72
" When plague first appeared people regarded it as an ordinary disease and did not
attempt to avoid contact with the stricken nor shrink from disposing of the dead in the
ordinary way. But as the disease spread in a village there was in many cases a panic.
Many people ran away from badly-stricken villages and the dead were left to lie without
burial till they grew too offensive to be endured."
Assistant Surgeon Vidya Natha Singh writes :—
" The majority of the people believed that doctors were the chief men who spread
the plague and this some believed they did for their own living and maintenance, for if
plague died out many of them would be discharged from Government service.. The people
therefore hated the sight of medical men in their villages, and believed that on their first
entry into a village they sow broadcast somehow the seed of the disease. '*
Attitude.
It may be inferred from the passage just quoted that the attitude of the people towards
plague measures was one of considerable hosti-
lity. This indeed was the case for some time
until, in fact, the ravages of the disease had severely alarmed them. Even then, the measures
advocated by Government officials were but sparingly adopted and in any case more by
Sikhs than by any others.
Effects of the epidemic on agriculture, &c
(b) Of the effect of the epidemic on trade, agriculture, &c, the Deputy Commissioner-
writes as follows:—
" There has not yet been any change in the material prosperity, though in some
villages some of the land must have remained uncultivated. I do not tfyink there has been
any noticeable effect on litigation or crime. No difficulties about orphan children have
come to notice."
Measnres to prevent outbreak of plague in uninfect-
ed places.
(c) Of the measures taken by the people themselves to prevent outbreaks of plague
among them ; Mr. Atkins writes :—
" Uninfected villages in infected neighbourhoods became after a while a little careful-
about admitting people from infected villages, and in some cases where the proprietors were
strong and could co-operate they appointed cbaukidars to keep people out. Such precau-
tions were however "usually very ineffectual in most villages as the particular friend
of the visitor would wish to admit him and the others were not united enough to prevent
him."
In no place were any arrangements made for the exercise of surveillance over
arrivals from infected places.
Arrangements for obtaining information.
{d) Of the arrangements for obtaining information concerning plague occurrences
the Plague Medical Officer writes :—
Arrangement for obtaining information of attacks
and deaths.
" The following arrangement was adopted for obtaining information concerning plague
attacks and deaths. The Lambardars of each
infected village were held responsible for mak-
ing a daily report of their circles of fresh attacks
and deaths to the chaukidiir who communicated the matter to the Patw.4ri who entered in a-
register and submitted a copy to the Plague Officer either by a special messenger or by post-
cards printed and distributed to them beforehand. The checking of these returns was
possible in the beginning, but afterwards when the number cf infected villages rose high and
the work increased it became impracticable and was abandoned. u
The Deputy Commissioner remarks :—
" On the whole, there is reason to think that in the district cases have not been much
concealed after the people learnt to recognise it and after they were satisfied that no com-
pulsory measures would be taken."
In the town of Kasur a hakfm and a muharrir were appointed for the reporting of
plague occurrences.
The muharrir maintained a register of cases and deaths reported to him by the hakfm
and this register was presented daily to the Assistant Surgeon in charge of the dispensary
who visited all patients. Somewhat similar arrangements were made in other Municipal
towns.
Evacuation.
(e) Of evacuation the Plague Medical Officer writes that it was not adopted to any
great extent or with any degree of thoroughness.
The Deputy Commissioner remarks :—
" In a few cases villagers were persuaded to resort to evacuation, but, as a rule, they
took the infection with them and finding that they had not immediately escaped, they returned
to their villages. In many cases zamindars who had wells to go to went out to live oi>