THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
368
(faaijttij,
i?lt4 Jitdtau 1886.
DECEMBER,
[Dec.,
worked up by the Health Officer, for it is obviously of the utmost importance to determine the
whether
Cholera has
or
been
has
exceptional severity
peculiar to Calcutta bouring localities.
CHOLERA IN CALCUTTA.
1886.
shared with the
neigh-
during the last two months as- On scanning the sectional distribution of the sumedsomewhatalarmingproportionsin Calcutta, disease, the usual remarkable inequality of and it is desirable, while public attention is incidence is very apparent. While the sections
directed to the unusual the facts
place probable causation to
prevalence
of the
disease,
record and consider the
on
Moochee-
Jorabagan, Colootollah, Jorasanko,
parah, and Burra Bazaar give totals of 40, 31, of the outbreak. The year 28, 25 and 20, for the quarter ending 30th 1885 was a favourable one as regards cholera. The September; Waterloo Street, Park Street, and facts for that year are clearly and instructively Bamun Bustee show only one death apiece, and set forth in the extract from Dr. Sanders' report the return for Fort William is blank. which we published iu our October issue (page In fact, the real truth is that cholera pre308) and need not be repeated. The mortality vailed in excess in certain parts of Calcutta caused by the disease during the first 10 months and not in the town as a whole, and this of late of the present year is set forth iu contrast with years has come to be the invariable rule. This the mean of the preceding decenuium iu the fact of localization is, therefore, a primary or following abstract:? fundamental one for the cholera of Calcutta, Total. o
70 146 120
140
Decennial
mean
106 121
..
50
44
46
a
most
distinguishes
283
240 329 208 105
and it is
1,082
74
1,323
important
the
places
or
In the
"weather
figures cholera,
the rains and The as
indicate
figures
a
very moderate hot
tendency
a
to excess
duriug
very serious rise in October. for November and part of December a
contrasted with the
week by week
are as
lected
or
tion is
paid
preceding quinquennium
Week
ending
Quinquennium
The
54
67
27
36
excess
20th
40
is not
so
27th
4 th
llth
117
107
94
527
51
259
49
disproportionate
as
in
but is still very great. Indeed, the disheartening truth is that in no year, since the introduction of the underground drainage and
October,
new
water-supply,
tually severe.
been
appears
at
has the cholera which habi-
the close of the rains been
Whether the
associated,
as
it
excess
usually,
so
in Calcutta has is with
a
corre-
immunity is
reply
a
very all the conditions
existence
in the other
are
some
neg-
atten-
In the
to the laws of health.
No doubt abnormal seasonal account in
13th
healthy
contravened;
one
sification
a
or
conditions, unmoisture,
heat combined with
duly prolonged
6th
case
an
case filth abounds and abides, in the other case some effort is made to minimise and remove it.
follows:?
Total.
one
enjoy
Tlie
absolute?
that contribute to These
where the disease loves
to dwell from those others that
comparative simple one.
What is it that
one.
large
measure
excessive
for the recent inten-
development
of
cholera,
but without the presence in our midst of the essential causes and factors of the disease, heat and moisture in any degree or at any time would not suffice for its production. What these causes and factors
precisely are we do not as yet know ; do know that the presence of filth contains or conditions them in such a manner and
but
we
to such an extent
be
that the removal of filth has
cardinal principle in cholera prevention all the world over. Of the need there come to
is of
a
complying
with this
principle
in Calcutta,
very cursory observation is sufficient to furnish ample evidence. And the more searching the a
sponding excess in the suburbs and surroundiug districts we have not been able to ascertain. This is a point which will probably be carefully scrutiny
of certain
parts
of the
city, the
more
OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA IN CALCUTTA.
Dec., 1886.]
abundant and strong does the evidence grow. In his report for the third quarter of 1886, Dr. Simpson lias
phic are
words
an
prone to be haunted
cribing
in
plain, clear and graof the localities which illustration given
by
busti in which six fatal
a
had occurred within
After des-
cholera. cases
eight days,
of cholera
he indicates
by
lf the conditions unfavourable way of summary and favourable to cholera which were to health
in this
present
locality" namely, (1)
a
well with
hardly better than sewage ; (2) drains with deposit in them emitting' offensive gases; (3) filth, both inside the compound and surrounding water
the
hut; (4) overcrowding bustee, and (5) overcrowding "
huts.
