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BENGAL PROVINCE, 1873.
The monthly mortality registered from cholera among the Civil popu-
lation in 1873 is shownin the annexed tabular statement. The total of deaths
is 59,830, or at the rate of 0·94 per mille of the population under registration.
The returns for 1873 show an increase of 22.294 deaths from cholera as
compared with the total number registered in 1872. Part of this increase is
owing to more accurate and improved registration, but mostly to an actual
increase in the prevalence of cholera in 1873 over that in the preceding year.
In both years the month of October shows the lowest amount of mortality as
compared with the other months of the year. The months of January and
December, which in 1872 showed the highest monthly mortality, in 1873 show
a very reduced number of deaths, the figures being, respectively 4,711 and
6,314 in 1872, against 3,924 and 3,422, respectively in 1873.
Burdwan.-In this district cholera prevailed in three of the southern
circles at the close of 1872, and continued active in them during January 1873,
the deaths being in all 375. In February the disease persisted in these circles,
and also appeared in others in the north-east of the district. During both
months cholera was present in Burdwan, and is said to have been more
virulent than elsewhere. In the first half of March the disease appeared
at Raniganj, on the extreme north-west, and in the east also, and persisted
during the month in the south and centre of the district. In April the
disease was severe in the south-west, and on the 26th appeared in the women's
wards of the Burdwan Jail, and on the 29th among the male prisoners. In
May there were some severe local outbreaks, but the disease on the whole was
abating. In June the abatement was more marked, and after this month
the disease gradually diminished, smouldered, flickered, and died out. The
features presented by the cholera of 1873 in this district are thus described:-
" It was frequent in occurrence; limited in extent; of short duration; and
erratic in manner, proceeding from village to village, and retuning to already
visited localities after a week or so; attacking a few at a time. It was present
somewhere or other during every month of the year, except the two last, and
was most fatal in January, March, and June. It prevailed with less severity
in the north of the district than in the south and east." * * *
Bankura.-The cholera of this year was sudden in occurrence and of a
virulent type. It visited principally the villages and towns situated along the
road by which pilgrims travel, * * * which are favourite resting places for the
weary and afflicted. * * * The disease was also rife among the poverty-stricken
and in localities where the laws of sanitation are least observed.
Rajshahi.-Commencing in January, the cholera of this year appeared
to have acquired fresh intensity in February; rapidly increased in March; and
attained its maximum in April. Gradually declining in May, it suddenly
disappeared about the end of June, probably owing to the setting in of the
monsoon. It re-appeared in November, and became most virulent in December.
Rangpur.-In the beginning of the year cholera was raging in an
epidemic form in the north-east of the district, in the country on the banks of
the Dharla. This ou break subsided towards the end of February, and dis-
appeared entirely towards the end of April. Subsequently sporadic cases
occurred in different parts of the district.
Malda.-Cholera prevailed in this district extensively, and most fatally;
but with varied intensity throughout the year. * * * The disease first
appeared in January in a sporadic form in the town and south-eastern parts of
the district. * * * In March it prevailed everywhere, except in Nawab-
ganj and Shibganj. From June the disease abated in intensity, and gradually
died away. In December, however, it again appeared in some parts of the
district, but in a milder form.
Dhaka.-Cholera had not visited this district epidemically since 1869, but
during this year a very general and severe epidemic occurred, equal in viru-
lence to those that took place in 1864 and 1861. Since 1817 this scourge
has been a visitant of this district, and it is believed that it breaks forth
with special virulence every fourth year; that it is always to be met
within those months when the diurnal variations of the temperature are