THE CHOLERA IN INDIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2450, 24 March 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CHOLERA IN INDIA.

In a sanitary report regarding Rajpootana wo came across a typical example (says the Times of India, of December 10) of how an epidemic of cholera is brought about in India. A great fair is held annually in November in tho town of Pushkur, which is situated about six miles to the north-west of Ajmere, and has a population of about 4000, almost all of whom aro Brahmins. Tho houses aro built on the boarders of a sacred lake, which, when full, covers an area of about half a square mile. The lake contains no spring, but is dependent solely on the rains for its water ; and it has no outlet though a considerable amount of percolation takes place into the sandy soil. The Pushkur fair was duly held last year, the number of visitors attending it being variously estimated at from 125,000 to 200,000. Owing to scanty rainfall, the water in the holy tank was unusually low. Despite this fact, however, the vast majority of the pilgrims, as a religious duty, bathed in and drank the water of the tank, which, it is needless to say, soon became exceedingly foul. A prompt outbreak of cholera, was the natural result. The disease first showed itself among the visitors staying in the densleypacked town, then it appeared amongst the pilgrims encamped in the vicinity, the permaneut residents in the town being the last to sullor. The failwas abruptly broken up, and the assembled multitude fled by road and rail. They carried the scourge with thsm in every direction, and the disease soon became general in nearly all tho surrounding districts. The epidemic h'stcd just one mouth, from November 9 to December 10, and carried off something like 1000 persons, the registered mortality at the lown of Pushkur itself being only 135.