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From the Magistrate of Malabar, to the Acting Secretary to the Board of Revenue, dated Vytry,
2nd December 1870, No. 398.
I have the honour to inform you that, on the 3rd November, a case of cholera occurred in the
village of Kollam, close to Quilandy, on the Calicut and Cannanore road.
2. A detachment of Europeans had that day started for Calicut, via Qailandy, and I accordingly
informed the Brigadier, who halted the detachment at Tellicherry.
3. Further reports showed that the disease had assumed at this place an epidemic form, and
I obtained daily reports from my Dresser, whom I had at once despatched to the spot with a supply
of medicines. The disease showing a tendency to spread towards the north, additional assistance in
the way of Dressers was obtained, and I am now glad to say that its progress appears to have been
checked,
4. I forward a report, dated 26th November 1870, No. 1,104, from the Sub-Collector, in whose
division the locality is, together with, a memorandum, drawn up by the Civil Surgeon of Tellicherry,
who accompanied him on a tour of inspection of the locality.
5. It will be seen that the origin of the outbreak is doubtful; the fact that pilgrims from the
south halt close to the spot, indicating that in this way the disease may have been communicated.
6. It will be observed that the attacks are thought to have been brought on by eating sardines,
and I addressed the Sanitary Commissioner on the subject. I enclose copy of his reply, dated 25th
November 1870, No. 1,112. It will be observed that he points out that Travancore and Native
Cochin have been for some months visited by epidemic cholera, undoubtedly a continuation of the
disease as it affected Madura and Tinnevelly, and he is inclined to suspect that this outbreak is a
further sweep of the same wave of disease.
7. I am making inquiries as to the mortality of fish along the coast this season, and will com-
municate with the Sanitary Commissioner on the subject.
8. By some, cholera is traced to the manufacture of fish-oil, which is carried on to a great
extent, whenever, as in the present season, large takes of sardines occur.
9- I do not, however, consider that we have established facts before us such as would justify a
prohibition of this manufacture in its ordinary form, considering the great loss that would be entailed
on a poor section of the community by such a prohibition. Orders have been issued that all care
should be taken in disposing of the refuse in such a manner as to cause as little annoyance as
possible.
10. In the present case, the Sub-Magistrate of Quilandy showed promptitude and judgment,
and the village officers acted well, in spite of the panic that prevailed among the villagers.
11. The Collector's Dresser has also done good service, and his presence seems to have been
very, effectual in re-assuring the people and encouraging them to assist their relatives to combat
the disease.
From the Joint Magistrate of Malabar, to the Magistrate of Malabar, dated Tellicherry, 26th
November 1870, No. 1,104.
In continuation of my letter, No. 1,067, dated 16th instant, regarding the outbreak of cholera
in Kurumbranad Talook, I have the honour to inform you that, at my request, the Zillah Surgeon
accompanied me in a tour through the infected parts on Monday and Tuesday last.
2. I enclose copies of the remarks with which Dr. McAllum has favoured me, also of lists of the
houses and of the people who had been attacked by the disease up to the day of our visit to Quil-
andy, and of a plan showing the position of the houses at Kollam.
3. The disease broke out at Kollam Deshom of the Viyoor Amshom on the 3rd instant. It
attacked an old woman who succumbed to it next day. The lists will show how it spread to neigh-
bouring houses and to people at a distance related to those living at Kollam. The disease assumed
a very virulent and infectious type at Kollam, as proved by the number of deaths among those
attacked there, and among those who there caught the infection. Out of twenty-three attacked,
fourteen died. Elsewhere the disease was not infectious, and seems to have been confined to persons,
who it is universally asserted in those parts, brought it on by partaking too freely of " Mathi Meen"
(Sardine) the oily fish that is so common on the coast this year, or of " Pallinra nella" (straw
paddy). The latter is the refuse paddy collected from the straw when it is threshed a second time.
At the first threshing all the good grain is taken out and the straw is then thrown aside in heaps,
and I suppose the pullinra nella (the grain still adhering to the damp straw) undergoes a process of
fermentation which causes it to become unwholesome. The grains are generally quite black, and