5
MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 18TH SEPTEMBER 1878, No. 4838.
The chief outbreak of cholera during the year occurred at Thayetmyo, twenty
-one cases and thirteen deaths being recorded at that station, viz., ten admissions
—six fatal—in men ; two admissions, with one death, in women ; and nine admissions,
with six deaths, among children, all but one of these cases (that of a child) occur
-ring between 14th September, and 4th October.
The following notes are extracted from a Report by Surgeon-Major Cogan,
Army Medical Department, the Senior Medical Officer of the station :—
On the morning of 14th September, a Bombardier of the Royal Artillery was
admitted suffering from vomiting and purging. The disease being diagnosed as
cholera, he was removed to an adjacent building, and the room in hospital which
he had temporarily occupied was washed and fumigated. The man died at 4 A.M.
on the 16th September. With regard to this case, it is stated that when at Banga
-lore about 13th February 1877, the wife of the Pay Serjeant of the battery to which
this man belonged was attacked with cholera and died. The night previous to her
illness, she is stated to have visited the child of Serjeant Gallafant, of the same
battery, suffering from cholera. This child also died at Bangalore. The Pay Ser
-jeant above referred to is stated to have brought the greater part of his wife's clothes
to Thayetmyo, and to have disposed of them to the women of the battery. The clothes
referred to remained in possession of the Pay Serjeant up to 5th June, and the
mattress and blanket used by his wife when attacked at Bangalore are reported to
have been in use in his quarters at the time that the Bombardier referred to was
seized. The Medical Officer who treated the case at Bangalore states that all
required precautions were taken in regard to the disinfection of the clothing, &c.,
of the deceased woman. This Pay Serjeant had a lascar orderly, who is stated to
have had access to the clothing referred to. On 8th September, this lascar was
admitted with cholera, and died next day.
No cholera was reported in the town of Thayetmyo from 1st to 15th Septem
-ber, but cases had occurred there three weeks before. The lascar is said not to
have been there between 3rd and 8th September. The night previous to his being
attacked, the Bombardier who was seized conversed with him. On 14th September,
two women visited the Bombardier in hospital. One was named Mrs. Roberts.
About 12 P.M. the same night, a child living next door to her was seized with cholera
and died. Mrs. Roberts' son was also attacked immediately afterwards and died.
On evening of 15th, Mrs. Roberts visited Mrs. Jones, wife of the Farrier Serjeant.
The following morning (16th), Mrs. Jones' child was seized with vomiting and slight
purging, and brought to hospital about 5 P.M. It was placed in the female ward, in
which Mrs. Cooke and her four children were located for the day, and while there
vomited. It was subsequently removed into an adjacent unoccupied ward, and died
one hour after admission. While in the female ward, this child partook of milk
contained in a vessel belonging to Mrs. Cooke. A child of Mrs. Cooke subsequently
drank from the same vessel. At 10 P.M. the same night, one of Mrs. Cooke's chil
-dren was admitted with cholera, and died at 5 P.M. the next day. On the night
of the 16th, Mrs. Jones' family were removed into camp, and the following
evening (17th), one of her children was attacked with cholera and died in two days.
Mrs. Gallafant, who was admitted to the female ward on 20th September for her
confinement, and who had been in the ward at the time when Mrs. Jones' first child
was admitted, was seized with choleraic symptoms on the night of the 22nd
September and died the following day. Mrs. Jones' child is stated to have been
in her arms for a few minutes on its admission on 16th. On 24th September, two
of Mrs. Jones' children were admitted from the camp with cholera ; the attacks
were milder and both recovered. On 26th September, a woman of the Royal
Artillery was admitted from the camp in a state of collapse. She recovered.
On the night of 18th September, another Artilleryman, a man of intem-
perate habits, was admitted suffering from drink. On 19th, he was attacked with
cholera and died. He came from the same barrack-room as the case admitted on
14th September, and occupied the next bed but one. On the night of his admission,
he occupied a room adjoining that in which the other case had been temporarily