42
[CHAP. i., ΡT. IV.
Cantonment 2,570 persons died of plague, or 1 in every 17 of the population, while in the sepoys'
lines, with u population of 1,801, but 6 died, or at the rate of 1 in every 300 only. It has been
shown how heavily the Regiment suffered during the first epidemic ; why, then, did they not
again produce cases to the same extent during the more severe second visitation? The
only measures taken by the authorities were, placing the Cantonment und City "out of
bounds" for the troops after 4th July, and disinfection of the few huts that became infected.
But both these measures had been taken in the first outbreak and had proved totally inadequate
to stay the ravages of the disease, until the men were removed from the infected locality.
Λ very practical answer to this question was given by the sepoys themselves, who volunteered to
undergo a second inoculation, which was duly carried out during July and August. Practically
no one was left in the lines unprotected by inoculation, so that a comparison cannot be made
with an unprotected population living in precisely similar circumstances, as was possible in the
first experiment in the Byculla Jail, for instance, yet, in the opinion of the sepoys and their
officers, there is no doubt that the inoculation saved them. Nine out of the 12 cases of plague
in the Regiment occurred in the persons of inoculated people, and o among non-inoculated.
Of the former 6 recovered and 3 died ; among the latter all died. The history of the three
uninoculated persons is interesting. The first case was that of a sepoy who was believed to
have already suffered from plague in the first epidemic, and who was not inoculated on the
presumption that he would prove immune. From a study of the history of his case as recorded
in the hospital case-book, it appears probable that a mistake in diagnosis had been made, during
the hurry and stress of the first epidemic, and that the man had not suffered from plague
previously. The second case occurred in the person of a sepoy's wife who had just joined her
husband and who was attacked before she could be inoculated. The third was a European
officer who probably trusted to the comparative immunity of his race, and had therefore
omitted to protect himself.
6. Major Forman's statistics.—Two very striking instances brought to notice by Major
Forman, R. A. Μ. C., Senior Medical Officer at Belgaum, may here be stated. The
men of the Army Hospital Corps, with their families, were living close to the European
Military Hospital under constant supervision. They numbered 83 individuals, and all but
o submitted to inoculation. On December 23rd, 1897, the operation was performed, and
the following occurrences among them are recorded :—
Inoculated ...
Not inoculated
Population.
80
3
Cases.
2
Deaths from
Plague.
...
2
In January 1899 this group of persons, who then numbered 84, got themselves
inoculated again, with the exception of 7, with the following result :—
Inoculated
Not inoculated
Population.
77
7
Cases.
2
1
Deaths from
Plague.
2
1
As these
people were living isolated from others, and under daily medical
supervision, errors of diagnosis are practically excluded, and the results recorded may
be taken as accurate. The non-inoculated group in this case suffered from plague nearly
24 times more severely than those protected.