14
[CHAP. I., ΡT. II.
As the report of this Committee is given in full in Chapter II. (Medical Aspects of Plague),
and its constitution is mentioned both in that Chapter and in Chapter III., Part I., Rise of the
Plague Laboratory, it is unnecessary to say more here than that the Laboratory itself was
merely a branch of this Committee, and that since its report issued, little, if any, real progress
has been made in the medical knowledge and treatment of the disease.
At first on historical grounds, and later because of its marked success when tried, Eva-
cuation, where feasible, became the chief plague measure. It is sufficient to say here that this
measure, when prompt and thorough, met with very general success ; but its advantages and
drawbacks are fully discussed in a subsequent note, and it is widely mentioned in the plague
histories of Districts. The next most universal but not so generally successful measure was
that of Disinfection ; concerning which for many reasons there is little that is satisfactory to
say. Several powerful Disinfectants have been used in different places during different
epidemics : chief amongst these may be mentioned Corrosive Sublimate (perchloride of
mercury), Carbolic Acid, Lysol, Phenyle. The first of these would appear to be of little value
in inexperienced hands ; and its use is now confined to skilled persons.
The results of Disinfection are inconclusive, and there is perhaps no portion of plague
work the records of which are more meagre and less reliable. An attempt was indeed made
to collate the results which had been obtained all over the Presidency. Returns were called
for in which the exact action taken in regard to each infected house was detailed under certain
heads. These returns were sent to the Laboratory, where an endeavour was made to arrive at
such conclusions and to draw such deductions from them as seemed permissible. Owing,
however, in some cases to paucity of detail, in others to unreliability of record, and in yet
others to want of information, no definite results, either good or bad, could be arrived at.
This measure has for the above reasons not been separately treated in a note.
Among minor measures the isolation of the plague-stricken, the segregation of contacts,
the disinfection of clothes and persons at Camps and Railway stations, certificates of death
previous to disposal of bodies, and search parties for the discovery of cases may be noticed.
Of these, death certificates and search parties (except in Bombay and Poona City) have been
largely abandoned ; their utility being incommensurate with their drawbacks and general
ondesirability, except in very large places.
In the preface, allusion has been made to the good results of which the plague has been,
either directly or indirectly, the cause. The stringency and severity of most of the plague
measures at one time or another introduced, will tend to render the people less sensitive to
minor measures which Government may find it necessary from time to time to enforce on
other grounds. The devoted labour of so many, voluntarily given to combat the pestilence,
has undoubtedly done much to prove to the masses that their sufferings and hardships are
both realized and sympathized with : and the close relations between the different races
entailed by disinfection, search parties, etc., etc., have, as undoubtedly, thrown down many
a barrier of caste and prejudice—destroyed many a misunderstanding of long existence.
Apart, however, from the ethical good which has indirectly accrued from this visitation,
material improvements can be pointed to, which make for both the health and the comfort of
the large mass of people. Sanitation has been vigorously carried on, as perhaps never before ;
and houses unfit for habitation have been razed to the ground.
Nothing endurable can be raised in a day : and seed time and harvest are separated by
a time of development and growth. The consideration for, and sympathy with, the people
ßhown by officials and non-officials alike, the generous grant of Discretional Relief, the