NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
93
Maratha Camp.
The Maratha Camp, in Connaught Road, together with the hospital
to which it is attached, was built by subscriptions amongst the Maratha
community and the millowners who employ large numbers of Marathas,
both Konkanis or Ghatis, that is West Dekhanis. Its use is confined to
Marathas. It was opened on January 1st, 1898. There is accommoda-
tion in the Health Camp for 800 people, and 921 have been admitted
up to April 10th. Since that date the camp has been filled owing to
the vacation of a number of houses, and the total number of admissions
is now just over 1,200, the camp being almost full.
Thirty-six cases of sickness have been removed from the camp to
the hospital, of which 19 were Plague, 14 simple fever, 2 chicken-pox
and 1 consumption. No death has occcurred in the camp. There was
one birth on February 24th.
The camp is in charge of a Camp Master who, with a clerk and a
staff of limewashers and sweepers, keeps it in excellent order, so that
it has been in every way a success. In addition to the Health Camp
there is accommodation for 200 Contacts within the hospital fence : 639
persons have been admitted as Contacts, amongst whom 12 cases of
Plague and 1 death occurred. There were also 3 cases of simple fever,
one of which has been discharged, while 2 are stilt under observation.
Private Camps.
From the middle of December 1897 numbers of Parsis and
superior and middle-class Hindus began to leave the infected parts of
the city and move to the open country to the north of Bombay or to
suburbs in the adjoining Salsette Taluka of the Thana District. As the
cold weather began to decrease in intensity, this exodus became more
general, and by the end of March 189S about 45,000 people had left
Bombay and were encamped either in the north of the Island or in the
suburbs. Restrictions had necessarily to be placed upon going into the
districts, but passes were freely granted to respectable and responsible
persons.
In the statement below is given the approximate number of
people who removed beyond the limits of Bombay Island :—
G I. P RAILWAY.
Kalyan
Demauli
Diva
Mumbra
Thana
Nowpada
Bhandup
Ghatkuper
Kurla
...
..
.
.
.
.
.
Chimbur and Manigaum
about 200
„ 100
„ 250
» 150
„ 500
„ 500
„ 1,000
„ 3,000
„ 2,000
„ 1,500
9,200
B. B. C. Γ. RAILWAY;
Bassein ...
Bhaynder
Borivli ...
Malad-Gorcgaon
Andheri ...
Virlapal and Amlauli
Santa Cruz
Bandra ...
about 250
50
500
„ 2,000
„ 2,000
„ 2,000
„ 1,000
„ 1,000
8,800
94
As there was Plague in Kalyan Town when the exodus from
Bombay began, only new chawls and bungalows near the station
were occupied by Bombay people. In all other towns and villages
every available bungalow, house or chawl, and in many cases out-
houses and even cow-sheds were occupied by people from Bombay-who
paid high rents. Temporary huts were built in large numbers at Bhan-
dup, Ghatkuper, Kurla and Chimbur, and in small numbers at
Demauli, Diva and Mumbra. The Gujarati element predominated in
Ghatkuper and Chimbur, and the Marathi-speaking population in Thana,
Bhandup and Kurla.
In Chimbur, Thana and other places Bombay people went to
live with their relatives. Permission was given to Government ser-
vants to occupy the buildings at Nowpada intended for the Lunatic
Asylum. The conditions were that the cook-rooms were to be built
at the expense of the occupier. Many Government servants availed
themselves of the opportunity.
Large numbers of huts were built between Malad and Goregaon,
and some in Santa Cruz. Many people went to live at Bandora and
adjacent villages in spite of restrictions. Rich Bhatias and other mer-
chants lived in Yesawa and Amlauli. Except in municipal towns, such
as Bandora, Bassein, Kalyan, Thana and Kurla, sanitary arrangements
were made by the people themselves. At some places these arrange-
ments were very imperfect.
Towards the beginning of April, Plague made its appearance
in Thana, Bandora, and Andheri, and, as some districts of the Bombay
City were tolerably free, many people returned to Bombay.
Very little of the vacant ground offered by the Collector of
Thana in Kalyan and Salsette Talukas was taken up, probably
because private ground was available everywhere.
As stated
above, many people also moved to the outlying parts of the
City, such as Sewri, Parel, Dadar, Mahim, Matunga, Sion and Worli.
Almost every bungalow and house was rented by the end of December.
