84
possible evidence that measures directed to the mitigation of the ravages com-
mitted by cholera in these Provinces are, of all others, most urgently called for.
The fact that upwards of 47,000 persons have been carried off by cholera in the
course of four months, in a country where the greatest obstacle to progress is
the scanty population, alone demands that measures should be taken to prevent
as far as possible the future recurrence of this devastating pestilence.
300. The gross figures, however, by no means give an adequate idea of
the fearful severity with which individual villages have been visited. Judging
by the weekly reports furnished to me from the different districts, such catas-
trophies as that which befel the villages of Soonwarra (para. 102) and Jhil-
millee (para. 287), and even far worse, must have been of frequent occurrence in
several districts. In the village of Pepureea-Chuka, in the district of Dumoh, 122
persons were carried off in the course of a fortnight from a population of 370.
In Betaspa, a village in the Bekspore district, out of a population of 180, 105
died in one week; and similar instances appear in the returns from the district of
Raepore.
301. How far the mortality from cholera may have been aggravated by
insufficiency of food will form the subject of future enquiry; but the returns
rather indicate that scarcity of food has but little connection with the prevalence
of cholera. In the Jubbulpore district, for instance, cholera has fallen lightly
on the famine-stricken northern sub-division of Moorwarra, compared with the
rich alluvial pergunnah of Patun and the Jubbulpore Havelle.
In the district of Raepore, also, according to the returns, cholera has not
fallen with the greatest severity on the sub-divisions that have been most affected
by scarcity of food. Again, in the rich alluvial district of Nursing-pore, where
labour was abundant and scarcity not felt, the epidemic attained the most
general diffusion ; on the other hand, the district of Bhundara, where scarcity, if
not famine prevailed, has suffered but lightly from cholera.
302. Statement No. IX. also shows great variations in the prevalence of
the disease in different districts,—in Saugor and Nursingpore the proportion of
villages attacked was very high, while the ratio of mortality to the population of
the villages attacked was not above the average.
On the other hand, in the districts of Mundla, Belaspore, and Raepore, the
percentage of villages attacked was comparatively small, but the ratio of mor-
tality to population attacked was excessive.
303. On referring to the Table of atmospheric conditions appended to
Statement No. VIII. it will be observed that in by far the greater number of
districts the epidemic attained its greatest height in a. period of excessive heat
and dryness, and the commencement of its decline coincided with a modification
of these conditions. In some districts, however, as in Bhundara, Chanda, and
Sumbulpore, the disease did not appear at all till after heavy and continued rain.
In Nimar, though the disease appeared very early in the season, it ceased to pre-
vail in the hot weather, and again became prevalent in a slight degree when the
rains had well set in; while the districts of Chindwara and Baitool have ex-
perienced almost complete immunity throughout the season.
304. The causes of the great variations in the prevalence of the disease can
only be ascertained by a study of the soils, sub-strata and water-supply that pre-
vail in the different tracts of country; and in the course of the ensuing cold
weather I hope to carry out in other districts the village inspection which was
commenced last year, and which has furnished matter for this report.
305. Hereafter also more detailed statements will bo given, which will
I hope afford much additional information regarding the recurrences and prévu-