14
Variations at different seasons.
There was a steady and almost regular rise in the fatality of attacks from 42.18 per
cent. in October to 68.11 per cent. in April,
then a decline, broken by a sharp rise of 73.47
per cent. in June. The apparent increased fatality of attacks in June is most probably
explained by the record in this month of the deaths of persons attacked in May, the figures
of cases for June being so comparatively small that the addition of a small number of
deaths would make a considerable difference in the apparent percentage fatality of attacks.
Variations among different race9 or castes and
sexes.
30. In Statement No. 3 (Appendix A) the number of attacks and deaths among males
and females of different races and castes are
shown for all districts except those of Ambala
and Lahore, particulars concerning these two
districts not having been supplied by the officers concerned.
No case of plague occurred among Europeans in the British districts of the Punjab
during the year under report, but a European male was attacked in the Patiála State and
recovered.
From the particulars given in Statement No. 3 (Appendix A) a table No. 4 below
has been prepared showing the totals under the different heads and certain calculations
based upon them.
Excluding Native Christians, the figures for which are so small as to be easily
susceptible of error, it will be seen that the classes that suffered most from plague—as
judged by the fatality of attacks—were high caste Hindus, Brahmins, Rájpúts and Khatris
being included in the term, among whom the percentage fatality of attacks of plague was
70.27. Muhammadans suffered rather more than "Other Hindus", i.e., mostly Játs, agricul-
turists, the fatality of attacks among these two classes having been respectively 64.04 and
62.43 per cent. Mahammadans suffered rather less than all Hindus taken, the case mort-
ality among which was 66.33 per cent.
It may be pointed out that the fatality among Muhammadans was vary nearly the
same as among Chamárs and sweepers, all being meat-eating classes.
In all the above classes women were more liable to attacks of plague than men,
though in the case of high caste Hindús the extra liability is very slight, and it will be
noticed that among this class the fatality of attacks was greater among males than among
females contrasting in this respect with other classes of Hindus.
This difference is probably to be accounted for by the sedentary and in-door
lives which many of this class—such as shop-keepers—share with the women ; while the
males of other classes of Hindús being mostly agriculturists live out-door lives, their
women folk staying at home.
Muhammadan females suffered considerably more than males, both as regards their
liability to attack and death, more so than in the case of any other class, for which the
seclusion under which they live is most probably responsible.
Among Chamárs and sweepers although females were more liable to attacks than
males, the fatality of attacks among them was less.
As far as they go, the figures for Native Christians show not only that the fatality
of attacks among females was less than among males, but that the former were less liable
to attacks of plague.