Excerpt from Asiatic Cholera: History Up to July 15 1892 Causes and Treatment

WE learn, from the description given by Sanskrit authors writing some 400 b.c., that Asiatic cholera existed in India In their day. They have described the symptoms of the disease, which are precisely similar to those met with at the present time. In spite, however, of repeated inroads of warlike races from the north-west into India, cholera does not appear to have spread with them beyond the confines of that country. Prob ably few of these conquering races overran Lower Bengal, which we may, therefore, suppose, was, as it now is, the home of. Cholera. As we pass from the study of these ancient records to comparatively recent history, we learn that, in the year 143 8, Ahmed Shah, was compelled to raise the siege of\ Mando, in Mehwah, in consequence of an outbreak of a disease which is said to have destroyed some thousands of his troops in the course of a few days; the disease is described as waba, a word still employed to designate Asiatic cholera. In 1490, Vasco de Gama visited the Malabar coast, and has left us a full account of the symptoms of cholera as it affected the natives and his own sailors. For centuries past, in the Gangetic Delta, the Oolee Beebe, or Goddess of Cholera, has been worshipped, and temples still exist in that part of India containing emblems of this goddess.

In 17 81 - 82 cholera was very deadly in Calcutta, and the government reported to the home authorities that it had pur sued its course northwards. During this year epidemic cholera visited Ganjam; it attacked a division of our troops passing through that district, and in the course of a few days no less than sepoys, out of a force of o, 000 men, were down with cholera. Colonel Pearce remarks that, death raged in the camp with horrors not to be described, and all expected to be devoured by this pestilence.

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