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Gya.-No part of this district escaped cholera in 1869, but the western
portion suffered most severely. The first case occurred on the 8th January
in a village on the opposite side of the river Falgun close by the town of Gya.
In the town of Gya, population 70,000, there were 213 deaths from cholera
during the year. It prevailed more severely in the town of Sahibganj than
in the old town of Gya, although the first is wonderfully clean whilst the
old town is notoriously filthy. No Europeans or Eurasians in the civil
station were attacked. The strength of the police in the station was 375,
in the district 1,031; only two deaths occurred from cholera, and these were
both away from the lines. The following is the return of deaths reported
during the year, but the Civil Surgeon believes these figures much exaggerate
the prevalence of the disease:-
Months.
Deaths.
Months.
Deaths.
January
33
August
1,301
February
16
September
264
March
56
October .
40
April ..
159
November
40
May
318
Total
4,177
June
805
July
1,145
Patna.-Cholera appeared in every part of the district, but was not very
fatal. The first case appeared in Patna itself on 25th January 1869. The
first case in the civil station of Bankipur occurred on 12th October, 4 deaths
occurred from cholera, all Europeans in the convent. Among the police at
Bankipur-1,700 strong-there were 26 attacks with 6 deaths. The Mitapur Jail
was affected, there were 16 attacks with 5 deaths; the first case occurred on the
27th March and the last on the 17th April. The Inspector-General of Jails
writes:-There can be no doubt that the cholera in this instance began in the
jail and was not imported from without. The following are the deaths from
cholera reported during the year in this district:-
Months.
Deaths.
Months.
Deaths.
January
176
July
293
February
131
August
443
March
168
September
...
April
100
Total
1,710
May
228
June ...
176
Shahabad.-Cholera was rife throughout the district, from April till
September; scarcely a village escaped. It prevailed most severely at Sasseram,
where the disease broke out on the 16th April, 8 persons having died on the
previous night, 30 deaths occurred on the 17th. The Commissioner of Patna
reports that during these two days the wind was easterly. On the 18th
it was from the westward; cholera at once disappeared. On the 20th the
wind was again easterly; cholera re-appeared, and five persons died. In
the native city of Arrah-population about 20,000-the first case occurred on
the 19th April, the last on the 13th September, during that time 263
deaths occurred from cholera. No cases occurred in the civil station. Of
847 police, not one was attacked. The following is the return of deaths from
cholera in this district during the year.
Months.
Deaths.
Months.
Deaths.
January
5
July
899
February
2
August
592
March
1
September
26
April
138
Total
3,468
May
976
June ..
829
It is belived these figures considerably under-rate the prevalence of
the disease.
G 2