No.
II.]
II.—PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.
41
Query No. 9,—continued.
Pelly, S. M., Deputy Inspr. Genl., Bom. I.—Most beneficial in preventing the spread of
the disease.
Penny, J. C., Assistant Surgeon, Ben. I.—Fumigation by manganese and salt the most
certain disinfectant. In the city (Delhi) we burn fresh green wood, and regularly smoke out
the houses in which cholera may have occurred. " Leepoing" also is a good means of cleans-
ing vessels. Too often it happens that the clothing of those who die is claimed by the
" maithers" or "mohullas," and it is difficult to make them understand the danger of keeping
them. The municipality offers compensation in order to get them burned.
Query No. 10.—To isolate the affected—Special attendants—Cholera hospitals shouild be
moveable.
Ailkin, W., Surgeon Major, Mad. I.—The subjects of the disease should, as much as possi-
ble, be isolated, and have special attendants. Cholera hospitals should be frequently changed
if in tents, but fixed hospitals are in no way objectionable if properly constructed, and if due
attention be paid to sanitary considerations in their management, specially as regards ventila-
tion, cleanliness, and the free and constant use of disinfectants.
Cullen, P., Assistant Surgeon, Ben. I.—Of the communicability of cholera by personal
contact, I have been fully impressed since 1861, when I saw many cases of it in the 1st
Nagpore Irregulars, and I was myself affected in this way. It repeatedly happened that, when
a party of four or five men went to the funeral of a comrade, one or two were attacked with the
disease soon afterwards, and in several this happened before they returned to their lines. In
my own case, I withstood the disease until a case happened that was marked by some peculiar
symptoms, and being very much interested in it, I not only handled the patient but some of
the soiled clothes, and was almost immediately attacked.
Fasson, S. H., Surgeon Major, Mad. B.—The presence of cholera patients with other sick
is objectionable ; the sight of the disease, by its depressing effects upon the other patients, pre-
disposes them to become attacked.
Gibbons, J., Surgeon, Mad. B.—Would be almost always impracticable and useless unless
the fact is established that the disease is propagated and communicable by direct contact. At
Varna, during the height of the epidemic, where many hundreds of cases were congregated in
one building, under every circumstance most opposed to sanitary influence, a medical officer
and a fatigue party of men from each regiment were sent down daily for a twelve hours' spell
of duty in the cholera hospitals. These medical men and attendants, exposed, as it were, to
concentrated contagion, did not suffer themselves, nor did they disseminate the disease on return
to their respective regiments. The cases furnished by the regiments nearly all came from the
fatigue parties employed about the ravines and hill sides in cutting wood for facines and
gabions.
o
Hadaway, S. M., Inspr. Genl., Mad. B.—The affected and their special attendants should
be isolated. In an outbreak in barracks, a good plan is to remove all ordinary cases from the
hospital, and admit only cholera cases into it.
Kennedy, J., Deputy Inspr. Genl., Mad. I.—Isolation and moveable hospitals very
desirable.
Lidderdale, R., Assistant Surgeon, Ben. I.—This is a necessary measure, as it is unfair to
other sick men to subject them to the sight of comrades suffering from such a painful disease as
cholera, or unnecessarily to risk contagion. I have not observed the necessity of special
attendants beyond what is generally forthcoming from the lines in native regiments. Nothing-
could be better than to have cholera hospitals moveable for the purpose of avoiding old
poisoned localities.
Martin, W. T., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. B.—Isolation necessary. Tents convenient, as
ground can easily be shifted. In some seasons, buildings preferable.
Naismith. J., Deputy Inspr. Genl., Ben. I.—I have seen a soldier seized with cholera while
counting out before me the articles of clothing from the kit of a comrade who had just died.
Moore, W. J., Surgeon, Bom. I.—I would insist on effectual segregation of the sick.
When cholera appears, I believe that, instead of endeavouring to conceal the fact, the men
should be talked with, and encouraged to take remedies on. first feeling unwell. A convenient
and efficacious form is the pill recommended by Dr. Murray, containing one part of opium,
two of black pepper, and three of assafœtida.
Murray, T., Surgeon Major, Bom. I.—As far as possible ; and to have recourse to moveablo
cholera hospitals when cholera localizes itself, as at Meean Meer. The regimental hospital
requires to be vacated, and thoroughly purified.
Murphy, M. W., Deputy Inspr. Genl., Bom. B.—I may add that, after witnessing many
epidemics of cholera in India, I have never seen a case traceable to contagion, nor have any oí
the orderlies, or medical officers, or attendants, been attacked in the epidemics I have seen.