On the epidemics of the Bengal and North-West Presidencies / by K. MacKinnon.

Date:
[1854?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the epidemics of the Bengal and North-West Presidencies / by K. MacKinnon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    two years ago when I was officiating Secretary to the Medical Board, I found it little recognized even by the profession, and not at all by others to whom the health of large bodies of men is entrusted, that in thange of place lies the best chance of escape from this formidable enemy. I was myself so well acquainted with facts, proving the advantage of such a measure that I suggested and receiv- ed the sanctioii of the Medical Board to the issue of a Circular, pointing out the propriety of adopting this step on all emergent occasions. I shall probably bring to the mind of my readers that this is opposed to observations made in other parts of India, especially by Dr. Lorimer in his valuable Report from Madras. The last conclusion aimed at in the Report I am consi- dering, is in seeming contradiction to the Cholera law just noticed. If the cause clings to localities and even to con- fined ones, how can it be true also of it that it is said to be diffused and distributed by human intercourse. The answer is there may be local batteries for evolving it and moving wires for conveying it. This question of its carriage by human intercourse is to my mind as perplexing as any thing in the whole range of Medical enquiry. There is so much evidence for and against it. In England there appeared to be clear proof that its appearance followed the arrival of ships from places where the disease prevailed, and that it first showed itself among persons holding intercourse with the crews of these vessels. In America the facts recorded appeared to show yet more clearly that the disease had been conveyed. It has been held as an argument for the spread of Cholera by human intercourse, that Regiments are attacked in marching through countries where the inhabitants are uninfected. I cannot see the force of this illustration and how is it that it is in particular tracts of country that Troops become affected* and that experience has shown that after passing certain spots crossing a particular river, for instance the disease is sure to disappear: all this again points to the local origin and sojourn of the causef and we have a stronger * It ia very remarkable that Troops even in large bodies in the Nortli West Provinces are very seldom attacked with Cholera on a line of march. f The detachment of General Adams had 62 cases in one night, on pitching their camp near a village somewhere in Central India. In the Grand Army of the Marcpiis of Hastings in 1817, while thousands of men were dying daily.
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