198
[CHAP. VIII.
At length, in the week ending 24th September 1897, indigenous plague appeared.
The first case reported occurred in the compound of a Roman Catholic priest in Cantonments.
But it is at least doubtful if this was in reality the first indigenous case, for previous to this
a death had been concealed and the corpse had been secretly conveyed for disposal to Shaha-
pur—a hamlet five miles north-east of Nagar. The next 3 cases occurred amongst the
Gaolis in the vicinity of the Roman Catholic Church. " The infection," says the Collector,
"would appear to have been brought from Sirur, a place with which they are intimately
connected."
On the occurrence of another case, in the first week of October, the evacuation of
the Sadar Bazár in Cantonments was determined on, and carried out with great promptness
—only 24 hours' notice being given.
Owing to the evacuation of the Sadar Bazár and the rise of plague in Poona, fur-
ther steps were taken for the protection of Nagar Town, and on the 1st of October 1897,
the Railway Station Camp was re-opened. At this Camp, subject to certain exceptions, and
subject to release on surveillance, all persons were detained who arrived by rail or by the
roads approaching Ahmednagar from the west. The Civil Surgeon, Major H. W. Steven-
son, I. M. S., held classes for the instruction of Revenue and Municipal Officers in plague
mensures generally, and practical demonstrations were given of the methods of disinfection.
As cases continued to occur in Cantonments, although the inhabitants were in Camp,
still further precautions were taken to protect, Nagar Town. On the 8th of October 1897,
the Sarjápur Dharamsála was prepared as a Segregation Camp ; from the 9th, all the gates of
the City, except five, were closed, and people were not allowed in unless known ; and on the
10th, Plague Authorities were appointed.
The 5th of November 1897 marks a new period in the course of plague in Ahmed-
nagar. The evacuated population of Cantonments had been permitted to return to their
houses to whitewash them. This step was followed by a rise in the number of cases and by
the occurrence of indigenous plague both in Nagar Town and in Bhingar. The following
week ( 5th—12th November) 5 cases occurred in Nagar and 5 in Bhingar, and all doubt as
to their infection was at an end. The Collector ascribes its origin in each case to the Sadar
Bazar (Cantonments) :—
". . . As far as evidence is procurable, it seems that the infection is traceable to the
exit of people from the Sadar Bazár. One of the first cases was that of a Barber boy living
near the Zenda Gate, who attended the funerals of some refugees from the Sadur Bazár, who
had fallen ill of a fatal disease on their way to the Moglai, which is only some 12 miles
distant. The boy was attacked on his return ; and at about the same time an inhabitant of
the Máliwáda quarter visited a prostitute in the Sadar Bazár during the temporary re-occu-
pation, and on his return died of virulent plague in the Hospital. There seems no doubt
about these facts ; but the conclusion that Bhingar was infected from the Sadar Bazár is
based not only on inherent probability . . . but also on the report of the Bhingar
Plague Mámlatdár, who states that the first case (since an isolated one brought from Kirkee
on September the 16th) was brought by a máli from Cantonments on the 10th November,
the second by a grain-seller, and the third by a Dhangar, all from the Sadar Bazár."
The measures taken on the occurrence of these cases in the City were vigorous and
prompt. Whole blocks of houses, near the houses in which plague had occurred, were
at once emptied and their inmates conveyed to the Sárjapur Dharamsála for disinfection
and segregation. An inspecting staff, specially trained in disinfection work by Major H. W.
Stevenson, I. M. S., was organized for each of the 12 wards of the City. This staff consisted