NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
BELGAUM DISTRICT.]
273
The following statement compares the figures for Belgaum Town with the rest of the
District :—
Week ending
3rd December
10th
„
17th „
24th „
31st „
7th January
14th „
21st „
28th
„
4th February
11th „
18th
„
25th „
1897
1898
Total
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
···
...
...
BELGAUM TOWN.
Oases.
10
9
13
31
36
56
69
52
38
26
10
11
9
370
Deaths.
10
7
9
25
35
60
54
47
28
26
8
6
11
326
OTHER PLACES.
Oases.
90
49
62
36
47
37
45
25
43
23
59
56
75
647
Deaths.
75
50
44
38
42
31
39
22
43
14
56
43
67
564
Jngal.
Population -2,589.
Jugál village was infected from Kágvád by a woman who returned sick after visiting
a plague-stricken relation. She died on the 21st November
1897, within two days after her return. The village officers
state that they did not know that she had been to Kágvád or
that it was a case of plague. The total number of cases and deaths for this epidemic was
121—106, respectively. All the measures of suppression and control adopted at Kágvád were
adopted at Jugál also.
Of segregated people becoming re-infected after visiting their houses in the village, the
Deputy Collector writes as follows :—
" At Jugál we did not wait for evacuation until the occurrence of a suspicious case in
the street. The entire village was evacuated before the 16th January 1898.
"Up to this time 32 cases had occurred, 6 in the village site before discovery of plague,
9 in the segregation camp, 15 in the fields, and 2 in such part of the village site as had not
been evacuated. The residents of an infected house and of adjoining houses were taken to
the segregation camp, and the rest were permitted to go to their fields. From the 18th to
26th January 1898 there was no case. Five cases, however, occurred at once on the 27th,
and they began to occur again almost every day until the Gth of February, when they
stopped again for a few days. I have not been able to ascertain the cause with certainty,
but I have strong suspicions that the fresh cases were due to the return to houses and the
opening of grain pits during my illness, when on the 26th January 1898 I proceeded to
Kudchi for medical advice.
" On the 10th of February, on account of the storm, which was even worse than at
Kágvád, the people were allowed to return to their houses and live in verandahs. They
were turned out as soon as the ground became dry and the huts habitable. But even the
short sojourn of three or four days was disastrous. We had a severe recrudescence."
Khànàpur.
Populatίon—4,918.
The first indigenous plague cases in Khánápur, which were identified as such, occurred
on the 10th January 1898.
Five days previous to this
a number of rats and mice had been found dead in a house, the
floor of which was being dug out and relaid in preparation for
a marriage ceremony. The inmates of this · house had thereupon been ordered to quit the
village. On the same day, an imported case of .plague was discovered, the patient being
69
275
BLGAUM DISTRICT.]
No details can be given for this second epidemic, as no report has been received for the
period June 1898—June 1899 for Belgamn District : but the following statement shows how,
from July 1898, the figures rose steadily and rapidly, subsiding again in March 1899 in the
District, and in December 1898 in the Town :—
Month.
June
1898
July
August
September
October
November
December
January 1899
February
March
...
...
...
Total
...
...
DISTRICT.
—
Gases.
198
1,164
2,020
4,408
6,564
4,628
2,242
786
837
538
23,385
Deaths.
146
849
1,485
3,114
4,879
3,579
1,794
614
675
428
17,563
BELGAUM,
Cases.
6
36
80
869
1,227
409
85
16
15
23
2,766
Deaths.
2
27
69
628
939
290
77
12
15
18
2,077
Since the 2nd of June 1899, this District has suffered from a third epidemic of plague,
which, though not so severe as the one preceding it, carried off no less than 10,634 people in
the period lapsing between June and November 1899. This epidemic, however, lies outside
the scope of the present review, although for the sake of interest and completeness the figures
are given below. Unlike the second, this epidemic gradually increased in virulence until it
reached its highest point in the second week in October (953 cases—661 deaths), subsiding as
gradually as it rose. The following are the monthly figures :—
Month.
