NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
20
The epidemic commenced in December attained its zenith in March,
and was maintaining an obstinate hold on the district up to the end of
the year.
The figures for plague cases and deaths for the year are given below: —
WARD E—(WARI BUNDER).
Sections.
Mazagon
...
...
Tarwadi
...
...
Total...
Popula-
tion.
27,954
18,182
40,136
June
11)00.
Cases.
10
4
14
Deaths.
8
3
11
July
1900.
Cases.
1
1
Deaths.
1
...
1
August
1900.
Cases.
S
2
5
Deaths.
1
1
2
Septem-
ber 1000.
Cases.
2
2
Deaths.
...
1
1
October
1900.
Cases.
18
4
22
Deaths.
4
1
5
Novem-
ber 1900.
Cases.
2
4
G
Deaths.
2
2-
4
Decem-
ber 1900.
Cases.
12
7
19
Deaths.
7
4
11
Sections.
Mazagon
Tarwadi
...
Total ...
January
1901.
Cases.
34
24
58
Deaths.
23
10
S3
February
1901.
Cases.
155
128
283
Deaths.
103
90
193
March
1901.
Cases.
303
223
526
Deaths.
244
160
404
April
1901.
Cases.
246
148
394
Deaths.
196
120
316
May
1901.
Cases.
153
72
225
Deaths.
123
67
190
Granel
Total.
Cases.
937
618
1,555
Deaths.
712
459
1,171
Capt. Moore comments on the course of the epidemic as follows :—
The epidemic in this ward ( Tarwadi Side ) began in the large chawl situated in
Mazagon Road, Houses Nos. 6, 6BB, 6D, and No. 12, Babula Tank Road, early in
December. These houses consist of five floors each of 20 rooms and each room-owner
" boards " or takes in about 10 "boarders" besides their own family. The "boarders "
are Marathas who pay so much per head for their food and sleep in the passages mostly.
Practically all are "Dock-labourers and pass down everyday through "Ward B, South to the
various Docks in B Ward. These chawls are built on sanitary principles, are practically
well off as regards ventilation having been greatly improved at the instance of Mr. Lund
who did so much for this ward during the year 1900-1901.
They are supplied with large central ventilations from top to bottom centre of each
block, also large gratings at the end of each passage and good sized windows to each room.
Houses are kept very fairly clean and there is actually no room for rats and nothing to attract
them. I have been several times to the different "Bunders " in B Ward South to find out
how, and where, the disease is picked up, but cannot explain the cause except that large
crowds of coolies are daily collected together at these bunders. It is not traceable to any
22
Mr. Mackenzie's house, Byculla Saw Mills, in Victoria Road.—Dead rats found at in-
tervals in servants' quarters. Buildings were disinfected three times, and whitewashed. Eat
holes were stopped with perchloride of lime at owner's expense. No ease of Plague occurred,
Mr. Anderson's house, Port Trust Works.—Dead rats were found in servants' quarters
and kitchen. All the household were inoculated by Dr. Lamb, and the house disinfected.
No case has occurred.
P. & 0. Workshops.—Dead rats were frequently found full of Plague bacilli. Stores
were emptied and the building being very large, a donkey-engine was borrowed from the Health
Department to get the building completely flushed,
"Cudda", 43-45, Nesbit Road.—Donkey-engine was again borrowed and the place was
thoroughly flushed ; since then no dead rats and no more cases. People were brought to
Wari Bunder Camp.
E Ward,
Byculla.
This district may be said to have been never quite free from plague
in epidemic proportions. There was an appreciable rise in September in
the number of deaths due to plague. The epidemic broke into full force
in the month of February which was about six weeks later than in the
previous year. In March it was at its climax and attained a height
never reached before in any other epidemic, viz., in the week ending 19th
March 1901, the total mortality rose to 290. After this there was a
rapid decline, but the close of the year found the epidemic still raging.
Last year there were roughly 300 attacks and 500 deaths less than
in the year under report.
The figures for plague attacks and deaths are tabulated below:—
WARD—E. (BYCULLA).
Section.
Byculla (Portion.)...
Total ...
Popula-
tion.
57,586
57,586
June
1900
Cases.
102
102
Deaths.
89
89
July
11)00.
Cases.
5G
56
Deaths.
51
August
1900.
Cases.
85
85
Deaths.
8»
85
September
1900.
Cases.
125
125
Deaths.
I—I
116
October
1900
Cases.
86
86
Deaths.
S3
83
November
1900.
Cases.
62
62
Deaths.
56
56
December
1000.
Cases.
86
86
Deaths.
