18
General Remarks.—'From the above it will be noted that—as far as numbers of
cases—the epidemic of Plague commenced in December-189 9 and continued until the-
middle of May 1900. The village of Colaba consists of close narrow streets and lanes
with a thick and numerous population consisting almost entirely of Mahrattas and
Ghatis who are employed in the neighbouring mills, press companies.and factories. It
is this village, occupied by about 5,000, that has been the sole centre of infection to
Colaba. It is to this village that cause of infection can be traced in enquiring into
the history of any case occurring in the bungalows on Middle Colaba or amongst the
followers of the Dep6t or of the Garrisons. I suppose, for their numbers, the people
have suffered more than any community in Bombay. The disease has been almost
entirely confined to this centre and has not spread anything like what it has in
previous years to the neighbourhood. Excepting for a severe outbreak,covering a
period of a week, amongst the Garrison followers, and for a similar attack among the
warders of the Lunatic Asylum—Plague has been confined to the village. Victoria
Bunder, with its 4 large chawls, has not been severely infected. The majority of
persons attacked have been Mahrattas. A few Mussalmans and 4 Parsis represent
the other castes so attacked, excepting the Mangs who are Garrison followers and
who suffered heavily in the attack in February. Health in Colaba village is an
impossibility. Small houses, ill ventilation and overcrowding are gradually making
themselves more felt on the health of the people.
B Ward,
North.
The small portion of Umer'kliadi, within the limits of B Ward,
North, suffered severely throughout the year—there being only some 9
weeks during the first half of the year when it can be said that
Plague was not epidemic. The disease began to attain still more
serious proportions early in December and continued to rage with con-
siderable fluctuations for the whole of the latter half of the year up to
May 31st, 1900. In Dongri, which was. never free from Plague, the
disease attained epidemic dimensions during August 1899. The Plague
and suspicious death-rate continued fairly steady till November, when its
virulence doubled and again remained fairly steady till the end of
December. It then increased till it attained its greatest violence during
the last fortnight of February. After this there was a fairly steady
decline, but the epidemic was by no means over at the close of the year.
B Ward,
South.
In Mandvi Plague was epidemic from 19th August 1899 to 21st
October 1899, and again from 25th November to the end of the year.
In the later and more serious of these two epidemic periods the
death-rate from Plague and suspicious fever rose with great steadiness,
attaining its maximum during the 6 weeks beginning 25th March and
ending 5th May 1900.
In the portion of Ghukla included in B Ward, South, after more
than once threatening, the disease assumed epidemic dimensions a week
later than in Mandvi. Its severity was at its worst during the 9 weeks,
beginning llth March and ending 12th May 1900.
C Ward.
An extract from Captain Cuppage's report is given below:—
Market Section—The course of the epidemic for the year under review has been
from South to North. The first case of Plague in the Market Section was observed
on the 9th June 1899, being earlier than in the previous year. There were 8 cases in
this month. In July 1899 the number of Plague cases was 28. It remained station-
ary in August of the same year, increasing slightly in September and raged irt.