NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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mortality began to rise slowly at the end of June 1896, reaching nearly
800 in the week ending 6th October. In the week ending 20th October
it fell to about 600, and then rapidly rose to over 1,800 in the week
ending 29th December. It remained at high level for 7 weeks, reaching
1,900 in the week ending 19th February; after which it rapidly
decreased till it was normal in the week ending 4th May.
In the second year it was practically never normal; a serious
recrudescence began from the middle of July, reaching its height 1,050
in the week ending 3rd August. It then decreased steadily till the
middle of November. After the first week of December, it rose rapidly
to 2,200 in the week ending 15th February, remaining at high level for
6 weeks, in the last of which ending 22nd March it reached 2,250 and
then fell rapidly till it reached normal in the week ending 17th May, or
only a fortnight from the close of the year.
In the third year the mortality began to rise at the beginning of
July, reaching 1,000 in the week ending 4th October. It then fell to
below 600 for the week ending 22nd November. It again rose slowly
for a month, and then rapidly for two months reaching its maximum of
2,400 in the week ending 8th March. It remained at this high level for
three weeks only, and then fell rapidly, but did not reach normal till the
beginning of the following year.
Mortality of
each section.
A careful study of the Charts of the total mortality, which have
been prepared for each section, would afford support to the most diverse
theories as to the progress of the disease. But, speaking generally, it
seems to have spread outwards from Mandvi in the first year, to have
started in the very centre of the City in the second year, and to have
spread from there in every direction, and in the year under report to
have spread from 3 separate centres, viz., Mahim, North Fort, and the
centre of the City. But when it is remembered that hardly any portion
of the City has ever been really free from plague for any length of time,
many sections undergoing a recrudescence of greater or less severity
during the monsoon, and when the busy going-to-and-fro of Bombay is
taken into account, the hopelessness of theorizing about the progress of
the disease from place to place becomes apparent; even if the sugges-
tion put forward by many that the bacillus from time to time becomes
dormant, again springing into vigorous life under suitable conditions,
is left out of the question.
The following table gives the approximate dates on which the
main outbreak of the year began in each section :—
22nd November 1898—2nd Nagpada.
29th November 1898—Fort North, Dongri, Kumbharwada, Mahim.
6th December 1898—Market, Kharatalao, Byculla.
13th December 1898—Mandvi, Dhobitalao, Mazagon, Parel, "Worli.
27th December 1898—Umarkhari, Bhuleshwar, Fanaswadi, Kamatipura,
TardeOj 1st Nagpada, Sion.
3rd January 1899—Middle and Lower Colaba, Khetwadi, Girgaum, Tarwari,
Sewri.
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10th January 1899—Chukla, Mahalaxmi.
24th January 1899—Chowpatti.
31st January 1899—Walkeshwar.
7th February 1899—Esplanade.
A Ward.
Fort South.—From the statement of total mortality it will be seen
that Fort South has been practically free from the epidemic throughout.
This is no doubt due to the fact that ic is not a residential quarter, but is
almost entirely occupied by offices of a substantial character ; it is
comparatively speaking, well-drained, well ventilated, clean and dry.
Upper Colaba has also been very lightly touched. After Fort
South it has the smallest population of any in Bombay, and a considerable
proportion consists of Europeans and European Troops, it is well
separated from the rest of Bombay, is well ventilated and exposed to
every breeze that blows, and its health and sanitary condition has been
vigilantly watched by the Military authorities.
In Middle and Lower Oolaba after a slight recrudescence in
September and fehe beginning of October, the mortality began to rise at
the beginning of January, attained its maximum 9 weeks later in the
week ending 14th March 1899 ; remained there for a fortnight and then
fell irregularly till the end of the year, the whole course of the main
epidemic lasting 22 weeks. There were 203 deaths more than in 1896-97,
and 69 more than in 1897-98.
In Fort North matters took a distinct turn for the bad in the week
ending 6th December 1898, the mortality was at its worst for 5 weeks
from the middle of February to the 3rd week in March and then declined
till it reached a comparatively normal, figure at the end of April : the
whole course of the epidemic having lasted 21 weeks. The chart for
this Section shows vividly the rapid rise and fall and the virulence of
the disease in the epidemic of the previous year, when in one week the
mortality was nearly 10 times the normal. There was a difference of 518
lives in favour of the year under report, which is equivalent to the average
mortality of 6 months.
