POONA DISTRICT.]
231
On the 17th November 1897 a Plague Committee was established by order of Govern-
ment (vide ante). It consisted of—
Chairman, Major-Greneral J. Duncan.
Members Lieut.-Colonel W. J. Fawcett, R.A.M.C.
Manjor w.c.Ross.
This Committee held its first meeting on the 19th November 1897, and decided on the
following measures, which, since the 15th idem had been put into effect :—
(ί.) Partition of Cantonments into three divisions, each under a British Officer ;
and of these again into 17 sub-divisions in all, each under a supervisor who was either
a native gentleman or retired Native Officer. Each supervisor maintained a list of all
the inhabitants in his sub-division.
(ii.) Search party for each sub-division.
(iii.) Divisional establishment (common to all sub-divisions in its division) for
treatment, ambulance, segregation, disinfection, and sanitation.
(iv.) Two lady-searchers each for Divisions I and II, for visiting purdah ladies,
(v.) Commissioned Medical Officer's certificate for every death.
The result was a practically complete search of the whole of Cantonments daily, with
prompt segregation, attendance, and disinfection.
A Health Camp (ultimately capable of accommodating 1,000 people) was started on the
16th November in the Lál Bágh, to which water was laid on and oil lamps supplied, and for
which latrines and bathing places were erected. Into this camp, as room became available,
the inhabitants of the most infected parts of the bazar were moved in blocks ; and hero they
remained for ten days— a Banniáh supplying food, and a European officer ordering subsist-
ence money for the destitute. On arrival in camp every article was thoroughly disinfected.
The inhabitants during the day attended to their ordinary business, returning at night
to sleep in camp. The value of such a camp is proved by the fact that only I case occurred
after the people returned to the bazar : and that one a woman who had been but six days in
camp, and was attacked the evening of the day she left it. A second Health Camp (capacity,
400) was established early in December, about two or three hundred yards from the
Wánowrie Bazár, where the disease was severe. It was worked on the same principles.
In this case the result was still more satisfactory, for neither in the camp nor after their
return to their houses was there any indigenous case of plague. In this connection it may be
stated that a small row of huts was omitted when the rest of the Wánowrie Bazár people were
turned out ; within 24 hours 5 cases, including 8 deaths, occurred amongst those left behind—
an incident which proved a valuable lesson to the people.
In January 1898, Wánowrie village was the only plague-spot in Cantonment limits,
but it was not until the 23rd January that the Health Camp could accommodate its inhabitants.
As each block was vacated by the inhabitants, the houses were immediately thoroughly
cleaned, disinfected, and lime-washed. Houses unfit for habitation were demolished.
The numbers put through the two camps were :—
Camp.
Lál Bágh ...
Wánowrie ...
From
Saciar Bazár.
... 2,310
From
Wánowrie Bazár.
... 662
From
Cantonments.
343
From
Cantonments.
69
From
other places.
874
From
Wánowrie village,
&c.
1,935
Total for both Camps ...
Total.
3,527
2,666
6,193