22
Infection.
Infection was chiefly due to human agency, though rats were observed to die before
the epidemic broke out among people in almost
every village that became infected. The
period which elapsed between the mortality amongst rats and the appearance of the disease
amongst human beings varied from 1 to 7 days. Some attempts were made to destroy rats,
but without any success.
Type.
The bubonic form prevailed, and the septic form was apparently not recognised. The
District Plague Medical Officer remarks that,
although many cases of pneumonic plague were
reported, it is most probable that cases of ordinary pneumonia were included as the case
mortality was much lower than that usually observed with pneumonic plague. The case
mortality was highest during April.
Medical Staff and Establishment.
The following Medical Officers and subordinates were employed on plague duty in
the district :—Captain G. Browse, I. M. S., Dis-
trict Plague MedicaOfficer, Dr. R. W. Fisher,
Dr. P. E. Dobbs, Dr. F.Robinson, Inoculating Medical Officers, Assistant Surgeon MotiRám,
1 Hospital Assistant and 5 Compounders.
FEROZEPORE DISTRICT.
Epidemic.
35. The year under report was the third in which the Ferozepore District had been
infected with plague, and the second in which
it suffered seriously. The figures for the present
very slightly exceeded those of the previous year, and the difference may have been due to
better reporting, the returns having been more extensively checked during the present than
during the last season. There were 11,394 cases with 7,895 deaths during the present year
as against 10,307 cases with 6,342 deaths in the preceding epidemic. One town and one
village in the Zíra Tahsíl and one village in the Moga Tahsíl were infected at the commence-
ment of the season. The epidemic gradually grew till the end of December ; there was
a slight lull in January, after which the disease increased steadily ; the epidemic reaching its
climax between May the 3rd and May the 16th. The weekly figures do not give a very
reliable indication of the growth of the epidemic, as frequently a large number of
cases which had been previously concealed had to be included in the weekly returns.
The people of the district themselves were aware of the lull in the epidemic which
occurred during January and often remarked upon it. It was probably more marked than
the figures show. Reporting was worst in the Ferpzepore Tahsíl, and a great deal of con-
cealment was suspected both in the Ferpzepore City and Cantonment. A great many
persons fled from both places early in the epidemic, and it was remarked that at a time
when the Ferozepore City was returning no cases the surrounding villages in many instances
ascribed their infection to it.
Attitude.
The attitude of the people of the Moga Tahsíl, who had had a large previous ex-
perience of plague and of Government measures,
was most encouraging. The population of
,the Zíra Tahsíl were less ready to adopt any preventive measures, and the attitude of the
inhabitants of the Ferozepore Tahsíl is described as one of hopeless apathy.
Preventive measures.
No surveillance over arrivals from infected areas was ever exercised, nor did the
villagers avail themselves of the power of
refusing access to persons from infected places.
The communication between infected and uninfected places was very free.
Information.
Returns were sent in by the Patwárís in accordance with the instructions contained in
the Plague Manual, but were most imperfect.
They were, however, extensively checked by
officers whenever they visited a village.
Evacuation.
Evacuation of villages was frequently resorted to in the neighbourhood of Moga,
Zíra, Makhu, and along the bank of the Sutlej.
Around Zíra and at some of the villages near
Makhu even the Mussalmáns, usually the most obstinate class of the community, turned out
with the exception of their Kázís. Evacuation, though never complete, was such as to do
some obvious good. Segregation of sick and contacts was carried out at Zíra Town, Mehráj
Town, and at two villages in the Moga Tahsíl. In Zíra Town the disease had already spread
further than the small area of the town treated, but in the other cases the measure, which
was combined with thorough disinfection of the infected quarters., was successful in com-
pletely stopping the outbreak.