No.
II.]
II.—PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.
49
Query No. 12,—continued.
age, was attacked and died on the following morning. On the 20th, a soldier, recovering from
dysentery, was attacked and died on the 21st ; and on the 25th, a strong healthy sailor was
seized and died next day.
If we admit that the cholera poison is of a specific nature, we must admit, reasoning from
the above instance, that it was brought in the ship from Calcutta. It could neither have been
generated in the ship, nor wafted in the air from a mephitic shore. How and why it exerted
its influence at this particular time, and not before or after it, it is unnecessary here to enquire.
The Creole population, and many of the English residents of the Mauritius, are strongly
impressed with the opinion, that in all the severe attacks of cholera which have visited that
island, the disease was brought from India in coolie ships. I visited the colony in 1854, shortly
after a most fatal outbreak had just passed over, and heard several circumstantial statements of
how the disease had been brought down by the "dirty Malabars."
Some four years ago, I met with a small book, descriptive of Mauritius and the manners
and customs of the inhabitants, entitled "Creoles and Coolies'' by the Revd. Patrick Beaton, a
Presbyterian minister who had resided several years in the island, and during the time of two
outbreaks of cholera. The author enters into the question of the infectious nature of the
disease, and records the results of his own observation, as well as that of several of the resident
members of the medical profession.
The conclusion arrived at by a non-medical observer, having no theory to support, may be
received as at least unbiassed, and I will here transcribe one of the extracts I made from his
book at the time :—" In November cholera broke out at Flag. The circumstances connected with
"its appearance in that district are curious and seem to prove beyond a doubt what few in
"Mauritius would now deny, that cholera is infections, and that places infected may retain the
"seeds of infection for a considerable period after the disease has disappeared from a locality.
"In Flag, there was a shop where two persons had died during the time of the first epidemic,
"and since that time the shop had remained shut. On the 13th November, a woman of the
"name of Alfred, the sister-in-law of the proprietor of the shop, took it into her head to look
"whether a shawl which she had left in the shop was still there. She caused a shutter to be
"opened, and on putting only her head inside, she was repelled by the offensive odour exhaled from
"the room, and immediately withdrew ; the same night she was taken ill and next day she
"died. Her adopted child, two years of age, was attacked the same day, and died after an
"illness of 24 hours. From her house, the epidemic spread in a gradually increasing circle,
"and no less than 78 cases of cholera presented themselves after it had ceased for more than
"three months in every other part of the island, with the exception of the solitary case of
"this family and those around."
Verchere, A. M., Assistant Surgeon, Ben. I.—There were 21 fighting-men, 4 camp followers,
and one native doctor on duty at the cholera camp, Jullunder, 1867; 4 men were admitted,
and two died. All of these men were perfectly well before they left the lines ; and not a case of
cholera, or even of diarrhœa, occurred in the lines, while these four cases occurred among the
26 men who came in contact with the pilgrims.
Query No. 14.—House to house visitation, and distribution of medicine. Early treatment.
Brown, J. C., Deputy Inspector General, Ben. I.—Prompt treatment in the barracks is of the
first importance. The old cholera pill and brandy and laudanum is very useful. I believe
internal treatment beneficial only in the early stages.
Carter, H. V., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. I—The baids consider early treatment essential, and
opiates are almost entirely ignored. The "Marwarrees" of Sattara trust entirely to "ghee,"
and it is said that even four or five seers are occasionally given.
Clark, S., Surgeon, Ben. I.—The most that can be said on this point is, that the first stage
of the disease is, to a certain extent, if not quite, as amenable to treatment as any of the other
epidemic diseases of a virulent character, but unfortunately medical aid is very rarely called in
at this stage.
Ringer, T., Surgeon, Ken. I.—In our present state of ignorance, both as to the nature of
the choleraic poison, and of any specific remedy for the disease, prophyloctic and precautionary
treatment during an outbreak of the disease should be vigorously carried out. The advantages
of both have been so clearly and ably laid down by Dr. J. Murray, Inspector General of
Hospitals, in his report on the pathology and treatment of cholera, that I can only add that
I thoroughly concur in all he has written, and I anticipate that much good may be effected if
his excellent suggestions are carried out.
Simpson, D., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. I.—The disease to be successfully combatted must be
attacked at its earliest manifestations, or even before it has assumed its characteristic form.
In great or in complete collapse, it is likely to remain unaffected by remedies, because the
circulation and the functions of the absorbents are then in abeyance. But then it is possible to
fortify the system in the first stage, so that the attack shall be withstood altogether, modified
in type, or moderated in virulence.