NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
38
CHAPTER IT.
THE CHOLERA OF 1870.
Activity of Cholera
in South Arcot, Trichi-
nopoly, and Tanjore
Districts in the begin-
ning of the year.
60. We found cholera at the end of the year 1869 vigorous in action in the
South Arcot, Trichinopoly, and Tanjore Districts. Before
tracing its advance southward, it will be necessary to take a
brief survey of its ravages in these districts during the early
part of 1870. The following table will show the monthly
deaths, and the progressive southern movement of the epidemic to the districts
of Madura and Tinnevelly :—
Deaths from Cholera in the Southern Districts, during 1870.
Districts
Population for -which retaros were received.
Total Cholera Deaths.
January
February
...
...
...
...
March
April ...
...
May
June ...
July
August
September ...
October
November
December
South Arcot.
12,61,846
3,248
617
246
150
118
238
300
687
574
176
88
38
16
Tanjore.
17,31,703
6,584
3,708
1,119
216
218
175
392
357
176
110
45
18
50
Trichinopoly.
9,90,037
2,557
960
344
192
122
7
14
44
65
103
28
139
539
Madura.*
19,01,774
5,638
18
70
323
275
307
53
621
1,445
932
462
330
324
Tinnevelly.
13,10,117
7,611
8
46
258
637
1,721
1,911
1,246
626
398
142
45
573
This table illustrates the intensity of the epidemic in all the three districts
where cholera was in force at the end of 1869, and during January 1870, and its
rather sudden declension in them after that month. In May there was a consi-
derable accession of cholera in the South Arcot District, and in the following
month there was some renewal of activity in Tanjore, but in the Trichinopoly
District the renewal was less marked. The contiguity of these districts to the
pilgrim sites of Triputty and Oonjeveram must be borne in view, in relation to
the reproduction at this somewhat unusual season of the year. In South Arcot
and Tanjore the epidemic had nearly died out at the end of 1870, but there had
been a normal seasonal reproduction in Trichinopoly, in November and December.
More Cholera in irri-
gated than in dry up-
land talooks.
61. TRICHINOPOLY DISTRICT.—The following; table shows the degree in which
each talook was affected. It will be noticed that the Municipal
Town of Trichinopoly and the Trichinopoly Talook suffered
more in proportion than any other part of the district, during the first three
months of the year when cholera was in motion. Out of 613 villages cholera
prevailed in 117, during the month of January. The dry upland districts of
Perambalore and Kulutalli were the least affected. Only 11 and 13 villages but
of 314 and 1,303 respectively being affected, during the month, of greatest
prevalence. The Trichinopoly Talook, which is very extensively watered by
irrigation channels, suffered, apparently, in proportion to the degree of moisture
in its soil :—
*Exclusivo of Zemindaries.
40
Hyderabad, however, in marching back through the Kurnool District in January
1871, suffered from cholera, and communicated it to several villages in which
they had encamped. This party had, travelled from Trichinopoly to Ghooty by
railway. The Kurnool District, until this outbreak, had been absolutely free of
cholera for more than eighteen months.
63. TANJORE.—As in the Trichinopoly District, the various talookswere not
equally affected by the cholera epidemic. The talook of Combaconum suffered
more than any others, and this particular talook includes some of the most plenti-
fully watered lands in the whole district. In the month of January two-thirds of
the population of this talook were exposed to cholera influences, while in other
talooks the proportion was generally much less. The talooks of Tanjore, Negapa-
tam and Manargoody, also well-watered districts, had a heavy cholera morta-
lity. The Municipal town of Combaconum had cholera deaths in every month
of the year ; the situation of the town, between two great branches of the Cauvery
river, and the fact that the sub-soil water of the whole country rises and falls
with the streams, would, according to Pettenkofer, yield the necessary conditions
for the development of cholera. Observations are now being made in this locality
to register the rise and fall of such sub-soil water, in oonnexion with the mortality
from cholera. The total deaths in the district were 4,563, and the proportion
of cholera mortality to population in the various registration circles was as
follows :—
Table showing proportion of Cholera Deaths to 1,000 of Population in each Talook, &c., of the
Tanjore District, in each month of the year 1870.
Municipal Towns and
Talooks,
Sheally Talook
Municipal Town, Mayave-
ram
Mayaveram Talook
Nunnillum
„
Municipal town, Negapatam.
Negapatam Talook
Tritrapundy „
Pattucottah
„
Municipal Town, Tanjore ...
