139
Cholera in Madras
Jails-
184. The condition of prisoners, in regard to cholera during 1870, Las been
exceedingly satisfactory. Although the epidemic prevailed in
many localities in which prisoners were confined, there was a
very general immunity amongst that class of persons.
Doubtful cases in
Nellore Jail.
185. The Medical Officer of the Nellore Jail has entered in his statistical
returns eight admissions and seven deaths under the head
" Dyspepsia," but in consequence of an explanatory note of
that officer's, I have transferred these cases to, what I believe to be their true
position, " Malignant Cholera." These cases occurred while cholera was raging
in the town in the month of February, and, although some of the characteristic
symptoms of cholera were not present in all the cases, I think there can be no
reasonable doubt that the disease was cholera.
The following is the Civil Surgeon's description of the disease :—
" The symptoms in all were very much alike, commencing with violent pain
across the abdomen, purging and vomiting, the evacuations being watery, some
colourless, others yellow and milky and of a thick muddy appearance, but at first
all containing bits of undigested cholum (grain of Sorghum vulgare). In only one
case does there appear to have been suppression of urine ; in all there was pain
more or less severe in the abdomen, but none had pain or cramps in the extremities.
There was great depression and restlessness, small weak pulse, and it is true
many of the symptoms were of a choleraic nature, still I do not consider that
they were suffering from cholera, but an aggravated and virulent form of
dyspepsia ; exhaustion rapidly setting in, from which they were unable to rally.
In only one case was there genuine collapse."
Mr. Lloyd was inclined to attribute the origin of the disease to change of diet,
as it began in the Quarantine ward amongst men not accustomed to Jail rations, but
the particularly fatal character of the malady (seven out of eight attacks ending
fatally), notwithstanding the absence of cramps and suppression of urine, points,
I think, most clearly to its choleraic nature, and to the propriety of registering
the attacks under the head of cholera. This disease, though beginning in the
Quarantine ward (a place where newly admitted prisoners are detained fifteen days
for observation) extended subsequently to the Jail itself, four of the admissions
coming from the Quarantine ward, and four from the Jail wards.
Rajahmundry Jail.
186. The only other Jail, in which a severe outbreak of cholera occurred,
was the old District Jail of Rajahmundry. Cholera was
brought into the town on the 8th May by persons from an
infected village, and it broke out in the Jail on the night of the 11th. The new
Central Jail, with ten times the number of prisoners in it, had no cholera at all
during this season of invasion. At Madura also the new Jail escaped, while the
Madura.
Civil debtors contied in the old Jail had five cases of cholera
out of their small strength of fifty. Here there was an abund-
ance of space available for the small number of prisoners, but the building was
old, and possibly tainted.
The following table shows the monthly admissions and deaths from cholera
in all the Jails of this Presidency :—
N N