June
July
August
September
October
November
1899
„
„
,,
,,
„
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Cases.
714
1,930
2,773
3,843
3,485
1,935
14,680
Deaths.
459
1,370
2,211
2,697
2,448
1,449
10,634
BELGAUM,
Population 27,952.
Chart showing Plague Mortality.
HUBLI
Population 52,595.
Chart showing Plague Mortality.
278
[CHAP. IX.
Kaladgi.
Population—4,622.
First Epidemic (February-March 1898).—Occasional attacks of fever unaccompanied
by buboes occurred as far back as December 1897, and raised
the total mortality of the village. But these were not
considered in any way extraordinary or exceptional. On the 23rd February 1898 the first
case of true plague was recognized, and by the 25th of that month 8 cases (5 fatal) had
-occurred.
The village was at once evacuated, and the infected houses disinfected with
perchloride solution: these steps being taken under the superintendence of Mr. J. L.
Lushington, Superintendent of Land Records and Agriculture. Only the portion known as
the " Laskar " quarter of the village was infected, and, the village being vacated, the in-
fection did not spread to any other quarter. Mr. J. L. Lushiugton comments as follows on
this little outbreak :—
" As regards our one outbreak in Kaladgi, we learnt that evacuation of houses promptly
was the best method of prevention: infection to those living in the Jields did not exteud
beyond 10 days after evacuation ; and in two cases people returning to sleep in their houses
were infected by plague and died. The people were kept in their fields over two months,
and no cases have occurred since re-occupations."
indeed, from the 4th March 1898, the outbreak was over; the figures being—
Week ending
25th February 1898
...
...
4th March
11th
„
18th
„
25th
„
1st April
„
„
„
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Cabes.
8
12
1
1
1
1
Deaths.
5
11
1
...
1
...
rEMArKS.
Evacuation complete about
27th February.
In the rest of the District meanwhile all was well ; and from the beginning of
April 1898 to the middle of September 1898—nearly 6 months—no plague of any kind
was reported.
Hkal Town.
Population—11,895.
Second Epidemic.—After the above outbreak at Kaladgi had subsided, no more
is heard of plague in the Bijápur District till the middle of
September 1898, when the town of Ilkal was attacked and
suffered from a short but rallier severe epidemic. 18 cases—10 deaths were reported as
having occurred during the week ending the 23rd September, the first cases being
discovered on the 17th of that mouth; but it is probable that the infection was introduced
some time previously, and that undetected cases occurred during the interval. This will
be seen from the Collector's report :—
"The outbreak at Ilkal, which occurred on the 17th September 1898, appears to have
resulted from an imported case from Hubli. A Márwádi, who had arrived from Hubli, was
under medical surveillance at Guledgud, but escaped to Ilkal and died there on the 81st
July 1898 in a house in Settar Peth. On the 19th and 20th August two persons died in
the same house. Since that there were some suspicious deaths in the same street, but
these were not recognized as plague till the 17th September. There was no previous
outbreak in the village."
Evacuation was begun by the beginning of October and the Spence Committee rules
were applied to the Town. Circle Inspectors were appointed to watch the Dhárwár Frontier,
the police being withdrawn. Dr. J. Thomson) English Doctor, was'placed in charge of the
BIJAPUR DISTRICT.]
279
measures at Ilkal, and lost no time in introducing inoculation. Nevertheless, the number
attacked increased rapidly up to the 21st October; and during the week ending with that date
there were 88 cases—75 deaths.
During the previous week the village of Gorubál had been attacked, and the infection
gradually spread over the District.
Meanwhile in Ilkal the disinfection and ventilation of houses was energetically pushed
on. Inoculation, too, made good progress: 7,677 people ultimately availing themselves of its
protection. The steps taken soon bore fruit; for, from the 21st October, the epidemic declined
as rapidly as it had grown. Below are given the weekly plague figures:—
Week ending
23rd September 1898
30th
"
"
7th October
"
14th
"
"
21st
"
"
28th
"
"
4th November "
11th
"
"
18th
"
"
Total ..
