10
Communities Attacked.—Lower castes of Hindoos suffered most, but
it is noticeable that Mahomedans and the Koli fisher folk escaped infection
this year. With regard to beggars, Capt. Lockhart Mure comments
as follows :—
Beggars.—Beggars have no doubt been a frequent source of infection in the Fort this
year. They were very numerous and infested the Fort principally owing, T suppose, to the
wealth of the residents there. Natives of India are notoriously charitable and residents must
frequently have had infection brought to their houses in this way. This nuisance has now been
removed by the use of the Goculdas Tejpal Camp and since the removal of the beggars
there, I have noticed that the good houses have ceased having Plague.
Rats.—Capt. Lockhart Mure reports as follows concerning rats :—
I consider that rats are a sure precursor of Plague, and I have noticed that dead rats
invariably herald an outbreak. Could the people be persuaded to at once report the presence
of dead rats and to have the house disinfected, I am quite certain that many an outbreak
could be prevented. Instant evacuation, till after disinfection, is highly desirable, and should,
if possible, be insisted on, I can quote several examples, of the efficacy of disinfecting at
once on the appearance of dead rats, but it will perhaps suffice to give the following :—
Dead rats were reported in the Commercial Bank. This was disinfected at once and no
Plague followed. They were found in Standard Buildings on five or six different occasions
within about a fortnight. Thorough disinfection was carried out each time and not a single
case has taken place.
In Upper Colaba many dead rats have been reported, but there has been no outbreak of
Plague though a few sporadic cases have occurred. Last year the epidemic was very
severe there, but owing to constant supervision, the prevention of overcrowding in the
houses and the immediate reporting of dead rats, there has been hardly any Plague this year.
On the other hand a severe outbreak took place in Colaba village. On enquiring I
found that the people had noticed dead rats for several days previously, had not reported the
fact and had not had the houses disinfected. Hence the outbreak. It is very easy to see
the danger that the neighbours run. Rats go from one house to another, carrying the
infection with them and often, before the first case of plague takes place and the infected
quarter is discovered, many houses have been infected. In fact, you are in the midst of an
epidemic before you even know one house is infected.
B Ward,
South.
Mandvi.—There was a severe monsoon recrudescence which having
declined by November, broke out into a fierce epidemic in the month of:
February arriving at its maximum in march when the total mortality for
the week ending the 19th was 151, the highest ever experienced.
The mortality in Koli Wada, Danabunder Vaigad and Chinchbunder
was Aery great. The first mentioned is a highly insanitary locality and
the inhabitants mostly low caste Hindus live in a very overcrowded state.
In one of the houses in this locality there were 8 Plague cases in 5 days.
Communities Attacked.—The District Officer reports that Ghati
Hindus suffered most, Lohanas and Banias somewhat less, while
Mahomedans were comparatively free and the Bene-Israelites were
hardly affected at all. The poorest people suffered most.
Rats.—Lieutenant Shakespeare is a firm believer in the theory that
plague is spread by rats but notices that the people prefer to conceal the
fact that rats have died of Plague rather than have their rooms dis-
infected in anticipation of Plague occurring. The plague staff in this
district found no great number of plague-stricken rats. Yet, in this part
of the city enormous quantities of grain are stored and rats must be
proportionately numerous.