Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-10-07
THE SOURCE AND COURSE OF
CHOLERA.


view with Mr.. Mountford, who is in the
East Indian service, has had the disease
and appears to know all ABOUT 1t. we
quote from the journal
Mr.. Mountford has been at Delhi
eighteen of the "a years he has been in
the British Indian service, ana therefore
Is us well posted as any one can be upon
the fearful disease.
1.-The actual epidemic cholera of the
Asiatic type" said he, 'always starts at
Hurdwar; never in China or even else
where in India. In the first place. llurd-
war is the greatest resort for religious |
deyotees in all India, excepting Allahab-
ad. name better known to Western peo-
pie There are three series OF festivals
at this city. occurring, one annually, one
every five years. and one other, the great
est. every twelve years. 10 the place
there resort the various castles OF India, !
not by thousands, but by millions. 1he
number annually present during the
bathing season is upward OF ilVe millions
at the opening of the spring, about the
month of April, and the religious season
continues six weeks. This year was one
of the fve-year festivals. and some TWEEN
" millions were present ne twelve
wear period brings from one-thlrd TO one
fourth of the population OF lndia-or
about one hundred millions-proDably
the largest congregation ever gathered
"To explain why the great meetings
are held it must be remembered that the
Ganges is the sacred river OF the Brah-
min people, and that its waters are sup
posed to wash away sin. llurdwar Is
the farthest point up which the populace
B. 10 I, n In, 1n a
just above the city is a narrow cleft in
the rocky wall whence issues the. to be,
mighty stream-and this cleft is but a few
feet wide
"The cause of the Asiatic cholera is
the uncleanlness of the people. There
are no sewers, and although the British
government has tried to remedy this by
digging trenches, it has proved of no
avail. There are no sanitary arrange
ments, and, as consequence, TINS
place-four or five thousand years old
is great cesspool.
"The present epidemic broke out when
the millions were assembling during the
last week of last March. 1t reached Del
hi on the second day of last April. On
the third day there were 800 deaths.
"The disease is now spread in two prin-
cipal ways. First, the government has
constructed a railway branch to Hurd-
war-a channel which cannot be stop
ped-and secondly the Ganges river
bears the disease throughout its course
of 100 miles to the ocean. The plague
of this year in one month had spread
over India, in two and one-half months
to Cashmere and Rus sia."
Mr.. Mountford criticised the presi-
dents 2O-day order. "Why," said he,
"cholera germs retain vitality from three
weeks to 10 days. 1t takes the boats
from 20 to % days TO go from India to
Hamburg. Yet vessels have carried pas
sengers from Bombay to Hamburg who
did not come down with the disease I'M
til they had arrived at that city. 1t is
common expression in India to say that
the disease will break out in 40 days.
Mr. Mountford was l6 years old when
he was first attacked with cholera. mat
was in 1862 In eighteen hours the at
tack is over. The disease begins with
purging and vomiting. After an hour OF
two the cramps commence. y few eX'
perience cramps III the stomach first
Most people are attacked in the feet. The
feeling is of an iron bullet-heated rec
hot-rushing up the muscles of the leg
until the stomach is reached, when the
pain becomes eXcruciating. Although
vi Il.
were required to hold him down. At tina
, time the body of one of the military at
, tacheS of the government was SeWed III
in gunny bag and placed on table II
Il deadhOuse with surrounding corpse'
ready for burial-one great pit being aus
for their reception. But DR.. Nraiter
r. the apothecary, was surprised to find th'
corpses on the ground upon entering III
! to the morgue, with the exception o
Kirby, and more surprised when that in
. dividual sat up and greeted him witt
Good morning, doctor" This Illus
trates The violence and freaks of the chol
i era.
A The continual cry of the stricken is 70
water. Formerly the doctors used no
o drinks; now cold drinks are found TO b
better. The recovery is exactly the re
-, verse of the attack. But the exhaustion
is so great that for three months one feel
4 disiointed.
y 1T was pity" says Mr. Mouutforl
"the president didn't proclaim fort,
DAYS quarantine. with no distinctions
Cabin passengers are as likely to bring
!, the epidemic, for of course the first elias
= hotels are supplied by servants from thu
lower quarters.
"Other reasons why the disease 81
- readily starts at Hurdwar," continued
), the speaker. "are the change in climate
" the pilgrims from the plains of lndi
- undergo, the temperature beng 80 :
:, whereas it is 1869 on the plains, ant
" the amount of sacrifices offered and de
caying.'
''Why does not the British govern
ment try to break up the nuisance!
, asked the reporter.
8 "Impossible," was the reply, "th
o English would lose India. They trie
: to quarantine this spring by stopping
the pilgrims before they reached Hurd
30 war. AS a consequence the priest
NJ threatened to file action for S25O,OOO i
- your money. And the outgoing train
h carry the dead The polluted Gange
- spreads the plague clear to Calcutta
The disease does not break out a
Allahabad, which is the junction of tn
GaDges and the Jumna.
Sporadic cholera-cholera morbus-fr'
quently occurs at Calcutta. The govern
ment takes action when the true Asiati
LII. hraa be Ia. elNn = A .