63
Followed by an out-break in another with which it is in frequent communication,
that, though the actual transmission of the choleraic influence cannot be proved,
the presumption in favour of its having been effected by means of personal in-
tercourse, and by persons not evidently suffering, from the disease, is very strong.
240. Perhaps the most noteworthy instance of importation of the disease
occurred in the commencement of the epidemic of the present year. A body of
coolies, varying from 2,000 to 3,000 in number, had been employed on famine relief
works on the Lown road in the neighbourhood of Raepore, throughout the month of
April. I inspected them there in the latter end of the month; and though some
showed signs of having suffered from want of sufficient food, a large proportion
were in very good condition ; as a body they had not the appearance of being
famine stricken, and there was no sickness among them. In the beginning of
May they were transferred to works in the neighbourhood of Simgah, and they
arrived at the village of Baheera on the 4th May 2,300 strong; on the 6th they
were joined by a gang 1,100 strong from the neighbourhood of Simgah,—forming
a body on the morning of the 7th of 3,400. These were all located near a tank
100 yards in diameter and 4 feet deep; from this tank the villagers of Baheera,
as well as the coolies, were dependent for water. Half of the tank was reserved
for drinking water, in the other the people were allowed to wash and bathe; the
banks, however, were shallow, and the people had to wade to reach clean water.
Latrine trenches were provided, but it may be doubted if they were much used.
Between the 2nd and 12th the Native Doctor's register shows that only 9
cases of diarrhoea had been treated; and these occurred among the Raepore coolies.
On the 7th a gang of 66 coolies arrived from Seoreenarrain, 60 miles distant, in
the Belaspore district ; they were in a rather exhausted condition on their arrival,
and were therefore allowed two days' rest. On the 10th they were sent to work
with the other gangs; they, however, squatted separately by themselves at night,
and were called the Seoreenarrain gang. The constable in charge of the orano-
affirmed that no sickness appeared among the gang en route, from Seoreenarrain.,
or before joining the main body at the village of Baheera, and the Deputy Com-
missioner of Belaspore reports the same. It was not at the time known to the
district authorities that cholera had appeared at Seoreenarrain, or anywhere in
the neighbourhood; it had, however broken out there on the 1st of May (i.e.
the day or the day before the coolies left for Simgah) ; and in the report to my
office for the week ending the 8th May, 26 cases and 21 deaths are returned. As
above stated, the Seoreenarrain gang was placed to work with the main body of
the Simgah and Raepore coolies on the 10th May; on the 12th cholera broke
out among the latter.
241. The following account of the out-break is extracted from a letter from
the late Deputy Commissioner, Captain Twyford (who was himself carried off
by cholera a day or two afterwards), written from Simgah on the 17th:—
"About 2 p. m. on the 12th May, after the mid-day meal, when the coolies
were first going to recommence work, 23 persons were seized ; they were attacked
with slight purging, and at the same time complained that their bodies were on
fire; they did not vomit ; 10 died. By the evening of the same day 160 persons, in-
cluding the above 23, had been seized; and of these, 52 died. Up to date (May,
17th) 168 persons have died; lately several have vomited, but the vomitino gene-
rally takes place after the patient has drunk a little water. The average duration
of the disease was about twelve hours. The Tehseeldar brought the sick, and
as many coolies as he could get to accompany him, to Simgah on the 14th May ;
but by the 15th all the coolies had dispersed, except those who remained to
attend the sick. The cause of the out-break is difficult to find out. It appears
that the Seoreenarrain coolies arrived on the 7th instant in- a weak and exhausted
condition; they were kept in hospital for two days, and then sent to the work on
the 10th. It is said the same symptoms from which the people have died here