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sanitary improvements are essential to prevent the outbreak and spread of
epidemic diseases, they do not hold good always "with cholera, and says that he
has observed " that places well sanitated frequently suffer from cholera, at times
vehemently." He instances the case of English Bazar and Makhdumpur, two
principal quarters in the English Bazar Municipality. The former, which was
more crowded, ill-ventilated, and untidy than the latter, was free from cholera
while there were several cases in the latter.
Rajshahye.—In January cholera was spread pretty evenly over the whole
district; in February there was the usual characteristic lull ; from March to
May it prevailed with epidemic intensity ; June to September were com-
paratively free from the disease; and in October it broke out afresh and
continued to prevail up to the end of the year. The severity of the disease
was greater in 1876 than in the preceding year. The summer epidemic raged
severely in most of the northern circles lying on the banks of the Ganges, and
advanced in the face of the westerly and south-westerly winds. In the
Charghat and Lalpur circles hardly a village escaped. The disease reached
its climax between the 14th and 16th April, and when it commenced abating
after May it did so rapidly. The Civil Surgeon says :— " It was surprising
to find that this outbreak, so sudden and of so vigorous a character, should
have subsided so quickly, and without spreading itself over a larger tract
of country. Indeed its localization to a small tract of land lying on the
north bank of the Ganges, and forming a portion of the southern parts of
our district, was remarkable and can only be explained on the supposition
that the atmospheric condition, which gives vitality to the cholera germs, was
suddenly changed either chemically or otherwise, and the progress of the
disease thereby cut short by the frequent falls of rain that occurred two or
three weeks after the onset of the epidemic, the excessive temperature
being thereby diminished, as also the great diurnal range. (Dr. Busby). The
winter epidemic was not so severe as the summer ones, and was confined
chiefly to the Nathor and Baragora circles,
Rungpur.—The cholera of 1876 in this district was a continuation of
the terrible epidemic which devastated many villages in 1875. The disease
subsided considerably in February ; began to be active in March ; continued
until the end of September; was almost absent in October; broke out afresh
in November; and increased again in December. It was most fatal in July
and August. Cholera here prevailed with less intensity in 1876 than in 1875.
The disease is endemic in this district. It is stated that in those portions of
the district which are dry and well drained cholera generaly prevails after
accidental introduction, but that it loves to dwell, and has its seasonal
activity in the damp and low portions of the country.
Bogra.—The cholera of January 1876 in this district was a termination
of the violent outbreak of the preceding year. It prevailed in a mild form
till the 1st May, and then disappeared. In November it broke out again, and
was most severe in December. On the whole the disease was much less severe
and fatal than in the preceding year. The only circle which suffered very
severely was that of Shariakandi, where the disease broke out in March 1875
and continued until April 1876, and again in November, lasting till the close
of the year. Here 192 persons were attacked, and the death-rate per 1,000
was 1·13.
Pabna.—Here also the cholera of the earlier months was a continuation
of that which prevailed in the latter part of 1875; the disease existed through-
out the district, all its 10 circles being affected, and was more fatal than in
the preceding year. It was severe in January; declined in February ; in-
crease'd in March ; and attained its maximum intensity in April: in July it
declined again sensibly, and continued very low till October, that month
and September being months of considerable immunity. In November the
disease resumed its virulent character and continued to rage with violence
up to the close of the year
Darjiling. —Excluding the cyclone-affected areas, Darjiling suffered from
cholera in 1876 in a far greater degree than any of the other districts of the
province. The disease it appears has never been absent from the Terai of
late years, although it has largely escaped notice, except when epidemic. The
cholera of 1876 in this district was a continuation of that which prevailed