326 . Cholera Outbreak of \%Z\ at Aden. [part i. 



germs, Deputy Surgeon-Greneral Moore, in his Memorandum above referred to, writes : 

 " If there be any truth in the generally accepted views that the poison of cholera is 

 contained in the evacuations of the cholera-stricken, the conveyance of the germs of 

 the disease to Aden may be accounted for as plausibly and as probably as anything 

 which cannot be positively demonstrated." 



The analysis which has been made of the facts of this outbreak in the foregoing 

 paragraphs shows on what exceedingly slender grounds such a conclusion is based, 

 even assuming that what are referred to as "the generally accepted views" are correct. 

 But when there are grounds, based on the results of very many carefully conducted 

 observations, for questioning the correctness of such " generally accepted views," the 

 position taken by the Committee and by Dr. Moore is still more untenable. Dr. 

 Moore writes further : " The vitality of the germ would be preserved by the absence 

 of the great purifier — oxygen of the atmosphere — amongst the densely-packed rice-bags 

 in the hold." The discovery of a cholera germ has frequently been " authoritatively " 

 announced, and organisms of the most varied character have been described as being 

 the essential cause of the disease, but none of the announcements have stood the test 

 of inquiry ; moreover, even if it had actually been demonstrated that a characteristic 

 germ had been detected in cholera, it could hardly be assumed that its power of 

 maintaining its vitality was lower than that of other germs. The opinion which at 

 present is predominant as to the vitality of most of the organisms associated with 

 diseased conditions is that they are, practically, indestructible — that, according to some, 

 they can survive even the heat of boiling water. If cholera be due to germs of this 

 kind, the wonder is that not only Aden but also more distant ports, such as Brindisi, 

 Marseilles and Southampton, have not, during recent years especially, been the scenes 

 of frequent outbursts of the disease. But what are the facts as regards even Aden, 

 which is the nearest of these ports to India? 



17. Previous to 1881, cholera had not appeared at Aden for fourteen years, and 

 the circumstances under which it appeared then present many points in common with 

 those observed during the recent outbreak ; but the explanation which was suggested 

 as^ to its origin was totally different. The question of the disease having been brought 

 by a ship does not appear to have been thought of on that occasion. 



18. On the 17th June 1867 two cases of the disease were observed in the 

 persons of Arabs at the Settlement, one labouring inside and the other outside the 

 fortifications. On the following day, 13 other, cases occurred amongst a completely 

 isolated population of some 200 liberated slaves who were located on the Twin Rocks 

 in the harbour, about \\ miles from the shore. That same evening the disease broke 

 out in the Maala village and other localities along the shore. In 1867, as in 1881, the 

 disease did not break out amongst the European troops, two cases only having been 

 reported, of which one was fatal.* The epidemic appears to have been of short duration, 



* Proceedings of Sanitary Commissioner for B6ngal, October 1867, page 430. 