Tanjore Talook
Municipal Town, Comba-
conum
Cumbaconum Talook
Municipal Town, Manar-
goody
Manargoody Talook
January.
0.4
2.7
1.04
27
05
1.5
1.4
0.2
1.5
2.4
3.005
4.4
0.8
304
February.
0.1
0.4
0.1
0.5
0.1
0.6
0.2
0.2
0.6
1.2
0.6
1.06
17
0.6
March.
0.1
0.05
003
003
003
0.1
0.02
0.09
0.2
03
...
0.1
0.1
April.
001
005
002
0.1
• •
01
0.05
0.02
03
003
0.1
0.2
May
005
005
0.05
009
0.03
0.2
0.08
0.005
0.05
0.03
0.06
0 04
0.2
05
June.
0.8
0.2
0.1
0.04
0.1
0.1
0.3
0.03
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.1
0.2
July.
0.3
1.4
0.3
0.09
0.9
0.7
0.3
009
0.003
0.1
0.04
0.1
0.1
August.
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.9
0.2
0.09
0.04
0.02
0.1
0.03
0.02
September.
0.01
0.06
0.04
0.4
0.1
0.2
0.03
0.02
0.03
0.02
0.07
October.
0.02
0.05
0.005
0.03
005
005
0.01
0.03
0.06
0.02
0.007
November
0.01
0.01
0.03
0.01
0.01
0.03
001
December.
0.02
...
0.007
007
0.12
0.03
0.01
...
Total.
2.1
5.1
1.9
8.9
3.2
5.2
2.9
0.8
2.5
4.6
4.2
5.9
2.9
5.09
'Table showing particulars of Deaths by Cholera in the several Talooks, &c, of the District of Tanjore, during each month of the year 1870.
Population...
Total No. of "Villages in each Circle ...
Months.
January
February ...
March
...
April
May
June
July
August
September ...
October
November ...
December ...
Total...
Sheally Talook, North
of District.
97,045
450
No. of Villages affected.
18
4
4
1
4
26
12
9
1
2
1
1
—
Population.
10,271
4,211
4,176
1,084
2,129
18,040
11,989
6,967
147
879
371
912
Cholera Deaths.
45
18
13
1
5
82
31
11
1
2
i
2
212
Municipal Town,Maya
veram, North of
Talook.
17,025
No. of Villages affected.
17,025
Population..
47
7
1
1
1
4
24
2
1
88
Mayaveram Talook,
North of District.
170,827
808
Cholera Deaths.
61
12
4
2
3
12
22
13
8
1
—
No. of Villages affected.
47,089
13,745
3,451
631
3,374
7,791
21,080
16,818
6,917
800
Population.
184
24
6
4
9
20
64
30
11
1
353
Nunnillam Talook,
East of District.
190,940
959
Cholera Deaths.
142
34
5
8
6
6
7
13
7
2
2
—
Population
87,683
23,209
2,481
6,162
5,818
2,294
4,419
6,400
7,991
629
757
Cholera Deaths.
525
102
7
27
19
8
19
25
9
6
2
749
Municipal Town,Nega
patam, East of
Talook.
33,095
.
Population.
33,095
Cholera Deaths.
l9
4
1
1
4
33
32
15
109
Negapatam Talook,
East of District.
132,706
650
No. of Villages affected.
39
17
4
7
9
33
29
11
2
2
?,
1
—
Population.
33,820
20,425
9,066
10,676
3,114
17,609
18,473
5,036
2,262
3,107
1,247
330
Cholera Deaths.
211
90
24
22
33
158
95
30
17
7
5
1
693
Tritrapundy Talook,
South-East of District.
128,336
419
No. of Villages affected.
52
8
3
...
3
15
13
4
10
5
3
—
Population.
33,382
4,178
935
...
2,617
11,850
10,053
1,465
9,213
7,235
1,167
Cholera Detaths.
183
30
3
...
11
51
39
12
26
7
9
371
41
Table showing particulars of Deaths by Cholera in the several Talooks, &c., of the District of Tanjore, during each month of the year 1870.—(Continued.)
Population...
Total No. of Villages in each Circle ...
Months.
January
February ...
March
April
May
June
July
August
September ...
...
October
November ...
December ...
Total...
Pattucottah Talook,
South of District.
196,960
1,270
No. of Villages affected.
16
13
10
3
i
5
6
4
3
3
1
—
Population.
9,714
12,247
5,579
1,719
1,559
2,849
6,246
2,335
1,305
3,321
73
Cholera Deaths.
