No. II.]
I.—SANITARY MEASURES.
37
Query No. 7,—continued.
McRae, D., Deputy Inspector General, Ben. I.—I am clearly of opinion that cholera is not
communicable in any of its stages, neither is it reproduced by evacuations. I look upon cholera
as a disease of the nervous system, produced by a malaria arising in and from an unknown
state of the atmosphere.
Ross, J. T. C., Surgeon Major, Ben. I.—In my opinion, unhealthy latrines will produce
diarrhœa. In a cholera season such discharges, bearing the germ of the disease, will affect
persons brought in contact with them, and predispose them to be affected. The history of all
epidemics proves how the cholera discharges themselves affect those brought in contact with
them, unless the most stringent sanitary measures be adopted.
Stewart, L. W., Surgeon Major, Mad. I.—Latrines, unless kept quite clean or unless dry-
earth be used, render the air more vitiated, and consequently form nuclei for the generation of
cholera, or at least intensify the poison of the surrounding air.
Query No. 8.—The influence of trees in checking the dissemination of Cholera.
Banister, G., Surgeon Major, Ben. I.—It seems reasonable to believe that trees act on the
cholera germ as they do on marsh poisons, not only by entangling the matter, but also perhaps
by some oxidizing power connected with the generation of ozone. I think it was in the rainy
season of 1852 that the late "Kumaon Battalion" suffered at Deyrah from severe epidemic
cholera. Rain was so heavy and incessant, that it was impossible to move the regiment far
away, and so I recommended that they should be encamped on the parade ground, certainly
not more than 150 yards from their lines; seizures took place during the three following days,
but after that not a single case occurred. There is an umbrageous belt of magnificent trees
(Ficus Indica and Religiosa,) separating the lines from the parade ground.
Bateson, R. S., Surgeon, Sen. I.—No experience. But I am disinclined to believe in such
an influence; trees help to spread people, as they occupy ground and space. Village popula-
tion go to tree shelter when they leave their homes when cholera-stricken.
Beatson, J. F., Offg. Deputy Inspector General, Ben. I.—Of this fact, I apprehend, there is
a general belief, and very strong evidence of their value was not long ago adduced by the
Deputy Commissioner of Chutteesgurh, in the Central Provinces. In the very widely diffused
epidemic of cholera at Allahabad in 1859, those portions of the force whose barracks had the
benefit of trees hard by, had undoubted exemption, and just in proportion to the closeness and
nearness of the screen. Thus the European Cavalry in the Wellington Barracks, situated
between four rows of stately mangoe trees, yet still in some measure open, suffered far less
than the 4th Europeans, whose quarters were on a hill upon which the winds spent their full
force ; while the Bengal Horse Artillery, located in a tope of mangoe trees, had not a single
case of the disease ; nor could this exemption be viewed as accidental, since in the following
year the comparative immunity was precisely the same.
Carter, H. V., Assistant Surgeon, Bom. I.—Strong opinions have been expressed, that trees
check the spread of cholera; and the physiology of vegetation is not unfavourable to this view.
Chalmers, C. B., Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, Ben. I.—The influence of trees in
purifying the air is undoubted, and hence it assists in checking the spread of cholera.
Daly, G, IL, Surgeon, Ben. I.—I am not aware of any instance in which trees have had
any influence in checking the dissemination of cholera, but as a general sanitary measure, the
planting of trees is highly to be recommended.
Duckworth, F., Assistant Surgeon, Mad. I.—Experience points to the fact that trees and
forests oppose a barrier to the dissemination of cholera, to a greater or less extent. This they
may do mechanically, and also because their natural processes of absorption, nutrition and
secretion are perpetually going on and effecting salutary changes in the air.
Farquhar, T., Surgeon Major, Ben. I.—From the records of the Central Provinces, their
good effect seems unquestionable.
Gane, H. J., Surgeon, Bom. I.—A belt of trees has been known to stay disease.
Griffith, H., Assistant Surgeon, Mad. I.—The presence of trees acts beneficially, and I
think some classes of trees act more beneficially than others. A village of the name of
Bhudoogaum in this district, has (it is said) never been visited by cholera. It is surrounded
by "neem trees." Some months ago, I asked Captain Doveton, Conservator of Forests, to
give me a description of the place. It is as follows :—In 1865, when cholera was raging in the
Hoshungabad district, I visited the town of Bhudoogaum, when, to my surprise, I found there
had not been a single case, notwithstanding that numbers of people were dying from it in
the surrounding villages. From all I could ascertain from the inhabitants, this town had
never been visited by cholera. The village of Bhudoogaum is situated on a high bank on
the Sungul River, and on the east and west sides there are belts of jungle running north and
south ; but the general level of these is below that of the village, and in this respect, all the
surrounding villages are equally well situated. One remarkable feature connected with the
vegetation exists, viz., the immense number of neem trees that surround the place, and to