On elephantiasis as it exists in Travancore / by Edward John Waring.

  • Waring, Edward John, 1819-1891
Date:
[between 1850 and 1859?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On elephantiasis as it exists in Travancore / by Edward John Waring. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    APPENDIX C. Statistics of Elephantiasis amongst the Jews at Cochin. On the narrow slip of land or sand-bank which separates the back- water from the sea {vide Map) immediately to the South of the Town of Cochin, and to the North of the Shertallay District, so often referred to in the preceding pages, stands the small settlement of Jews-town, so called from the fact that it is inhabited chiefly, if not entirely, by per' sons of the Jewish nation and religion. The origin and early history of the Jews of Cochin is involved in considerable obscurity. The Cochin Sircar records contain notices of grants, &c., made to them six centuries ago, but their own records, preserved on sheets of copper, would place them on that spot, it is said by those who have investi- gated the subject, at a date far anterior even to this, it is supposed about the sixth century of the Christian era. The community is divided into two classes : 1st, white Jews, and 2nd, black Jews : the former being of pure unmixed descent from the original founders, whilst the latter are the offspring of alliances formed by the Jewish males with the women of the surrounding nations. Some may be converts from the Hindoo to the Jewish religion, but on this point I cannot speak with confidence. “ The white Jew” retains all the peculiarities of his race, the same dress, habits, and customs, which have characterized this nation in all ages and in all countries ; they remain in the strictest sense of the word “ a peculiar people.” Of late years, the number of the population has greatly decreased ; the whole number of white Jews, at the present day, amounting to only 170 persons. Although many thing but afflu- ent circumstances, they have for the most part comparatively comfort- able pucka dwellings, they are not generally subjected to great priva- tions, nor are they exposed to the vicissitudes and inclemencies of the weather. Fish does not form their principal article of diet, meat and poultry constituting their chief food. The water in common use is chiefly from wells, and is stated not to be brackish. In the immediate neighbourhood of the settlement are many swamps, which are likely to generate miasma. Of the 170 white Jews, of both sexes and of all ages, 14 individuals, or 1 in every 12^, are affected with the Ele- phantiasis. “ The black Jews” at this station amount in number to 249 ; of these, 15 persons, or 1 in 16f, are subject to Elephantiasis. They differ from the white Jews, chiefly, in not inhabiting such comfortable dwellings, in being in poorer circumstances, and in subsisting principally on fish, excluding those which are furnished with scales. E