are
asked the
accompanying
relaiives
as
to where the
body
and from what disease the person died ; tlio answers given form the records upon which our Municipal returns uro based. I need hardly observe how useless data of the kind must be, unless as comparative statements, the came
from,
necessarily
one year probably not much exceeding those in another year. Unfortunately, however, this ex? treinely fallacious mode of collecting our mortuary returns, is not. the only circumstance which renders them unsatisfactory
number of false returns in
for
our
or
we have no means of discoverthem if tlio actual number of deaths from cholera
present purpose, because
ing from reported
occurred in
having
as
Calcutta, during
month, really took place within the city,
certain 'week
a
as
distinguished
from its suburbs: the latter
being beyond the influence of our Fifty bodies may, perhaps, have been entered in the returns as having been brought to the burning ghats and burial grounds of Calcutta during the week ending tlio 1st August, and of theso twenty-five aro reported to have died from cholera; our returns would, therefore, show twentyfive deaths from cholera in Calcutta for the week ending tlio 1st of August, but if we enquire into the matter we may discover that of these twenty-five deaths from cholera ten of the corpses came from the various Calcutta hospitals; and further, that of these ten, eight were persons brought into hospital from our suburbs. For instance, in December, 1871, three deaths from cholera took place in the Chandnio hospital, the corpses were taken to the pauper burning gliat, and returned Municipal
water
among the December.
"
works.
deaths from cholera" in Calcutta for the month of all three of these patients had been
Nevertheless,
attacked
by cholera when living beyond the confines of the they were brought from the environs of the city and deposited in the Chandnie hospital when in a dying state. It will be seen at a glance how materially cases of this kind influence the question we are endeavouring to solve, as to the influence which our improved water-supply has had upon cholera in this town. In order, if possible, to neutralize errors likely to arise from incorrect returns consequent on imperfect knowledge as to the cause of death, and if possible to ascertain
town:
CHOLERA IN CALCUTTA. C. Macnamara.
By I have remarked that
we
the figures supplied by
cannot
our
depend on the accuracy of Municipal authorities as to the
Dumber of deaths that have occurred from cholera in Calcutta for, it appears, the machinery employed in collecting
how many of those reported to have died from cholera in Calwere seized witli the disease when beyond the influence of our improved water-supply, I applied to the medical
these'
cutta
returns is of the roughest possible description. Natives, rea salary of a few rupees a month, are stationed at the
ceiving
officers in charge of the four Calcutta hospitals, and {ientlemen very kindly furnished mo with figures from the following table has beeu compiled:?
burning ghats and burial grounds of Calcutta, and, 011 either to be burnt or buried, questions corpse being brought,
various a
Return
shewing
the
percentage of
Total number of
patients treated, including cholera.
Deaths to patients treated and the number Hospitals from 1863 to 1871.
Percentage of deaths to total number of patients
Total number of
cholera patients treated.
treated.
of
cases
of Cholera
Total number of deaths from cholera.
in the
these which
Calcutta
Percentage of deaths, cluding cholera
ex-
patients.
ex o
O
o^-
B
Q
OS
OJ
h
2
a a a>
?II
*3
i?l
2
a
a
a
o^j V a
"e3
a_;
T3 c
c
03
o
?
?
II 3
O
?
P
?
e>
'5_-
"a 'p.
_?
-0-3 a
Bj
'fa
a
33
G
P
5,020 1,763
1,160
19-96
7-91,
16 5
554;
95
15!)
293
74
15-87
6,358 2,295
1,009
21-98
8-88
5-93j
22-7
763
174
210
415
128
1658
6-46
12 3
6,210
1,408
21-47
6-99]
20-2
695
102
246|
321
47
126
17-22
6-31
14
2,129
C3 "
(S
o 12-2
5,383 2,416 1,
24-29
9-85
23-6,
993
177
453
499
188
251
18-44
6-48,
13-2
4,827i 2,377 1,367 2,672
14-85
6-39
16-6| 24-32
312
78
195
41
153
48
83
12-49
4-51
4,3421 2,449 1,431 4,227
18-51
12-3
7-22
20-1
26-68
665]
120
253
106]
235
65
130
15-06
13-4 25-69
95]
260
41
129
5-OOj
1415
18-71
37
46
12-74
379]
11-6
104
8-1
22-27
44
16
16
4-02]
12-53
3-13
61
20-94
4,079 2,641
1,681
4,775'
18-90
5-30
17-5
20- 7
46S'
61
27oj
3,774 2,580
moo; 3,049]
14-70
5-23
11-2
22-3o!
