POONA DISTRICT.]
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the commencement of the plague on the 20th November 1897 to 19th December 1897, 15
cases bad occurred; the village was evacuated on the 19th December 1897 ; after that date
there were only 7 cases, the plague then stopped, and there was complete subsidence of it
for one month from 5th January 1898 to 6th February 1898, except for a sudden outbreak
in one of the Koshti families which lost 10 of its members ; the disease was suppressed on
6th January 1898, i.e., within a fortnight only after the evacuation of the village. The
disease was not communicated to any other village in the vicinity of Manchar."
The figures for this epidemic were 34 cases—31 deaths.
The village of Mawdi Karipather (population, 622) was infected by a Mahomedan who
arrived from Poona and was attacked on the 19th of October 1897. In the following week
there were 21 cases—7 deaths. Mr. Lamb, the Collector, visited the village and ordered its
complete evacuation, which was carried out by the 10th of November, a few of the infected
houses being burnt down. The rest of the houses were disinfected and whitewashed, the
floors were dug up, and they were left open to sun and air for 10 days.
Mr. Lamb makes the following remarks on the cost of the measures taken :—
"The cost of the measures taken by Government was approximately Us. 150: the
only expense incurred was the employment of a gang for whitewashing and disinfecting the
houses and the payment of the Mhárs who acted as watchmen."
Fifty-six households, numbering 306 people, were affected in this village. Out of these
153 were attacked and 99 died. The first case occurred on October the 19th, and the last on
December the 29th, 1897. The following statement shows the numbers of cases and deaths
which occurred before and after evacuation respectively :—
From
19th October 1897 ...
11th November 1897 ...
To
10th November 1897 ...
29th December 1897 ...
Cases.
119
34
Deaths.
81
18
REMArKS.
In the 3 weeks prior to
evacuation.
In the 7 weeks subsequent
to
evacuation.
The course of plague in these three small places has been treated in considerable detail,
owing to the want of information for the rest of the Poona District during this period ;
they are presumably typical of, and similar to, the measures enforced and the results attained
elsewhere.
Kirkee, Poona Cantonment,
and Suburban Municipality.
Plague re-appeared in Poona Cantonments on the 27th June 1897, with 2 cases
amongst the followers of the 2nd Bombay Lancers. On the
2nd July one sowar, on the 4th three sowars, on the 5th one
child, on the 6th two sowars and two children, all belonging to this Oorps, were attacked.
The lines were vacated on the 6th July 1897, and the Regiment encamped on ground
adjoining. The origin of the outbreak was probably importation from Bombay. As the
sickness still continued, each squadron on the occurrence of a case was moved into camp at
Harapsar, D Squadron alone remaining in the original camp. Dropping cases still persist-
ing, on the 15th September the whole Regiment, with the exception of a small party left
under canvas to take care of the lines, moved across the river Muía Mutha into camp.
After this no more cases occurred. Meanwhile, some chawls on the edge of the lines in
which plague cases had occurred were demolished, and the lines themselves thoroughly
disinfected and lime-washed, the whole site being brought into a sanitary condition.
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