41
44
19
11
1
6
19
y
7
3
3
165
Municipal Town,
Tanjore, North of
Talook.
36,941
Population.
36,941
Cholera Deaths.
'58
25
10
1
2
...
...
...
...
96
Tanjore Talook,West
of District.
263,867
853
No. of Villages affected.
120
75
27
19
6
7
1
7
5
6
3
16
—
Population.
11,536
82,508
32,990
25,879
7,473
8,782
384
12,366
3,164
6,458
4,190
18,236
Cholera Deaths.
649
342
80
83
8
11
1
7
7
9
3
33
1233
Municipal Town, Com-
baconum, East of
Talook.
29,283
Population,
!» 29,283
Cholera Deaths.
88
18
...
1
2
3
5
1
2
1
1
123
Combaconum Talook,
North-West of
District
280,901
1,109
No. of Villages affected,
268
102
20
10
7
7
9
7
5
3
3
2
—
Population.
1,83,385
88,920
16,964
9,639
2,606
9,330
6,493
8,573
2,901
2,095
1,438
933
Cholera Deaths.
1251
298
37
33
12
7
13
10
6
6
3
4
1680
Municipal Town,
Mannargudy, Centre
of Talook.
19,447
Population.
19,447
Cholera Deaths.
-
'l6
34
...
4
2
2
...
58
Mannargudy Talook,
Centre of District.
128,330
605
No. of Villages affected.
97
30
11
9
15
17
5
3
3
1
—
Population.
51,296
37,704
10,083
4,902
8,733
7,932
2,421
941
1,482
1,384
Cholera Deaths.
391
81
15
34
67
38
14
3
10
1
654
42
43
64. SOUTH AECOT DISTRICT.—The table of the registration circles of this
district shows a large preponderance of deaths in the Chellumbrum Talook, where
cholera began to revive in force in the month of June. I cannot but suspect that
the renewal of cholera in the district, at that season of the year, was due to the
return south-ward of cholera-stricken pilgrims from Conjeeveram. Chellumbrum
is one of the great places of pilgrimage in the district, and it is evident that the
population of this talook suffered unduly after the return of pilgrims from Conjee-
veram. At the end of the year cholera had quite died out, as an epidemic, in
the district. The total deaths were 3,248, and the proportion of mortality to
population in the several talooks and registration circles was as follows :—
Table showing the proportion of Deaths by Cholera in the several Talooks, &c., of the District of
South Arcot, during each month of the year 1870.
Municipal Towns and
Talooks.
Trinomalay Talook ...
Tindevenum ,, ...
Villapooram ,, ...
Cuddalore Municipal Town.
Cuddalore Talook ...
Chellumbrum „ ...
Virdachellum „ ...
Kullakoorchy ,, ...
Trikovilloor „ ...
January.
0.009
0.29
0.35
0.14
0.85
0.95
0.504
0.64
0.6
February.
0.009
0.07
0.14
0.24
0.13
0.38
0.206
0.31
0.24
March.
...
...
0.05
...
0.103
0.13
0.109
0.43
0.19
April.
...
...
0.009
...
0.02
0.12
0.27
0.09
0.25
May.
0.82
0.56
0.209
0.035
0.02
0.02
0.03
...
0.04
June.
0.19
0.506
0.22
0.14
0.35
0.13
0.04
...
0.403
July.
0.04
0.07
0.39
0.56
0.44
2.11
0.21
0.06
0.48
August.
0.17
0.14
0.14
0.24
3·32
1.49
0.51
0.21
0.501
September.
...
0.06
0.08
0.07
0.09
0.19
0.206
0.18
0.29
October.
...
...
0.009
0.035
0.103
0.15
0.02
0.02
0.23
November.
0.009
...
0.03
...
0.02
0.13
...
...
0.01
December.
...
...
...
...
...
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.02
Total.
1·2
1.7
1·6
1·4
2.5
5·7
2.1
2.01
2.7
The table on the next page gives the particulars as to the incidence of
cholera in the different divisions of the district.
Table showing particulars of Deaths by Cholera in each Talooh, &c., of the District of South Arcot, during each month of the year 1870.
Talooks, &c.
Population.
Total No. of Villages in each
Circle.
Months.
January
...
February-
March
April ...
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
...
Total...
TrinomalayTalook,
North of
district.
1,01,473
601
No. of villages affected.
1
1
11
2
4
12
1
—
Population.
6,073
318
4,584
632
7,950
3,995
1,070
Cholern deaths.