In the Esplanade, an extended but open and thinly populated area,
the mortality began to rise seriously in the week ending 7th February
1899 ; the epidemic lasted 16 weeks, remaining at its highest level for
the last 4 weeks of March. During this period it was between 9 and 10
times the normal. The epidemic in this section has increased in virulence
each year, and it shares with Mahim and Woiii the unenviable distinction
of a mortality this year, approaching double of that of 1897-98.
The following general remarks regarding A Ward are taken from
Captain Lock's report :-—
" Oolaba Village is a densely populated neighbourhood off the South side of
" Colaba Road—intersected by short narrow lanes crossing and re-crossing. The
" residents are for the most part coolies, cartmen, fishermen, mahars, and sweepers
*' It was. in this village that plague first broke out, showing itself especially in
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" Thomas Street, spreading in September 1898, to Pilot Bunder, and involving the
" whole village. The rest of Colaba except for a few dropping cases kept clear until
" the 15th January, when Victoria Bunder, about 1/2 a mile up the Colaba road,
" became seriously affected and from that date to the 31st May there were 168 cases
" in this 12-acre patch of ground alone. Colaba Eoad which is the residence of
" Europeans chiefly, of different nationalities, had 29 cases during the year entirely
" among servants. Contamination was often found to have been got from staying
" with or visiting friends in Colaba Village and Victoria Bunder."
The previous history of Victoria Bunder is interesting. In the time
of General Gatacre Plague was very bad in some insanitary chals stand-
ing here. They were eventually demolished in the hot weather of 1897.
The people were exceedingly reluctant to leave ; they camped out in the
open, and when the monsoon broke they were in such distress and misery
that the erection of temporary sheds was permitted, a certain number
being put up by the Municipality itself. In the year under report there
were some 2,000 people living in these huts, the surroundings were most
insanitary and it was found impossible to make the landlord take the
matter seriously in hand. Plague attacked the residents very severely,
and extended to those of pakka chals in the immediate neighbourhood ;
and finally at the close of the year it was decided that this death-trap
must be abolished once for all. The demolition of the huts has been
going on by degrees ever since and at least one plague centre has now
been removed.
It was very difficult to catch hold of plague in the North Fort sec-
tion. It broke out here, there and everywhere ; and assumed epidemic
proportions first in one locality and then in another without any apparent
rhyme or reason.
B Ward South.
Mandvi went through two distinct epidemics which practically
lasted the whole year. Beginning on 21st June the first epidemic
remained at a high level from 23rd August to llth October—7 weeks—
and the mortality did not touch normal till the middle of December. It
started to rise again almost at once and by irregular jumps reached its
maximum (106) in the week ending 21st March 1899 ; after which it
decreased till the end of the year. The entire course of the first epidemic
lasted 25 weeks, of the second 22 weeks. The chart shows that both
the previous years were marked by a similar mortality line, but the
mortality was in both years lower, except during the fierce outbreak of
the 1st three weeks at the beginning of October 1896, which ushered in
the first epidemic in Bombay. The mortality during the year under
report (2,794) exceeded that of the 1st year by 372 and that of the 2nd
by 430.
In Chuckla there was a slight recrudescence during the monsoon,
the mortality attaining a rate of 45 during the week ending 27th
September 1898, but the epidemic really began about the 10th January.
The death-rate rose for 7 weeks, was at its height for 6 weeks from 28th
February 1899 to llth April 1899, and. then fell till the end of the
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year : covering altogether a period of 21 weeks. The total loss of life
(1,921) was about the same as in 1896-97, but less by 33,4 than in
1897-98. In neither Mandvi nor Chuckla does the disease seem to have
spread from any definite centre.
B Ward North.
Umarkhari, like Mandvi, is marked by two distinct epidemics. The
first began about July 7th, reached its height 7 weeks later at the end of
August, remained high, with one remarkable drop during the week end-
ing 20th September, for 7 weeks, and reached normal during the week
ending 15th November 1898, having lasted 18 weeks. The second and
more serious epidemic started about 27th December, increased irregularly
for 7 weeks, remained high for 6 weeks, with a maximum of 128 in 2
successive weeks, then gradually fell to normal at the end of year, the
whole epidemic lasting 21 weeks. The chart shows that in the first year
there was only one epidemic; in the second a slight recrudescence in the
monsoon was followed by a serious epidemic during January and Feb-
ruary. The total mortality of the year under report (3,766) exceeded
that of the first year by 308 and that of the second year by 242.