In the beginning of January 1898, as the Plague showed no tendency
to decrease and the low land in the neighbourhood of Dadar and
Matunga had dried, people built huts or pitched tents in the fields
or open oarts and moved into them. The Parsi Panchayet built a
series of sheds adjoining the Vincent Road in Matunga for their caste
people. The Times of India Office repaired their sheds, on the same
road, built last year for the accommodation of their employés. In and
95
round Matunga some temporary camps in an organized form were
constructed. Generally, when a camp was built and occupied, clusters
of huts sprang up round it and were immediately occupied, thus show-
ing that, if an initiative in this direction were at once taken, the example
would be sure to be followed. The Plague Committee encouraged
such spontaneous vacating.
Water-connections were given to these camps or groups of
huts as necessity arose. Halalkor service was provided. Sweepers,
and in some cases watchmen, were also given, and general sanitary
supervision over all the camps was provided.
The following is an approximate estimate of the numbers who
went to live in these parts either in permanent or temporary buil-
dings :—
Sion and Dharavi
Matunga, Yadala, Bhoivada
On the east of the G. I. P. Railway beyond Parel (not
including the Plague Committee's camps)
Between the two Railway Lines beyond Parel
Mahim Proper...
Dadar and Naigaum
Parel village, including —
Golanji Hill
Sewri
Worli
Total...
1,000
1,500
9,000
8,000
5,000
2,000
1,000
1,000
250
28,750
Of Private Camps, the Parsi Panchayet, the Times of India,
Mr. Kashinath Dhuru's, Mr. S. N. Lund's, Rao Saheb Vaidya's, and
Mr. Vizbhukhandas Atmaram's Camps deserve special mention.
The Parsi Panchayet built and maintained a number of small
camps for the use of their community. They accommodated altoge-
ther 324 families or, roughly, 2,500 people. The largest of these
camps were :—
The Marine Lines Camp, which contained
The Chaupati Camp
The Delisle Road Camp
Matunga Camp
50 huts.
43 huts.
47 huts.
54 huts.
Three cases of Plague occurred in the Parsi Camps.
TABLE A.
SECTION MORTALITY RETURNS, MARCH 1897—MARCH 1898,
Recorded Plague Deaths.
SECTIONS.
Upper Colaba
Middle and Lower
Colaba.
Fort, South
Fort, North
Esplanade
Mandvi
Chakla
Umarkhadi
Dongri
..
...
Market
Dhohi Talao
Phanaswadi ...
...
Bhuleshwar...
Khara Talao
Kumbharwada
Kbetwadi
Girgaum
Cbanpati
Walkesbwar
Mahalakshmi
Mazagon
...
...
Tarwadi
2nd Nagpada
„.
Kamathipura
Tardeo
...
Byculla
...
,.
1st Nagpada
Parel
Sewri ...
Sion
Mahiin
Worli
Totals
ΜΟΝΤΠ?, 1837.
March,
Attacks
41
10
14
39
8
48
3
43
48
27
31
16
24
14
56
22
28
11
59
88
106
53
24
66
53
153
36
101
49
101
323
120
1,815
Deaths
12
15
0
19
6
32
6
25
28
15
30
4
11
7
33
13
17
9
25
46
53
17
14
61
39
98
24
127
16
157
165
77
1,201
April.
Attacks
5
23
7
19
4
137
10
46
47
35
22
16
23
16
46
9
7
7
19
40
35
3l
21
52
37
55
21
27
14
66
181
82
1,100
Deaths
5
13
2
6
0
41
10
16
26
7
14
2
3
8
19
6
4
1
7
12
18
ó
15
33
14
27
9
25
7
64
55
39
513
Mar.
Attacks
4
19
2
7
2
47
11
25
20
9
6
2
11
22
26
15
3
0
2
7
18
3
10
38
14
36
9
3
3
6
22
12
414
Deaths
2
11
0
1
1
6
1
3
7
3
3
0
5
2
5
2
2
0
0
0
6
1
2
15
3
10
1
5
2
5
1
5
110
Juue.
Attacks
3
4
0
4
0
IG
1
5
11
4
3
3
7
10
7
10
I
0
0
0
13
6
3
8
G
18
4
0
0
0
1
0
148
Deaths.
0
3
0
0
0
3
1
2
8
0
3
2
3
1
2
3
1
0
0
0
1
2
0
3
1
4
0
1
0
0
0
0
44
July.