1
1
84
20
5
18
1
130
TindevenamTalook,
North of
district.
1,63,752
616
No. of villages affiected.
13
7
25
25
5
8
4
—
Population.
11,092
4,125
16,949
19,163
1,992
9,135
6,203
...
Cholora deaths.
49
12
92
83
12
23
10
281
VillapooramTalook
North-East of
district.
2,00,404
547
No. of villages affected.
2*6
7
4
2
17
13
15
10
7
2
3
—
Population.
24,181
8,088
4,131
2,085
18,578
10,813
14,528
7,293
5,173
1,249
3,825
Cholera deaths.
72
29
11
2
42
45
80
21
17
2
7
328
Municipal Town,
Cuddalore, East of
Talook.
28,421
No. of villages afected.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
—
Population.
28,421
Colera deaths.
4
7
...
1
4
16
7
2
1
42
Cuddalore Talook
East of district.
1,73,568
558
No. of villages affected.
45
13
10
4
4
7
20
20
9
6
3
—
Population.
86,190
17,423
18,443
2,155
2,525
13,382
26,188
21,610
8,982
7,934
2,536
Cholera deaths.
149
23
18
5
4
62
78
57
16
18
4
434
Chillumbrum
Talook, South-East
of district.
1,84,044
608
No. of villages affected.
47
21
15
5
4
7
55
73
12
10
6
4
—
Population.
57,236
34,806
32,853
8,218
2,624
4,853
59,170
74,392
12,885
19,070
5,001
2,792
Choleia deaths.
176
71
25
23
4
25
389
275
36
28
24
4
1080
Virdachellum
Talook, South-East
of district.
1.54,718
419
No. of villages affected.
20
14
7
7
2
3
11
12
13
3
2
—
Population
22,859
14,657
12 404
4,309
2,778
4,210
11 446
7,942
11,403
2,659
1,031
Cholera deahs.
78
32
17
42
5
7
34
79
32
4
4
334
Kullakoorohy
Talook, South-West
of district.
1,21,857
347
No. of villages affected.
19
12
10
5
...
2
11
10
3
4
—
Population.
19,758
11,390
13,223
2,364
...
...
586
4,815
7,019
1,217
2,604
Cholera deaths.
79
38
53
12
...
8
26
23
3
4
246
Trikovilloor
Talook, Centre of
district.
1,33,609
443
No. of villages affected.
5
4
7
3
4
21
22
27
13
7
1
3
—
Population.
3,966
1,944
4,202
2,767
3,046
14,442
12,379
19,394
13,569
5,528
952
1,846
Cholera deaths.
9
33
26
34
6
54
65
68
40
32
2
4
373
44
45
CHOLERA INVASION OF THE MADURA DISTRICT.
Outbreak at the Pul-
ney feast in the middle
of March.
65. By the aid of the District Police, early intelligence was conveyed to the
Sanitary Commissioner of the movement of cholera towards
Madura. Scattered cases had begun to occur early in January ;
and in thePulney Talook the first reported death occurred on
the 15th February. The Pulney festival took place from the 16th to the 25th of
March, and was attended by about 20,000 persons. Cholera broke out in rather
a virulent form amongst these people, when they immediately began to break up
and disperse over the country. Sixteen deaths from the 16th to the 22nd were
reported by the Police, and the Revenue officials note twenty-six cases, but it is
Extension of cholera
to towns and villages
in the neighbourhood.
evident that a great number must have escaped observation.
After the. dispersion of these persons, the report of cholera
deaths in the neighbouring villages, and along the high roads
into other districts became more numerous.
This will be better seen in the following extract from the daily register of
deaths reported by the Police :—
Districts.
Mudura.
Coimbatore.
Towns and Vil-
lages,
Madura town...
Teeruoor
12
miles north of
Pulney
Pulney
Chutraputty ...
Tondy
Triparagoodu, 4
miles south-
west of Ma-
dura
Oosalamputty...
Dindigul
Batlagoondu, 6
miles west of
Nellacottah ..
Vadasundoor ...
Mailore
Rarunad
Total...
Bhowany
Sattiamanga-
lum
Erode
Darapoorum ...
Vardampalliem
mile north
of Sattiaman
galum
Oothiyoor
Total
Population.
39,872
2,125
10,895
1,300
3,300
2,891
1,000
8,951
5,500
700
1,100
1,2000
4,891
2,446
5,022
3,489
1,039
126
Dates of Cholera Deaths, March 1870.
