45
Table showing particulars of certain villages in the Jullundur District in which two
or more outbreaks of plague occurred during the season of 1901-02—concluded.
Name of place.
Mungowál
Herián
Bhangal
Upal Jagfr
Bharwál
...
Census
popula-
tion.
1,245
767
966
647
656
Date of infection.
9th January 1902
29th September 1902 ...
14th November 1901 ...
22nd January 1902
2nd July 1902
13th September 1901 ...
3rd March 1902
27th April 1902
...
27th September 1902 ..
18th May 1902
7th July 1902
...
Date on which de-
clared free.
27th June 1902
3rd January 1902
ist March 1902
24th July 1902
...
...
2nd November 1901 ...
4th June 1902
12th July I902
...
2nd July 1902
29th July 1902
...
Attacks
116
1
5
2
2
3
52
6
9
9
1
Deaths.
44
1
2
2
3
16
5
5
1
1
REMARKS.
(a) The Plague Medical Officer writes that the people were, distinctly, more afraid
of plague than of other infectious diseases
which occur in the district such as small-pox
or cholera, and yet displayed carelessness and indifference towards initiating preventive or
remedial measures, except in a few instances, when fright induced the evacuation of
villages.
The Deputy Commissioner remarks that although the people were afraid of plague
they were fatalistic in the attitude, especially
the Muhammadans. In villages the people
attended to their sick and dead, but in Munici-
palities the dead were often left for several days in houses from which the occupants had
fled and had to be disposed of by the Municipal authorities. Their attitude, in the greater
part of the district, towards plague measures is not actively antagonistic, and they believe that
measures advocated by the Government are intended for their benefit. Money-lenders
and baniás are, however, almost all opposed to plague measures.
With regard to the effect of the epidemic on agriculture, labour, crime, litigation,
&c, the Deputy Commissioner remarks as
follows :—
" Plague has had no marked effect in the way of interruption of agriculture, care of
orphan children, scarcity of labour. As to crime, the death-rate among women has been
unusually high, and it is possible that female infanticide may cease for a while in some
villages. The police report that living in byres outside the village during plague out-
breaks has taught the people to construct stills and do illicit distilling at their wells outside
the village, but this was always a common offence in this district. As to litigation, parties
have been often unable to attend on account of sickness in their families, and suits by lieirs
regarding property of deceased persons have increased."
(b) Very little was done to protect healthy places from infection. The inhabitants
of a few villages attempted to prevent the
access of passengers, but the powers given to
the people by Notification No. 1086, dated 5th September igot, were but sparingly exercised,
and in villages where attempts were made to adopt this precaution exceptions were
made in favour of persons visiting relatives. The Deputy Commissioner remarks that
the exclusion of persons from villages is almost impossible, as relatives and those who care
to pay can always get in.
(c) Information regarding plague occurrences was obtained in the case of villages
through Patwárís, who were required to main-
tain a register containing the names and the
particulars of persons attacked with or died of plague and to send daily reports of the number.