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substances. They objected to allowing the disinfection on the ground that phenyle would be
surely used and would certainly do them harm. In all these cases they were satisfied, that
no phenyle or carbolic or any other deodorant would be made use of in disinfection of their
houses. The objection, slight, as it appears was at times very serious. It is a remnant of
the earliest mis-representations about the aims and objects of the plague measures by self-
interested practitioners and misguided leaders. It had taken such a strong hold on the
minds of ignorant masses, that although every endeavour has been made during the last
three years to eradicate it complete success has not yet been achieved. These difficulties
themselves presented chiefly in Mahomedan houses, and as is "well known the Central district
is the great Mahomedan district in Bombay, the Hindoos form only a small minority.
They also share the feelings and opinions of their neighbours the Mahomedans. Hindoos
also came forward with similar objections in a few instances, but they were much more easily
satisfied.
Captain Lockhart Mure explains how delay in disinfecting Parsee
houses was overcome with the assistance o£ the Parsee Punchayat, and
there is no doubt that the Secretary of the Punchayat has once again
afforded very valuable aid in removing the few difficulties that have beset
disinfection operations in A Ward he states :—•
I have never had any difficulty in carrying out the standing orders with regard to
disinfection, quite the reverse. Many people have asked me to disinfect more than was
necessary. My procedure has generally been to get one of the residents to be present
during the disinfection, and when they see that no damage has been done they are very
often not only willing but eager to have the whole place done.
When I took over charge of the district I found that houses, in which Parsi deaths
had taken place, were not disinfected for four days afterwards. I thought this was a most
dangerous proceeding and did away entirely with the value of disinfection as after four days
if no case has taken place, I do not think any likely to occur. I consulted the Parsi
Punchayat as to what means they could devise to remedy this evil, at the same time
pointing out that I in no way wished to interfere with their religious observances. As
a result, the Punchayat placed the services of two Parsi disinfectors at my disposal and
since then the houses have been disinfected at once and the danger consequently removed.
I place this on record as I consider that the Punchayat deserve the greatest of praise for
the liberal-minded view they took of the question, and also for the prompt manner in which
they overcame the difficulty.
Another question that arose was with regard to the Mahomedans at Colaba.
They wished to postpone disinfection for three days on account of their " Ziarat "
but with the assistance of Khan Saheb Farid-ud-din this difficulty was at once bridged
over. I have found that the people have been very good in giving up kit to be sterilized,
and I do not think that much was secreted.
Capt. Boileau comments on the disinfection of dwellings with the
results attendant thereon as follows :—
Disinfection as a means of arresting plague would, I have no doubt could it be carried
out to perfection, have an excellent effect but the people—all classes alike (and the higher
the class the greater the dislike)—have the greatest abhorrence of disinfection and will put
themselves and their friends to the greatest inconvenience and resort to all kinds of sub-
terfuge to escape from it. At the same time the resistance offered is passive and takes the
form of in most cases clearing the room completely of all important articles belonging to the
patient and leaving only one or two old rags, etc., which are only fit to be burnt. They usually
place the clothing, bedding, etc., in an adjoining or in the opposite room—whence they extract
it after much cross-questioning and threats of disinfection of the adjoining rooms. Of course
this is not always the case, but it certainly occurs very frequently and no doubt, a lot of
clothing escapes sterilizing. There is no doubt, however, that in the cases of rat disin-
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