Report on the epidemic cholera as it has appeared in the territories subject to the presidency of Fort St. George / drawn up by order of the government, under the superintendence of the Medical Board, by William Scot.

Scot, William, -1863

Date:: 1824

Credit: Report on the epidemic cholera as it has appeared in the territories subject to the presidency of Fort St. George / drawn up by order of the government, under the superintendence of the Medical Board, by William Scot. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$consequently, when viewed in reference to other authorities, it is obvious, that cholera.maintained its influence, with little apparent interruption, from a very remote period, down to a date comparatively modern:—Sonnerat notices the “ term mort de chien as being used in India, but applies it to “ indigestions, which “ are very frequent, and from which many have died suddenly. It appears from the report of a Committee of British Medical Officers at the Mauritius, which was assembled in the mouth of November 1819, under the authority of the Government, in order to examine into the nature of the epidemic disease which then prevailed at that Island, that the epidemic cholera was not unknown there. The following is an extract from the report. “ The Committee request to say, that they have not, either in this Island or elsewhere, met with a disease possessing the characters of that which now prevails ; but that, from the reports of several individuals, some of whom belong to the medical profession, it does appear, that a disease, most strongly resembling in its symptoms, progress, and termination, that now under consideration, did for sometime prevail in this colony in the year 1775. The symptoms which are detailed by the Committee, as characterising the epidemic of 1819, sufficiently indicate the identity of that disease, with the form of cholera, which prevailed at the same period, and still continues, on the continent of India. “ The symptoms, in the two cases alluded to, perfectly corresponded with those of the numerous instances of the disease, which have since occurred. Those more particularly characteristic of the disease are sud¬ den and excessive prostration of strength, with sinking of the pulse ; extreme coldness of the surface of the body, which is covered, with cold viscid perspiration ; and a distressing uneasy sensation in the abdomen, the progress of which has generally carried off the patient in the space of a few hours Dr. Burke, the chief medical officer on the Island makes the following observation in his letter transmitting the report of the committee. cf A similar disease prevailed in this island in 1775, after a long dry season, &c. the symp¬ toms, latal and sudden effects, and duration, of the disease would seem to be ex¬ actly the same. A hurricane put a stop to its ravages, which continued for pro¬ bably two months, and caused a great mortality particularly among the Blacks and people of colour. But it is necessary to state, that a committee of French Medical Gentle¬ men, who were assembled under similar circumstances with the British Commit¬ tee, make no mention of the epidemic visitation of 1775.* Assuming, however, the circumstance to be true, it is highly worthy of remark, that while, as we ha.ve shewn in the preceding pages, the Indian continent suffered under cholera, about that period, viz. 1775, the disease had then also extended to that remote Island. Cholera appears to have manifested itself pretty extensively as an epi¬ cholera by Mr. Jameson, Secretary to the Calcutta Medical Board. fe A Divi¬ sion ot Bengal Troops, consisting of about 5,000 men, was proceeding, under the command of Colonel Pearse of the Artillery in the spring of J781, to join Sir Eyre Coote’s Army on the Coast. It would appear, that a disease resembling The deicrlption of (he Epidemic of 1819, by the French Committee, deserves to be imerted, “ Ges phenom^nes soot tine faiblesie »ubiie, avec de* lirailjcme»U,,ou douleiir* dan* Ice muscles des extremites, qui font chercber un appui peer ■e pas tomber; un refroidisseinent general de lonte la surface du cerps; une privation absolue du battenient du cceur et de tontei fas arteres exterieurei; uue cessa.lioB.gecerale.de 1& circulation a la surface, teMement, que la ligature pfacce stir le bras n tpu faire goDfler lei veioes, pour y pratiquer une saignee ; et que les venlouies scarifiecs ont laiste couler an pen kf COn,BQ# d’un vaiueau afiaiise. atone, et presque vuide des evacuation par haul et par bas, tereusses, biRBchatrei, muquemes,rares, *e bornant.iouvent a deaefforfa de vemissement. el de dejections alunes ; les boissons, prises lacilesnent, ctaient raremeut rejeteeB.— La face etait gripee, sombre, marquant une anxiete imerieure extreme ; ua decubi¬ tus presque immobile sur le do», ou sur le ventre ; les yeux ii moitie fermes, le globe releve sous la paupi^re ; une voix al- teree, suencietiie, °u des gemissemens plaintifa.—Les facultes intellectuelles se inanifestant paries repouses de oui ou aoa, sauile destr, mla volonte d’emettre be*ucoup de paroles.—Ce* malades se soutenant avec peine pour 1’cmploi del reined!*, upe laeur {rtnt j ]* martian* caarulaion, ou agitation, suriout d»nile* stoment uu on vealait lei reamer.” Cholera served at Mauritius fa 1775, and in 1819. At Ganjaur,$