50
Table showing Proportion of Cholera Deaths per 1,000 of Population in each Talook, &c., of the District
of Madura during the year 1870.
Municipal Towns and
Talooks.
Municipal Town, Dindi-
gul
...
...
Dindigul Talook ...
Mailore
„
...
Municipal town, Madura
Madura Talook ...
Teroomungalum Talook
Pereacolum Talook ...
Pulny Talook ...
Ramnad Zeinindary }
Skevagunga „ }
January.
...
0·003
0·01
...
0·02
0·03
...·
0·006
February.
...
...
0.09
0.4
0·1
0·01
...
0.05
March.
0·3
0·2
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.05
0.7
April.
0.3
0.1
0.2
...
0.1
0.1
0.01
0.3
May.
...
0.05
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.7
0.08
June.
...
0.2
0.5
0.05
0.1
0.1
0.5
0.5
July.
0.1
0.1
...
0.05
0.06
0.2
2·3
0.06
August.
0.6
0.6
0.2
4.01
1.2
0.1
2.4
0.1
September.
1.7
0.4
0.1
3.009
1.03
0.2
0.9
0.6
October.
0.4
0.2
0.05
0.5
0.4
0.1
1.1
0.06
No returns received.
November.
...
0.1
0.05
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.8
0.006
December.
l·6
0.1
0·2
0·9
0·5
0.1
0.3
0.2
Total.
5·3
2·5
5·4
9·4
4·6
4·6
9·4
2·9
Inspection of Madura
by Sanitary Commis-
sioner.
69. In the course of my tour through the South of India I paid a visit to the
town of Madura, and arrived there on 26th August, when
cholera was still prevailing epidemically. I do not know
any place, with the exception of Salem, which is better calcu-
lated to retain cholera.
The town stands on the right bank of the Vigay river,
a stream that has a broad sandy bed, and usually only one or two rills of water
on the surface, though after heavy rain it becomes a deep and rapid stream.
The soil on which the town stands is a rich chocolate alluvial, with a good deal
of clay in it, and appears to be remarkably fertile. The town itself is of consi-
derable antiquity, and until recently was enclosed by fortiried walls. It is
densely crowded; a population of about 50,000 persons living on something like
a square mile of area. The main streets are wide, and the houses of the richer
people well built; but the narrow lanes are densely populated, and the soil of the
backyards is saturated with privy filth and refuse of every kind, the accumulation
Water-supply
im-
pure.
* See Special Inquiry-
Report in Appendix.
of centuries. Open masonry drains are laid in the streets, but
the levels are so bad there is no outfall. The water-supply
from wells within the town was, I ascertained, in many places
dangerously contaminated by the foulness of the surrounding
soil.* I have urged upon the Municipal Commissioners the
importance of a better system of scavenging, and the urgent need of completing
a project for the water supply of the town, which was designed and partially
executed many years ago, but which is still left unfinished.
If insanitary condi-
tions such as impure water, and a polluted surface soil favour the continuance of
cholera in a locality, as I believe they do, the town of Madura must be constantly
liable to the disease.
The continuance of cholera, for so long a period in this district in 1870,
bespeaks I fear the probability of a return of the epidemic during the present
year, when the climatic conditions may be favourable to its increase.†
CHOLERA INVASION OF TINNEVELLY.
Particulars of first
case in Palamcottah,
15th February.
70. The first case that attracted the notice of the authorities in this district was
that of a European Official of the Great Southern of India
Railway.
This gentleman, who had only lately arrived in
India, travelled down from Madras to Trichinopoly in company with two
† Cholera is again prevailing in the town of Madura as I write (February 16th, 1871).—W.R.C.