14
45. I have now given all the information available regarding the origin
and spread of the cholera epidemic among the coolies employed on the Northern
road; but before leaving this section of the report it will be convenient to review
the circumstances connected with the origin of the epidemic and its subsequent
appearance in gangs at a distance.
46. First, then, with regard to the origin of the first outbreak in the
Gunneshgunj valley, there is no evidence of the importation of the disease
from elsewhere. The gangs that arrived latest in the locality had joined the
party on the Moteeyah nullah on the 25th March, three weeks before the out-
break. As far as can be ascertained, cholera had not been prevalent in the tract
of country from which they were drawn, moreover they had been employed in
gangs and under supervision for some months previously, they had their families
with them, and, as far as can be known, no one had joined the party from else-
where since the 25th March.
47. On the other hand, in favour of a supposition, that infection may
have been communicated from without, are the facts that the party was located
within 300 yards of a road forming a line of communication between the termini
of two railroads, and that the individuals first attacked belonged to the gang
hutted nearest to the road,—so that although cholera is known not to have been
prevalent within 200 miles of the locality, yet, considering the rapid means of
communication afforded by the railway and our imperfect knowledge of the means
by which epidemic diseases are diffused, it cannot be said that it is impossible
that the choleraic influence may not have been brought from a greater distance.
It must, however, be borne in mind that between the locality of the outbreak and
the nearest Railway terminus 57 miles of road intervened, along which were
numerous encampments of coolies and several bazaars and villages which subse-
quently proved to be susceptible of the choleraic influence. To support an opinion
that the origin of the disease was local, we have the want of evidence of importa-
tion and the fact that in the early pavo of the year prior to the epidemic outbreak
deaths reported by the Police to be the result of cholera had been rather frequent
in the villages of that tract of country.
48. Whether local in its origin, or imported from elsewhere, it is of great
importance that the conditions, atmospheric, local and personal, under which the
disease first appeared should be understood, and I have endeavoured to describe
them fully and accurately, but it may be as well that 1 should here shortly sum-
marize what have been above given in detail.
The hot weather had fairly set in,--the temperature of the air in the shade
ranged from 80° in the early morning to 106° in the afternoon,—the power of the
sun's rays to which these people were fully exposed working on black rock rose
daily to about 131)°;—it was the driest time of the year,—hot winds were blowing,—
the last fall of rain had occurred three weeks previously, and, if we may judge
by observations taken at Nagpore, the hygrometer showed a main difference of
34 degrees between the wet and dry bulb at 4 p.m.;—the movement of the air
through the day had a velocity of 7 or 8 miles per hour, the nights were more
still, the sky during the nights and mornings was clear, and clouds frequently
gathered in the afternoon.
49. The locality is not considered unhealthy, the valley is wide and open;
from the nature of the soil and substrata the range of temperature would pro-
bably be high, and it is almost entirely without trees. Two streams intersect the
valley, but with beds formed of non-porous rock and confined within high banks ;
they add but little to its moisture, in fact by their means the area between them
is perfectly drained and may be said to be without sub soil water.