These conditions," he
of huts of
in the
people
adds,
"
are
in the to
be
found in most bustees, and in an intensified form in those where cholera most frequently The
appears."
cleansing
of such
polluted
places as these constitutes a most urgent imperative duty, and we rejoice to observe the Health Officer is fully impressed with a
by which object may
scheme
and
that this
has laid before the Commis-
conviction, and sioners
and
this very palpable be secured. But
necessary and above these gross and patent impurities which require rigorous and thorough over
there exist in Calcutta less
perceptidangerous nuisances which call for investigation and removal. We allude more especially to the evil stenches which occasionally poison the town during the night. These are not confined to the filthier They pervade the quarters of the town. cleanest, roomiest and best sanitated portions of it. Of the existence of this pestilent atmosphere there can be no doubt. Every now and then people perceive it in their bedrooms, are wakened out of their sleep by it, and many correction, ble but
probably
not less
rush to their Avindows a
smell
to shut it out.
indicative of advanced
putrefaction
?heavy?sickening, amtnoniacal.
It
attaiu its greatest concentration and the
place
more
frequently
It is
in
seems
to
pervade the
hot
that succeed the rains and that occur niorhts D in the rains, but it is not breaks during wanting at other times.
stories of
It fills
houses,
the streets and
lower
but ofteu ascends to second
and
third stories.
even
appears to be sion.
369
The very
favourite
a
early morning
time for its diffu-
long been opinions have
The existence of this effluvium has
known in Calcutta, and different been held comes
to its
as
origin. Some hold that it putrid dung of the roadways,
from the
others from the
others from the sewers, others that it is wafted in from the salt lakes
by easterly
stables,
most
general view,
can
be
110
stench, such entering the
to
but whatever its
questiou as
this,
houses
to be
seems
doubt
origin,
that
the
there
putrid pervading the city and of sleeping citizens, conor
a
danger to health, and it appears to systematic effort should be made ascertain the origin aud cause of the evil
stitutes us
The last
winds.
that
a
some
odour. For this purpose concerted observation is necessary, and we have 110 doubt, that if the Health Officer of the town initiated
an
inquiry
into this matter, he would be willingly aided observers in all parts of the town.
by
368
(faaijttij,
i?lt4 Jitdtau 1886.
DECEMBER,
[Dec.,
worked up by the Health Officer, for it is obviously of the utmost importance to determine the
whether
Cholera has
or
been
has
exceptional severity
peculiar to Calcutta bouring localities.
CHOLERA IN CALCUTTA.
1886.
shared with the
neigh-
during the last two months as- On scanning the sectional distribution of the sumedsomewhatalarmingproportionsin Calcutta, disease, the usual remarkable inequality of and it is desirable, while public attention is incidence is very apparent. While the sections
directed to the unusual the facts
place probable causation to
prevalence
of the
disease,
record and consider the
on
Moochee-
Jorabagan, Colootollah, Jorasanko,
parah, and Burra Bazaar give totals of 40, 31, of the outbreak. The year 28, 25 and 20, for the quarter ending 30th 1885 was a favourable one as regards cholera. The September; Waterloo Street, Park Street, and facts for that year are clearly and instructively Bamun Bustee show only one death apiece, and set forth in the extract from Dr. Sanders' report the return for Fort William is blank. which we published iu our October issue (page In fact, the real truth is that cholera pre308) and need not be repeated. The mortality vailed in excess in certain parts of Calcutta caused by the disease during the first 10 months and not in the town as a whole, and this of late of the present year is set forth iu contrast with years has come to be the invariable rule. This the mean of the preceding decenuium iu the fact of localization is, therefore, a primary or following abstract:? fundamental one for the cholera of Calcutta, Total. o
70 146 120
140
Decennial
mean
106 121
..
50
44
46
a
most
distinguishes
283
240 329 208 105
and it is
1,082
74
1,323
important
the
places
or
In the
"weather
figures cholera,
the rains and The as
indicate
figures
a
very moderate hot
tendency
a
to excess
duriug
very serious rise in October. for November and part of December a
contrasted with the
week by week
are as
lected
or
tion is
paid
preceding quinquennium
Week
ending
Quinquennium
The
54
67
27
36
excess
20th
40
is not
so
27th
4 th
llth
117
107
94
527
51
259
49
disproportionate
as
in
but is still very great. Indeed, the disheartening truth is that in no year, since the introduction of the underground drainage and
October,
new
water-supply,
tually severe.
been
appears
at
has the cholera which habi-
the close of the rains been
Whether the
associated,
as
it
excess
usually,
so
in Calcutta has is with
a
corre-
immunity is
reply
a
very all the conditions
existence
in the other
are
some
neg-
atten-
In the
to the laws of health.
