NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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Plague
Attacks and
Deaths.
The following statement shows the total recorded number of
Plague attacks and deaths in each section during the year ending
31st May 1901 :—
Wards.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Sections.
Upper Cohibí« ...
Middle and Lower Cohiba
Fort, Southern...
Kort, Northern
Esplanade
Mandvi
Chukla
Umerkhadi
Dongri...
Market...
Dhobi Talao
Fanaswadi
Bhuleshwar
Khara Talao ...
Kumbharwada ...
Khetwadi
Girgaum
Chaupati
Walkeshwar
Mahalakshmi ...
Mazagon
Tarwadi
2nd Nagpada ...
Tardeo
Byculla
1st Nagpada ...
Parel
Sewri ...
Mahim ...
Worlee
Non-Resident and Unknown ...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Attacks.
16
363
41
560
J81
699
371
911
485
1,776
929
820
1,433
1,195
1,847
857
652
237
147
284
418
163
792
443
261
627
285
830
198
299
462
900
1
19,483
Deaths.
10
286
5
496
115
878
321
790
627
1,045
531
195
668
147
1,012
756
697
59
100
403
497
210
292
831
609
1,190
389
668
134
290
609
741
9
16,210
G
Plague
Deaths
including
Suspicious.
The following statement shows district by district, the number of
Plague deaths, including suspicious, for the year ending 25th May 1901.
Section.
A WARD—
Port and Esplanade...
B WARD, SOUTH—
Mandvi
Chukla (Portion)
B WARP, NORTH—
Umerkhadi (Portion)
Dongri
C WARD—
Market
Dhobi Talao
Kumbharwada
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
D WARD—
Khetwadi ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Walkeshwar...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Mahaluxmi ...
E WARP, WEST—
1st Nagpada
E WARD, EAST (BYCULLA)—
Byculla (Portion) ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
E WARP, EAST (WARI BUNDER)—
Tarwadi
Ghorupdeo (consists of a portion of Mazagon and a portion of
F & G WARDS—
(f) Parel
Sion...
...
Sion and Sewri
Mahim and Worli ...
(q) Worli
CENTRAL DISTRICT—
Chukla (Portion)
Umerkhadi (Portion)
Bhuleshwar (Portion)
Byculla (Portion)—(Madanpnra) ...
Total ...
No.
381
381
1,724
072
930
1,939
1,607
853
808
084
1,841
1,252
7811
298
182
675
1,730
950
756
1,935
1,075
718
104
1,223
183
494
992
914
254
1,490
887
1,307
787
932
32,253
7
Total
Mortality.
The following statement shows by sections the average yearly
mortality and the actual mortality For five years, from 1st June 1890
to 31st May 1901 :—
Wards.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Sections.
1
Upper Colaba
Muidlo and Lower
Colaba
Fort, Southern
Fort, Northern
Esplanade ...
Mandvi
Chukla
Umerkhadi ...
Dongri
Market
Dhobi Talan
Fanaswadi ...
Bhuleshwar...
Khara Talao
Kumbharwada
Khetwadi ...
Girgaum
Chowpati ...
Walkeshwar
Mahalakshmi
Mazagon
Tarwadi
2nd Nagpada
Kamatipura
Tardeo
Byculla
1st Nagpada
Parel
Sewri
Sion
Mahim
Worli
Water Division
Non-Resident
and
Unknown ...
Total ...
Average Population .
Mortality per mille ...
Average.
Mortality
For
5 years
from
1891.
114
337
2!)
931
107
1,455
1,269
2,113
1,165
1,140
1,207
555
1,181
1,125
1,152
784
005
201
230
28()
908
522
938
1,370
781
1,007
303
1,217
180
440
587
569
70
615
26,849
8;->0,000
31.58
1890-07.
i
!
104
070
37
1,310
143
2,422
1,910
3,4 58
1,820
1,503
2,171
870
1,840
1,773
1,599
3,349
1,577
351
437
578
2,071
037
1,725
2,753
1,304
3,415
608
1,932
430
1,197
1,666
1,543
55
2,492
48,496
700,000
69.28
Actual Mortality.
1897-98.
131
804
25
2,025
254
2,364
2,255
3.524
2,142
2,168
2,590
1,127
2,280
2,048
2,369
1,780
1,099
423
253
500
2,330
1,105
2,132
3,272
1,030
4,804
738
2,727
205
872
1,234
1,143
83
2,283
55,727
700,000
70.54
¡
1898-99.