. Attacks
0
2
0
3
1
5
0
0
4
1
1
0
2
1
8
1
0
0
0
0
5
1
0
5
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
44
Deaths
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
1
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
3
1
0
2
0
4
0
2
0
0
0
0
23
August.
/Attacks
!
0
10
0
0
1
17
4
13
7
4
1
1
2
2
17
1
1
0
1
0
2
0
I
17
3
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
107
'Deaths
1
0
3
0
0
0
7
0
2
0
0
2
1
0
1
G
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
26
September.
Attacks
0
8
0
0
1
58
5
7
24
5
7
3
3
31
9
5
1
0
0
0
13
2
8
23
1
9
6
2
0
0
0
1
212
. Deaths
0
2
0
0
0
12
0
7
8
0
5
1
1
2
4
1
0
0
0
0
3
0
2
8
0
9
1
3
0
0
0
1
70
October.
Attacks
0
19
0
0
5
53
6
13
11
4
7
7
δ
G
14
5
G
1
2
0
4
2
16
47
7
12
6
4
0
2
2
3
272
Deaths
0
8
0
0
0
7
1
8
2
3
1
2
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
12
2
8
1
0
0
0
0
0
65
November.
Attacks.
0
23
0
4
0
54
9
20
31
11
G
1
G
17
27
10
9
2
0
3
11
4
6
60
15
15
6
0
0
0
0
5
355
Deaths
1
10
0
3
0
7
4
3
7
δ
2
1
1
1
8
3
4
1
0
1
4
0
1
22
4
5
0
2
0
0
0
2
102
December.
Attacks.
0
44
1
31
0
90
22
39
44
58
18
9
52
íj9
59
22
15
4
3
5
17
13
32
65
16
18
21
8
3
0
0
4
745
Deaths
0
10
0
6
0
19
8
13
IG
18
12
2
9
8
24
G
3
0
2
0
G
4
11
17
10
10
8
4
0
0
0
2
228
MONTHS, 1898.
January.
Attacks,
1
51
4
235
0
114
143
17G
160
•2G6
124
82
196'
115
181
89
80
13
12
26
55
17
73
198
70
142
93
30
4
9
24
23
2,806
Death».
0
20
2
89
4
39
41
96
G2
83
77
30
77
51
84
46
44
4
1
4
15
13
36
131
32
68
32
23
1
7
9
9
1,230
February.
Attacks
0
Cl
0
440
0
143
122
207
186
402
301
245
239
153
190
170
216
40
30
46
236
29
101
301
152
308
85
47
12
18
42
72
4,594
Deaths.
1
32
2
84
9
49
29
70
57
115
157
73
61
30
75
64
104
9
2
12
67
20
34
167
63
128
22
36
3
15
19
32
1,641
March.
Attacks.
10
35
14
162
8
137
48
95
78
229
198
157
105
33
155
208
1G3
106
66
93
99
43
26
152
84
313
43
154
11
64
112
102
3,303
Deaths.
2
27
1
31
8
67
17
81
97
70
147
52
86
29
107
124
151
45
11
44
138
62
23
137
109
358
29
213
13
30
40
91
2,390
96
97
CHAPTER VII.
MORTALITY.
Table A shows the recorded Plague attacks and the recorded
Plague deaths from the commencement of March 1897 to the end of
March 1898, a period of 13 months. The figures are taken from the
daily returns of the Municipal Health Office. Owing to the imperfect
system of death registration, they are not a true record, but, assuming
that the vitiating error is a constant one, the table exhibits the monthly
steps, whether of ascension or of declension, made by the epidemic
in each section as well as in the total area of the Island. It will be
observed (1st column) that the Island of Bombay is divided into 32
sections.
A glance at one of the maps which accompany this Report will
show that the first sections mentioned in the table, namely, Upper and
Lower Colaba, form the extreme promontory which divides the Back
Bay from the open sea. Upper Colaba is occupied chiefly by the
British Troops.
Looking again at the map, it will be seen that the last five sections
are situated in the north of the Island, where there are large open
stretches of country and a correspondingly thin population. "Walke-
shwar, again, which occurs near the middle of the list of sections, is one
of the promontories which form the Back Bay, and is largely inhabited
by Europeans. Mazagon, Byculla and Mahalakshmi may be called
border sections.
