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The disease remained in the asylum from the 18th November until the
1st December, when it suddenly disappeared.
The following statement shows the dates on which they were received into
hospital:—
18th November.
23rd
24th
25th
26th
27th
28th
29th
30th
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
1st December
—1 case was
—2 do.
—2 do.
—1 do.
—4 do.
—7 do.
—4 do.
—4 do.
—5 do.
—1 do.
admitted.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
The following table gives the dates on which the cholera patients were first
received into the Asylum and the deaths occurring amongst them:—
Six of those admitted into the asylum in 1871, received into hospital with cholera, had three deaths.
Two of those admitted into the asylum in 1873, received into hospital with cholera, had one death.
Three of those admitted into the asylum in 1874, received into hospital with cholera, had one death.
Four of those admitted into the asylum in 1875, received into hospital with cholera, had no death.
Six of those admitted into the asylum in 1876, received into hospital with cholera, had three deaths.
Ten of those admitted into the asylum in 1878, 1879, and 1880, received into hospital with cholera,
had four deaths.
It will be seen from the above that the disease attacked all alike, namely,
those who had been in the asylum since it was started and those who were
recently admitted.
The following statement shows the state of health on admission of the patients
attacked with cholera and the deaths :—
Eleven of those attacked were in good health, having five deaths amongst
them ; nine of those attacked were in " fair health, " having three deaths amongst
them; 11 of those attacked were in bad health, having four deaths amongst them.
From the above it would appear that those in bad health resisted the disease
better than those in good health, the mortality amongst the latter admissions
being greater.
As to the treatment of the disease, it is scarcely necessary to assure the
Chief Commissioner that everything which the individual and combined skill of
all connected with the asylum could suggest has been had recourse to, but,
unfortunately, with no greater measure of success than has attended similar
exertions in other localities. In the milder cases and in the early form of simple
diarrhœa and vomiting the complaint was in general early subdued, but when it
assumed the form of malignant collapse human efforts seem of comparatively
little avail.
To the precautionary and preventive measures I can refer with more satis-
faction, and I would advert to these under two heads, namely, diet and general
hygiene. It may be mentioned that as soon as cholera appeared no time was
lost in selecting the delicate and weakly patients and placing all on full and
generous diets of strong beef-tea and milk given warm in the morning, with the
addition of rum in the evening.
Of the measures of general hygiene, the following were considered chiefly
important:—
The asylum staff were furnished with a supply of such medicines as were
thought best adapted to relieve the commencing attack of vomiting or diarrhœa
with directions for their use, and strict injunctions to watch carefully the patients
under their charge and on the earliest approach to alvine disorder to administer
immediately the appropriate medicine, and next to report the case at once to the
Superintendent. So soon as patients were observed in a state of approaching or
commencing collapse they were removed to the hospital, a cottage having been
set apart for that purpose and competent attendants appointed in it, with all
appliances that might be required for instant employment.
Carbolic acid powder is habitually and freely employed in all the cleansing
processes of the asylum, and has, with a strong solution of carbolic acid, been
distributed in more abundant quantities since the invasion of cholera; but in
order still more effectually to destroy any noxious vapours or pestiferous exhala-
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