135
873
12
1,507
440
2,794
1,021
3,700
2,461
1,898
1,874
1,000
2,020
2,010
2.720
1,054
1.782
305
307
631
2,386
1,516
1,853
2,668
1,723
!,0<S0
708
2,705
404
935
2,080
2,030
01
802
55,327
850,000
65.09
99-1900.
165
«81
4
2.105
700
3.703
2,433
4,823
3,198
2,564
2,475
1,346
2,821
2,525
3,231
2,460
2,140
351
400
8X1
2,807
2,542
2,505
3,555
2,344
0,160
1,204
3,446
500
1,573
2,603
2.770
70
...
71.801
740,000
97.02
1000-1001.
133
925
18
2,180
04 4
3,591
2,100
4,030
3.270
3,019
2,4 57
1,526
3,010
2,447
3.482
2,611
2,24 0
211
350
1,058
2,850
1,804
1,948
3,454
2,254
5,889
1,424
2,050
572
1,316
2,530
2,654
115
...
70,133
770,000
91.08
8
The following table shows for the past five years the extent to which
the total mortality exceeded the average, after making deduction« for
Plague and suspicious deaths :—
Year.
1896-97
1897-98
1898-99
1899-1900
1900-1901
Total
Mortality.
48,496
55,727
55,327
71,801
70,133
Plague and
Suspicious
Deaths.
11,683
16,554
19,958
25,045
32,253
Balance due
to ordinary
causes.
36,813
39,173
35,369
46,156
37,880
Average
Population.
700,000
790,000
850,000
740,000
770,000
Average
deaths un
basis of
31.58 per
mille.
22,100
24,948
26,849
23,309
24,316
Excess
Mortality
not due to
Plague
14,707
14,225
8,520
22,787
13,564
The total number of deaths reported by the Health Officer from the
following causes for the year under report are :—
Small pox
Measles
Cholera
Relapsing Fever
Total ...
192
143
4,041
1,451
5,827
If the total number recorded during the year from Small-pox,
Measles, Cholera and Relapsing Fever, viz., 5,827, are deducted from the
excess mortality not due to Plague, viz, 13,564, the balance of deaths due
to ordinary causes in excess of the normal is reduced to 7,737.
The course of the epidemic is traced below district by district and
a review of its effects taken month by month concludes the chapter.
A Ward.
Upper Colaba section of this ward was practically clear until April
1901, when 5 Plague cases were found amongst the servants and followers
of the military, who form a considerable proportion of the population.
The Lunatic Asylum had one case for the first time, whilst cases were
noted in Dhobi Ghaut and the Cattle Lines in the month of May. The
vigilant watch kept by the Military authorities on the sanitary condition
of this section prevented the disease from assuming epidemic pro-
portions.
In Middle and Lower Colaba there was a slight recrudescence in
September. The epidemic proper commenced in January 1901, with many
cases in Hamal Street, Thomas Street and Maneekjee Street, and especially
in Victoria Bunder. Three Europeans attacked in Colaba Causeway re-
covered. Plague then spread all over the Section and reached its highest
point in the second week in March 1901, after which it slowly declined.
Fort, North.—This section is the most thickly populated one in the
ward. There was a monsoon recrudescence in September, but the epi-
demic proper started in December, in Modi Street, Mungesh Senoy Street,
Bazaar Gate Street and Hornby Road, where the poorer classes live. The
same places were attacked with Plague this year that were attacked last
year. Ten cases occurred in the 21st Bombay Infantry and dead rats
were found in their lines before the outbreak, but these rodents were not
found in such great numbers as in the year past. The epidemic reached
9
its worst stage in the 3rd week of February from which time it declined
gradually.
Fort, South.—This locality being full of offices has the smallest popu-
lation in the "ward. Dead rats began to be found in the first week of
February mostly around Hummum Street and Elphinstone Circle. This
was followed by cases of Plague amongst the servants who slept in the
offices at night and amongst syces in stables.
Esplanade.—This section was the hunting ground of famine immi-
grants and destitute beggars, and they were the chief sufferers. They
lived on the open maidans and wandered about begging for food and alms
in Fort, North. There were cases also in the Municipal chawls at Pultan
Road.