Dongri presents very similar features—a minor epidemic in the
monsoon, beginning about llth August, increasing to a maximum of 59
in the week ending llth October 1898, and again, reaching about normal
after the 1st week in November, a total period of 14 weeks. The second
epidemic began slowly about 1st December 1898, and after 8 weeks
reached 102 in the week ending 7th February 1899, remained high
for 7 weeks, and again reached normal in the last 7 days of the year
after a course of 25 weeks. The mortality line of 1897-98 followed that
of the year under report, but in the first year there was only one
epidemic. The mortality of Dongri for 1898-99 (2,461) exceeded that of
1896-97 by 641 and that of the intermediate year by 319.
C Ward.
Market. —A slight recrudescence occurred in September-October.
The real epidemic began about 6th December 1898, the mortality after
rising for 4 weeks remained high for 12 weeks, then fell to normal
about a fortnight before the close of the year, having lasted 23 weeks.
DhoMalao.—There was no recrudescence during the monsoon. An
epidemic began about 15th December 1898, the death-rate increased for
5 weeks, maintained a high level for 7 weeks, and fell to normal after
the close of the year, having lasted 24 weeks.
Fanaswadi—There was no recrudescence, but an epidemic began
on 27th December 1898, the mortality increased for 4 weeks, and after
remaining high for 6 weeks, fell to approximately normal about the llth
April, having lasted 15 weeks.
JBJiuleshwar.—A slight recrudescence occurred in September-Octo-
ber. The real epidemic started about 27th December 1898, increased
for 5 weeks, maintained a high level for 7 weeks and fell to normal a
fortnight lefore the close of the year, having lasted 20 weeks.
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Kharatalao.—There was a recrudescence in August. The more
serious epidemic began about 6th December 1898, increased steadily
for 12 weeks to a maximum of 83 in one week, then declined steadily to
the end of the year, having lasted 25 weeks.
Kumbharwada.—A serious recrudescence in Augast, September and
October was followed, practically without any break, by an epidemic
beginning 29th November 1898. The mortality increased irregularly
for 16 weeks and did not again reach normal till the last few days of
the year, having lasted 25 weeks.
If the mortality curves of the charts of the first 4 of the above
sections be examined, a striking similarity of feature during the latter
half of the year will be observed. In each case the epidemic of
1897-98 was far worse than that of either the preceding or the succeed-
ing year. In each case the epidemic of 1896-97 reached about the same
virulence as that of 1898-99. In Kharatalao the 3 epidemics have been
on a diminishing scale and have reached their height about a month later
each year. In Khumbharwada they have been a few weeks later each year,
but on a crescendo scale. The total mortality for " 0 " Ward during 1898-
99 (11,540) was heavier by 1,778 than in 1896-97, but less than that in
1897-98 by 1,048.
9 Ward.
Khetwadi.—Two slight recrudescences in August and October were
followed by an epidemic beginning 3rd January 1899, rising to a maxi-
mum of 103 in the week ending 28th March 1899 (i.e.> after 12 weeks),
then falling to normal at the end of the year after 21 weeks.
Girgaum.—No monsoon recrudescence. An epidemic started on 3rd
January 1899, and rising to its maximum of 132 for the weekending 28th
February 1899 (i. e., after 9 weeks), fell to normal 3 weeks before the
close of the year after a course of 16 weeks. As last year the epidemic
in Grirgaum was briefer, but more severe than in Khetwadi, but the
diagrams show a strong general resemblance. In both sections the
epidemics began simultaneously, and in each section the second epidemic
was the worst, that of the year under report coming second in severity.
But taking the whole year into consideration the effects of the monsoon
recrudescence during the year under report on Khetwadi are shown
by the high total mortality. The number of deaths (1 5 954) was 174
more than in 1897-98 and 605 more than in 1896-97. In Girgaum the
total this year (1 3 782) was 205 more than in 1896-97, but 217 less than
1897-98.
