( 78 )
was given to promote the secretion of urine ;* * * the rest 37 in number were
treated in a different manner. " I became," writes Dr. Thornton, the Civil
Surgeon, " dissatisfied with the acid treatment on account of the heavy mortality
(47 per cent.) which I found resulting from its use, and I resolved to try a
method recommended by Dr, Billing, an eminent London physician, who
practised it successfully in the cholera epidemic of 1831-32. This author
considers cholera as an essentially febrile disease, and treats it by antimony and
salines, followed by quinine."
Tarter emetic
Sulphate of magnesia
Water
grains
...
ii
3 1/2
3 viii
A table spoonful every half hour
or according to circumstances.
" I adopted this plan and treated all the other cases that occurred with
the mixture noted in the margin, and with the
quinine mixture when the urgent symptoms were
abating. Out of 37 cases thus treated, there were
28 recoveries and nine deaths, a mortality of only
24 per cent. This result is rendered still more
favourable by the facts that three of the patients who died were feeble, sickly
old men, quite unable to rally, and that a fourth was brought to hospital in
a hopeless state, in which no treatment could be of any avail. During the
stay of the prisoners in camp, several men of the police guard, some mem-
bers of their families, and a considerable number of people from neighbouring
villages, were treated in this way for cholera in different stages, and nearly
all of them recovered."
Tirhut.—" Cholera prevailed in an epidemic form in this district during
the months of March to September. These cases were a good deal scattered,
and the outbreak was not very severe in any locality. The villages that fared
the worst were those situated in the north-west, west, and south-west of
the district."
Saran.—" Cholera as an epidemic visited this district in June, July,
August, and September. The lower classes, the poor, ill-fed, and intemperate
are said to have been especially attacked."
Champaran.—" Cholera was present in this district, but confined to limited
localities, during eight months of the year, the months of immunity being
January, March, April and December. From the latter end of July to the
end of August it was very severe, almost epidemic in character, and caused a
mortality that created great alarm." The Civil Surgeon says—"cases of
sporadic cholera are of frequent occurrence owing to dietary indiscretions,
especially during the marriage months, when the poor, who are living in a
state of semi-starvation at other periods, gorge themselves with the most he-
terogenous articles in the shape of food; purging and vomiting in a severe
form results, and unless the person attacked is of a strong robust frame,
his surrounding conditions are altogether against his recovery."
Monghyr.—" Cholera was present in this district throughout the year.
In the earlier months the cases were not numerous, but in April the disease
assumed an almost epidemic form, and continued its ravages till October,
exhibiting its worst features in May, June and July."
Bhagalpur.—" Cholera, in some cases in epidemic form, broke out in this
district in March, and ceased by the end of June."
Purnia.—" Cholera broke out in this district in a severe form in March,
prevailed with the greatest intensity in April, and disappeared in June.
* * * About a fortnight after the Carogola fair, and while the Mohurrum
festival was being observed, cholera of a severe, but not of a virulent
character, broke out in the villages along the Ganges and Darjeeling road, to
which part it was chiefly confined. Not a case occurred while the fair lasted,
nor is there any evidence of importation. Women and children suffered more
than men. The disease commenced abating about the end of April," A list
of 12 villages which were affected is givan, showing the prevalence of the
disease in each; the total number of cases is 802 with 596 deaths. "A few
cases of cholera also occurred in the native town to the north of the station,
but the disease did not pervade the station or appear in the jail."
SanthaL—" Several outbreaks of cholera occurred in this district during
the year. They were in most cases of very brief duration, ceasing almost
before the places could be visited. * * * These outbreaks were for the most
part ascribed to heat and want of rain. The insanitary state of the affected