ILKAL TOWN.
Population—11,895.
Cases.†
18
13
31
70
88
32
21
4
7
284
Deaths.
10
11
25
60
75
29
17
5
6
238
† All indigenous.
ILKAL
Population 11,895
The sudden drop in the rapidly rising figures, and the total cessation of plague in
Ilkal, after such a brief period, bear eloquent testimony to the success attained by the
prompt enforcement of the measures mentioned: and on the 28th October the Collector
writes:—
"The town has been entirely evacuated, the only exceptions made being in the case of
inoculated families, who show satisfactory immunity. The work of ventilating and disinfect-
ing the houses is energetically proceeded with. During my visit last week I was quite satis-
fied with the thoroughness of the measures taken by Dr. Thomson."
Bijápur District.
The District, as has been stated, was infected during the first week of October 1898.
The first villages attacked were Gorubál (population. 624) and
Kodihál (population, 1,056). The former was completely
evacuated under the superintendence of Dr. J. Thomson, whose head-quarters were Ilkal.
The Collector reports on the 28th October of the other village:—
281
BIJAPÜK DISTRICT.]
Week ending
14th October 1898
21st
28th
4th November ...
11th „ „
18th ,, ,,
25th ,, ,,
2nd December ...
9th „ „
16th „ „
23rd „ „
30th „ „
Total
...
...
...
Add — Imported plague
Grand Tota...
INDIGENOUS.
Cases.
11
12
20
37
70
43
94
166
149
122
114
141
979
31
1,010
Deaths.
6
2
4
45
53
39
57
127
127
101
88
104
753
26
779
Number of
villages
infected.
1
1
2
5
8
6
8
13
15
15
15
20
109
The year 1899 began badly, with 23 infected villages and a total of 172 cases—
134 deaths for the first week. On the 10th January, the Collector and the District Super-
intendent of Police visited Kamatgi, where they met Lieut. Boss, the Mámlatdárs of
Hungund, Bádámi and Bágalkot, the subordinate Plague staff and the Guledgud Municipal
officers : and lines of concerted action to be taken in the three Tálukas (Bágalkot, Hungund,
and Bádámi) were settled. " I have arranged to place a sufficient number of subordinates
under Lieut. Ross," writes the Collector, " to enable him to have each infected village
specially watched, together with the adjoining villages which have been, or might here-
after be, evacuated in advance. The total number of villages to be so treated is 54 in the
Hungund Taluka. The manner in which the additional police shall be utilized was also
settled. I sincerely hope that in this manner it will be possible to stamp out plague from
the Hungund Táluka and the District generally by the end of February, when the cold
weather will also terminate."
During the next two weeks the figures fell rapidly: —
Week ending
6th January 1899
13th „
,,
20th ,, ,,
...
...
IMPORTED.
Cases
1
...
...
Deaths.
1
...
INDIGENOUS.
Cases.
172
92
59
Deaths,
134
89
48
But the week after (20fch—27th January) they rose again to 137 cases—107 deaths, and
though from that time plague steadily subsided, yet the subsidence was more gradual. Of
these 117 cases—107 deaths, the village of Bágewádi returned no less than 34 cases—
33 deaths, or nearly a third, although over 20 villages were reporting plague.
71
282
[CHAP. IX.
Inoculation was now introduced at Guledgud and Hungund as a preventive
measure, while steadily progressing at Ilkal and Amingad. Unfortunately the supply of
serum was insufficient at this time to meet the demand.
Plague now slowly but steadily declined, the chief cause of anxiety being the
continued infection of fresh villages throughout the District. Evacuation was promptly
enforced in each case with the happiest results ; but no sooner did it set free one village
than others were attacked. This will be clearly seen from the following statement :—
Duration of Epidemic.
From the middle of September 1898
to
the end of May 1899.
Largest number of
villages infected at
one time.