In January and February there were cases in the lines of the 2nd
Bombay Grenadiers.
The figures for the year are here given showing by sections the
monthly totals of Plague cases and deaths :—It should be noted that a
person discovered sick with plague is called a "case," and if be sub-
sequently dies he is not entered again as a death.
WARD A.
Sections.
Upper Colaba
Middle and Lower
Colaba
Fort. North
Fort, South ...
Esplanade ...
Total ...
Popula-
tion.
4.670
13.144
23.006
3.288
9.899
54.007
June
1900.
Cases.
13
12
7
32
Deaths.
5
G
4
15
July
1900.
Cases.
5
7
S
15
Deaths.
2
5
...
1
8
August
1900.
Cases.
14
13
...
3
30
Deaths.
8
4
12
September
1900.
Cases.
20
28
1
9
58
Deaths.
7
10
1
G
24
October
1900.
Cases.
1
11
22
1
13
48
Deaths.
1
5
11
7
24
November
1900.
Cases.
1
11
12
4
28
Deaths.
1
8
8
2
19
December
1900.
Cases.
...
17
42
1
9
69
Deaths.
...
8
22
1
6
37
Sections.
Upper Colaba
Middle and Lower
Colaba
Fort, North
Fort, South
Esplanade ...
Total ..
January
1901.
Cases.
29
71
6
12
118
Deaths.
15
32
3
7
57
February
1901.
Cases.
47
161
12
45
265
Deaths.
32
77
3
24
136
March
1901.
Cases.
67
145
7
30
249
Deaths.
47
91
1
22
161
April
1901.
Cases.
5
54
27
1
15
102
Deaths.
1
38
20
...
12
71
May
1901.
Cases.
3
22
30
...
5
60
Deaths.
2
13
21
...
3
39
Grand
Total.
Cases.
10
310
570
29
155
1074
Deaths.
5
188
307
9
94
603
11
Localities Infected.—The worst infected spots were Coorla Street,
Clive Road, Surat Street, Musjid Station Road, DeSouza Street and
Bhandari Lane. In these there were cases of Plague ranging in numbers
from 10 to 34. In DeSouza Street there were no less than 89 people
attacked, the majority of whom died. In Old Bengalpura there were no
less than 41 cases ; in Dongri Street 98 ; in Argyle Road 62.
The virulence of the epidemic from February 26th to March 19th
this year exceeded that of all previous epidemics, but the people bore it
with equanimity and resignation. The figures of plague attacks and
deaths for each month of the year are given here :—
WARD B—SOUTH.
Sections.
Mandvi
Chukla (Portion) ...
Total...
Popula-
tion.
31.103
24.398
55,591
June
1900.
Cases.
79
22
101
Deaths.
44
20
64
July
1900.
Cases.
40
19
59
Deaths.
26
18
44
August
1900.
Cases.
45
10
55
Deaths.
42
10
52
Septem-
ber 1900.
Cases.
81
20
101
Deaths.
41
10
51
October
1900.
Cases.
57
21
78
Deaths.
19
10
29
November
1900.
Cases.
30
14
44
Deaths.
17
7
24
December
1900.
Cases.
38
14
52
Deaths.
24
10
34
Sections.
Mandvi
Chukla (Portion)
Total...
January
1901.
Cases.
63
40
103
Deaths.
40
19
59
February
1901.
Cases.
152
«7
219
Deaths.
103
35
138
March
1901.
Cases.
364
104
468
Deaths.
248
70
318
April
1901.
Cases.
141
24
165
Deaths.
105
16
121
May
1901.
Cases.
132
22
154
Deaths.
121
19
!
140
Grand
Total.
Cases.
1.222
377
1.599
Deaths.
830
244
1,074
B Ward,
North.
There was a recrudescence in the month of September, but the real
epidemic commenced in January and attained its height in March 1901,
from which time it began to decline.
No Streets or sections were entirely free from plague, but Dongri,
Samuel and Nishanpada Streets have a much better record than Naoroji
Hill and Umarkhadi, due to their being occupied by comparatively
wealthy people.
In Umarkhadi and Naoroji Hill overcrowding is common and pro-
duces conditions undoubtedly favourable to Plague. The District Officer
(Lieut. Dalgliesh) urges energetic action against the landlord
12
Infected Areas.—On the subject of permanent plague centres Lieut.
