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the natives of Ootacamund, when the first showers of rain fall, previous to the
setting in of the south-west monsoon, but I have only met with one case of
undoubted cholera, in which the disease originated on these hills. This was a
prisoner in the Ootacamund Jail, in whom the disease proved rapidly fatal. I
have seen several other cases in persons (one a European) who had just arrived
from the low country, and evidently brought the disease up with them. The
climate does not seem to have the slightest effect in modifying the symptoms of
this disease ; on the contrary, the cases I have seen have been most severe and
rapid."
130. There are two European settlements on the hills, which have large
traffic with the plains. Coonoor, with an average altitude of under 6,000 feet,
and Ootacamund, which is between 7 and 8,000 feet above sea level. A large
amount of the traffic, between Ootacamund and the low country, passes through
Coonoor ; and with cholera raging on the Coimbatore side of the hills, Coonoor
is liable to be first attacked by imported cholera. The third station " Kota-
gherry" has no Civil Hospital, and there are no records preserved, showing the
presence or absence of cholera. " Wellington" is the depot for European
troops and invalids.
Civil Dispensary Re-
ports.
1859. In the "Annual Report on Civil Dispensaries" for 1859, a year m
which the Coimbatore country was not invaded by a new
cholera, I find that there was no case of the disease seen at
Coonoor, but a single case in Ootacamund, which is referred to by the medical
officer in the following terms :—
" The case occurred in the month of March. The patient, a man who
resides in Ootacamund, went down to Segoor (a village at the foot of the ghaut
on the Mysore side) on some business ; cholera was at the time raging there. The
day after he returned to Ootacamund (22nd) he was attacked with the disease,
and brought to hospital ; on the 30th he was discharged cured.—(Report on Civil
Dispensaries, 1859.)
1860. Ootacamund.—Dr. Mackay remarks :—" Two fatal cases of cholera are
recorded ; one was that of a prisoner who was attacked on the 8th February.
It is the only instance I have met with of this disease originating at Ootacamund.
The other fatal case was that of a man from Palghaut who had evidently con-
tracted the disease on his journey. He was admitted with symptoms of cholera
in a severe form, on the second day after his arrival at Ootacamund ; he gradually
sunk, and died the following day."—(Report on Civil Dispensaries, 1860, p. xl.,
Appendix.)
Coonoor.—Mr. Leslie of Coonoor makes no mention in his report of cholera
in the station, and the Dispensary returns show that no cholera case was treated
during this year.
1861. Ootacamund.—There were three admissions at the Civil Dispensary in
1861, one in May and the others in September. The medical officer records that
" they arrived on the hills a day or two before choleraic symptoms appeared."
Coonoor.—The Dispensary returns note three cases—one in May and two in
September ; all fatal.
The only remark I can find about these deaths in the medical officer's report
is as follows :—One patient was admitted under the head " cholera." " He was
brought in a state of complete collapse very like that of cholera, but whether it
was truly so, I cannot say ; he died shortly after admission." I infer from the
fact of the cases occurring at the same time of the year as those in Ootacamund,
that the disease was brought up the Coonoor Ghaut.
1862. Ootacamund.—In 1862 there were, according to the returns, two admis-
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