CJiowpaMi.-~R& monsoon recrudescence. An epidemic began on
24th January 1898. The death-rate fell to normal in one week, but
otherwise rose fairly steadily to a maximum of 46 in the week ending
14th March 1899. It then began to fall at once and became normal
after 18th April, having lasted 12 weeks only. But the virulence of the
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disease was very great during the maximum week, the mortality being
eleven times the normal. The epidemic followed a very similar course
to that of the previous year, both in point of strength and time. That
of the first year was a month and a half earlier. The total mortality
this year (395) was 60 higher than in 1896-97, and 28 lower than in
1897-98.
Walkeshwar.—There was no monsoon recrudescence, and no very
serious epidemic, but the mortality rose from 31st January 1899 for 8
weeks till it attained a maximum of 25 (or six times the normal) in the
week ending 28th March 1899, reaching normal again 3 weeks
before the end of the year after a course of 14 weeks. The recrudes-
cence of the previous year followed very much the same lines, but was
less severe. The epidemic of 1896-97 was a month and a half earlier and
more serious. The total mortality this year (307) was 54 higher than in
1897-98, 130 lower than in 1896-97.
Malialaxmi.—There was no recrudescence in the monsoon, but an
epidemic in the hot weather. The mortality rose from 10th January
1899 for 7 weeks, remained at high level 4 weeks (maximum 42, or eight
times the normal, in the week ending 28th March 1899), then fell rapidly
lasting altogether 14 weeks. The epidemic of the previous year was
less severe, but followed much the same lines ; there was, however, a
slight monsoon recrudescence that year ; in 1896-97 the epidemic was
about the same in violence as during the year under report, but a
month earlier. For the whole year the mortality (631) exceeded that of
1896-97 by 53, and that of 1897-98 by 131.
As regards the August recrudescence in Khetwadi, Captain Dunbar
Stuart writes : " The people of 2nd and 3rd Khetwadi Lanes and
their vicinity probably brought the infection from Mandvi and
Dongri, where the Khetwadi people work." Mandvi has much to
answer for and was practically never free, but the monsoon recrudes-
cence in Dongri began a fortnight later than in Khetwadi. The second
monsoon recrudescence in Khetwadi is ascribed by Capt. Stuart
to the very virulent infectiousness which seems to have attached to
the case of Dr. Chonkar—referred to elsewhere—and those that arose
from it.
E Ward,
Byculla.—The mortality diagram of this section presents a dismal
spectacle. From the beginning of June 1896 to the end of May 1899, the
death-rate has only been normal during 3 weeks. It is probable that
the population of this section has with that of the rest of the North of
the island increased in a greater ratio than in the Southern and Central
portions. The number of mills in Bombay has greatly increased in
recent years, and the additional mill-hands are largely accommodated in
Parel and E Ward. It is not at all improbable that the population of
the section has increased by ten thousand, and this would go far to
account for the high level of the death-rate. But even if the average
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weekly rate be taken at 40 instead of 31, a distinct recrudescence is
observed in September and October ; and the more serious epidemic
starting about 6th December 1898, rose rapidly to a maximum death-rate
of 262 in the week ending 7th March 1899 and lasted to the end of the
year—a total period of 25 weeks—though its fall was as rapid as its rise.
The total mortality of the year (4,686) was 1,271 greater than in
1896-97 and 118 less than in 1897-98. But in that year a sharp outbreak
of cholera during the monsoon went to swell the figures. In the earlier
stages plague jumped about without much method from one portion to
another of this large section, but when the epidemic once seriously
started the whole of Byculla was thoroughly infected.
Mazagon.—There was a very slight recrudescence at the end of
September, but the real epidemic began about 13th December, and the
death-rate after rising to a maximum of 163 in the week ending 28th
March 1899 fell rapidly. The epidemic lasted till the end of the year—
a total period of 24 weeks. Its progress through the section was from
South to North. The epidemic of 1897-98 covered approximately the
same period, that of 1896-97 was about 2 months earlier. The
total mortality this year (2,386) was 315 greater than in 1896-97 and
50 greater than in 1897-98. In that year, as in Byculla, there was
a specially high mortality in September.