Dalgliesh writes as follows :—
As regards infected localities and houses one has only to compare the street circles
£or the last two years to be struck by the remarkable extent the same houses become
re-infected.
In every street there are certain notorious houses which are simply hot beds of plague and
become re-infected year after year, while the other houses remain comparatively free. I am
of opinion that the entire evacuation of such houses at the commencement of an epidemic
or when the first case of plague occurs in them, would do good in checking the spread of the
disease. The inhabitants might be segregated for a month, and then allowed to live in some
other house. The evacuated house meanwhile might be disinfected at regular intervals but
not allowed to be re-occupied so long as the prevailing epidemic was in existence.
The ground belonging to the Port Trust on both sides of the Elphinstone Bridge
Camp, at present occupied by cattle sheds and huts, might be utilised for erecting camps
to provide accommodation for people evicted from these houses.
The figures of plague cases and deaths month by month throughout
the year are as follows :—
WARD B—NORTH.
Sections,
Dongri
Umerkhadi ...
Total
Popula-
tion.
25,823
48.705
74,530
June
1000.
Cases
62
16
78
Deaths
54
13
67
July
1900.
Cases
19
4
23
Deaths
16
3
19
August
1000.
Cases
13
G
19
Deaths
8
5
13
Septem-
ber 1900.
Cases
59
16
75
Deaths
53
7
GO
October
1900.
Cases
30
16
46
Deaths
29
10
39
November
1900.
Cases
27
21
48
Deaths
21
15
3G
December
1900.
Cases
31
21
52
Deaths
27
8
35
Sections.
Dongri
Umerkhadi
Total
January
1901.
Cases
54
60
114
Deaths
41
31
72
February
1901.
Cases
194
103
297
Deaths
137
45
182
March
1901.
Cases
349
123
472
Deaths
275
73
348
April
1901.
Cases
174
67
241
Deaths
165
58
223
May
1901.
Cases
86
56
142
Deaths
76
44
120
Grand
Total.
Cases
1.098
509
1,607
Deaths
902
312
1,214
C Ward.
This ward includes perhaps the most overcrowded and insanitary
portions o£ Bombay.
Market.—There was a slight recrudescence in September, but the epi-
demic only became general throughout the section in January 1901.
The total mortality for the week ending 12th February 1901 was 170,
the highest on record. The disease showed a marked preference for
particular houses in Antoba Wadi, Patak Wadi, Mahajan Wadi and Otak
Wadi. These were houses with mud floors and walls inhabited by the
13
poorer classes. Rats were found dying from the middle of January and
are accused by the District Officer and Medical Officer of being the prime
agents for dissemination of the disease.
Very few cases, however,
occurred among beggars and homeless people.
Dhobi Talao.—There was a recrudescence in September and October,
which commenced severely, but in the month of November plague almost
disappeared. The real epidemic began in the following month, reached
its climax in about the first week in February and slowly subsided. All
parts of the section were attacked simultaneously. Evacuation was large-
ly adopted and in the case of 3rd Marine Lines and Mahadev Street
with beneficial results.
Fanaswadi.—Here also there was a monsoon recrudescence, but
the epidemic proper commenced in January 1901 in Anant Wadi and
from thence spread southwards, reaching its climax about the third week
in March. Rats were found dying in November and December and
attacks were numerous in the localities where they died. Nana's Wadi
Patras Chawls and Parmanand Wadi were the chief places re-infected this
year and the habits of the people combined with the overcrowding in-
creased the dangers of infection.
Bhuleshwar.—This is the most thickly populated of all the sections.
The epidemic commenced in the last week of December 1900. There
are a large number of merchants and Bunnias, who though poor, live
cleaner lives than other lower caste Hindus, it is quite possible that this has
enabled them to escape more easily from plague infection than other
castes. In any case the total mortality of the section was lower last year
than this year.
The epidemic first broke out in the Bhoiwadas and Panjrapole Streets
and from thence spread to other parts of the section.
Lohars and Kathiawari beggars were the first to fall victims to the
disease. Many of them rented small rooms in the Bhoiwadas and thus
made the overcrowding a great deal worse. The epidemic was at its
worst in March after which it declined gradually.
Dead rats were found fully six weeks before the real epidemic com-
menced.
