156
[CHAP. VII.
Villages in
Ankleshvar Táluka.
The first village attacked was Kantiazil in the Hánsot Mahal. This is a small
village of some 660 souls, and no less than 52 cases occur-
red here between 9th August 1898 and 3rd November 1898.
It is described as a very healthy village situated on the sea-shore. The infection was traced
to Bhagwa in the Olpád Táluka of the Surat District, separated from Kantiazil by the
Kim river. Plague was raging there at the time, and there were some dealings between
the people of the two villages. A Hospital and a Segregation Camp -were erected and the
village evacuated immediately. The last case occurred on the 3rd of November.
At this village inoculation played an important part : over 600 people—almost the
entire population—being inoculated. There were 4 cases among those that were inocu-
lated ; all proved fatal—the first 6 days, and the last 45 clays, after inoculation. It is
difficult to say whether the eradication of the plague was due to inoculation or evacuation,
and both may fairly claim a share in the success.
From Ankleshvar the infection was carried to 13 villages of the Táluka, but it
was speedily subdued everywhere, the largest number of cases in one village being 24
(in Diva), only two other villages returning over 8 cases. Evacuation was the rule—
disinfection following in its wake.
Broach Town.
Population—40,168.
It was unfortunately now the turn of Broach Town. Plague was decidedly on the
wane in Ankleshvar, and the returns from the District were
insignificant. Up to the middle of September 1898 it is probable
that the vigorous protective measures, which, though similar to a
great extent to those already described, were yet carried out far more efficiently in
Broach Town, had kept the plague out of it. So successful were they that for a whole year
there had not been an imported case. The credit for this the Collector ascribes chiefly to
non-official agency :
"This immunity is due in my opinion to the personal character and exertions of
Rao Bahadur Chunilál Venilál, C.I.E. Knowing every street, and I might say, every
person in Broach, and possessing the confidence of every one, he has exercised such
a control that no one, though he secretly crept into Broach defying the regulations, could
hope to escape detection. Hundreds of persons from Bombay, Surat, and Baroda would
have liked to take shelter in Broach, but were prevented by the persuasive powers and stern
determination of the Ráo Bahadur. He has shown a wonderful capacity for keeping people
contented in spite of all the inconveniences to which they were put."
But it would have been strange indeed had the capital of an affected District
escaped scot-free. During the week ending the 16th September 1898, a case occurred in
the Mahomedan quarter of the Town : this was followed by 10 cases in the following week.
Some butchers from Ankleshvar are believed to have been responsible for its introduction.
Rats do not appear to have played any part in spreading it. The following measures were
adopted at once :—
"The whole quarter was searched by house-to-house inspection by the District
Magistrate with the other European and Native Officer s of the Station, but at the time no
case of plague was found. * * Subsequently the whole of the street has been evacuated,
and all the houses have been disinfected. Sick persons have been removed to ' Alai Bágh's
Plague Hospital,' and the contacts have been segregated at 'Shekh Matkat.' The healthy
persons of the locality have been removed to ' Bava-rehen.' Floors of the houses have
been dug out and burnt, houses washed with lime, and their contents, such as furniture,
etc., disinfected."
During the week ending 30th September 1898, with a slight increase in the
area of infection, 10 cases were again reported ; bub thereafter the figures diminished,
and only 17 cases occurred during the 10 succeeding weeks. Then, however, matters