Tarwari had a slight recrudescence in October, the epidemic began
about 3rd January 1899, increased for 8 weeks, maintained a high level
for 3 (maximum 111 in the week ending 21st March 1899), and was not
far from normal at the end of the year after a course of 21 weeks. The
violence of the epidemic was considerably greater than in either of the
preceding years and the total mortality (1,516), which was 200 per cent,
above normal, exceeded that of 1896-97 by 579, and that of 1897-98
by 411.
Kamatipura.—A recrudescence in September was followed by an
epidemic beginning about 27th December 1898, rising gradually for 10
weeks, to a maximum death-rate of 117 in the week ending 7th March
1899. It began to fall steadily a fortnight later, and the death-rate was
normal during the last week of the year, after a course of 21 weeks.
The epidemic followed very much the same line as in the preceding
year, but was less severe, and both the monsoon recrudescence and the
epidemic were a few weeks later. The total mortality this year (2,668)
was less by 85 than in 1896-97, and by 604 than in 1897-98.
Tardeo.—After a brief recrudescence at the end of September and
the beginning of October, the mortality rose steadily for 9 weeks from
27th December 1899, maintained a high level for 4 weeks, with a maxi-
mum of 94 in the week ending 7th March 1899, and was again normal
at the end of the year, having lasted 21 weeks. The period of rise and
fall thus synchronised closely with that of Kamatipura. The epidemic
lasted longer than in either of the preceding years and the total mortality
(1,723) exceeded that of 1896-97 by 329 and that of 1897-98 by 87.
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1st Nagpada.—The mortality was aboye normal for a considerable
portion of the rains, but it can hardly be said that there'was a recrudescence.
The same thing occurred during December, but it was not till about the
27th of that month that a marked rise commenced. The maximum (51)
was reached in the week ending 28th February, and the epidemic was
over at the end of April, having lasted 18 weeks. The total mortality
(798) exceeded that of 1896-97 by 190 and that of 1897-98 by 60.
2nd Nagpada had a serious recrudescence during September and
a comparatively slight epidemic later. This began about 22nd Novem-
ber 1898 and, after 13 weeks, reached its maximum (71) in the week
ending 28th February 1899, the mortality reaching normal just before
the close of the year, after a total course of 26 weeks. The mortality line
of the previous year was very much the same in this section, but
generally higher. The total mortality this year (1,853) was greater
than that of 1896-97 by 128, less than that of 1897-98 by 279.
F Ward.
Parel.—The mortality was high throughout the year, but the
epidemic did not begin till 13th December 1898, rose for 15 weeks to a
maximum of 146 in the week ending 28th March 1899 and then, falling
rapidly, reached normal at the close of the year, having lasted 23 weeks.
The section escaped the serious monsoon recrudescence of the previous
year and the total mortality (2,705), though more than that of 1896-97
by 773, was less than that of 1897-98 by 22.
Sewree.—There was no monsoon recrudescence here, an epidemic
commenced 3rd January 1899 ; the death-rate rose for 8 weeks to a
maximum of 36 (9 times the normal), in the week ending 7th March
1899, and after maintaining a high level for 6 weeks fell to the average
a fortnight before the close of the year after a total course of 19 weeks.
The epidemic was more severe than either of its predecessors, the
mortality for the year (464) exceeding that of 1897-98 by 169 and that
of 1896-97 by 34.
Sion.—This section had a monsoon recrudescence in 1897-98, which
ifc escaped during the year under report. But the rising mortality
showed the commencement of an epidemic about 27th December 1898.
It went on increasing for 11 weeks to a maximum of 51 in the week
ending 21st March 1899 : the curve then descending irregularly to the
close of the year—a total period of 22 weeks. This section suffered
very severely in 1896-97 and the total mortality that year exceeded that
of the year under report (935) by 262. In 1897-98 the figure was 872.
S Ward.
Mahim.—The mortality was high throughout the year. This is
probably to some extent accounted for by a rapidly increasing population.
The epidemic began 29th November 1898, rose for 15 weeks to a maxi-
mum of 122 deaths in the week ending 21st March 1899, then rapidly
fell to the close of the year—a total period of 26 weeks. The epidemic
was much more severe than in 1897-98. The total mortality this year
(2,086) exceeded that of 1896-97 by 420, that of 1897-98 by 852.