Kumbharwada Section.—Plague commenced in epidemic proportions
at the end of December 1900, rose rapidly through January and February
1901, and reached its maximum in the first week in March ; from that
time there was a gradual decline. The epidemic commenced in Bhandari
Street and then gradually spread over the whole section. In 1st Carpen-
ter Street the plague travelled regularly from South to North. Duncan
Road, Kumbharwada and Northbrook Street suffered severely. Here are
to be found low caste Hindus living in an overcrowded state and on a
meagre diet. Increased mortality in Carpenter Street among the better
class of Hindus is attributed to delay in evacuation.
14
Rats were found dying as early as October 1900, but the people
would never give any information about them for fear of having their
houses disinfected or being sent to camp. Disinfection has not given
satisfactory results in this section, the strictest supervision having failed
to prevent the early re-infection of disinfected houses.
It was noticed that almost every street had a rise and then a fall in
plague, followed after an interval by a lesser rise and fall. Kumbharwada
Street, for instance, was worst in January 1901, then fell in February,
and after an interval rose again until it was bad in April.
The total plague mortality was much higher than last year's, although
it is considered that the population of this section during the present year
has been much less.
The figures for the whole ward are as follows :—
WARD C.
i
Sections.
Market
Dhobi Talao
Fanaswadi ...
Bhuleshwar (Portion)
Kumbharwada
Total..
Popula-
tion.
28,437
27.607
14.182
30.410
27.385
128.021
June
1900.
,
Cases.
41
22
10
S
111
201
Deaths.
35
13
14
7
93
¡ KM
July
1900.
Cases.
26
11
14
G
5G
113
Deaths.
10
G
14
G
48
August
1900.
Cases.
38
25
5
6
47
121
Deaths.
32
24
5
G
42
109
Septem-
ber 1900.
Cases.
69
»0
20
18
93
250
Deaths.
57
4G
17
16
87
223
October
1900.
Cases.
45
41
13
19
72
190
Deaths.
38
35
12
16
61
162
November
1900.
Cases.
51
5
20
17
67
160
Deaths.
42
4
19
15
57
137
December
1900.
Cases.
S3
31
30
38
90
272
Deaths.
70
22
29
31
81
233
Sections.
Market
Dhobi Talao...
Fanaswadi ...
Bhuleshwar (Portion)
Kumbharwada
Total ...
January
1901.
Cases.
176
102
100
87
151
G16
Deaths.
130
71
7G
67
12G
470
February
1901.
Cases.
318
309
199
182
319
1.527
Deaths.
320
211
133
126
264
1,080
March
1901.
!
Cases.
433
236
270
215
461
1,615
Deaths.
294
168
217
145
384
1,208
April
1901.
Cases.
131
54
70
51
219
525
Deaths.
107
43
58
37
194
439
May
1901.
Cases.
114
34
44
19
150
361
Deaths.
101
29
42
18
141
331
Grand
Total.
Cases.
1.725
920
804
666
1.836
5,951
Deaths.
1,245
674
662
490
1,578
4.649
Capt. Smith reports as follows :—
Taking the ward as a whole, the plague epidemic may be said to have commenced all
over the ward at once. No particular localities were affected first.
Dhobi Talao has apparently escaped somewhat, but that is due to a very large number of
the inhabitants vacating their houses.
16
Walkeshwar.—This section was practically clear of plague from July
up to the end of December. But the epidemic proper commenced in
February and was at its worst in the first week of April 1901, when
there was a decided fall which was most noticeable in the commencement
of May. This year the best quarters were attacked first, and there seems
little doubt that infection was brought from Mandvi and Dongri by the
servants of some of the wealthier people living in the section.
Mahaluxmi was free from plague during July and August, and there
was no regular monsoon recrudescence. The epidemic commenced in the
third week of December increasing in January and February. It reached
its maximum in the second week of March. There was a slow decline
in April followed by a rapid one to the close of the year. This year the
epidemic was more than twice as bad as last year, the lower caste Hindus
appearing to have suffered very much.
The figures for plague attacks and deaths are tabulated as follows :—
WARD D.
Sections.
Khetwadi
Girgaum ...
Chowpati
Walkeshwar
Mahaluxmi
Total
Popula-
tion.
20,053
14,708
6,711
10,540
17.800
75.812
June
1900.
