3
are compelled to drink water from the nearest dirty tankor stagnant nullah. It is well
that all should bear in mind that the personal safety of each individual is dependent
un the safety of the whole community; that a Chumar, a Dher, or a Gond attacked
with Cholera brings the infection home to the doors of all. The influential classes
of a community will, therefore, best ensure their own safety and that of their
families by using their utmost influence to preserve untainted the air that is
common, to all, and that all alike have access to the purest water attainable.
12: "When Cholera is prevalent, it is a safe precaution not to drink any
water that has not been previously boiled. Fresh water ought to be boiled every
morning, and what remains of it should, be thrown away at night. The water
ought not to stand where dirt of any kind can get into it, and great care should,
be taken to see that vessels in winch water is drawn from wells, or in which the
water for daily use is kept, are thoroughly clean.
13. When Cholera, threatens to appear, or when it has broken out in a dis-
trict, people should avoid attending fairs, marriages, or large assemblies of any
kind. During the late epidemic the spread of Cholera was very greatly promoted
by marriage processions ; it frequently happened that Cholera broke out in a
" Barath," causing great mortality among the "Burrathees" and becoming diffused
over a wide circle, of villages that had been previously uninfected. A person joining
a ''Barath" or fair when Cholera prevails, runs the greatest risk of catching the
disease; and, by bringing home the infection, he places the lives of his relatives
and neighbours in most imminent danger. All such assemblies should be post-
poned till, the epidemic has passed over. Long journeys, from, the long fasting,
fatigue, and increased exposure to the sun or to wet, which they occasion, render
persons undertaking them more liable to the disease, and should be avoided. In
fact, those persons act best for their own personal safety and for the safety of the
community to which they belong, who, while Cholera prevails, remain quietly at
home, not even visiting a weekly bazaar, unless required to do so by urgent
necessity.
14. When, Cholera is prevalent, Government endeavours to place remedies
for the disease as far as possible within the reach of all. At all Government
Dispensaries, Thanahs, and Police Outposts, medicines are deposited which will,
be distributed to all attacked, or to, Malgoozars and other influential persons
who may be willing to undertake to distribute them, to the sick in their ow-n.
villages. The first sign of Cholera is commonly a slight purging. If proper
medicines are taken to check this, the worst effects of the disease will often be
averted. When, therefore, during the prevalence of Cholera any person is attacked
with the slightest diarrhoea, the medicines provided, by Government should be
immediately resorted to,
15. It is of the greatest importance that persons attending on the sick
should be extremely careful in disposing of the discharges from the stomach and
bowels. They should be covered immediately with a large quantity of dry earth
or ashes, removed at once, and buried deeply in the ground at a distance from,
any well, tank or, stream.
16. Dead bodies must also be buried at a distance from any water-supply,
and on no account be thrown into a stream.
S. C. TOWNSEND,
Dated 9th March 1869.
Sanitary Commissioner,
Central Provinces and Berars,