The delay was a disastrous one, for it allowed an enemy more dangerous than the Russians to make his insidious approaches.

The heat was very great; water bad, indeed almost undrinkable, the climate was notoriously an unhealthy one, and fruit of all kinds, together with cucumbers and melons, extremely cheap, and the soldiers consequently consumed very large quantities of these.
Through June and up to the middle of July, however, no very evil consequences were apparent.

On the 21st of July two divisions of French troops under General Canrobert marched into the Dobrudscha, in search of some bodies of Russians who were said to be there.

On the night of the 28th cholera broke out, and before morning, in one division no less than 600 men lay dead.

The other divisions, although situated at considerable distances, were simultaneously attacked with equal violence, and three days later the expedition returned, having lost over 7000 men.