of proper sanitary measures,
such as the complete isolation of the affected and of those who have had communication with
them, the prevention of all intercommunication between the sick and healthy, and between
the latter and affected localities, and people coming from the localities and also by a pure
water supply, the greatest care being taken that none of this supply comes from impure or
cholera-poisoned sources. Boiling the water is an additional security. A pure atmosphere
and plenty of breathing space, especially at night, when people are less likely to enjoy these
means of security, is necessary.
Macpherson, H. M., Deputy Inspector General, Ben. I.—Early removal from an affected bar-
rack is most important, and should that not suffice, the troops ought to be sent into camp in a
direction other than that in which the epidemic is travelling. If a river could be placed
between them and the locality they have quitted, it would be a great additional advantage. The
camp should be changed frequently until the epidemic disappears.
McRae, D., Deputy Inspector General, Ben. I.—I entirely approve of the removal of troops
and prisoners into camp on the appearance of epidemic cholera. When the heat of the weather
vises to 120° in tents as it often does in the Punjab in June and July, I am of opinion that
troops should not be sent into camp, except as the very last resource. I do not think that
specific rules can be laid down, or that the measure necessary for one epidemic will be found
equally useful in another, or even at different periods of the same outbreak.
Moir, R., Surgeon, Ben. I.—On the 25th July 1867, measures were at once taken for
removing all the women, (except 10) without the walls, and for sending them to Secundra.
This was effected early on the following morning, and with this good result that only one
woman was attacked on the road, and she recovered. A few cases of choleraic diarrhoea, which
showed themselves after arrival, did not prove serious. The male prisoners already at Secuudra
were sent into tents at the further corner of the garden, to make room for the women, and