5 5 Observations Regarding Pettenkofer s Theory. [part i. 



AGRA. 



This station escaped with one death from cholera among the European troops, 

 but the native population in the jail as well as in the bazaars suffered con- 

 siderably. 



Dr. Christison very kindly showed me over the whole station, so that, in spite 

 of the shortness of the visit, a fair idea was obtained of its physical geography. 

 As at Lucknow, ravines intersect it in every direction, and for the most part con- 

 tained filth. In connection with this subject, there is a popular belief amongst the 

 more intelligent native community that, when the river Jumna flows on the city side 

 of a sand embankment which has formed in its bed, cholera does not prevail at 

 Agra, as the river carries all the filth away, but when it flows on the off side, the 

 disease is more liable to make its appearance. There may or there may not be 

 something in this; there is, however, a serious objection to the river flowing on the 

 city side, on account of its tendency to undermine the fortress. 



The wells are very deep, fifty to sixty feet, and the water brackish, but whether 

 the depth of the wells is governed by the amount of water in the river, I was 

 unable to ascertain. This information, however, will shortly be obtained in connection 

 with the registration of the water-level established here as elsewhere. 



MOEAR. 



When this station and the adjoining fortress of Grwalior were visited, nearly a 

 hundred deaths from cholera had occurred among the European troops, although it was 

 formerly considered one of the places exempted from epidemics of cholera. They 

 had suffered severely in April, and still more so in August, sunstroke having been 

 exceedingly prevalent among the native population as well as cholera. Every effort 

 ~ was made to get all the information possible concerning the epidemic, more 

 especially relating to those points which seemed to bear upon the question as to 

 whether or not the origin and spread of the disease had any connection with the 

 ground upon which the people stood. 



The cantonment is situate on a low-lying plain, surrounded by numerous hills 

 on three sides, with the river Morar on the other. Some of the barracks are 

 situated below the level of the river, so that the drains have to be taken in 

 another direction. Other barracks, such as the ones allotted to the Artillery, are 

 about seventeen feet above the level of the Morar. 



An embankment has been erected across the bed of the river, so as to provide 

 the station with a sheet of " ornamental water," about a quarter of a mile at its 

 widest part, and increasing the depth of the river for about two miles above the dam. 

 It is not improbable that Dr. Pettenkofer, had he been here, would have made 



