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From Magistrate of Ghazeepore, to Commissioner, Benares Division (No. 117).—Dated
Ghazeepore, the 17th August, 1869.
SIR,—I brought to your notice demi-officially about a week ago that I had
received a report to the effect that cholera was very prevalent at Mouzah Suhutwar, in
the Bulliah Sub-Division of this district. The report then received was from Inspec-
tor Hussun Huzza, and was to the effect that 300 people had died of cholera. Imme-
diately on the report being read to him, Mr. Home, in charge of the Bulliah Sub-Division,
sent out orders by sowar that the Tehseelee Peshkar and Native Doctor at Bulliah
were to proceed at once to Snhutwar, taking cholera pills with them ; that the former
was to employ himself in having the village thoroughly cleaned up, while the latter was
to attend t0 the sick.
At the same time orders were sent to Inspector Hussun Ruzza to ascertain and
report the exact number of deaths from cholera that had occuried on each several
date. No full report has been received till to-day, when a report was received from the
Native Doctor, Khyrath AH, copy of which I enclose for your information. I am
doing all in my power, with the assistance and advice of Doctor Jameson, Civil
Surgeon, to try and prevent the spread of the disease to other places, and also to
provide medicines for the sick. Δ Native Doctor is being sent to Suhutwar.
2. The village of Suhutwar is a notoriously filthy place. It is a large village
of 8,300 inhabitants. The zemindars not only neglect the commonest rules of sanita-
tion, but, when spoken to on the subject and advised as to the steps they should take
to prevent the constant stench around their village, raise some absurd objections as to a
fuqeer having pronounced a curse on any one who should attempt to clean up any
particular spot. I was at this village during last cold weather with the object of
selecting a site for an Anglo-Vernacular school building, and was very much struck
with the extremely filthy stute of the place. I suggested the cleansing and repairing of
a tank, the neighbourhood of which I considered a good situation for the school-house,
but the zemindars raised the objections above-mentioned. Mr. Home has often spoken
to them about cleaning and keeping the village clean, but without success. The utmost
they do is to pay a little attention as long as his camp is near their village. A large
market is held twice a week in the heart of the village, and Mr. Home, going through
the village the day after market-day, saw human ordure lying about in the neighbour-
hood of the market-place. He had it removed at once, but there is no doubt that ordi-
narily this is left to lie. And further, the place for burning dead bodies is quite close
to the village, so that the smell would be carried into the village if the wind happened
to he in that direction. It is not, then, to be wondered at that cholera should become
epidemic in such a village.
3. My object in bringing this matter prominently to your notice, and through
you to Government, is three-fold :—
First.—I would propose legislative action whereby a Magistrate, with the sanction
of the Commissioner, would compel the adoption of proper sanitary measures in any
village, the zemindars of which either neglected or refused to listen to and act on his
advice in the matter, and make the zemindars pay the expenses of such sanitary
measures.
Second.—I think some power should be given to Magistrate to enforce some
quarantine rules in those villages in which cholera may become epidemic, so that the
spread of the disease to other villages may, as far as possible, be prevented.