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BENGAL PROVINCE, 1869.
There are no statistics available regarding the monthly prevalence of
cholera among the civil population for the year 1869.
The following particulars are gathered from the Report of the Sanitary
Commissioner for Bengal for 1869-70
Regarding the prevalence of cholera in the districts of Howrah and
Hooghly no information is given.
Jessore.—Cholera prevailed in December 3 868 and raged till the middle
of January 1869 ; in the Jessore bazar and neighbourhood 139 cases with
84 deaths were reported ; all these cases occurred in the native quarters, none
amongst the European community. Outbreaks usually occur after a long
absence of rain. The disease prevails sporadically throughout the district
during the greater part of every year. In April 1869 cholera was raging in
various parts of the district, and extra medical aid was asked for.
Nuddea.—In October 1868 a few cases of cholera occurred at Santi-
pur during a fair that was being held. It then disappeared entirely until the
end of November, when it broke out again, and simultaneously it appears
to have become generally prevalent all over the district. The disease con-
tinued to prevail pretty generally until April 1869, when it disappeared
altogether. From eight circles a total of 878 cases with S05 deaths is
given.
Murshidabad.—Cholera endemic in the district. In 1869 the disease
appeared at Jangipur on llth March, and in the course of April spread
rapidly in the district. At the same time cholera was raging in the neigh-
bouring districts of Rajshahye and Pubna.
Faridpur.—No epidemic during the year.
Burisal.—No information supplied regarding cholera in the district
during 1869, but 18 deaths from the disease occurred in the jail during
the year.
Dacca.—Cholera prevalent in the town in February, by the month of
June the disease had very nearly subsided, though cases were seen now and
then in every month. On the 29th October the disease again broke out, and
continued very prevalent in the city during November. After November it
abated, but still persisted at the end of the year, though in a much diminished
degree. During the latter part of the year cholera prevailed in several parts
of the district·, but no reliable information of its mortality is available. At
the Baroni fair, held at Munshigunge in 1869, 13 miles from Dacca, 8 cases
of cholera with 5 deaths occurred ; the first case was on 22nd November,
the last on 16th December. Cholera was prevailing at Dacca before the fair
commenced.
Mymensingh.—No report received.
Tipperah.—Commencing in the early part of December 1868, cholera, pre-
vailed to a great extent in the early part of 1869 ; the disease lasted until May,
and out of 3,830 attacked 2,562 proved fatal. The first cases commenced in
the northern part of the district, the disease spread rapidly over the district,
following no regular course, appearing suddenly in one place, and disappearing
as suddenly after carrying off a few victims, then reappearing in another ; it
was noticed that places in the neighbourhood of rivers and khals suffered
more than others. Cholera is endemic in this district, cases being reported
every month throughout the year, but it prevails mostly in the cold and dry
months, as is shown in the following statement compiled from police reports
during the year :—
Months.
January ...
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
Cases.
1,474
4,35
246
380
249
12
. . .
6
Deaths.
978
387
129
278
169
11
...
4
Months.
September
...
October ...
November
December
Total
Cases.
1
. . .
84
183
3,020
Deaths.
1
...
21
119
2,097