18 Apr 1829 Dreadful Mortality On Board A Chinaman - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

18 Apr 1829 Dreadful Mortality On Board A Chinaman

We lament having to record a most appalling mortality from cholera morbus,
on board the Honourable Company's ship "Abercombie Robinson', CAPTAIN JOHN
INNES, during her voyage from Bombay to this port, the following particulars
of which have been kindly communicated to us by a friend.
    The ship left Bombay on the 10th of August; that evening a boy was
taken ill and died - and while still in sight of the lighthouse the
boatswain was attacked, suffered severely, but recovered. On the 12th the
sickness was general, and raged so violently that in the space of five days,
of thirty-eight who were attacked, twenty-four died - six of them in less
than six hours, and thirteen within twelve hours from the first attack.
Nine were buried in one day !

The disease appeared without exception under the extreme and dangerous form
of collapse. - The sufferers, who were among the best men in the ship, were
taken ill suddenly while at work, though previously in excellent health;
one of them, while the funeral service was reading, felt a sudden shock, and
made an exclamation of alarm, was taken below sick, and ere morning he was a
corpse.
    Every measure was adopted that could in the least degree tend to
counteract the malignity of the epidemic, could afford a defence against its
invasion, or could in any way add to the safety of those on board; but the
violence of the attacks was beyond belief, and the most active and
preserving means to relieve the unfortunate sufferers, proved most generally
unavailing.

The vital energy seemed so completely destroyed from the first moment of
ostensible disease, as to leave an insufficiency of life remaining to be
influenced by restorative meals. It is remarkable that none of the officers
were taken ill.
    The weather was moderate and tolerably fine throughout, but there was a
humidity in the atmosphere more particularly evident at night, when by far
the greater number of cases occurred. As a protection from the night air,
the ports were barred in every evening at six o'clock. Acid fumigations
were also resorted to.

In the latitude of the Laccivades (about 1 l. N) an offensive smell of sea
weed was perceived. The barometer ranged from 29.50 to 29.85. and the
thermometer from 70. to 82. On the day the cholera ceased, it rose fully
three degrees, the sky was less obscured by clouds and haze, and the
atmosphere clearer and less humid, the ship being then about 5. 30. N.
latitude, off Point de Galle. ...........' Canton Register, Oct. 18'