The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-31

derives support from the course taken by the
epidemic visitatOns of this and 'last year.
Whether as ie confidently asserted the theory
stands the test OF close research into the his
tory of past epidemics, am not in a position to
say. Its defenders to establish their point must
show that cholera has never appeared in spo-
radio form i'm the Northwest Provinces, the
Dcccan, the Puniaub, or the countries lying
beyond the British borders, but has invariably
been borne along an unbroken series OF cholera
waves from the Gangetic delta. But what more
Immediately concerns us is how to repei or.
evade the attacks. which, come from what quar-
ter or originate how they may, constitute the
most formidable enemy the British in
india have to contend against Untll we
know what manner of thing our enemy
is and where he can be smitten, a knowledge
from which we seem rs far as our fathers were,
repulsion is an imposs ibiltY. Evasion has been
tried, and frequently with success, but the
flights are necessarily somewhat empirical, and
il has happened that regiment attacked by the
disease has been removed from comparatively
lightly visited district into one virulently
affected. This year the epidemic, Illustrating
the invasion theory, has reoccupied its last year
area-namely, Bengal, part of the Northwest
and all the Central proynces-and has invaded
Raipootana, Dude, and the remainder of the
Northwest as high as Agra. Hitherto Meerut
Rohilcuud, and the Punjaub have escaped,
though precursory symptoms have appeared in
Umritsur. We may however, confidently
hope that the epidenic. for this year
at least has done its worst. Accounts
from the stations where disease has
been rife grow daily more satisfactory, and from
many--notably Anahabad, where the mortality
was greatest-it has disappeared altogether. /
have not been able to obtain trustworthy ac-
counts to date of the mortality amongst tue
general population: but 1t has been terribly
heayy-to be counted by tens of thousands.
Amongst the British troops, including women
and children, the total number of deaths has
been about so. This is not an extraordinary
number for year of epidemic, but the distin-
gushing characteristic of the cholera of 1859 is
its viruency. OF those seized more than two
thirds died. DR.. Cunningham, Sanitary Commits
siOner to the Government of India has recon-
mended the adoption Of a more extended trial of
the evasion system of battling cholera. Some
districts, lamentably few in number are re-
markable for a comparative immunity from
the disease. Where these are attainale
by rail, and not more than $50 to 200
miles distant, DR.. Cunningham proposes that
regiments III which cholera appears at all shall
be at once removed to them. The scheme is adj
mittedly merely experimental, but Lord Mayo
has decided to give it full trial when occasion
may arise. The district civil officers in commu-
nication with the officers of the quartermastcr-
generals department have been busy, therefore,
in selecting sites Tor camps in the favored dis
tricts near the line of rail- but far enough from
towns or populOus villages to avoid the risk of
infection on either side. Meanwhile detailed in
structions have been issued from army head
quarters for the guidance Of officers command
ing troops entrusted with the execution of the
plan.
| sincerely hope I shall not have to touch on
the subject of cholera in any subsequent letter,
but at the risk OF wearying you with this not
very inviting though important topic, Twill quote
a paragraph from very late memorandum on
this years epidemic by DR.. Dryden of the Saui-
tary Commission Olce:--
''Were the cholera (he says of 1859 now to he
stopped in its geographical distribution, the cholera
OF the year would present throughout the Bengal
Presidency the precise distribution of the cholera of
1860; powerful epidemic advance from the East has
occurred up TO SO deg. the northern and southern
epidemic highways have been universally occupied,
and Meerut, Rohilcund and the Puniaub have re-
mained as yet an exempted area. The meteorology
of 1850 within the exempted tract very much resent
bed that of the monsoon season of 1860 within the
same limits, and it is an unpleasant reflection that
the exempted cholera tract of 1860 became on ac-
count of its exemption the famine tract 1861 The
geography OF the exempted cholera tract of and
of the famine tract of 1861 will be found to be absO-
lutey identical. Even within the uninvaded
tract of 1869 the rains have been extremely deficient
and for fortnight they have ceased altogether