248
[CHAP. VIII.
The total number of cases at Masur was 498 and of deaths 442, Two months after
the occurrence of the last recorded case, re-occupation was permitted ; this produced no
evil consequences, as there was no recurrence of the disease in Masur for over a year.
The history of plague in the rest of this Táluk a was at first the same. In August 1897,
2 Hospital Assistants were available for work in the villages. Two more were added in Sep-
tember after Lieutenant Robertson started work. But in October, 2 of these were withdrawn
and were only replaced in November by 4 military medical pupils. As, however, the plague
still spread, the Táluka was divided into 4 sub-divisions, an officer being placed in charge of
each. Captain Keown, Lieutenant Daunt, Lieutenant Steen, and Mr. A. D. Wilkins,
Divisional Forest Officer, were made Resident Plague Authorities, and the 2nd Assistant
Collector, Mr. P. E. Percival, was Chief Plague Authority for the whole Táluka. In Novem-
ber the staff was further augmented by the arrival of Dr. H. W. Beach, English Doctor.
Measures were now energetically enforced ; with the cessation of the rains, evacuation
became possible and was everywhere carried out ; the epidemic was brought under control.
The approximate numbers of oases and deaths in the Karád Táluka from August 1897
January 1898 were as follows:—
Month.
August
September
October
November
December
January
1897—4
„ -4
,,
,,
__ 4
,,
— 5
1898—4
weeks
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Gases.
104
718
2,845
2,188
763
117
6,735
Deaths.
74
454
2,142
1,866
631
97
5,264
The largest number of cases recorded in one week was 685 (week ending 23rd October
1897) and of deaths 605 (week ending 13th November 1897). The epidemic came to an
end in February 1898.
Tásgaon.
Population—11,261.
Tásgaon was attacked on the 13th September 1897. but official report was not made
till the 25th of the same month, and in the week ending 1st
October 1897 there were no less than 35 cases and 26 deaths.
The District Deputy Collector, Rao Bahadur B. R. Heblikar, arrived about this time at
Tásgaon. He turned out the population of the whole of the Somwár Peit, and arranged for
the construction of hospital sheds, etc. A Plague Flying Column, in charge of Assistant
Surgeon Merchant, was also sent, and arrived at Tásgaon about the 1st October. The
following week there was a decrease (27 cases—19 deaths) : but several of the evicted
people had been infected and succumbed in the fields. The result was an increase in the
number of cases. Meanwhile, infection had spread in the town itself, and in the week
ending 29th October 1897, the highest figures of this epidemic—110 cases, 83 deaths—
were recorded. The staff comprising the Column was fully occupied with the town and
could give but little attention to the evicts, scattered, as they were, over a wide area.
House-to-house search was instituted : patients were removed to hospital ; contacts were
segregated for 10 days ; and the occupants of neighbouring houses were turned out into the
fields, the houses themselves being disinfected. Later on, the same procedure was observed
with regard to the people in the fields. Such were the suppressive measures adopted. The
characteristic features of this Tásgaon epidemic—moderate virulence and slow and gradual
decline—are apparent from the subjoined statement :—