Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-11-06
FOR LIFE OR DEATH.
How q Cholcra-Stricken Soldier Obtained
q Drink in India.

A@OW . SOtOICE ODtoAuOO
Drink in India.
came to India in 1856 as private in the
-th regiment and my company formed part
OF the garrison at Arcot, says a writer in
Blackwood's Magazine. Life in barracks in
India is very dull, and 1t was with great
satisfaction that we heard an order had
been given for our company to march to
Vellore to strengthen the garrison there,
which had been very much reduced by chol-
era.
1t was then about the middle Of March,
and consequently later than Is usual for
moving troops, as the days begin to getvery
hot on the plains in the Carnatic about that
time Of the year. But ours was special duty,
and, IS we should only march In the very
early morning, we did not fear the moon.
vcnience OF the midday heat.
1t was on the second day after leaving
Arcot that, late In the afternoon, was
listening to description Of Vellore by one
Of our follows who had been there, when
suddenly felt spasms and sickness.
"Holloai old fellow, how blue you lookF
remarked a companion sitting next to me,
and as he spoke my comrades shrank ter
ror-stricken from me. It needed no doctor
to tell what was the matter. The cholera
had seized mel
was hastily conveyed to the temporary
ready had several cases of the disease under
treatment, and 1 was laid on a charpoy. Trap
idly passed from the first to the second stage
Of that malady, and by nine o'clock at night
the incessant vomiting and purging had re-
duced me to a condition of weakness ap-
preaching insensibility. l was consumed
by burning, raging thirst, but the dresser
disregarded all my entreaties for drink of
water. The system of treatment for chol-
era in those days allowed the patient moth
ing morethan just to have the lips moistened
occasionally with weak brandy and water,
and this SIMPLY aggravated the torture Of
thirst. Nowadays champagne Is given. and
the sufferer is allowed to drink pretty freely.
The hospital was, of course, only pandal,
hastily constructed with palmyra-leaves,
with large cuscus-mat at the entrances at
each end. Two large chatties of water
were placed just outside each entrance.
/ had begged, sworn and menaced
at intervals, but no one paid the
slightest heed to me, and I was
sinking into that condition of torpor
which is the immediate precursor of the
third and fatal stage of cholera, when heard
voices in the pandal. The assistant surgeon
was making his last round for the night,
accompanied by the hospitaldresser. With
violent effort reused myself, and eagerly
listened for their approach. wanted to
hear my fate pronounced.
They stopped at length where lay, and
the doctor examined my body.
"Mottled,n I heard him remark to the
dresser; che Is insensible already, and will
not last long. So Wetherall will make SKIP
"Make six ." said to myself; make six
whatP Six corpses, Of course, for burial at
daylight tomorrow morning."
They had gone and the place was in dark
ness, save for the glimmer of cocoanut-
oil lamp. l heard the scratching of mu-
mooties just outside, made by the camp
followers, who were digging a common
grave for six of US.
l felt utterly stunned and quite indifferent
as to nay fate. My tongue was like piece
of dry leather in my mouth, which had long
since ceased to yield any saliva to relieve
the agoniZing burning of my throat and pal
ate. could not have made any sound had
Iattempted to do so; but did not try, for
the attendants were all stretched on the
ground fast asleep. / felt was deserted
Lett to die.
Twas beginning to wander, think, and
was back again in the bright, green, En-
glish meadows, picking daisies with my lit
tie sister, and sol should have passed away.
But just at that moment, the coolies, who
had finished digging the grave-my grave
one of them threw pannikinful of water
| on the mating screen.
1t was like galvanic shock to me. re-
solved to have drink at any risk. had
! to die, so what matter if hastened my
| death an hour or two by drinking cold
| water?
l tried to get up, but was too weak to
| stand, and fell down at once. Then re-
| tiected that was more likely to be seen if
walked, and if detected in my attempt I
should be brought back and perhaps be
| strapped down to die So tried to crawl
was about ten minutes dragging myself
from my cot to the entrance, and Iwrlggled
| under the screen.
There were the chatties before mel
| The first seized was empty, and the dis
| appointment nearly made me swoon; but
the second was brimful. threw my arms
around it and dragged myself to it. I
| plunged my head into the delicious, iim-
pid water, and devoured, rather than drank,
| huge mouthfuls Of the cool and heavenly
| fluid. felt my stomach swelling with the
| enormous draughts / swallowed; but !
laughed and drank again and again.
recked naught Of life or death then.
At length l could drink no more, and
then discipline asserted itself. I knew l
had no right to be out there, and thought
| if were missed from my cot should be
reported. So 1 crept back the way I had
come, and shortly after fell into profound
sleep.
1t was broad daylight when awoke and
saw the assistant surgeon and dresser
standing beside me.
chow is thisi" asked the doctor; "Weth-
| erell ought to have been dead!''
please, sir" said 1, 81 am feeling much
better, and have no wish to make the sixth
this morning"
''There were six without you," said the
doctor, sadly.
rapidly recovered; and as l had never
INDUCED in the pernicious country arrack
sold to soldiers out here, was soon quite
strong again. But it was some time before
told any one how l recovered from my at
tack of cholera However, told the doc
tor one day all about it; and though he said
the cold water ought to have killed me, ]
observed the poor fellows who were In
hospital with cholera got an extra allowance
Of water.