33
made in this matter in other parts of India, e.g., in Calcutta and Bom-
bay. Very large sums of money have been advanced during the past
seventeen years to municipal councils for town extension, but very little
work of permanent value has been achieved. The comparative healthi-
ness of new extensions is appreciated by those that reside in them and
particularly the relative immunity from plague. Local health authori-
ties should give special attention to this aspect of preventive work. In
the Town-Planning Act, 1920, local bodies are equipped with a potent
weapon against plague. It remains to be seen whether they will use it
or not. All schemes for town-planning and town improvement in places
where plague is rife should be drawn up with a view to eliminate the
risk of plague.
40. (e) Railway Premises.—Of all preventive measures, perhaps the
most urgently needed is the protection from infection of railway goods-
sheds, godowns and stores. Paripassu with the erection or improve-
ment of grain godowns in municipal and local areas the railway autho-
rities should be asked to carry out similar improvements in their premi-
ses. This will in many cases be very difficult, as railway yards are
open day and night, a,nd work goes on, especially in the larger centres,
all through the twenty-four hours. Where godowns do exist however,
they .should be made both rat-proof and rat-free, and if pressure is
brought to bear, it is probable that the necessary conversion will in time
be effected. Here as in dératisation campaigns close co-operation is
called for. If the looal body shows itself to be in earnest in the matter,
the railways will be compelled to follow suit.
IV.—CO-ORDINATION .
41. It is clear from what has been said in the preceding paragraphs
that, to be effective, preventive effort must be intelligently directed to
the sources of infection. It is, for example, as futile to attempt rat
destruction in every hole or corner of a town as to attempt it simulta-
neously throughout the Presidency. Unless the foci and channels of
infection are discovered intelligent preventive work cannot begin.
42. (I) Investigation.—Investigation is therefore, as already pointed
out, the first obligation on every local health authority. Local foci are
locally ascertainable but the sources of infection cannot be verified with-
out a knowledge of facts and data outside the local area. An infected
town is a menace to the villages for miles around. But this is not all.
An outbreak of plague in one district may endanger not only the adja-
cent district but also districts and cities hundreds of miles away, the
people of which know nothing of the risk they run. Unless the sources
of infection and the channels along which they are likely to travel are
known the people are helpless and their preventive staff can do nothing
It is the duty of those responsible for the public health, the members
and executive officers of local bodies, to know when, whence and why, .
infection has come and may reappear.
Financial stringency is no
excuse for apathy in this matter. Investigation of the kind required
costs nothing but the expenditure of a little trouble, time and thought.
It is to be hoped that in future no local body will merit the reproach of
indifference.
43. (2) Vigilance.—Standing Order No. 8 of the Plague Standing
Orders lays down that ' it is the duty of heads of villages and all other