236]
76
109
21-18
96
27
3,661
2,546
1,411
3,i
13-41
3-65
61
24
44!
3:
2401
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
100 There
can be no doubt as to the accuracy of these figures, they evidently confirm the impression produced by the study of the Municipal tables, that cholera has suddenly
and
declined of late in Calcutta, for we find that in 1863 there were 708 cases of cholera treated in Calcutta hospitals. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1809 1870 1871
?
1147 943 1628 628 1044 894 465
?
179
? ? ? ? ?
?
our
?
It will be observed, however, that the deadly nature of the disease has not diminished with its decreasing numbers. In 1871, as in 1863, more than one half of the patients admitted into our hospitals suffering from this disease, died. It is
probably
returns, that ber of deaths
we
by our hospital approximate idea as to the num" having taken place in Calcutta from
from the information afforded can
form
reported
as
an
due to causes extraneous to the influences of this city : thus, of the 179 cases treated in our Calcutta hospitals during the year 1871, no less than 37 were patients
cholera,
which
were
at the time of being seized with the disease, resided beyond the confines of the town, and this large proportion of cases is, consequently, a disturbing influence of no small magnitude with reference to the important effect our improved water-supply has had in the remarkable diminution in the death-rate from cholera in this place ; nevertheless, these outside cases being returned in our Municipal reports as dying from cholera in Calcutta, render the diminution in our actual deathrate from this disease the more remarkable. They are, in fact, a disturbing influence, exaggerating the circumstances of cholera in Calcutta, making the town appear worse in this respect at present than it really is. (To le continued.)
who,
[Mat 1,
1872.
asked the
accompanying
relaiives
as
to where the
body
and from what disease the person died ; tlio answers given form the records upon which our Municipal returns uro based. I need hardly observe how useless data of the kind must be, unless as comparative statements, the came
from,
necessarily
one year probably not much exceeding those in another year. Unfortunately, however, this ex? treinely fallacious mode of collecting our mortuary returns, is not. the only circumstance which renders them unsatisfactory
number of false returns in
for
our
or
we have no means of discoverthem if tlio actual number of deaths from cholera
present purpose, because
ing from reported
occurred in
having
as
Calcutta, during
month, really took place within the city,
certain 'week
a
as
distinguished
from its suburbs: the latter
being beyond the influence of our Fifty bodies may, perhaps, have been entered in the returns as having been brought to the burning ghats and burial grounds of Calcutta during the week ending tlio 1st August, and of theso twenty-five aro reported to have died from cholera; our returns would, therefore, show twentyfive deaths from cholera in Calcutta for the week ending tlio 1st of August, but if we enquire into the matter we may discover that of these twenty-five deaths from cholera ten of the corpses came from the various Calcutta hospitals; and further, that of these ten, eight were persons brought into hospital from our suburbs. For instance, in December, 1871, three deaths from cholera took place in the Chandnio hospital, the corpses were taken to the pauper burning gliat, and returned Municipal
water
among the December.
"
works.
deaths from cholera" in Calcutta for the month of all three of these patients had been
Nevertheless,
attacked
by cholera when living beyond the confines of the they were brought from the environs of the city and deposited in the Chandnie hospital when in a dying state. It will be seen at a glance how materially cases of this kind influence the question we are endeavouring to solve, as to the influence which our improved water-supply has had upon cholera in this town. In order, if possible, to neutralize errors likely to arise from incorrect returns consequent on imperfect knowledge as to the cause of death, and if possible to ascertain
town:
CHOLERA IN CALCUTTA. C. Macnamara.
