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to believe that nearly all the cases were really due to diarrhoea, dysentery, and
other bowel affections. This opinion is also shared by Dr. Wright of Buxar.
In Rajshahye cholera existed during the entire year, and in November
assumed an epidemic form in the whole of the district east, north-east,
partially north and west of the Sadar station, Mandat, in the extreme north
alone enjoying singular immunity. The district was extensively inundated,
and Dr. Bensely considers that the privation and distress to which the
villagers were thereby subjected, especially predisposed them to the disease.
In Midnapur there were only a few sporadic cases here and there,
Dr. Mathew remarks that while pilgrims have long been considered one of the
principal sources of the disease, although large numbers of them passed through
the high lands of the district and the town, they failed to import the disease,
and that so far as he could learn, it would appear that the parts of the
district through which pilgrims pass year after year have been hitherto least
trampled by this scourge. He adds that dysentery and fever—the result of bad
food and water, exposure and fatigue—and not cholera, are the causes of the
heavy mortality among pilgrims.
The Orissa district enjoyed comparative immunity from cholera during
1871. In Outtack there were but few cases reported from the district, very
few in the town, and none in the jail, which suffered severely in 1870. In
Balasore there was comparative freedom from cholera, notwithstanding that
a very large number of pilgrims passed through the district. In Puri
there was no epidemic this year—a most unusual circumstance—as the
disease breaks out annually in June or July, when the pilgrims arrive;
not a single case came under the Civil Surgeon's observation. Reports
of suspected cases were received, but on enquiry they turned out to be cases
of diarrhoea and dysentery. Dr. Stewart, the Civil Surgeon, attributes this
immunity rather to the steady and free rainfall from February to October than
to any of the sanitary arrangements made at the last rathjatra.
In the Chota Nagpur district also there was comparative immunity
from cholera in 1871. (From the Report by Dr. C. J. Jackson, Officiating
Sanitary Commissioner for Bengal for 1871).
The incidence of the cholera of 1871 among the troops and jails of this
province is shown in the subjoined abstract statements.
Among the European troops—total average strength 3,744—there were
altogether 10 admissions and 6 deaths from cholera, giving a death-rate of
1·60 per mille of strength. Of the five stations occupied by the European
troops, the three following recorded cholera in 1871:—
Dum-Dum ...
...
Hazaribagh ...
Dinapore
Strength 672
887
881
Admissions 2
1
7
Deaths 1
o
5
The strength of the affected troops is 2,440, the percentage of admissions
to strength is 0·41, and of deaths to admissions 60. Of the 10 admissions there
were 1 in June, 1 in July, 6 in November and 2 in December.
Among the families of the European soldiers there were the following
admissions and deaths from cholera in 1871 :—
Women—total average strength 306—admissions 3 and deaths 3. Of
the five stations occupied by women, the two following recorded cholera
in 1871:—
Hazaribagh. ...
...
Dinapore
...
Strength
87
100
Admissions 2
1
Deaths 2
1
The strength of the affected women is 187, the percentage of admissions
to strength 1·60, and of deaths to admissions 100. Of the 3 admissions 2 were
in June, and 1 in December.
Children.—total average strength 709—there was no cholera.
Among the native troops—total average strength 2,745—there were
altogether 7 admissions and 6 deaths from cholera, giving a death-rate of
1·82 per mille of strength. Of the six stations occupied by navive troops,
five recorded cholera in 1871:—
The strength of the affected troops is 2,631, the percentage of admissions
to strength 0·37, and of deaths to admissions 71. Of the 7 admissions,
there were 2 April, 2 in October, 1 in November, and 2 in December.
I 2