On looking at the figures it will at once be perceived that in
March 1897, the extreme sections, and to some extent the border ones,
were still receiving their visitation from a departing epidemic which
had completed a full and virulent course in the interior—the densely
crowded, and the insanitary parts of the City in which it made its
first appearance.
Looking on now to the months of November and December we see
the rise of the second epidemic in the densely crowded and insanitary
sections, at a time when the extreme sections were comparatively free.
The gradual spread into these extreme sections, together with a decline
in the interior sections some three months later, is again very marked,
TABLE B.
Comparative Sectional Plac/ue Mortality, MARCH 1897—MARCH 1898,
Sections in order of
Mortality.
Tardeo
Kamathipura
Sion
Mahim
Byculla
Parel
Girgaum
Kumbharwada
Middle & Lower Colaba...
1st Nagpada
Dhobi Talao
Dongri
Worli
Mazagon
Khetwadi
...
Mandvi
Deaths.
405
613
819
289
730
439
331
375
156
127
459
317
258
325
269
290
Popula-
tion.
18,980
29,203
19,601
18,508
47,403
28,740
27,000
32,209
13,622
11,133
39,950
30,320
25,493
33,640
28,814
37,295
Bate
per
10,uOO.
213
208
162
156
154
152
120
116
114
114
112
104
101
96
93
77
Sections in order of
Mortality.
Market
2nd Nagpada
Fort, North
Phanaswadi
Sewri
Mahalakshmi
Ohaupati
Umarkhadi
Tarwadi
Bhuleshwar
Upper Colaba
...
Khara Talao
Walkeshwar
...
Chakla
Esplanade
Fort, South
Deaths.
319
140
235
170
42
113
69
328
127
208
23
142
48
119
28
7
Popula-
tion.
44,751
18,768
32,047
24,069
6,063
7,004
11,512
52,468
21,298
38,363
4,335
27,035
12,990
32,197
10,064
3,951
Eate
per
10,000.
74
74
71
70
69
66
62
62
59
54
53
52
38
36
27
17
99
TABLE B.
Table B shows the 32 sections of the Island in their order of com-
parative Plague mortality according to population. The period covered
by this table is the same as that covered in table A. Each section is
therefore fairly treated, being included both in the descending period of
one epidemic and in the ascending period of another one.
100
TABLE C.
MORTALITIES OF ASCENDING PERIODS OF IST AND 2ND EPIDEMIC.
1st Epidemic, 1896-97.
Week ending —
October
"
November
"
"
"
December
",
")
"
"
January
"
20th, 1896
27th, „
3rd, „
...
...
10th, „
17th, „
24th, „
1st, „
8th, „
15th, „
22nd, „
29th, „
5th, 1897
12th, „
Total ...
Total
Mortality,
606
698
668
623
704
760
772
1,051
1,310
1,416
1,853
1,711
1,638
13,810
Average
Mortality,
1891-96.
477
470
443
449
462
446
457
460
470
470
469
494
484
6,051
Bocorded
Plague.
81
119
159
120
187
238
253
456
777
782
1,179
1,194
1,018
6,563
Probable
Plague.
129
129
225
174
242
314
315
591
840
946
1,384
1,217
1,154
7,759
2nd Epidemic, 1897-98.
Week ending —
December
,,
,,
January
,.
,,
,,
February
,,
,,
,,
March
,,
14th, 1897 ,
21st,
„
28th, „
4th, 1898
11th, „
18th, „
25th, „
1st,
"
8th, „
15th, „
22nd, „
1st, „
8th, „
Total ...
Total
Mortality.
785
835
975
1,061
1,307
1,540
1,726
1,871
2,067
2,195
1,974
2,080
2,184
20,600
Average
Mortality,
1892-97.
575
629
652
724
712
754
748
743
836
775
758
716
688
9,310
Kccorded
Plague.
95
158
200
302
450
651
834
927
1,113
1,257
1,082
1,097
1,283
9,449
Probable
Plague.
210
206
323
337
595
786
878
1,128
1,237
1,420
1,216
1,364
1,496
11,290
101
TABLE C.
Table C exhibits the mortalities of the two Bombay epidemics
during their periods of ascension. Accepting the increase in Plague in
Bombay from the middle of December as marking the beginning of a
fresh epidemic, the thirteen weeks or three months spread of the
epidemic came to a close at the end of the first week of March. In
calculating the waxing three months of an epidemic, the difficulty is to
fix the initial week. It is not till the decline sets in that the date of the
true epidemic increase can be determined. In the present case the
decline began from March the 20th : this supports the view that the
second epidemic dates from about the middle or the third week of
December.