By I have remarked that
we
the figures supplied by
cannot
our
depend on the accuracy of Municipal authorities as to the
Dumber of deaths that have occurred from cholera in Calcutta for, it appears, the machinery employed in collecting
how many of those reported to have died from cholera in Calwere seized witli the disease when beyond the influence of our improved water-supply, I applied to the medical
these'
cutta
returns is of the roughest possible description. Natives, rea salary of a few rupees a month, are stationed at the
ceiving
officers in charge of the four Calcutta hospitals, and {ientlemen very kindly furnished mo with figures from the following table has beeu compiled:?
burning ghats and burial grounds of Calcutta, and, 011 either to be burnt or buried, questions corpse being brought,
various a
Return
shewing
the
percentage of
Total number of
patients treated, including cholera.
Deaths to patients treated and the number Hospitals from 1863 to 1871.
Percentage of deaths to total number of patients
Total number of
cholera patients treated.
treated.
of
cases
of Cholera
Total number of deaths from cholera.
in the
these which
Calcutta
Percentage of deaths, cluding cholera
ex-
patients.
ex o
O
o^-
B
Q
OS
OJ
h
2
a a a>
?II
*3
i?l
2
a
a
a
o^j V a
"e3
a_;
T3 c
c
03
o
?
?
II 3
O
?
P
?
e>
'5_-
"a 'p.
_?
-0-3 a
Bj
'fa
a
33
G
P
5,020 1,763
1,160
19-96
7-91,
16 5
554;
95
15!)
293
74
15-87
6,358 2,295
1,009
21-98
8-88
5-93j
22-7
763
174
210
415
128
1658
6-46
12 3
6,210
1,408
21-47
6-99]
20-2
695
102
246|
321
47
126
17-22
6-31
14
2,129
C3 "
(S
o 12-2
5,383 2,416 1,
24-29
9-85
23-6,
993
177
453
499
188
251
18-44
6-48,
13-2
4,827i 2,377 1,367 2,672
14-85
6-39
16-6| 24-32
312
78
195
41
153
48
83
12-49
4-51
4,3421 2,449 1,431 4,227
18-51
12-3
7-22
20-1
26-68
665]
120
253
106]
235
65
130
15-06
13-4 25-69
95]
260
41
129
5-OOj
1415
18-71
37
46
12-74
379]
11-6
104
8-1
22-27
44
16
16
4-02]
12-53
3-13
61
20-94
4,079 2,641
1,681
4,775'
18-90
5-30
17-5
20- 7
46S'
61
27oj
3,774 2,580
moo; 3,049]
14-70
5-23
11-2
22-3o!
236]
76
109
21-18
96
27
3,661
2,546
1,411
3,i
13-41
3-65
61
24
44!
3:
2401
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
100 There
can be no doubt as to the accuracy of these figures, they evidently confirm the impression produced by the study of the Municipal tables, that cholera has suddenly
and
declined of late in Calcutta, for we find that in 1863 there were 708 cases of cholera treated in Calcutta hospitals. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1809 1870 1871
?
1147 943 1628 628 1044 894 465
?
179
? ? ? ? ?
?
our
?
It will be observed, however, that the deadly nature of the disease has not diminished with its decreasing numbers. In 1871, as in 1863, more than one half of the patients admitted into our hospitals suffering from this disease, died. It is
probably
returns, that ber of deaths
we
by our hospital approximate idea as to the num" having taken place in Calcutta from
from the information afforded can
form
reported
as
an
due to causes extraneous to the influences of this city : thus, of the 179 cases treated in our Calcutta hospitals during the year 1871, no less than 37 were patients
cholera,
which
were
at the time of being seized with the disease, resided beyond the confines of the town, and this large proportion of cases is, consequently, a disturbing influence of no small magnitude with reference to the important effect our improved water-supply has had in the remarkable diminution in the death-rate from cholera in this place ; nevertheless, these outside cases being returned in our Municipal reports as dying from cholera in Calcutta, render the diminution in our actual deathrate from this disease the more remarkable. They are, in fact, a disturbing influence, exaggerating the circumstances of cholera in Calcutta, making the town appear worse in this respect at present than it really is. (To le continued.)
who,
[Mat 1,
1872.