No doubt abnormal seasonal account in
13th
healthy
contravened;
one
sification
a
or
conditions, unmoisture,
heat combined with
duly prolonged
6th
case
an
case filth abounds and abides, in the other case some effort is made to minimise and remove it.
follows:?
Total.
one
enjoy
Tlie
absolute?
that contribute to These
where the disease loves
to dwell from those others that
comparative simple one.
What is it that
one.
large
measure
excessive
for the recent inten-
development
of
cholera,
but without the presence in our midst of the essential causes and factors of the disease, heat and moisture in any degree or at any time would not suffice for its production. What these causes and factors
precisely are we do not as yet know ; do know that the presence of filth contains or conditions them in such a manner and
but
we
to such an extent
be
that the removal of filth has
cardinal principle in cholera prevention all the world over. Of the need there come to
is of
a
complying
with this
principle
in Calcutta,
very cursory observation is sufficient to furnish ample evidence. And the more searching the a
sponding excess in the suburbs and surroundiug districts we have not been able to ascertain. This is a point which will probably be carefully scrutiny
of certain
parts
of the
city, the
more
OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA IN CALCUTTA.
Dec., 1886.]
abundant and strong does the evidence grow. In his report for the third quarter of 1886, Dr. Simpson lias
phic are
words
an
prone to be haunted
cribing
in
plain, clear and graof the localities which illustration given
by
busti in which six fatal
a
had occurred within
After des-
cholera. cases
eight days,
of cholera
he indicates
by
lf the conditions unfavourable way of summary and favourable to cholera which were to health
in this
present
locality" namely, (1)
a
well with
hardly better than sewage ; (2) drains with deposit in them emitting' offensive gases; (3) filth, both inside the compound and surrounding water
the
hut; (4) overcrowding bustee, and (5) overcrowding "
huts.
These conditions," he
of huts of
in the
people
adds,
"
are
in the to
be
found in most bustees, and in an intensified form in those where cholera most frequently The
appears."
cleansing
of such
polluted
places as these constitutes a most urgent imperative duty, and we rejoice to observe the Health Officer is fully impressed with a
by which object may
scheme
and
that this
has laid before the Commis-
conviction, and sioners
and
this very palpable be secured. But
necessary and above these gross and patent impurities which require rigorous and thorough over
there exist in Calcutta less
perceptidangerous nuisances which call for investigation and removal. We allude more especially to the evil stenches which occasionally poison the town during the night. These are not confined to the filthier They pervade the quarters of the town. cleanest, roomiest and best sanitated portions of it. Of the existence of this pestilent atmosphere there can be no doubt. Every now and then people perceive it in their bedrooms, are wakened out of their sleep by it, and many correction, ble but
probably
not less
rush to their Avindows a
smell
to shut it out.
indicative of advanced
putrefaction
?heavy?sickening, amtnoniacal.
It
attaiu its greatest concentration and the
place
more
frequently
It is
in
seems
to
pervade the
hot
that succeed the rains and that occur niorhts D in the rains, but it is not breaks during wanting at other times.
stories of
It fills
houses,
the streets and
lower
but ofteu ascends to second
and
third stories.
even
appears to be sion.
369
The very
favourite
a
early morning
time for its diffu-
long been opinions have
The existence of this effluvium has
known in Calcutta, and different been held comes
to its
as
origin. Some hold that it putrid dung of the roadways,
from the
others from the
others from the sewers, others that it is wafted in from the salt lakes
by easterly
stables,
most
general view,
can
be
110
stench, such entering the
to
but whatever its
questiou as
this,
houses
to be
seems
doubt
origin,
that
the
there
putrid pervading the city and of sleeping citizens, conor
a
danger to health, and it appears to systematic effort should be made ascertain the origin aud cause of the evil
stitutes us
The last
winds.
that
a
some
odour. For this purpose concerted observation is necessary, and we have 110 doubt, that if the Health Officer of the town initiated
an
inquiry
into this matter, he would be willingly aided observers in all parts of the town.
by
