67
Cordon and guards.
(f). On the subject of guards,
Dr. Mahoney writes :—
" In some instances where villages were evacuated, or partly evacuated, a system of
watchmen were appointed by the Lambardárs and Zaildars to guard the property of these
people, yet a considerable amount of property was stolen which had a deterring effect."
Segregation.
(g). Segregation of the sick was only carried out in few instances in the early part of
the epidemic when Mr. Levi remarks : " It was
often most effectual. When plague spread this
measure was abandoned, partial and complete evacuation of village being adopted. in its
place."
Medical treatment.
(h). The people preferred the treatment of their hakims to that of Government
Medical Officers. Only 3 persons applied for.
European medical treatment.
(i). But little disinfection was performed in the Ferozepore District. On this subject
Mr. Levi writes as follows :—
Disinfection.
" No disinfection of any sort has been carried out except by official agency with the
prescribed solution. A gang of disinfectors
numbering 54 was kept up at Dharamkot, and
the rules of Government were strictly observed, that disinfection was to be regarded as a
benefit to be conferred ; in all cases a written application was received before any opera-
tions were commenced. The gang was regarded with the greatest suspicion, and it is a
firm article of faith with the zamindárs that when plague is over and done with, the cost of
disinfection will be collected from each village with the revenue. The operations per-
formed were of two kinds—(i) disinfection of a few houses in an early stage accompanied
with evacuation of those houses; and (") total disinfection accompanied with complete
evacuation. There were many operations of the first sort, and if evacuation was prompt
they were nearly always successful. Such disinfection was only carried out in villages in
which the people were doing their best to keep out the plague-infected and in which a
ease had slipped in by defeating their vigilance. Complete disinfection was carried out in 10
villages. In all cases the population had completely evacuated, and in most cases operations
were deferred till the outbreak had practically subsided, in order to prevent possible re-occu-
pation before the disease had died out. All those villages remained free, and none of them
have yet been re-infected. The greatest care was taken in each case that no opportunity-
could arise for the disinfection gang to annoy the villagers, and there is reason to hope
that the suspicion with which official disinfection was regarded has in those villages and
surrounding villages been allayed ; and that this measure will be largely sought in the
future."
Details as to the number of houses desinfected and the staff employed in connection
with this measure will be found in Statement No. 10, Appendix C. No mention is made
either in the Plague Medical Officer's or the Executive Plague Officer's Report of the disin-
fection of clothing and other Personal effects.
Inoculation.
(j). Owing to insufficient Medical staff it was not possible to commence inocu-
lations until the end of April.
Mention has been made in a previous report of the inoculations performed in May
190', when a few persons from a large number of villages were inoculated in order to serve
as examples.
This appears to have obtained its object, for by the end of July, i.e., during the
remainder of the epidemic, 15,830 persons were inoculated. Particulars are given in State-
ment No. 6 (Appendix B).
Both Dr. Mahoney and Mr. Levi refer to the rumour and alarming stories that
were current about the effects of inoculation. Dr. Mahoney states that stories were
spread by mischievous persons that a great many people died from inoculation, and Mr. Levi
notes that it was fairly believed that cost of inoculation was subsequently to be recovered ;
the difficulty caused by this belief was to a certain extent overcome by making the
certificates ' free.'
Dr. Mahoney remarks that the people had no social or religious objection to the
measure, but that they evinced considerable interest in it, asking how the fluid was prepared,
how it acted, and so forth. In villages where the measure was new a few women and children
were at first put forward to undergo the operation and when satisfied as to its effect others
came forward for inoculation.
The inhabitants of different villages also made inquiry of each other'as to the result
of the measure, and as these were satisfactory the people began to accept inoculation freely.
During the subsidence of the epidemic, when the weather was very hot, the people com-
plained that inoculation produced high fever.