20
Type.
Bubonic plague was twice as common as septic and pneumonic combined and septic
far more common than pneumonic. Hot dry
weather seemed to be the only factor which
affected the progress of the epidemic. Soil appeared to have nothing to do with it, as it
raged as fiercely in the hills as in the plains, and in the plains it prevailed equally in the
dry and the marshy tracts. The poorer classes suffered most from plague, though the
mortality among high caste Hindus was very high. The case mortality was highest among
Muhammadan females.
Medical Staff and Establishment,
The Medical staff on plague duty in the district was as follows :—Captain M. Corry,
I. M. S., District Plague Medical Officer,
Dr. D. V. M Adams, Dr. W Burns, Dr. R.
Michell, Dr J. H. Rankin and Dr. C. E P. Forsyth,. Inoculating Medical Officers, Assistant
Surgeon Uttam Chand, I Hospital Assistant and 9 Compounders.
JULLUNDUR DISTRICT.
Epidemic.
Brief review of the epidemic.
33 The Jullundur District has been infected with plague every year since 1897. The
present epidemic was a severe one, more so
than that of the previous season, there
having been 714 villages and towns infected with. 46,463 cases and 25,229 deaths during
the present season as against 673 villages and towns with 32,873 cases and 18,959
deaths during the previous one, The epidemic grew steadily from its commencement till the
week ending December the 20th, after which there was a slight fall in the numbers till the
last week in January, from which time onwards the figures again rose, a marked rise occur-
ring in the middle of February. The rise continued till the climax was reached between
April the 5th and May the 9th. From this date the epidemic rapidly declined till it disap-
peared during the last week in July.
Attitude of the people.
The attitude of the people towards plague measures varied greatly in different
villages. In villages which had in former
years suffered severely preventive measures
were more or less practised at the beginning of the season Some communities seemed to
be content to suffer severely year by year without doing anything to help themselves ; others
began to take precautions, and some asked for help even before their village was infected.
Between these two extremes there were all gradations, but unfortunately the apathetic
communities were in the majority.
Preventive measures.
No attempt was made by the people to avoid communication with infected places,
and an instance occurred where the people,
having agreed that it was advisable to avoid a
certain infected village, immediately afterwards attended a mela there to witness wrestling
matches. Persons would crowd round the sick beds of plague cases utterly regardless alike
of the danger involved and of the advice tendered to them.
Evacuation.
Evacuation is better understood and more practised year by year. In the neighbour-
hood of all large towns may be seen houses
which have been built by well-to-do persons
who take refuge in them when plague breaks out in their midst. In villages which had in
former years experienced epidemics evacuation was to, some extent practised at the beginning
of the season and before many cases had occurred in them. Many people erected shelters on
the roofs of their houses and lived there, while others lived at their wells. In most instances
people did not evacuate until plague had taken a firm hold of their village, and this was the
case with some villages which had had bitter experience of plague year after year. In the
month of March and thereafter many people evacuated their houses, being stimulated thereto
by the severity of the plague and while the onset of the warm weather made evacuation less
difficult. Only five villages were completely evacuated and disinfected.
Information.
The returns sent in by Patwárís were often very inaccurate, though they were checked
as much as possible by officers whenever they
visited the villages.
Disinfection.
More chemical disinfection was done in the Jullundur than in any other district,
3,379 rooms having been so treated. These
rooms were chiefly in the larger towns, and
plague was held in check to some extent in these towns by the measure. Except in five
villages which were completely evacuated, very little chemical disinfection was done in,
villages. 29 rooms were desiccated for experimental purposes ; the results, however, were not
satislactory, and the experiments were discontinued,
Infection.
In the majority of cases enquired into it was found that fresh infection was due to
human communication, though, according to the
statements given in many instances, rats died
before plague became general. The first human case had often come from an infected village,
apparently incubating plague. Infection through contaminated clothing was clearly made-