1 2
3
3
?
...
?
3
1
1
1
1
4
?,
2
5 6
...
7
?,
2
8
...
9
...
1
...
1
!
LO
1
1
1112
3
13 14
3
1
15 16
?,
3
1
17
4
18.
?,
•1
2
20
?,
a
21
1
22
3
23
3
1
24 25
1
3
1
1
1
26
1
4
27
1
8
1
28
?,
c
29
10
30
1
3
From 20th to 25th 15 cholera deaths were reported.
... 3
• ••
... 4 ... 6
..
6 3
•
2
...
5
1
1
1 3 4
1
]
5
2
1
2 5
2
1
€
4
1
E
14
1
]
10
2
1
S
4
31
3
6
9
0
2
Total
1
13
6
3
1
43
1
2
5
1
15
120
6
4
s
9
1
23
First case in the
town of Madura.
66. Captain Gruthrie, Superintendent of Police, notes that the first case in
Madura was a Salem cart driver enroute from Tondy on the east
coast to Salem. Cholera was prevailing at Tondy after 18th
February. The first case in the town of Madura was reported on
25th February. The disease was very fatal in a small village " Oosalumputty,
24 miles away, during March, no fewer than forty deaths, out of a population of
1,000, having occurred in a few days. Captain Gruthrie says of this village that
the disease was caught in Madura, but the detailed evidence is not recorded. The
facts in regard to this village and the cholera at Pulney were notified by me to the
48
Geographical peculi-
arities of the Cumbum
"Valley favouring the
retention of cholera.
68. This report of Captain Guthrie is very interesting as regards the insani-
tary conditions co-existing with the intensity of cholera. I shall
have to allude to it again hereafter. As regards the influence
of return emigrants from Ceylon, it is quite clear that cholera
was raging in the Cumbum Valley before they landed at Davipatam, and although
some impetus might have been given to the virulence of cholera by the return
emigrants, they cannot be charged with affecting the district. The Cumbum
Valley has certain geographical peculiarities. It lies between the Pulney Hills
and the mountain chain dividing Madura from the country of Travancore, and
being surrounded on all sides, but the east, by hills and mountains, the cholera
influence, when it once gets into such a locality, seems to have a great difficulty
in getting out again. It seems certain, from the general spread of cholera, that
it advanced in the first instance southward from the Madura District either along
the coast or through the Ramnad Zemindary, or by the road from Madura, to
Tinnevelly, and that the cholera influence getting into the cul-de-sac of the
Cumbum Valley, and being unable to cross the mountain barrier, was forced to
expend its chief strength in this locality. A reference to the accompanying Cholera
map will enable the reader to comprehend the peculiar position
of the Cumbum Valley. It is worthy of notice that the villages
on the Pulney Hills suffered very severely this year from cholera. I have been
informed by Mr. J. R. Arbuthnott, the Sub-Collector of the district, that cholera
continued to prevail for several months on the Hills, after the return of the Hill
residents from the Pulney festival in March.
Cholera on the Pul-
ney Hills.
In the following table will be found the particulars of the several talooks
and their cholera mortality in each month of the year. The total mortality in
the district was 5,638, and the proportion of deaths to population in each talook
is given below. Up to the date of going to Press, no returns had been received
showing the actual mortality in the Ramnad and Shevagunga Zemindaries, so
that the table exhibits only the cholera mortality of a portion of the population
of the district.
Talle showing Deaths by Cholera in the several Talooks, &c., of the District of Madura in each month of the year 1870.
Population
Total Number of
Villages in each
Circle
Months.
January ...
February ...
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December..
Total
Municipal Town,
Dindigul, Centre
of Talook.
8,951
Population.
8,95l
Cholera Deaths.
3
3
...
1
6
16
4
15
48
Dindigul Talook,
North of District.
2,65,432
1,724
No. of Tillages affected.
1
20
17
8
19
13
32
32
21
18
15
—
Population.
3,094
43,475
20,345
27,521
29,233
38,397
7ß,314
51,234
37,619
47,293
22,282
Cholera Deaths.
1
77
34
14
64
53
175
113
75
47
28
681
Mailore Talook,
North of District.
1,12,983
551
No. of Villages affected.
2
5
11
11
3
6
47
21
2
4
10
Population.
7,234
9,509
21,789
22,617
8,425
13,235
87,439
47,481
5,317
5,609
27,992
Cholera Deaths.