81.
81
Section.
Byculla (Portion.) ...
Total ..
January
1901'.
Cases.
95
95
Deaths.
89
Sí)
February
1901.'
Cases.
206
206
Deaths.
143
143
March
1901.
Cases.
535
535
Deaths.
399
399
April
1901.
Cases.
335
335
Deaths.
260
260
May
1901.
Cases.
181
181
Deaths.
162
162
Grand Total.
Cases.
1,954
1.954
Deaths.
1,614
1.614
Infected Areas.—During the epidemic, it was found that most of the
deaths due to plague occurred in the Guzry Bazaar and the De Lisle Road.
25
Rats.—Dead rats were as usual found, wherever a crop of Plague cases were reported.
Wherever evacuation could be carried out it was resorted to with excellent results and (as
occurred in Bhoiwada Cross Road) whenever people were foolish enough to stay at home
they suffered very severely for it.
Re-infection of Localities.—Chawl No. 332, Bhoivada Road, was the only chawl which
was re-infected, the re-infection being from dead rats.
In Sion and Sewri there were scarcely any cases of plague amongst famines-stricken or
vagrant people, and there was also a marked absence of the Small-pox epidemic which occur-
red last year in this section.
The figures for plague cases and deaths are tabulated below :—
WARDS F & G.
Sections.
Parel
Sewri
Sion ...
Mahim
Worli
Total
Popula-
tion.
33,355
9.352
22.338
24.373
45.516
134,934
June
1900.
Cases.
19
5
1
19
12
56
Deaths.
10
3
1
9
8
31
July
1900.
Cases.
3
...
1
4
Deaths.
3
...
3
August
1900.
Cases.
1
...
1
2
Deaths.
1
1
September
1900.
Cases.
4
3
1
1
5
14
Deaths.
4
3
1
1
9
October
1900.
Cases.
1
2
1
4
8
Deaths.
. . .
1
2
3
November
1900.
Cases.
2
1
1
4
Deaths.
2
1
1
4
December
1900.
Cases.
2
1
2
6
1
12
Deaths.
1
1
2
3
7
Sections.
Parel
Sewri
Sion ...
Mahim
Worli
Total
January
1901.
Cases.
22
7
3
17
10
59
Deaths.
16
4
3
G
S
37
February
1901.
Cases.
118
38
9
88
66
319
Deaths.
7G
32
S
39
45
200
March
1901.
Cases.
413
165
43
279
295
1.195
Deaths.
294
140
38
115
234
821
April
1901.
Cases.
212
1G1
41
265
199
878
Deaths.
159
132
32
115
163
601
May
1901.
Cases.
G7
80
35
78
74
334
Deaths
53
70
28
35
67
253
Grand
Cases
864
4G0
137
757
667
2,885
Total.
Deaths
619
385
113
324
529
1.970
Central
District,
The Chukla, Umerkhadi and Byculla sections of this district were
almost clear o£ plague from June to August 1900. Bhuleshwar, Khara
Talao and 2nd Nagpada sections were on the other hand continually
infected. With the exception of Chukla there was a general monsoon
recrudescence of plague throughout the district during which time Khara
Talao and Bhuleshwar suffered most.
The first signs of the epidemic were noticed in cases and deaths
occurring in Ali Umar Street and Goghari Mohalla in Bhuleshwar and in
Mahomed Khan Pakhadi in Umarkhadi. Mahomed Khan Pakhadi is
notorious as the starting point for the epidemic, ever since the com-
mencement of plague in this section.
26
Duncan Road was, perhaps, the part of Khara Talao to be first
attacked by the epidemic this year, but this is uncertain as the section
was already badly infected.
In January 1901 from these localities plague spread rapidly to all
parts of the district with the exception of Byculla.
By the week ending 20th March the epidemic had reached its worst
stage, with a total mortality of 420 deaths in this week. The epidemic
in Byculla section which had commenced in the end of February broke
out in the fiercest manner possible, and so rapidly, that by the end of
March it had attained its culminating point.
There was a general decline after March which continued to the
close of the year.
The figures for plague cases and deaths during the year are tabulated
below :—
CENTRAL DISTRICT.
Sections.
Chukla (Portion) ...
Umerkhadi (Portion.)
Bhuleshwar (Portion)
Khara Talao...
2nd Nagpada
Byculla (Portion) ...
Total ...
Popula-
tion.
23.301
18,598
41,89!)
June
1900.
Cases.
2
10
56
07
63
2
200
Deaths.
5
39
43
41
128
July
1900.
Cases.
1
8
38
43
40
7
137
Deaths.
