THIRD PERIOD.]
5
So far the outlook was hopeful, but only so far. In some places, contrary to the
experience of the first year, fresh epidemics were actually beginning or the figures were
actually rising. This was the case in Bhiwndi Town and Belgaum Town and District; in
Porebuuder and Bantwa Towns in Kathiawar; in Mandvi Town, in Cutch ; and in the
Bhor and Sachin States.
But it was in the least expected quarters that the heaviest blows were to fall. Up
to this time the Ahmedabad, Bijapur, Broach, Dharwar, Kaira, Kanara and Panch Mahals
Districts, the Jath State, Thar and Park'ar in Sind, and the Upper Sind frontier had prac-
tically escaped unscathed. During the year now under review six out of these fortunate tea
fell. In June Dharwar, in July Broach, in September Bijapur and Kaira, in October Panch
Mahals, in December Kanara, were numbered amongst the infected.
Dharwar excepted, however, none of these newly-infected Districts suffered with peculiar
severity : but upon the Dharwar District plague laid a heavy hand. In 8 months—from
July 1898 to April 1899—this ill-fated District paid a death-tribute of over 30,000 lives to
plague, a mortality greater than the entire plague mortality of the whole Presidency during
the first period, as will be seen from the following figures :—
Dharwar District.
Cases.
Deaths.
July 1898 to March 1899
...
....
....
37,805
30,687
Bombay Presidency.
September 1896 to June 1897
...
...
....
35,434
28,737
It was to be expected that, as was the case during the second year, even in those places
which had shaken themselves free from it, plague should re-appear during the third
year. This indeed occurred. In Surat. District, after a mild epidemic which lasted till
November 1898, plague re-appeared in January 1899, though in a mild form, for the weekly
figures never reached 100. In the Thana District after a slight lull during May and June it
burst out with great virulence in Bhiwndi Town during July, August, and September
1898; and after another slight subsidence which lasted during October, November,
and December 1898, it re-appeared in epidemic form throughout the District in January
1899 ; and for 17 weeks the figures returned from this District exceeded 100 weekly.
Ahmednagar, though never seriously affected, continued to have sporadic cases from October
1898 to April 1899. The Khandesh District was re-infected in December 1898, and recorded
a mild epidemic which lasted till April 1899. The Nasik District was re-infected in August
1898, and has suffered continuously since. The Poona District, never quite free, recorded a
rise in August, which lasted till the end of November 1898 ; it, too, was never again quite
free. The Satara District, since its first infection in July 1897, has never since been free
from plague, and from August 1898 to March 1899 suffered from an epidemic of considerable
severity; the highest weekly figures being 903 cases and 712 deaths (week ending 4th
November 1898); and for 8 months in succession (August 1898 to March 1899 inclusive)
returned an average of 250 cases weekly.
The Sholapur District, after being free during May, June, and July 1898, was re-infected
in August of that year, and recorded a mild epidemic which lasted till March 1899. The
Belgaum District, which saw its first infection in November 1897 and has never since been free
from plague, recorded an epidemic of great severity from August 1898 to January 1899 ;
the highest weekly figures being 1,777 cases and 1,303 deaths during the week ending 14th
October 1898 ; every town of importance being badly affected. The Kolaba District
remained practically free from May to December 1898; but in December the figures