1844.] Memoir on Indian Earthquakes. 981 



note, although, in accordance with the plan laid down for this analysis, 

 I do not dwell upon it here.* 



8. Physiological Phenomena accompanying Earthquake shocks. 



Without inferring any actual connection between earthquakes and 

 the diseases which are not unfrequently found to accompany them, 

 the coincidence between the two is sufficiently remarkable to merit 

 a brief notice in this analysis. The first instance is recorded in the 

 note from Mr. Wathen's memoir on Kokan, (Part 2, p. 3,) where it is 

 mentioned that in 1832 and 1833, the province was visited by con- 

 stant earthquakes and simultaneously devastated by cholera. Again in 

 1828, during the severe earthquakes of that year in Cashmere, the 

 cholera made its appearance with very fatal consequence to the inha- 

 bitants of the valley. The following extract from the Agra Ukbar of 

 the 19th November 1836, gives another interesting instance of the 

 coincidence now under remark ; " Sumbhul (Rohilcund) a series of 

 earthquake shocks has been for some time and is still felt at this place, 

 the shocks are of almost daily occurrence and are accompanied with a 

 heavy rumbling noise which traverses the entire place; the duration of 

 each averages two minutes ; co-existent with the phenomenon is a fever 

 of a more virulent nature than for years has visited the town." 



The unpleasant personal sensations experienced during shocks are 

 repeatedly alluded to in the previous pages. Considerable details will 

 be found in Part II; indeed scarcely a shock is recorded in 

 which these feelings of nausea, tendency to faint, pains in the limbs 

 and general lassitude of the system are not adverted to; they resemble 

 strikingly the sensations experienced by many when the atmosphere 

 is overcharged with electric matter, and may serve as another indica- 

 tion that, during shocks excess of electricity actually exists. When it is 

 borne in mind that during earthquakes, large quantities of sulphureted 

 hydrogen and other deleterious gases are evolved, and that to the pre- 

 sence of the former of these, high authorities have attributed the fatal 

 fevers of Africa, there is nothing irrational in supposing that conti- 

 nuous earthquakes may induce diseases of severe types. Without 



* In the accoutof the blowing up of the mountain of Gammaeanore in the Moluccas 

 in 1673, it is said that " there was first a great earthquake which overturned the sur- 

 rounding villages and several thousands of persons were buried under heaps of stones. 

 When the mountain blew up the weather was culm and very fine." — Eds. 



6p 