1
5
29
34
33
3
105
August.
1900.
Cases.
1
2
35
45
39
8
130
Deaths.
1
31
33
21
0
100
September
1900.
Cases.
3
45
57
98
36
42
281
Deaths.
3
33
33
58
33
2G
186
October
1900.
Cases.
9
28
36
G4
33
32
195
Deaths.
1
23
24
46
30
21
145
November
1900.
Cases.
11
30
24
47
24
16
152
Deaths.
5
19
13
38
18
13
106
December
1900.
Cases.
! )
56
43
75
53
42
278
Deaths.
i
47
35
57
41
26
210
Sections.
Chukla (Portion) ...
Umerkhadi (Portion).
Bhuleshwar (Portion)
Khara Talao
2nd Nagpada
Byculla (Portion) ...
Total ..'
January
1901.
Cases.
30
105
61
122
93
46
457
Deaths.
17
78
51
95
60
31
332
February
1901.
Cases.
23
178
123
197
191
64
781
Deaths.
20
132
92
152
145
46
587
March
1901.
Cases.
30
226
185
250
274
339
1.304
Deaths.
25
184
164
212
193
243
1.021
April
1901.
Cases.
10
102
68
112
110
221
623
Deaths.
10
91
59
100
75
157
492
May
1901.
Cases.
5
70
33
72
61
70
311
Deaths.
5
64
30
68
53
57
277
Grand Total.
Cases.
132
860
759
1,192
1,017
889
4,849
Deaths.
92
681
600,
936
751
629
3,689
28
Famine Refugees.—This district was very full of these refugees,
and, no doubt, they helped to swell the mortality as also to spread infec-
tion. The houses in which they lived were few, but they rented them
by mutual subscription and plague attacked them to a grievous extent.
Capt. Bolton states as follows :—
From June 1900 to September 1900 this district was full of famine-stricken people
mostly people from Kathinawar, but those I have met come from all parts of India, After
the rains many left Bombay. A number, however, remained and during the month of
Ramzan thousands were to be seen outside the various mosques begging. It is a
curious fact, and unlike last year, these wanderers did not suffer very severely from plague.
The district is still full of these people who go from mosque to mosque for their daily
rations. The Mahomedan Memon in his own way is very charitable, and many beggars find
it easier work to go to the mosques for food than to return to their country to work at
hard labour in the fields.
Review of the public Health and course of the Epidemic
during the year.
JUNE,
In June 1900, whilst plague in its epidemic form was diminishing,
small-pox had almost disappeared, but cholera, which proved afterwards
to be of a very virulent type, had already caused a few deaths
here and there in different parts of the City. It made its first
appearance in the Fort, Mandvi, Kamatipura and Worli, and sporadic
cases were not long in cropping up in other parts of the city
and island. By the end of the month Dongri, most of C. Ward,
each section of the Wari Bunder District, Byculla, and Central Dis-
trict, had each of them a few cases of cholera. The total mortality
figures at this time in the Umarkhadi and Bhuleshwar sections continued
high, when the mortality of other sections of the city diminished.
JULY.
Passing on to July the deaths among famine immigrants continued to
occur in the Fort, but lessened in number towards the end of the month.
There was a small number of deaths from relapsing fever in F and G
Wards. Plague at the opening of the month had given signs of a steady
decadence and cholera was increasing in every ward.
But in the second week cholera had become epidemic in A Ward,
B North, C Ward, D Ward, Wari Bunder, and F and G Wards which
last was the worse attacked, whilst Plague was reported to have all but
disappeared from it.
During the third week plague all over the City had still further
diminished, but a choleraic form of plague was in many instances found
and reported.
Meanwhile measures had been taken to give free medicine to those
attacked by Cholera. The medicine used was Dr. Leith's Cholera Mix-
ture, of two kinds—with and without opium. The reports received from
District Officers show that this mixture was efficacious, especially when
taken in the early stages of the attack.
29
By the end of July the total mortality had increased from about
1,000 to 1,500 for the week ending the 25th July. Most of this increase
was reported as due to cholera, as indeed it must have been, for, small-
pox had disappeared, relapsing fever was almost nil except in Byculla,
and plague cases and deaths numbered 442 for the whole month.
But it must be remembered that a very large proportion of the
deaths were verified by enquiry, and in Wari Bunder after deducting 65
deaths due to cholera, there were 200 per cent. of the deaths stated to be
due to ordinary causes which were in excess of the normal mortality
of the district. There was also at this time a very heavy mortality
amongst infants in the Central District.