23
Week
ending
13th January
1899.)
Total
number of
different
villages
attacked.
57
Inoculation meanwhile steadily progressed under Dr. Thomson and Assistant Surgeon
Redkar. The total number of inoculations performed in the district up to the end of May
1899 are—
Ilkal
Amingad
Guledgud
Hungund
Talihal
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
7,677
5,066
1,597
4,917
142
19,399
The total number of cases for Bijapur District and for Ilkal Town, month by month,
are given below :—
Months
September 1898
October
November
December
January 1899
February
March
April
May
Total of Epidemic, 1898-99 ...
BIJAPUR DISTRICT
(excluding Ilkal Town).
Population — 784,444.
Cases.
1
48
255
701
459
322
159
41
14
2,000
Deaths.
1
16
201
553
372
292
134
37
3
1,619
ILKAL TOWN.
Population — 11,895.
Cases.
31
221
32
284
Deaths.
2]
189
28
...
...
...
238
Since May 1899, there has been some plague in the Bijápur District. The month
of June was practically free ; but an epidemic began in the beginning of July which
reached the number of 150 cases—121 deaths in the week ending 8th September. The
total figures from the 2nd June up to the 15th September 1899 were 842 cases—669 deaths.
286
[CHAP. IX.
of October practically the entire population had availed themselves of its protection : no,
effort being spared to increase its popularity.
Unfortunately, the pestilence had wrought its havoc before inoculation could pre-
vent it. From the 1st of July 1898 the disease, discarding the restraints placed upon it,
assumed epidemic form. In that month the attacks rose from 38 (week ending 1st
July) to 169 (week ending 29th July), and from this again in four great strides they
reached the climax of 515 (week ending 26th August), from which time the disease began
to subside.
The weekly figures were as follows :—
W
1st July 1898
8th „
„
15th „
„
22nd „ ,,
29th „
„
5th Aug. „
12th „ ,,
19th „ ,,
26th „
,,
2nd Sept. ,,
9th „ ,,
16th „ ,,
23rd „ ,,
30th „ ,,
7th Oct. „
14th „
„
21st ,,
28th „
„
eek endi
...
ng
...
...
Totals
...
...
Oases.
38
61
75
110
169
209
390
472
515
422
327
202
134
74
56
34
17
8
3,324
Deaths.
26
53
54
92
137
172
323
429
425
342
282
175
117
57
54
36
17
8
2,808
Inooulation
Total,
9,443
11,746
14,269
16,970
21,824
23,727
28,831
31,641
34,248
35,382
37,163
37,760
38,633
39,174
39,589
40,112
40,417
40,604
40,604
The following table shows the total number of inoculated with the total numbers of
cases and deaths that occurred amongst them : full details are given in Captain B. F. H.
Leumann's report, published in accordance with Government Resolution No. 786-p of the
2nd February 1899 :—
Total
once in-
oculated.
5,661
Total
twice in-
oculated.
38,665
Total inocu-
lated (once
and twice).
44,326
Total
cases.
488
Total
deaths.
372
Three points call for especial notice—
(i.) Immunity of inoculated persons : and increasing death-rate amongst non-
inoculated people.
(ii.) The spread of infection from Hubli.
(iii.) Rats.
287
DHARWAR DISTRICT.]
(i.) The following statement, based on the Collector's weekly reports, may be
interesting :—
Week ending
19th August
1898
2nd September
„
9th ,, ,,
···
...
Inoculated.
32,000
37,196
36,795
Uninocu-
lated.
8,500
1,014
1,587
Attacks
among the
inoculated.
69
32
47
Attacks among
the uninocu-
lated.
417
393
261
The rate of
attacks per
mille per week
among the
inoculated.
•2
•9
1.33
The rate of
attacks per
mille per week
among the
uninoculated.
490
387
216
(ii.) The infection did not spread from Hubli till August 1898, thanks to the Collector's
excellent measures and to the cordial assistance of the Railway authorities. But once started,
it spread with amazing rapidity. Dhárwár caught the disease on 9th August; since which
time it has raged with terrible violence throughout the District.
