4
6. On the 20th May Dr. Hojel heard that cholera had broken out in the
neighbouring districts, and was anxious to take timely measures to put the town
in a proper state of cleanliness; but I regret to notice that his endeavours to get
the municipal authorities to do their duties did not meet with immediate success,
although from the commencement he had reciveed the cordial aid of Mr.
Cumine, the Assistant Collector. Dr. Hojel acknowledges the assistance he
received at once from the' police authorities, who placed sepoys to watch the
principal roads leading to the town, so as to prevent people who might be
suffering from cholera, or who were coming from villages known to be infected,
from entering the town.
7. On the fifth day after the boy was brought from Tallegaon two fresh
,
cases of cholera occurred, one in house No. 32, where he had been living, and one
in a house immediately opposite. Dr. Hojel had both these houses fumigated,
whitewashed, and the floors scraped. and cow-dunged, and disinfecting powder
freely used, and the soiled clothes of the patients burnt in his presence.
8. The municipal authorities appear to have taken alarm at the occurrence
of these cases, and Dr. Hojel was able, after disinfection of their contents, to have
all drains in the neighbourhood of the two houses cleaned out. He estab-
lished fires in the neighbourhood, and burnt sulphur and dammer; but reports that
even then " the aid of the Municipal authorities was, considering the circum
stances, given in a most niggardly way."
9. On arrival the smell of sulphurous acid gas in every direction attracted
my immediate attention, and I was pleased to see that at last more strenuous
efforts to cleanse the town had ken commenced. under the orders of the Col-
lector.
10. Up to the date of my visit 18 cases of cholera had occurred, 4 of which—
equal to 23'3 per cent. of those attacked—had proved. fatal. Three of these deaths .
had taken place in the house to which the original case was brought. It had
been emptied of its inmates before my arrival, and, whilst I was there,
instruc-tions were given by Mr. Robertson, Collector, to remove the tiles from the
roof, and to dig up the floors and to pull down and burn the tattie partitions.
Such action has always been found effectual in Bombay, where we have learnt
from experience that cholera poison cannot live in plenty of air and light.
11. That the disease has not assumed more formidable proportions in
Tanna, may, I think, be fairly ascribed to the energetic action taken by Dr. Hojel,
who gives in detail the measures he adopted, which appear to me to have been
very judicious, and which I hope will meet with the approval of Government.
12. The remaining paragraphs of Dr.Hojel's interesting letter are devoted
to a short description of the sanitary condition of the town of Tanna, from
which it will be seen that it is, perhaps, as filthy as any in Western India.
13. The town is situated on the west side of Tanna Creek, and is only a
few feet above its level. At the time of the census it had a population of 14,299
persons, which consisted of—
Castes.
.
Males, Females
Total.
Per
cent to
Popula-
tion.
Christian
...
...
...
. ...
. . .
596
503
1,099
7.69
Hindu, higher caste
...
...
...
... 5,580 4,504
10,084 70 .53
Do. low
do.
...
...
...
. . . 623
270
993
6.95
Jain
...
....
...
...
...
101
9
110
.76
Ilahomedau
...
...
...
...
949
695
1,644 11 . 50
Parsi ...
...
...
...
.-.
...
150
127
277
1 .93
Other castes
....
...
...
...
55
37
92
.64
.
Total... 8,054 6,245
14,299
100