61
The greatest number of deaths occurred in persons between 20 and 50 years, thus
forming the majority of the population ; the case mortality of these cases was 69.2 per cent.
Although attacks among persons over 60 were comparatively few, the fatality of
their attacks are very high, 877 per cent.
Very few infants under one year were attacked, and this coupled with the fact that
they are much exposed to infection through their mothers leads Dr. Fateh Chand to the
conclusion that " if there is any degree of immunity from plague at any age, it is in infants."
Unusual features.
Treatment.
No unusual features of the plague were noticed, nor were any methods of treatment
found to be especially favourable. The treat-
ment adopted by hakims consisted chiefly of
the application of leeches to buboes or horn
cuppings and scarifications with or without
the application of heat, usually in the form of hot bricks.
Recommendations.
(0) The Deputy
Commissioner
notes :—
" The suggestions that I would make for the treatment of another epidemic are the
following :—
(1) That all villages be directed to impose quarantine on approach of the disease, and
that every assistance be given them to render it effective by the appointment of extra
chaukídárs and by utilizing the provisions of Section 269, Indian Penal Code.
(2) That minor Municipalities which differ very slightly from villages be allowed to
impose a similar quarantine.
(3) That no attempts at segregation or chemical disinfection be made in either towns
or villages.
(4) That when plague has invaded a village, every inducement be offered to effect a
complete evacuation and every assistance be given through appointment of extra chaukídárs
to guard the village entrances, and through the provision of shelter in camp for the poorer
portion of the population either from the village malba or a Government grant.
(5) That in case of any portion of the village declining to evacuate, the pay of the
extra chaukídárs be realized from such portion alone.
(6) That all arrangements regarding reporting deaths, quarantine and evacuation be
left in the hands of the revenue authorities alone.
(7) That if the Medical authorities can certify that any person inoculated may with-
reasonable safety remain in an infected village, inoculation be pressed during the winter
months.
(8) That if they cannot so certify, inoculation be not attempted."
He is supported by the Civil Surgeon with regard to Nos. (1), (2) and (4) of these
suggestions.
Dr. Fateh Chand also recommends that persons who do exceptionally good services in
the cause of inoculation should be rewarded substantially, and that it should be the duty of
every Zaildár to persuade people to accept inoculation.
Mr. Silcock followed up the recommendation made in his report by a letter to the
-Commissioner of the Jullundur Division, No. 272, dated Ludhiána, July 11th-15th, 1902,
of which certain portions are reproduced below as being of interest or importance :—
" * * * with the exception of a few attempts at disinfection, plague camps, &c, made
at the commencement, the disease was allowed to pursue its natural course unchecked.
The people were given the best advice available and were then left to follow the bent of their
.own inclinations as to how far they would follow it.
" It may therefore be accepted that this district affords an almost complete object
lesson of the course which the epidemic, if unchecked by any action on the part of Govern-
ment, will follow, and of the extent to which it will spread.
" The price paid for this lesson however has been 50,000 lives, and I hardly think
that Government can afford to pay so heavy a price a second time. It is often said that the
death-rate of plague is not so very exceptional when compared with that of malarial fevers,
but I have examined the fever figures for the autumn of 1900, which is held here to have
been the worst year in the memory of the present generation, and I find the total deaths
during the four months from September to December to have been 18,559. It is therefore
very clear that there is no comparison between the mortalities from these two diseases ; and
that plague which has almost decimated the population of this district in three months can
hardly, with safety, be allowed to follow its course unchecked. Some action is certainly
palled for, and the only question can be as to the direction in which it should be
taken,