The places most severely attacked by Cholera were Worli, Ghorup-
deo, Dongri, Kumbharwada and Victoria Bunder Chawls in Colaba.
AUGUST.
The first week in August found Plague stationary with a small
diminution in the mortality from cholera. But it was well known that
there was considerable concealment of Plague ; suffering cases were found
only in a few instances.
On the other hand cholera had increased in Wari Bunder and F and
G Wards.
The newspapers at this time criticised the new plague measures which
were about to be introduced, and there was considerable discussion of
them among the people also.
The infant mortality continued to be high. Mothers were through
stress of the times unable to look after and nourish their children, and
there were large numbers of beggars especially in the Fort, who died and
were reported as roadside deaths from Plague, Cholera, and other causes.
The mortality attributed to ordinary causes was very largely in
excess of the normal figures.
By the third week, mortality amongst rats had been reported from
A Ward, Byculla and C Ward. There was as usual a distinct rise in
plague which was reported from most quarters of the City.
Cholera, however, was stationary except in C Ward and the Central
district where there was a large increase. Plague and cholera were often
found in the same place. There were two instances in the Fort where
plague and cholera cases were taken out of the same house on the same
day.
There was an extraordinary increase at this time in the number of
medical certificates given by private practitioners as it was becoming
known that the new measures were not of a compulsory nature. In the
week ending the 21st there was an appalling rise in the mortality, the
total deaths from all causes numbering 2,200. Dead rats were found
in large numbers in A Ward and E Ward West, and cholera was at
its worst in C and F and G Wards.
8
30
The rain« had been very heavy and the usual monsoon recrudescence
of Plague appeared to be at hand.
In the final week, however, the weather changed and there was a
rapid improvement; the total mortality figure fell to about 1,600.
SEPTEMBER.
The first two weeks in September witnessed a great and continued
decline in the deaths from Cholera, especially in C, I), and F and
G Wards.
The last two weeks, however, found Plague on the increase when the
monsoon recrudescence reached its height ; whilst cholera showed signs of
dying out altogether. The increase in plague was accompanied with the
usual discovery of a mortality among rats, especially in E Ward West,
where there was a decided rise in the mortality from plague. Meanwhile
there were rumours of numbers of dead rats being found in C Ward ;
whilst the District Officer in F and G Wards reported that many people
from the city were moving into camps in his district. The new Plague
measures were received with signs of approval by the people, whilst the.
work of verification and disinfection met with closer attention from the
Plague staff.
OCTOBER.
The month of October was characterised by a steady weekly dimi-
nution in the mortality from cholera as well as plague. By the end
of the month cholera practically disappeared. Plague, however, main-
tained its hold, and reports were received of a considerable number of
imported cases, especially from Poona.
The new rules were working well and in great favour with the people.
The number of suffering cases brought to light was increasing.
Medical practitioners were beginning to report cases of plague as
well as other sickness. À considerable number of roadside cases were
met with,
There was no doubt that the famine refugees and those out of work
were very hard pressed, with the result that the Grant Road Hospital
was opened for them.
Disinfection met with still greater attention from the District Offi-
cers who improved matters in this line, with good results.
NOVEMBER.
The month of November opened with signs of an abatement of the
dire ills which had so long played havoc amongst the people.
Cholera had vanished and Plague was reduced to a total for the
month of 547 cases and deaths as compared with 964 the total for
September when the recrudescence occurred.
31
Tbc total mortality was reduced to the lowest figure yet reached
during the past six months (vide chart). The weekly fluctuations in the
mortality of the different districts were slight, and on the whole there was
neither any appreciable increase nor decrease up to the end of the month
either in Plague or in the total motality. Dead rats were found to a small
extent in A Ward and B Ward South.
In view of a probable advent of the epidemic the people were ap-
proached to get themselves inoculated, but since no money was now to be
given to those who got themselves inoculated the people would not take
to it.
The child mortality still kept high, as also did the sickness among
beggars.
DECEMBER.
The first two weeks in December showed an almost imperceptible rise
in the total mortality, which, however, was distinctly appreciable in the
latter half of the month, and left little doubt that a fresh epidemic was
imminent. Here then it may be said commenced the epidemic under
report. It started about five weeks later than the previous epidemic
judging from the total Mortality Chart.
Mortality amongst rats was reported in each succeeding week of
the month in A Ward. During the last three weeks in C Ward and E
Ward West, there was a noticeable rise in the mortality.
In the last two weeks rats were reported in the Central District
with a corresponding rise in Plague mortality. The nights were very
cold at this time, and in the early part of the month there was a heavy
mortality amongst beggars in the Fort and Central District, where they
used to be found dead on the roadside.
