OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA IN THE VILLAGE OF AKHOREE,
IN THE MIRZAPORE DISTRICT.
From Commissioner, Benares Division, to Secretary to Government, North-West-
ern Provinces (No. 38).-Dated Benares, the 16th March, 1869.
SIR,-I have the honour to forward copy of a letter from Dr. Paske, Civil
Surgeon of Mirzapore, relating to an outbreak of cholera in a large village about nine
miles west of Mirzapore city.
2. Dr. Paske's suggestions are being carried out, but the complete isolation
contemplated could not be enforced without causing alarm and discontent. The mea-
sure is, however, of such importance that the local authorities will be desired to do all
they can, short of compulsion, to secure the object in view.
3. A copy of Dr. Paske's letter has been forwarded direct to the Sanitary Com-
missioner, North-Western Provinces, and a further report will be furnished in a week.
I have, &c.,
A. SHAKESPEAR,
Commissioner.
(COPY.)
From Civil Surgeon, Mirzapore, to Magistrate and Collector of Mirzapore.-Dated
Mirzapore, the 13th March, 1869.
SIR,-With reference to Mr. Anthony's letter No. 117, dated 6th instant,
reporting an outbreak of cholera in the village of Akhoree, I have the honour to inform
you that in company with that gentleman I paid a visit to the said village yesterday
afternoon.
Akhoree is situated on the right bank of the river Ganges, on elevated ground,
nine miles from the city, in the Bindhachul direction, and contains about 10,000 inha-
bitants. The approach from the cast (the way we entered the village) is over broken
low ground covered with human and animal excrement in all directions, and stagnant,
decomposing, greenish-looking pools of water. The village itself is well built, but
the houses too crowded together. Although admirably situated for drainage, anything
like conservancy could never have been thought of since its formation. I traversed in
company with Mr. Anthony both the main and side streets from cast to west, where the
village ends close to a high perpendicular bank, overlooking a tributary stream of the
Ganges still containing a little water. Dirty as I know Indian villages to be as a rule,
this one baffles description. I find it impossible to convey to you a faint idea of its
pollution. In every direction, in every nook and corner, vegetable matter and ordure
are scattered broad-cast over the place in every stage of decomposition. The original
drains are closed, and the soil is saturated with a black decomposing fluid which oozes
out in every direction. Spacious indeed is the possession of dirt here-it reigns
supreme.
Mr. Anthony's presence was of great use to me. His knowledge of the language
and habits of the people enabled me to find out particulars which I might not other-
wise have been able to elicit.
It appears that cholera first shewed itself about the beginning of the month, and
that about 40 have died from it. I visited several cases, and there can be no doubt
about its being cholera. The hollow sunken eyes, cold bluish extremities, exhaustion,
vomiting and purging, stamp it as a disease of no ordinary severity.
From the position of the village, its proximity to the city, its being in the direc-
tion of the prevalent wind-viz., to the west of the city-and the long straggling places
4 1