606 
DISEASES OF ANIMALS IN INDIA 
distension only, or indirectly also by the vital powers being 
diminished by breathing impure air, — whether the first or 
the latter is the primary cause, or both are present at the 
same time — the results are nevertheless the same, both in 
man and animals. 
The causes of this disease in animals in England, I believe, 
is not stated ; yet able veterinarians ventured to call these 
isolated cases Asiatic cholera . With much greater reason did 
Dr. Tytler and myself consider it so. But Dr. Tytler’s ex- 
periments, so far as I am aware, seem either to be unknown 
to, or been overlooked by, those who have considered cholera 
in Europe, or these would have been noticed in Mr. Mar- 
shall’s paper. Perhaps Dr. Tytler is dead. I therefore take 
this opportunity of mentioning the subject. 
I was twice at Hurdwar, and once at Allahabad, great 
fairs on the Ganges, where Asiatic cholera usually prevails 
at the close ; and in travelling, or during residence at other 
places in India where cholera prevailed, I did not fear con- 
tagion, for I never gave it a thought. I only disliked, as 
others did, being sometimes obliged to remain at such filthy 
places (for a large encampment, or fair, soon becomes so,) at 
such times. I might say the same, and with much greater 
reason, both of Hamburg and London . Those philanthropic 
individuals who endeavour to improve the dwellings of the 
poor, no doubt proceed in the right direction to prevent cho- 
lera ; but what is the use of this without efficient sanitary 
laws ? for, as a disease similar to cholera can at any time be 
produced in animals standing at picket in the open air, how 
much more likely is it to happen, and with greater severity, 
to man, in general the poorest classes, badly fed, and more 
over-crowded in habitation than animals, in the filthiest parts 
of cities, thus breathing impure air? 
Look at the reverse of the above in your Journal for June 
last. Three lines below Mr. Marshall’s paper is this remark- 
able passage : 
“ The cholera, which has of late visited Mosul and Bagdad 
with fearful severity, has not yet struck the Bedouins.” — 
(From c Discoveries in Nineveh,’ by A. H. Layard, M.P., in 
‘Association Medical Journal.’) 
I resided five years at Hissar Ferozeh, on the border of the 
Bicanere Desert, where I never heard of cholera . I crossed it 
from the fort of Butneer to Bahwulpore, four days’ journey, 
walking the horses from sunrise to sunset in the cold season ; 
and if people in any place in this world are exempt from 
cholera, I should say it is in the Desert, for they cannot 
cross over in great numbers, neither can they remain long 
