Official report on the medical topography and climate of Calcutta : with brief notices of its prevalent diseases, endemic and epidemic / by James Ranald Martin.

Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Official report on the medical topography and climate of Calcutta : with brief notices of its prevalent diseases, endemic and epidemic / by James Ranald Martin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Bhowaneepore ; sufferings of the na- tives in 1833. Allipore a better locality. pits of various dimensions, to all which, and the neglected state of the grounds around the regimental hospital, I had no hesitation in referring as a sufficient cause of the extreme unhealthiness of the corps. I repre- sented the necessity of drainage with a sufficient fall—the filling up of the pools and pits, and the construction of two large tanks at a proper distance from the men’s lines. The then Governor General, Marquess of Hastings, was pleased to order all my suggestions to be carried into effect, and the result during the three following years, was a reduction in the frequency and intensity of fever, as remarkable as it was satisfactory. I had intended to have brought the details to the notice of the authorities, hut I lost my papers in a shipwreck on the coast of Ava, when proceeding thither during the late war with the Body Guard. The fact, however, is as I have stated. BHOWANEEPORE. This is the most populous of the native suburbs, and I believe it was the most severely visited by the epidemic remittent fever of 1833. To this calamity it would seem peculiarly exposed through its low, closely- built, and ill-ventilated streets, its great stagnant ditches, lined with rank vegetation, its back ground of extensive marsh and underwood, and its innumerable half-dried tanks and pools. The native residents, whom I questioned on the spot, spoke of the last year’s fever as universal, and declared its ravages to have been more extensive than the oldest of them had ever previously seen. No doubt all this is true, for epidemics are observed in all countries to fasten with the firmest gripe on such localities. Good tanks are very much wanted in this suburb, the inhabitants having now to proceed to the distant “ General’s tank” in Chowringhee, that being their only source for the supply of wholesome water. ALLIPORE. Allipore has long been considered a healthy locality, and was early occupied by Europeans. It still contains the favourite villa of Warren Hastings. Cossipore and Russapuglah are also esteemed more healthy than Calcutta, and I believe with justice. This suburb (Allipore) from