Cases.
14
12
6
2
4
38
Deaths.
4
9
5
1
2
21
July
1900.
|
Cases.
10
4
1
15
Deaths.
o
3
1
10
August
1900.
!
Cases.
6
3
1
10
Deaths.
4
2
6
Septem-
ber 1900.
Cases.
10
S
2
3
18
Deaths.
5
1
3
9
October
1900.
Cases.
17
S
3
3
26
Deaths.
11
1
2
1
15
Novem-
ber 1900.
Cases.
17
1
1
1
20
Deaths.
15
1
1
17
Decem-
ber 1900.
Cases.
16
7
6
6
35
Deaths.
12
5
3
4
24
Sections.
Khetwadi
Girgaum
Chowpati
Walkeshwar
Mahaluxmi
Total
January
1901.
Cases.
45
44
46
4
22
161
Deaths.
28
33
34
4
18
117
February
1901.
Cases.
208
175
77
19
98
577
Deaths.
149
135
46
12
84
426
' March
1901.
Cases.
343
333
71
60
230
1,037
Deaths.
259
263
49
39
200
810
April
1901.
Cases.
123
69
18
50
138
398
Deaths.
97
51
13
37
120
318
May
1901.
Cases.
60
13
10
13
16
112
Deaths.
54
10
9
8
95
Grand
Total.
Cases.
869
667
241
149
521
2447
Deaths.
644
512
163
102
447
1,868
18
In Kamatipura the portion most attacked was that between Bazaar Road and Centre
Road, mostly occupied by Telegus and Marathas of the poor classes. In Tardeo no parti
cular portion was affected more than another, but the plague was practically confined to
Ghattis, Vanjaris, Marathas and Mahars—all poor classes.
Influence of Rats.—Dead rats were found in large numbers in this ward, in many cases
they were found on the roadside, evidently having been thrown out of the houses in which
they were found. In many cases the houses could not be traced but this nearly always
occurred in a badly infected street.
Practically the same localities were infected, but they were attacked nearly six weeks
later than during the last epidemic.
There were no famine-stricken people in this ward and very few immigrant vagabonds.
The figures for plague attacks and deaths are tabulated below :—
WARD E, WEST.
Sections.
Kamatipura
1st Nagpada
Tardeo
Total
Popula-
tion.
26,722
10.579
21.200
58,501
June
1900.
Cases.
i:>
15
6
36
Deaths.
8
12
6
26
July
1900.
Cases.
10
9
19
Deaths.
2
7
9
August
1900.
Cases.
4
7
2
13
Deaths.
S
5
2
10
Septem-
ber 1900.
Cases.
24
11
5
40
Deaths.
10
5
15
October
19C0.
Cases.
28
10
2
40
Deaths.
17
7
1
23
Novem-
ber 1900.
Cases.
8
8
7
23
Deaths.
8
S
6
22
Decem-
ber
Cases.
26
15
4
45
L900.
Deaths.
12
12
4
28
Sections.
Kamatipura
1st Nagpada
Tardeo
Total
January
1901.
Cases.
124
22
69
215
Deaths.
87
12
41
140
February
1901.
Cases.
351
97
197
645
Deaths.
233
75
96
404
March
1901.
Cases.
358
250
223
831
Deaths.
253
211
128
592
April
1901.
Cases.
117
84
60
261
Deaths.
90
68
37
195
May
1901.
Cases.
93
58
29
180
Deaths.
83
55
26
164
Grand
Total.
Cases.
1.158
586
604
2.348
Deaths.
806
477
347
1.630
Dr. Kapadia, Sectional Medical Officer, Kamatipura, reports that the
Mahrattas and Telegus suffered most, but there were only two cases
amongst the Europeans and Parsis; among the latter the case was import-
ed from Khetwady section. He further states that although sanitary
and structural improvements were carried out in some of the chawls in
Kamatipura yet they were infected to the same extent as last year, but
there were some which were free from the disease this year, though they
were infected last year. He remarks as follows on the influence of
rats :—
Dead rats, in my opinion, play an important part in the propagation of the epidemic, and
the appearance of plague cases in general is preceded at least a fortnight or more, by rat
mortality. It is almost impossible to give definitely the history of dead rats on account of
the ignorance of the people residing in the section, who avoid giving any information and even