2
11
20
28
17
65
319
119
6
6
26
619
Municipal Town,
Madura, Centre
of District.
39,872
Population.
39,872
Cholera Deaths.
#
16
#
6
4
2
2
160
120
19
9
38
376
Madura Talook,
Centre of District
1,62,912
687
No. of Villages affected.
3
7
5
13
18
8
6
66
49
21
20
32
—
Population.
2,269
5,244
6,187
18,129
18,860
10,754
9,692
60,990
55,958
21,156
25,258
27,041
Cholera Deaths.
4
29
35
25
32
32
10
201
168
69
61
88
754
Teroomungalum
Talook, South of
District.
2,14,840
898
No. of Villages affected.
7
3
22
27
32
42
43
41
49
23
20
16
—
Population.
5,274
2,710
39,489
41,893
36,999
54,687
70,176
71,758
78,195
42,624
33,661
31,160
Cholera Deaths.
10
r
60
119
93
184
113
119
126
73
61
27
990
Pereacolum Talook
South-West of
District.
1,80,187
503
No. of Villages affected.
4
2
16
16
35
48
30
17
19
11
Population.
...
19,533
15,458
79,061
68,653
1,10,877
1,47,477
1,07,562
44,817
53,383
22,058
Cholera Deaths.
...
10
3
133
95
431
446
169
205
145
58
1695
Pulney Talook,
North-West of
District.
1,61,534
546
No. of Villages affected.
1
4
38
14
5
5
3
6
10
4
1
6
—
Population.
302
17,094
81,617
27,131
11,251
6,882
5,612
21,782
28,828
6,154
1,314
17,355
Cholera Deaths.
1
9
118
57
14
89
11
19
101
11
1
44
475
Shevagunga
Zemindary.
3,039
No. of Villages affected.
Population.
Cholera Deaths.
Eamnad
Zemindary.
3,079
No. of Villages affected.
Population.
No returns received.
Cholera Deaths.
* No returns received.
53
From this table we may summarise the following particulars :—
Months.
Cholera Deaths,
January ... ... ... … … …
February... ... ... … … …
March
...
...
...
…
…
…
April ... ... ... … … …
May
...
...
...
…
…
…
June... ... ... … … …
Total...
8
45
243
637
1,721
1,911
4,565
DEATHS IN VILLAGES ON
River Banks.
2
35
219
454
1,289
1,038
3,037
Higher Ground.
6
10
24
183
432
873
1,528
When we come to consider how few rivers there are in the district, and
reflect on the enormous excess of mortality in the river valleys, as compared
with that of villages on higher ground, we are enabled to understand in some
degree what Pettenkofer means by asserting that there is a fixed relation
between the development of cholera and the distance of sub-soil moisture from
the surface.
Floods in Tinnevelly
in November 1869.
74. Now, in regard to the unusual prevalence of cholera in the Tinnevelly Dis-
trict, and especially those portions of it that had been recently
subjected to inundation, it must be noted that, in November
1869, a cyclone passed over the district, discharging an unusual rain-fall, which
flooded the river valleys, and tended to raise the level of the sub-soil moisture
greatly beyond its normal height. The average rain-fall for the whole district in
the north-east monsoon of 1869 was 2644 inches, and the greater part of this
fell during the great storm of November that flooded the country. The average
Year.
1866
1867
1868
Inches.
19.98
17.81
15.95
NOTE.—These averages
are computed from
eight district rain re-
gisters.
rain-fall of the three former years in October, November, and
December was as in the margin. It will be seen that the mean
rain-fall of the district, during the three months of the north-
east monsoon, is between seventeen and eighteen inches,
while in 1869 the quantity was nearly ten inches in excess.
The difference, in fact, was quite sufficient to cause a very perceptible
change in the level of the sub-soil water in the valleys and low lying grounds
of the district, for the early part of the year 1870; but the exact nature of the
changes, and their relation to cholera, cannot be shown as no observations
were made in the district for testing Pettenkofer's theory.
75. The progress of cholera in the district does not appear to have been
influenced by the monsoon winds. It began, as we have seen in February, at the
end of the north-east monsoon. It advanced southward in the months of March,
April, and May, against the strong southerly winds that prevailed in those months,
and the epidemic abated, or began to abate, in the middle of the south-west
monsoon winds, and by the end of September the primary epidemic had lived
out its life. The south-west monsoon continued to prevail in 1870 up to the
middle of October. In December there was a reproduction of cholera in this
district, the history of which will more properly fall to be noted in the cholera
report for the current year.