Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-29
From ne Eagl;skmaIs Nagaeine.
PROGRESS OFTlIEINDiAN CHOLERA.

From he EagI;sk,naa's Magazine
PROGRESS OFTlIE INDIAN CHOLERA.
Indian or Spasmodic Cholera, is slacuc of mod
orn origin. II is in It's principal symptoms alto
gcthcr unlike the English cholera, yet many per-
sons not acquainted with tho nuturc of both spc-
cies, have contoundcd them. In Hindostan, Spas
modc Cholera has probably always existed as
comparatively mild climatic disease, affecting ut
certain seasons cf the year small number of in
dividuals in various parts of the country. But
there is evidence to show that it ever bore the
epidemic character until the year 1877. However
this question may be disposed of it is ut least
tain that tho Indian Cholera not entitled to DO
cidsScd with pestllentIal scourgcs OF tho worst
description, previous to the beginning of August,
lol7, when 1t suddenly broke out with unproce-
dcntcd magny
Commencing among the inhabitants of Jossorc,
town 100 miles \. T.. of Calcutta, in less than
month it travelled along the of tho river TO
that city, having dissolved the intervening villages
Before the expiration of August, tho native popu-
lation of Calcutta were attacked, and early in
Sept. the disease also manifested among tho
Europeans.
From January to May 1918, the pestilcncc ragged
with extreme violence, extending its destructive
influence across Bengal from Silbet to Cuttack,
and towards the interior, from the mouth of the
Gangcs to its confluence with the Jumna, space
including $50 square miles.
Leaving Bengal the disease retired for sometime
TO the western bank Of the Gauges and Jumna. In
its most malignant form It appeared Il Bcnares
where in two months $4,000 persons persisted. At
Allahacad forty or fifty died daily. To other loca-
tons situated either bank the disease soon
spread, and the mortality equally great. L. the
district of Gorrakporc 30 900 were carried off IN y;
month. Then suffered i'll succession Lucknow
Cawnporc, Delhi, Agra, Mutra, Mcerlt and Barrc-
ly.
Between the 9th and 7th of November, the cpl
dcnic had reached the grand army, which on the
approach of the Pndarrcawar, had been concen-
tratcd at Jubbuporc, Mundcllah and Sanger, under
the command of the Marquis of Hastings Il
consisted of 10000 troops, and 90, 900 followers.
To the different divisions of this force the Cholera
proved fatally effective than could the shot of
The enemy in wellcontested field. In twelve DAYS
nearly 5000 had fallen to rise no more. At
this time the thermometer ranged from 900 to 1000
Fahrenheit. The heat was moist and suffocatinp
and the atmosphere dead calm. The progress of
the Cholera in the centre division of the army was
us fo!ioWs:-Aircr creeping insidiOusly for few
d iys among the lower classes of the camp 70 low
crs, it seemed nstantancousy to gain fresh vigour
breaking out with irresistible force III every droc
ton Previous to the 18th it had oyersprcaJ the
camp sparing neither age nor sex in the ndiserim
mating violence OF It's attack. The old and the
young, the European and the native fighting men
ana camp-ioliowcrs were alike selected, ard all
equally sank within its death grasp. From til. th
TO the goth, the mortality had become so extensive
that the stou'est hearts yielding to despair.
The camp wore the aspect of general hospital.
lhe medical officers night and day at their posts,
were no longer able to administer to the numerous
sick who continued to pour in from every quarter.
The Cholera now directed its course across .ns
Dcccan, advancing. in many instances, at the rate
OF htteen or eighteen miles day, and remaining at
various posts during Il period of from two TO six
weeks In this way il reached Husseinabad where
the mortality frghtful for several days 1t then
followed to the banks of the Nerbuddah to Ianah
and afterwards traverscd to Aurungabad Ahmed
nugger, and Poonah. Taking the direction OF he
coast, it arrived at Bombay, August, 1918, HAVING
crossed the Indian Peninsular in twelve months
from the date of its appearance III Calcutta
We have thus been able to trace the footsteps of
this destructive traveller through the country of
It's birth Its measured rate of progression, and the
occasional hats which it made for definite periods
in thicilly inhabited towns, arc worthy Of remark,
as the epidemic still retains these characteristics
Like a nasccnt river, its has been ut times
direct or devious, uniform temporarily Interrupt
tea, appearing at various places, not at the same
PcrIod but IN succession, either by the gradual adj
'ancc OF the main current, or of some OF its dstr-
Lutive branches.
While the interior of Hindostan was submitting
TO this the peatiioncc had spread alon" the coast Of
Mala5ar and Coromandcl, reaching Madras the 9Th
of October. With Its progress here, a new and
alarming feature was developed. The possibility
OF transporting the contagion by sea was evinccd
its transit from Coromandcl to the island of Gov,
lon. In Candi, the capital it broke out, December.
1913, with even greater violence than upon the
Continent
81 the 18th September, 1819 Maurtius was in
cludcd III the islands infected The disease did not
from Ceyon, where the epidemic was then raGinp
The vessel at the time OF sailing seemed healthy
but during the passage the Cholera appeared anon
the crew. In Port Louis fifty persons died daily
lie maiady, however, was chiefly confined to the
coast; for though the deaths in the hospital of the
town amounted to 81 cases of 1885, on the planta
ton the mortality not higher than ten or fifteen
per cent.
In the adjacent island of Bourbon, the disanse
began early in December, 1919 The governor had
adopted measures TO interdiCt all communication
with Mauritus; but notwithstanding this two boats
from the different islands held clandestinc inter
course, and the contagion imported. Of 257
persons seized with the distcmper, 175 died.
During the last six months Of 1919 tho cholera
pursuing lis route 70 the south and easi had also
invaded the Jndo-Chiuese Peninsula. Siam re
ccivcd moro than proportional share of misfor
tune. In Bankoo alone 40 900 individuals are said
to have fallen victims. The contapion marched
on to Malaga and Singapore. BY the end o April
1t was announced tho no!hcrn coast of Jav5.
Dunng May 1t extendedcd with violence in the
interior ofthis island.
Cochin China and Tonuuin wore invaded IN
1920 In December, of the same year, it entered
China, beginning its ravages at Canton Pekin adj
nltod the enemy in 1891, and during that and tho
following year tho mortality was so enormous
that collins and other funeral requisites wero nc
cessarily furnished at the expense Of tho public
treasury, for the interment Of the poorer classes
Numbers Of people engaged in the pursuit of b,.
TO fall III the streets, exhausted by the sudden i'm
prossiOn of the disease, which carried tbcfn in ,
few hours afterwards 70 eternity
We shall now return to Bombay, and dcscribc I
the course which the epidemic took TO the uortb
and toest IN its approaches from that island towards
the confines OF Buropo and the route by which ot |
last II was enabled TO travers the Russian etnpir
lfuc in, flre 4.