u
Tellicherry.
About the middle of November a great alarm was created among the inhabitants of
Tellicherry by the exaggerated accounts of the mortality produced by the
cholera at Mangalore, and in H. M.'s 69th Regiment then approaching
Cannanore. Very few cases, however, occurred until the 25th of November. During December it
prevailed to a considerable extent among the poorer classes of the people, especially the beggars and
fishermen of the lowest order ; and of these the aged and infirm and dissolute were the greatest
sufferers. No soldier, policeman or prisoner was attacked. The disease disappeared early in
January. The weather in November had been variable, rain having occasionally fallen, and a strong
southerly wind having sometimes prevailed. The thermometer was from 74° to 82°. About the
middle of December the weather became dry and agreeable, the wind blew from the land ; but this
favourable change did not seem immediately to influence the prevalence of the disease.
Malabar.
This disease, it was reported, became prevalent in different districts of the province of Calicut
in October. At Calicut two cases had occurred in May, but it would seem
that no more cases were observed there till about the middle of October.
Towards the end of December its symptoms, which had hitherto been moderate, became much
aggravated, and its attacks more frequent. The prisoners and Police Corps now began to suffer. It
declined considerably in February 1819; but it continued to exist generally in a less severe and
less prevalent degree in some districts of the province until October following. In July and August
it was more prevalent and violent than during the interval which had elapsed since the commence-
ment of its decline. The poorest of the people who suffered great privations were chiefly its victims.
Cochin.
It appeared in the neighbourhood of Cochin about the 8th of December, and immediately became
pretty general. It declined towards the end of the month, and disappeared
early in January 1819. Some partial cases occurred among the soldiery in
March, April, May, and July 1819.
Alleppey.
It seems that several slight cases occurred at Alleppey early in October, and that the disease
became pretty prevalent there about the beginning of November. Several
cases appeared also in July following.
Quilon.
At Quilon it began to show itself about the end of October, and continued to advance slowly
until the middle of November. It then declined, and, without having pre-
vailed to any considerable extent, soon afterwards disappeared. Only four
Europeans were attacked, although an European Regiment and a detachment of Artillery were
stationed at that place. Some troops on their march from Palamcottah to Quilon in January and
March 1819 experienced a visitation of the disease. In July and August following many cases
occurred in the 89th Regiment and among the native inhabitants. It was reported to prevail in
the northern parts of Travancore nearly at the same periods at which it visited Quilon.
Trevandrum.
It seems to have reached Trevandrum about the middle of January 1819. Slight cases of
cholera had been frequent there in May 1818, and a few had also occurred
towards the end of August and early in September. From this place it
gradually extended south to Cape Comorin. Reports of its prevalence at different places in the
southern part of Travancore were made during the first half of 1819 ; but, as the veracity of these
was dependent upon the natives, no correct estimation of its violence or prevalence can be formed.
The preceding narrative embraces the principal occurrences of cholera during the years 1818,
1819, and 1820 as they affected the soldiery in quarters and the fixed population of places within
the territories of this Presidency or those connected with it."
I have added a few notes to this most interesting narrative, which is, I think,
all the more valuable at the present time, because it was compiled not to illustrate
any "theory" of invasion, but to record, in a connected form, the testimony of the
Officers of the Medical Department, who had personally witnessed the outbreak
of this, the first epidemic invasion in modern times. Mr. Scott's map of the
Presidency, with dates of cholera appearance at various places, I have had
re-drawn, and I shall have to refer to it hereafter when I come to discuss the
subject of monsoon influences on cholera, and especially the theory that cholera
cannot advance, except when forced forward by monsoon winds.