BOMBAY town AND ISLAND.]
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Second epidemic, 1897-98.
In March 1897 the epidemic slowly subsided, and by the middle of May the total mortality
of the City had fallen to normal. During the months of April,
May and June 1897 a large portion of those who had fied from
the City returned. By the end of June, plague appeared to be on the point of extinetion, and
the population of the City was estimated at over 750,000. "At the beginning of August
complaints were general, and to some extent well founded," writes Sir James Campbell,
"that the City was infested with numbers of starved idlers whose feeble condition, predisposing
to plague, was a menace to public health." Accordingly the question of relief was considered,
9,422 rupees were collected by subscription ; 10,000 rupees more were received from the
Secretary of the Famine Relief Fund ; relief-works, consisting of filling-in low land, and of
stone-breaking, were opened ; and subsistence rates—3 annas per day for men, 2 annas for
women, and 1½ annas for children—were paid. The recipients of this relief numbered at the
end of August 8,770 men, 1,952 women, and 33 children—a total of 10,755 persons. During
September 15,033 persons were similarly relieved, and during October 17,925 received the
same support.
Meanwhile, although the total mortality was some 200 above the average, the numbers of
plague cases and deaths recorded was small. From the middle of May to the middle of
November 1897, indeed the highest figures reported were 77 cases—60 deaths. In early
December a second epidemic appeared probable : and two measures received special considera-
tion. These were, first, the segregation of contacts ; and second, the vacating of infected or
unhealthy houses, together with the removal of the inmates to health camps. Both these
measures were, without undue severity, enforced ; private segregation camps were permitted ;
special leniency was shown to goldsmiths, weavers, and other craftsmen ; detention was
limited to 10 days, and might be reduced to 7; a modified system of surveillance was
sanctioned ; and every effort was made to redress reasonable complaints. With the
increase in the epidemic at the beginning of 1898, certain measures were, after careful
consideration, introduced for the first time, chief amongst these may be mentioned :
(1) prevention of depopulation by flight ; (2) notification of sickness ; (3) corpse-inspection ;
(4) the securing of the correct address at which death took place. These measures, unfamiliar
and inconvenient as they were, added to the fear of death, a constant presence of disinfection
gangs, and the frequency of funerals, were not long in producing discontent. The perverse
attitude now assumed by the people towards plague and plague measures, strengthened as it
was by racial characteristics and innate prejudices, soon resulted in disturbances, which, on
the 17th of March 1898, terminated in a riot.
It should here be mentioned that the military were largely employed during the first
two epidemics for disinfection, search-work, and the keeping of order. They proved most
useful.
The figures for this second epidemic were considerably higher than those for the first ;
but, taking into consideration the more numerous and stringent measures which undoubtedly
lessened concealment, and the normal size of the population, it may be doubted whether the
actual virulence of the second epidemic was any greater than that of the first.
Third epidemic, 1898-99.
The distinguishing characteristic of plague operations during the third epidemic was a
definite system, methodically enforced. The original design
comprised the division of the City into districts or wards ;
each ward to be in the charge of a Staff Corps Officer, assisted by a European Medical
Officer and a district or ward Volunteer agency. The main scheme was successfully
introduced and remains in force at the present time ; but the pancity of Doctors who were