Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-03-18
lEoR LlFE oR pEATh.
How a Chclera-striclSen Soldier Obtaine
Drink In Ind "A.

came to India in 1S5- as a private in the
--th regiment and my company formed par
of the garrison at Arcot, says a writer il
Blackwood's Magazine. Life in barracks il
India is very duh, and it was with great
satisfaction that we heard an order haC
been given for our company to march L
Vellorc 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 fol
moving troops, as the days begin TO get very
hot on the plains in the Carnatic about that
time of the year. But ours was special duty
and as we should only march in the very
early morning, we did not fear the incon
venience Of the mid day heat.
1t was on the second day after leaving
Arcot that, late in the afternoon, 1 was
listening to description Of Vellore by one
Of our fellows who had been there, when
suddenly felt spasms and sickness.
"Holloa old fellow, how blue you lookr'
remarked companion sitting next to me-
and as he spoke my comrades shrank ter.
ror-stricken from me. 1t needed no doctor
to tell what was the matter. The cholera
had seized mel
was hastily conveyed to the temporary
hospital, where our assistant surgeon al
ready had several cases of the disease under
treatment, and was laid on charpoy rap
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 condition of weakness ap-
preaching iusensibility. 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 moreth than 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 l 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 paudal. The assistant surgeon
was making his last round for the night,
accompanied by the hospital-dresser. With
a 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," l heard him remark to the
dresser; "he IS insensble already, and will
not last long. So Wetherall will make six ~
make sixl" said TO myself; "make six
what? Six corpses, of course, for burial at
daylight to- morrow morningn
They had gone and the place was in dark
ness, save for the glimmer of cocoanut-
oil lamp. l heard the scratching of mu-
nooties just outside, made by the camp
followers, who were digging a common
grave for six of US.
/ felt utterly stunned and quite Indifferent
as to my fate. Ny tongue was like piece
Of dry leather in my mouth, which had long
since ceased to yield any saliva to releve
The agonizing burning of my throat and pal
ate. could not have made any sound had
attempted TO do so; but did not try, for
tine attendants were all stretched on the
ground fast asleep. l felt was deserted
eft o die.
l was beginning to wander, think, and
vas back again in the bright, green, En-
5lish meadows, picking DAISIES with my lit
lie sister, and So l should have passed away.
lad finished digging the gravc-my grave
passed the entrance of the pandal; and
me of them threw pannikinful of water
N the mating screen.
1t was like galvanc shock to me. re-
olved to have q drink at any risk. had |
o die, so what matter il l hastened my
eath an hour or two by drinking cold |
water?
l tried to get up, but 1 was too weak to |
tand, and fell down at once. Then ! re.
ected that was more likely to be seen if |
walked, and If detected in my attempt |
hould be brought back and perhaps be |
trapped down TO die. SO / tried TO crawl. |
was about ten minutes dragging myself |
rom my cot to the entrance, and wrlggled |
nder the screen.
There were the chatties before mel
The first seized was empty, and the dis
ppointment nearly made me swoon; but |
be second was brimful. 1 threw my arms |
round it and dragged myself to it, / |
lunged my head into the delicious, linn
id water, and devoured, rather than drank,
uge mouthfuls of the cool and heavenly |
uid. felt my stomach swelling with the |
normous draughts l swallowed; but / |
lughed and drank again and again. / |
ecked naught of life or death then.
At length / could drink no more, and |
hen discipline asserted itself. knew / |
ad no right to be out there, and thought |
were missed from my cot l should be
eported. So crept back the way had |
ONE, and shortly after fell into profound
leep.
1t was broad daylight when awoke and
aw the assistant surgeon and dresser
landing beside me.
"How is thisl" asked the doctor; "Weth-
rell ought to have been dead ~
'Please, sir, said l, Il am feeling much |
etter, and have no wish TO make the sixth
MS morning."
"Ihere were six without you," said the
octor, sadly.
rapidly recovered; and as / had never
ldulged In the pernlcious country arrack
Did TO soldiers out here, l was soCn quite
Lrong again. But it was some time before
told any one how recovered from my at
lck of cholera. However, / told the doc
,r one day all about it; and though he said
ne cold water ought to have killed me, l
Oserved the poor fellows who were In
ospital with cholera got an extra allowance
water