JANUARY.
During the Month of January there was a rapid increase in the epi-
demic, which fairly pervaded every district. In the first half of the month
C Ward, B Ward North and especially A Ward were the worst attacked.
The number of cases suffering from plague remaining at home increased
very considerably, Reports of attendants on patients being attacked
came in from A Ward, B Ward South and C Ward.
Rats were found dying in large numbers, and wherever they were
discovered Plague was observed to attack the people also.
By the end of the month C Ward, Central District, E Ward West
and D Ward were still further attacked. The disinfection work had
increased very considerably ; the want of Staff Corps Officers and English
doctors to supervise disinfection was keenly felt owing to the increase
in the disinfection staff.
In C Ward a coolie employed in disinfecting a room was caught
stealing and was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to -1 months'
rigorous imprisonment.
The necessity for European supervision was
made very apparent in other ways in disinfection work.
32
During the last week in the month a few Europeans were attacked
in Colaba Causeway, and infection was said to be traced to rats, which
were found here.
There was no doubt that the epidemic was gathering in force. From
the middle of December when the epidemic may be said to have started
to the end of January, the total weekly mortality had risen from 800 to
1,400, and everything pointed to a severe visitation.
For the month of January the total number of cases and deaths
discovered in the city was 1,996.
FEBRUARY.
By February Plague had reached all parts of the city in full epidemic
proportions. There was a terrible increase in the mortality from week
to week, and this was particularly noticeable, in C Ward, E Ward West,
Mandvi, and in the last week in D Ward. In all the other districts
infection was slowly spreading at first, but every week showed an increase
in the number of deaths. Wari Bunder, Byculla and F and G Wards
were the most healthy in comparison at this time, but there were unmis-
takable signs of the progress of infection into these parts of the island.
The mortality rising steadily showed a vast increase from 1,400 in the
last week of the previous month to 2,500 by the fourth week of February.
MARCH.
By the end of February the total number of cases and deaths had
risen to 5,119 and by the beginning of March the epidemic had
reached its height. The mortality from all causes including plague
for the week ending March 5th was just a trifle over 2,600 deaths.
The epidemic of the previous year attained its zenith in the last week
of February, the deaths numbering about 200 more than in the epidemic
under report, considering the abnormal conditions prevailing at the
time of the epidemic of 1899-1900, due to famine and the mills being
closed, the epidemic under review was not influenced to nearly the
same extent, so there seems little doubt that the epidemic of 1900 and
1901 comparatively, was the most severe yet experienced in Bombay.
The second week of March found B Ward South suffering such as
it had never suffered before from plague ; whilst Wari Bunder and espe-
cially Byculla and F and G Wards reported a large increase in their
mortality returns. The death-rate for the rest of the City showed a wel-
come decline. There was a slight check in the fall, however, in the third
week, but there was a decrease from 2,500 deaths to 1,950 in the last week.
Wari Bunder, Byculla and F and G Wards were having their share of
the epidemic at this time, and by the end of the month it was seen that
it was moving to the northern extremities of the island and with the
exception of Byculla the city was undoubtedly becoming relieved of the
worst of the epidemic. The total number of Plague cases and deaths for
the month of March were 8,232.
33
APRIL.
The month of: April commenced with signs of Plague refusing to
die an easy death. There was a recrudescence in A and C Wards fol-
lowed by Byculla, and by the second week a revival of infection in C
Ward, B Ward South, E West and Wari Bunder.
The exceptionally hot and vapourous weather at this time was said
to be the cause of this rivivication of Plague.
The mortality showed a decline by the end of April when the total
number of Plague cases and deaths for this month were 3,922.
The village of Narielwadi was very severely attacked, and its inhabit-
ants, mostly Mahomedans, neglected to evacuate their dwellings although.
Captain Moore, the District Officer, used every effort to persuade them
to go to the Camp at Wari Bunder. Appalled at the rapid death-rate
among them, they finally asked for a camp to be made especially, for them
at the last moment, but before this could be done the violence of the
epidemic had died out.
MAY.
The decline continued throughout the month of May, but was more
gradual. In the first week there was a recurrence of the moist heat
which produced effects corresponding to those already reported in the
month of April. The increase in the mortality was noticeable in B and C
Wards, Wari Bunder and E Ward West—the same localities as in the
previous instance.
By the last week in May the total mortality had fallen to 1,000,
whilst the total number of Plague cases and deaths reported for the whole
month were 2,060, showing that though on the decline the epidemic
continued to rage to the end of the year under report.