115
Deaths in Madras in
April.
where the Native Christians assemble. In reference to
this feast it may be remarked that the people congregate
largely in the dry bed of the Adyar river, and below the
spot where the greater portion of the dirty linen of Madras is washed, and that
the polluted water of the stream is drunk by the heated and thirsty visitors.
In April there were 48 deaths in the town of Madras, and only 16 in the adjoin-
ing district, with nearly double the population of the town. In May the
district deaths were, in consequence of the Conjeeveram outbreak, largely in
excess, in proportion to the town deaths, the numbers being 287 for the dis-
trict, and 79 for the town. In this month of May the town of Madras had not felt
the influence of the local outbreak amongst the Conjeeveram pilgrims, but
in June the deaths in the town went up from 79 to 391, while the district deaths
Intensity of outbreak
fell both in town and
district early in June.
Heavy rainfall in
June. No increase of
cholera followed.
increased only from 287 to 551. The intensity of the out-
burst was attained, both in the town and district, early in
June. Heavy rain fell on the 15th of that month and in some
measure cooled the heated air, and brought moisture to the
soil, but no increase of cholera followed the rainfall. The
epidemic, in fact, began to decline slowly from the middle of June, and was
pretty well at an end, both in the town and district, by the end of August. The
rainfall of the south-west monsoon was unusually plentiful. There occurred
during the whole year 861 deaths in the town and 1,394 in the district, which
figures show per mille ratios to population of 1·91 and 1·80.
Cessation of cholera
at the end of the year.
It will be observed that there has been no great disparity, on this occasion,
between the rates of cholera deaths in the town and district.
At the end of the year the town and district were practically
free of cholera.
Cholera in H. M.'s
45th Regiment, Fort
Saint George.
136. It has already been noted that a very local outbreak of cholera occurred
in the month of March in H. M.'s 45th Regiment, located
in the Barracks of Fort St. George. At the time when this
outbreak occurred, the town was particularly free of choleraic
forms of disease. The circumstances were investigated so far as they could be at
the time, and the following facts elicited. The Regiment did not suffer from
cholera during the season when it prevailed generally in the town, in May and
June.
Cholera in town and
neighbourhood before
the outbreak in Regi-
ment.
137. The mortuary register of the first two weeks of January show only one
death under the head of cholera in the Municipality of Madras.
In the 3rd and 4th weeks, there appears to have been a slight
accession of the disease, especially in the 8th Municipal
District, distant three to four miles from the Fort, in which the European
barracks are located. In the week ending 4th February, three deaths from
cholera are registered as occurring in the first and second municipal districts,
which include Black Town. On inquiry at the Native Infirmary attached to
the Monegar Choultry, I found that about this time a few cases were being
received into that institution. One case, that of a traveller from the Nellore
District, was admitted on the 23rd January. A patient in hospital, for chronic
local disease, was attacked on 28th. Another case was brought in from the
town on 29th. Another patient in hospital was attacked on 30th. The last
case was admitted from Black Town on 10th February.
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