The thirteen weeks period, which is indicated by the total figures
for both epidemics, is very largely borne out by the individual section
figures at Table A, but it would perhaps be rash to state positively
that this is a true feature of Plague in general or even of Bombay
Plague in particular.
It should be here noted that since from various causes there are
observable discrepancies in the returns of recorded Plague from differ-
ent quarters, the probable or estimated Plague figures are best obtained
by the process of subtracting the average mortality for any given period
of the five years preceding 1896, from the mortality for the correspond-
ing periods in 1897 or 1898, and assigning the difference to Plague. A
comparison of this result with the recorded figures gives a fair line of
the course of the epidemic.
102
TABLE D.
MONTHLY DEATH-RATES IN BOMBAY DURING THE PLAGUE VISITATIONS
OF 1896-97 AND 1897-98, CALCULATED FROM STATISTICS IN THE
PLAGUE CHARTS OF THESE YEARS.
1896-97.
Months.
1896.
November...
...
December...
...
1897.
February ...
April
...
...
...
...
Total
Mortality.
3,024
6,243
7,627
6,732
5,438
3,578
Calculated
Population.
780,000
740,000
480,000
437,000
474,000
581,000
Death-rate
per 10,000 per
Mouth,
38·8
84·4
158·9
154·0
114·7
61·6
1897-98.
1897.
November...
...
...
December...
1898.
January ...
February ...
...
March
...
...
...
...
April
2,977
8,794
6 886
8,316
9,210
5,097
855 000
875,000
838 000
757,500
712,500
74,400
35·7
48·4
82·2
109·8
129·2
68·5
REMARKS.—It is noticeable from the chart that the plague visitation, was more than
a month later this year than last. The mortality in November 1896 should therefore be
compared with that in December 1897, December 1896 with January 1898, and so on.
103
TABLE D.
In connection with the two preceding tables, Table D shows the
death-rates per 10,000 per month during the two epidemical periods.
It is calculated from the Plague charts which accompany this
Report. The estimated variations in population shewn on these charts
are based on calculations made by Mr. Rimington, the Head of the
Tramway Company, Mr. Rimington mainly, though not entirely, bases
his estimates on the totals of tram-passengers. But as many thousands
of the poorest classes do not use the trams, all of these might leave
the City without affecting- the tramway figures. In some ways the
official movement statistics are more trustworthy. But the very elaborate
completeness of their details detracts from their value.
According to the Movement statement between July and December
1897, departures were steadily, though slightly, in excess of arrivals, the
excess aggregating about 50,000 during the six months. During the
three first months of the present year the returns show a further defici-
ency of about 100,000. If, as is agreed, Bombay was full in June 1897
the number may have been about 850,000. The total during the
recent epidemic would then vary from about 750,000 in January to
700,000 in March. Mr. Rimington's estimates agree as to the total
during the epidemic. They differ in holding that in June 1897 the total
was less than 850,000 and that it rose towards the end of the rains till
in October-November it was little short of 900,000. A large element
of error must be expected in a statement dealing with such masses
of people on what are little more than estimates. On the whole, how-
ever, opinion favours Mr. Rimington's view that the population was
abnormally high in October. Be that as it may, the total during the
recent epidemic was probably between 700,000 and 750,000.
104
TABLE E.
COMPARATIVE PLAGUE MORTALITIES OP BOMBAY AND THE MOFUSSIL
EPIDEMICS, 1896-98.
City.
Sholapur ...
Poona II ...
Karachi
Bombay I ...
Surat
Bombay II...
Population,
1891.
6,154
149,793
97,009
821,764
108,631
821,764
Accepted Population
during Week of
Highest Mortality.
30,782
74,895
48,500
470,000
54,315
750,000
Highest Mortality.
Week.
1897 Nov. 26th— Dec.
3rd
448 ...
1897 Oct. 29th— Nov.
5th
460 ...
1897 Jan. 28th— Feb.
4th
295 ...
1897 Jan. 12th—
19th
1,472 ...
1897 Nov.
5th—
12th
150 ...
1898 March llth—
18th
1,611 ...
Average
day.
64
66
42
210
21
230
Mortality on Bombay
Basis, 750,000.
Week.
