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THE INDO-EUEOPEAN EriDEMIC OF 1826-32.
but short, outbreak of cholera in July ; it did not affect the troops.
During the early months of the year 1825 we have a repetition of the old story — Cholera in Calcutta; the pilgrims at Pooree suffering severely, and the Govern- ment urgently called on to exert themselves in favour of these poor creatures. In April, May, and June reports were received from various districts in the Delta of the Ganges as to an inc.rease in the number of cholera cases; from Ganjam and along the eastern seaboard a similar cry was raised, and later in the year from the western side of the peninsula at Mhow. Among the inhabitants of Calcutta and the city of Dacca, cholera was very pre- valent again in August and September. Nevertheless, on the whole, India was comparatively free from the disease.
The following twelve months are of special interest with regard to the history of cholera, and I am almost entirely indebted for the information I have gained regarding this period to the reports and returns con- tained in the ' Proceedings of the Medical Board.' From these ws shall find that the great epidemic, which spread over Europe and extended to America in 1830- 31-32, arose in Bengal in 1826. This point has never, so far as I am aware, been insisted on. The cholera of 1830-31 is usually described as having originated in Astrachan. " In 1823 it passed the Caspian Sea, and in the raonth of September showed itself in Astrachan. It made no further progress, however, in Europe until the year 1830. In that year, having appeared again at Astrachan in June and July, it extended rapidly through the eastern part of Europe."* This account gives us
- 'Reports on Epidemic Cholera, drawn up at the desire of the
Cholera Committee of the College of Physicians,' p. 118. By Drs. W. Baly and W. Gull. London, 1854.
