( 162 )
Chittagong
. ,
Midnapur
. ,
Puri
2 Bhagulpur, C. and D
Buxar
. .
Champaran
. .
Strength
200
991
96
1,220
884
473
Admissions
1
5
1
7
1
1
Deaths
0
3
0
4
1
1
The strength of the affected jails is 10,399, the percentage of admissions
0·51, and of deaths to admissions 55. Of the 53 admissions there were 15 in
January, 5 in February, 2 in March, 13 in April, 3 in May, 3 in June, 2 in
July, 4 in August, 3 in November, and 3 in December.
The prevalence of cholera in the jails of Bengal Province during 1880 is
very considerably below that of any year of the whole series back to 1862, and
the mortality is not much more than half that of 1871, which is the year of
next lowest prevalence in the same series of years, comparing the general
characteristics of these two years.
Meteorology.—The following brief review of the meteorological conditions
of the year 1880 is condensed from a note received from the Meteorological
Re
Atmospheric pressure.—The variations of the barometer during the year
1880 were larger than usual. Pressure was considerably below the average at
all the Bengal stations in the month of January, and the defect appeared to
have been confined to the lower strata of the atmosphere, as the average pres-
sure at Darjiling for the month only varied ·507 from the average for the
month. Pressure in February differed very slightly from the normal average,
but during the next month it was considerably below it. This large defect in
the pressure, unlike the similar feature in the month of January, appeared not
to have been confined to the lower atmospheric strata. The same feature of
deficient air pressure was continued at the plain stations during April. The
relative distribution of pressure was, however, considerably altered, the defi-
ciency of pressure being, as in the month of January, confined almost entirely
to the lower strata of the atmosphere, i.e., below 6,000 feet. The general
oscillatory character of the variation of the pressure (combined with general
deficiency of pressure) was again shown in May. The averages for this month
show that the pressure generally differed by small amounts from the normal
mean. Pressure diminished very rapidly during the next month of June, and
was generally largely in defect. The deficiency of pressure in June was follow-
ed by a rebound in July, when the pressure was slightly in excess almost
everywhere. The chief feature of the first six months of the year was, it will
be seen, diminished pressure, and this feature continued up to the setting in of
the rains, and was strongly marked at that time, viz. in the month of June.
With the commencement of a stronger south-west monsoon current than usual
the variations of pressure altered in character, as during the remaining months
of the year it was in excess over the whole of the province, except in Orissa in
September. In July and August the variations in excess were generally small
in amount, but they increased in September and October, and were more
marked in November, but much less so in December.
Mean Temperature.—The average temperature of the month of January
was generally in excess of the normal mean. In Central and Northern Bengal
it ranged from 1° to 2° above the average, but was less in Behar and Chota
Nagpur, barely amounting to - 1 / 2°. In February the temperature was consider-
ably below the average. The deficiency was greatest in Bihar and Western
Bengal, where it amounted to 2°,—over Eastern and Northern Bengal it varied
from -½ to ½J°. February was only very slightly warmer than. January over
almost the whole of the province. The temperature in March was lower than
the average. It was slightly (from ½° to 1½°) in excess in Bihar, Chota Nag-
pur, and Western Bengal, and in defect by small amounts, averaging ½° in
Eastern Bengal. The most rapid increase of temperature always occurs in
March in Bengal and in April in Bihar. The temperature for April was in
excess over the whole province, as compared with the preceding month, more
especially in Bihar and Chota Nagpur, where it averaged 2½° above the normal
mean,—the excess in Eastern and Central Bengal was much less, barely
amounting to 1°. May was characterized by unusually low temperature, the
averages for the Bengal stations being generally less than for the previous