101
Cholera had been
prevailing in Arcot all
through the cold sea-
son.—(W. R. C.)
the south. In Arcot, however, prior to the passing through of any pilgrim,
the disease appeared, and on the 12th of May and on subsequent dates a case
here and there was seen. It died out in a few days. Since the passing of
pilgrims through the town, it has again appeared, and on the 18th of this
month, it broke out with great severity, carrying off five victims' in one day.
114. We gather from this record that cholera was scattered far and wide over
the country by the pilgrims returning from Conjeeveram. The facts have been
recorded by Mr. Price, not to support any theory, but simply with the view of
describing occurrences coming under his own observation. The story of the
Tripatty and Conjeeveram pilgrims in 1870 is true of all such bodies of human
beings, in relation to cholera, in all other years when a new invasion or repro-
duction of the disease takes place, whether the facts be ascertained and recorded,
or whether they be left unnoticed. To argue that cholera in seasons of repro-
duction or invasion is not aggravated by the assemblage of crowds of human
beings at the religious festivals of the country, is to ignore plain truths that the
people themselves admit to be unquestionable.
Extension of cholera
from Conjeeveram to
Tripatore in the Salem
District.
115. Before I conclude these observations on the influence of places like
Tripatty and Conjeeveram in the distribution of cholera, I have
to notice the spread of the disease to the talooks of the Salem
District adjoining North Arcot, and for the details I am
indebted to Mr. Overbury, the Head Assistant Collector of the district, residing
at Tripatore, where cholera appeared in a very severe form.
Mr. Overbury states,
Mr. Overbury's report.
" About the 25th of May last, there occurred two or three isolated cases of cholera in
Vanieinbaddy and Jolarpett (station towns on the South-West Line of the
Madras Railway.) The disease in the former town was, I believe, intro-
duced by the pilgrims by the Madras train. (The Conjeeveram pilgrims join the Madras train at
Arconum.) At the latter place it was proved to have been introduced. Mr. Reid, however, the
Locomotive Superintendent and Manager, took such steps as to prevent its spreading to the adjacent
villages, and his endeavours were attended with success.
" No other case occurred until the 26th June. A wealthy native in Tripatore had invited a large
number of friends from Conjeeveram, and other places in its vicinity, to celebrate a marriage. On the
first night of their arrival in Tripatore, cholera broke out in the said native's house, and the disease
spread simultaneously, radiating over the talooks, penetrating even the Javady Hills (a range south-east
of Tripatore, ranging from 3 to 4,000 feet in height.) It ultimately passed away on the 3rd Septem-
ber, the time occupied in its progress being three months and a half."
Mr. Overbury furnishes the following list of places attacked, with dates
of first cases. The list is correct so far as it goes, though it does not include
every place attacked by cholera in his sub-division. It will be noticed that
the dates of attack are such as to preclude the idea of a simultaneous outbreak,
depending on climatic or general causes affecting the whole district. The town
of Tripatore, of 10,381 inhabitants, was attacked on the 26th June, and accord-
ing to the Police returns, eighty-nine deaths, and by the Revenue Register ninety-
four deaths, occurred in it during the month of July, the last death occurring on
Outbreak in Salem.
the 5th August. The town of Salem, 100 miles to the south-
west, was slightly affected in May, fifteen deaths occurred
here from the 10th to 24th of the month. Cholera did not spread on this occasion,
but from the 30th of July to the 13th of August there were fifty-nine deaths
in the town. Although the direct channels of introduction could not in either
case be traced, it seems most probable that the May cholera was an extension
from Tripatty, and the July and August cholera from the affected talooks to
the eastward. While the disease was raging at Tripatore all through the early
part of July, the town of Salem was absolutely free of it.