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was an outbreak among the coolies on the canal works at Barh in May,
and in April the disease broke out in Dinapore.
Gya.-Cholera prevailed throughout the year, observing the normal course
of the seasonal prevalence. The southern and central portions of the district
were chiefly affected, and villages situated long distances apart from each
other were simultaneously attacked.
Shahabad.-Cholera prevailed in this district severely from May to July
inclusive, less so in August and September, and in a mildly sporadic form
during the remaining months of the year. The villages which were " literally
clean suffered equally with those of which the sanitary conditions were bad.
The heat was unusually great, and the rainfall scanty. The coincidence of
cholera prevalence with scanty rainfall has been observed several times
during previous years, particularly in 1873 when the rains were late and
insufficient, and a severe epidemic of cholera prevailed."
Mozaffarpur.-Cholera was present most severely in May and June, in
the other months presenting very few cases. The disease did not concentrate
itself in any particular locality. The heat was above the average during May
and June, and no rainfall from September to April, and scarcely any till
the end of May. Many of the tanks and wells dried up, and many of the
wells had only 18 inches of water in them, and the river was nearly dry.
When the rains set in in July, the disease ceased.
Darbhanga.-" Cholera first made its appearance in March in the eastern
and southern outskirts of the district. It then spread to the northern and
western boundaries, and having encircled the district, proceeded centrically
in a gradual and uniform manner, reaching the sadr station some two months
after its first appearance. It was present for a whole month in the sadr
station, after which it suddenly disappeared both from it and the eastern
districts. A day or two prior to its disappearance from the sadr station a
severe thunder-storm occurred, remarkable for a copious liberation of electricity
and for very little rainfall, so little indeed that it barely sufficed to lay the
dust."
Saran.-Cholera was severe from April to September, particularly so
from June to August. In the other months it was very mild. It spread in
desultory manner. Men suffered in a greater proportion than women. The Civil
Surgeon writes:-" The exciting cause of the malady was, I believe, the atmos
phere impregnated in some instances by emanations from cholera evacuations,
and by means of water polluted by cholera discharges. The pre-disposing causes
were debility, intemperance, depression of spirits from fear of infection, insuffi-
cient food, malarious influences, damp impure air, and water. I have not been
able to satisfy myself that the appearance of cholera was dependent upon any
particular local or insanitary condition either in respect to conservancy or
drainage, nor does there appear to be any special reason why some places
suffered more than others.
Champaran.-In the opinion of Dr. Meadows, the Civil Surgeon, "the
prevalence of cholera in this district seems to be dependent on climatic
conditions. * * * One fact is evident, that its annual appearance may be
looked for to a certainty in April or May, followed by a cessation in August,
rarely later than September, and one or two years of immunity followed by
a virulent outbreak." The cholera of 1876 compared with the outbreaks of
the preceding three years was severe and the mortality higher. Commenc-
ing early in April in the Motihari and Piprah circles, the disease spread
rapidly in all directions, and increasing steadily in virulence reached
its maximum intensity in June, when every circle in the district with the
exception of three situated in the extreme north suffered to a greater or less
extent. In August the disease was widely distributed throughout the
district. In September the outbreaks ceased, only a few sporadic cases being
met with here and there.
Monghyr.-The seasonal characteristics of cholera in this district are the
same as those of the disease in Lower Bengal districts; it is little prevalent
in January and February; prevails severely from March to June, subsides in
September, and breaks out afresh in October, and continues to prevail with
abated severity until the end of the year. In 1876 there were several sharp
outbreaks in different parts of the district between March and May, and again