35
NATIVE STATES.
49. Of the eight Native States in which outbreaks of plague occurred during the year
1902-03, namely, Patiála, Kapurthala, Nábha, Kalsia, Máler Kotla, Jínd, Farídkot and
Dujána, reports have been received from four only, Kapurthala, Máler Kotla, Farídkot and
Dujána. The reports of plague in the three first-named States were furnished by their
respective Medical Officers ; that of the Dujána State was written by the Civil Surgeon of
Gurgaon, who was in charge of the medical arrangements in connection with plague in the
State.
KAPURTHALA STATE.
50. The epidemic in the Kapurthala State, although widespread, was not very severe
except in a few villages. All the tahsils of the State were infected, and outbreaks occurred
at the head-quarters of each tahsil.
The disease first made its appearance in the Kapurthala Tahsil on October 18th,
1902, the Phagwára Tahsil becoming infected a few days later. The Dhilwán, Kapurthala,
and Sultánpur Tahsils became infected respectively in January, February and March 1903.
The epidemic ceased in June; during its course 8,137 cases with 5,255 deaths were reported.
Except in the case of the city of Kapurthala no measures were adopted with the
•object of preventing outbreaks of plague. Inspection and disinfection posts were established
on the roads leading to the capital of the State in November 1907, but as in spite of them
plague appeared in the city in February 1903, these arrangements were discontinued.
It is reported that 35,779 persons were disinfected at these posts.
No particulars are given of the extent to which chemical disinfection of infected
houses and effects was resorted to, but it is mentioned that perchloride of mercury and
phenyle were the disinfectants used. Towards the end of the epidemic a few houses were
desiccated.
Very little inoculation was done, and only 839 persons were inoculated. Of these
500 were police sepoys ; the remainder were sepoys of the Imperial Service Infantry and
school boys. Two cases occurred among the inoculated, one of which was fatal.
With regard to the spread of infection it is stated that this was always due to human
intercourse, though death among rats often preceded outbreaks of plague among human
beings.
In some places large numbers of rats died.
The following table gives particulars of the outbreaks of the head-quarter towns and
of certain villages which suffered severely :—
Table showing plague seizures and deaths in the Kapurthala State.
Serial No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Names of villages.
Kapurthala
Alimgír Kála
Bhanolanga
Sultánpur
Sherpur Sadha
Talwandi Chouldarián
Shahwála
Kabírpur
Alowál ...
Bhagorián
Phagwára
Palohi ...
Panchat ...
Mete ...
Mauli ...
Hadiabad...
Lakhpur ...
Hussainpur Labowál
Dhoat ...
Nidála ...
Baich ...
Yaid ...
Dhilwán ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Census
popula-
tion.
18,519
3,696
1,502
9,005
902
4,255
600
432
566
629
14,093
1.360
3,168
877
1,200
3,058
1,78l
836
1.387
3,l82
528
1,107
3,500
DATE OF
First case.
25th February 1903
24th February 1903
16th April 1903
6th March 1903
3rd March 1903
11th March 1903
2nd April 1903
3rd April 1903
11th April 1903
14th April 1903
29th November 19
20th January 1903
3rd February 1903
3rd March 1903
12th March 1903
25th March 1903
13th May 1903
18th October 1902
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
02
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
24th, December 1902
27th January 1903
23rd February 1903
2nd April 1903
21st April 1903
...
...
...
...
Last case.
11th June 1903
5th June 1903
2nd June 1903
7th June 1903
11th June 1903
4th June 1903
7th June 1903
26th May 1903
5th June 1903
7th June 1903
10th June 1903
26th April 1903
6th May 1903
13th April 1903
24th June 1903
8th June 1903
18th June 1903
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
14th December 1902
30th March 1903
2nd June 1903
22nd April 1903
20th June 1903
6th June 1903
...
...
...
...
...
TOTAL.
Attacks
382
311
180
600
237
420
98
87
94
90
538
172
303
137
148
261
91
131
119
187
92
120
28
Deaths
217
245
140
342
158
288
54
55
67
64
388
115
117
81
77
202
69
78
7 2
165
61
105
26
REMARKS.
Kapurthala
Tahsil.
Sultánpur
Tahsil.
Phagwára
Tahsil.
Dhilwán
Tahsil.