An Outbreak of Cholera Amongst Assam Emigrants

By Vincent Richards, f.r.c.s., &c., Mcdical Inspector of Emigrants. In the April-May (1881) numbers of the Indian Medical Gazette I endeavoured to describe the conditions under which outbreaks o f cholera occurred amongst Assam emigrants, and I endeavoured to shew that whatever effect the former defective water-supply had upon the general health of the emigrants, it could not be held to be the cause of cholera on board the steamers. I also ventured to affirm that whenever certain conditions co-existed, an outbreak of cholera would occur notwithstanding all the improvements that had been made in connection with the water-supply arrangements. In the outbreak which I am about to describe we have a very typical example. On the evening of the 2nd March 1882, 124 emigrants were I embarked on board the River Steam Navi~a?-> 1 tion Company's Steamer Nepaul. The vessel left Goalundo on the 3rd, but an hour after her departure she broke down, and was not able to