10,909
4,600
4,562
2,350
2,083
1,611
Day.
1,558
657
651
336
297
230
The comparative statement. Table E, shows that as regards intens-
ity, in proportion to the estimated population at the time, the last
epidemic in Bombay was less severe than the preceding one ; that
it was about the- same as the Surat epidemic ; a little more than one-third
of the intensity of the Karachi and the second Poona epidemics, and not
much more than one-seventh as acute as the Sholapur epidemic. In
the case of each of these outbreaks the figure taken as the maximum
daily death is the daily average of the highest week. Apart from the
law that the larger the population the smaller the proportion of mortal-
ity, Bombay's comparatively mild mortality is doubtless in great
measure due to the greater comparative cleanness of the city. At the
same time a share in so favourable a result may be fairly claimed for the
vigour and completeness of the measures taken to combat the Plague..
105
TABLE F
European Plague Mortality.
1ST EPIDEMIC.
11th November 1896— 30tb April 1897.
Europeans, pure
Europeans, domiciled ...
Eurasians
Indian Christians
European Jews
Total...
Attacks.
8
21
41
18
3
56
Deaths.
1
8
13
12
1
35
2ND EPIDEMIC.
12th December 1897— April 1898.
Europeans, pure
Europeans, domiciled...
Eurasians
Indian Christians
European Jews
Total...
i
Attacks.
11
17
22
9
1
60
Deaths.
9
4
10
7
1
25
Remains.
6
10
6
1
...
23
Among the patients entered in 1897-98 as Europeans were one Jew
and nine Indian Christians. Of Europeans born and brought up in India
the details are: attacks 17, deaths 4. Of English-born Europeans, the
details are : attacks 11, deaths 3. In January 1898, as the infection ward
in the old section of St. George's Hospital was full, a fenced enclosure
was set apart on open Port Trust laud immediately to the east of
St. George's Hospital, and timber huts were built with accommodation
for 18 patients. The results have been satisfactory,
TABLE G.
RETURN SHEWING THE MORTALITY FROM PLAGUE WITH PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS AND OASES IN ALL HOSPITALS.
Go vernment Hospitals,
No.
1
2
3
4
5
G
Hofpital.
Arthur Eoad
Grant Road
Parel Government House
Police Hospital
Modikhana
Narielwadi
District.
Bycnlla
Ivamathipnra
Parel
Tardeo
Esplanade
Mazagon
Admissions.
Total.
4,121
2,102
902
45
893
423
Plague.
1,917
1,201
587.
252
Deaths.
Total.
1,090
488
27
580
215
Plague.
1,410
952
435
564
Mortality.
General.
51·85
45·16
60·0
64·4
40·00
Plague.
73·55
79·26
74·10
76·32
106
107
Table G shows, so far as statistics have been obtainable, the
mortality of Natives (1) in Public Hospitals (2) in Private Hospitals.
It is to be noted with regret that comparatively few of the Private
Hospitals have kept any trustworthy record of the cases treated in them.
The native assistants, in many cases, had no previous experience
in keeping registers, and an examination of their books shows
how totally worthless the statistics published must necessarily be. A
certain number of cases were of necessity sent to hospitals for obser-
vation when found suffering from fever and, indeed, a fairly large
number of persons applied voluntarily for admission under the impres-
sion that they were suffering from Plague, who subsequently proved to
be suffering from diseases other than Plague. Of these cases the
registers show no record : all alike are entered as cases of " Plague,"
O
yet the fact that many cases were detained in hospitals, before being
discharged cured, for periods varying from 1 to 7 days only, conclu-
sively proves that they were not suffering from Plague.
Every endeavour has been made to ascertain the actual Plague
mortality : where this has not been possible, the mortality, including
all cases admitted, has been stated under the heading " General
Mortality."
An attempt to compare the results of these two classes of hospitals
has led to considerable doubt in certain quarters as to whether a well
regulated hospital, with its staff of trained nurses and various other
appointments, was of any special advantage. Such a comparison is,
however, worthless and must necessarily be misleading till a more
satisfactory system of supervision can be exercised in regard to the
Private Hospitals.
The comparatively low rate of mortality amongst Europeans is
undoubtedly largely due to the early stage of the disease at which they
placed themselves under suitable conditions and treatment. The high
rate of mortality at all the hospitals has almost invariably been attributed
by the Medical Officers to the late stage at which the patients were
sent in.