The following gives a general idea of the spread of the infection :—
Hubli was infected, October 17th, 1897.
No spread till August 1898, when in the successive weeks—
August 12th—there were 4 places attacked,
„
19th— ,,
„ 26th- „
until on —
November 18th — „
8
15
138
,,
,,
,,
in the Dhárwár District.
It is interesting to compare this dissemination with that in the Belgaum District,
where it was much slower.
Belgaum was first infected on the 29th November 1897.
The infection did not spread to more than one or two villages till the—
11th February 1898, when 8 villages in all were infected.
On the—
18th March 1898 there were 14 places in all infected.
The disease then remained stationary for a month or two; and it was not until the—
8th July 1898 that 18 places were infected.
On the—
16th September 1898 there were 47 places infected.
On the—
25th November 1898 there were 55 places infected.
(iii.) The connection of rats with this epidemic has apparently never been traced.
The following is the Collector's note on the subject :—
"It has been decided to offer a reward for rats caught or killed in the town. For
some months past there has been no history of rats in connection with the spread of the
disease, and as this important point seemed to have been lost sight of, I have had special
enquiries made recently, but without result. Infected rats were a prominent symptom
throughout the operations in the Railway chawls, and it is curious that they cannot be
traced in the town."
This is the more curious as almost every epidemic on a large scale has been preceded
by an abnormal mortality among rats. A strict investigation was made to clear up this
point, but without result.
288
[CHAP. IX.
A few imported cases excepted, Hubli Town has been free from plague since December
1898. The total numbers of cases and deaths from the beginning of the epidemic to the
2nd June 1899 are as follows :—
From 17th October 1897 to
2nd June 1899.
Hubli Town (Population— 52,595)
IMPOR TED.
INDIGENOUS.
To ΓAL
Cases.
84
Deaths.
68
Cases.
3,495
Deaths.
2,963
Cases.
3,579
Deaths.
3,031
On the 1 5th of July 1898, His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by the Plague
Commissioner, visited Hubli, inspected all the arrangements, and received an address from
the Municipality.
Dhárwár Town.
Population—32,841.
Dhárwár Town had long been menaced before it was attacked. Imported cases occurred
as early as November 1897 in the Observation Camp
which was in the charge of Mr. L. C. Crump, I. C. S. These
came from Belgaum Cantonment. As cases were occurring at
Hubli, and it was feared that Dhárwár might be attacked, Mr. E. L. Cappel, I.C.S., the
Collector, introduced a general scheme organizing the health, operations for the town ;
appointed ordinary and special plague authorities; divided the town into wards, each in
charge of a Supervisor ; and ordered the keeping of a Census Register. Doubtless, it was
partly due to these precautions and this vigilance that Dhárwár escaped so long ; but
whatever the cause, for the next seven months Dhárwár remained undisturbed by plague of
any kind. One solitary imported case (from Belgaum) was indeed reported in April 1898.
But the sudden onset of plague in Hubli left little hope of Dhárwár's ultimate escape :
for, from June 1898, imported cases occurred with increasing frequency : and at length, in
August 1898, Dhárwár fell. With the fall of Dhárwár, anxiety for the rest of the District
was doubled : for, with Hubli and Dhárwár both badly infected, the District was seriously
threatened ; and subsequent events proved this anxiety to be only too well grounded.
In Dhárwár, plague broke out first as in Belgaum, in a quarter inhabited by low and
dirty classes, such as the 'Kakars,' 'Kasais' and 'Waddars.' The evacuation of this quarter
undoubtedly checked the progress of the disease, but there were signs that it had also
invaded other parts of the town ; and a serious epidemic had at last to be faced. As in
Hubli, so in Dhárwár, inoculation was energetically pushed : and, although the entire
population were not inoculated, more than half the inhabitants availed themselves of its
protection. On the 6th January 1899, the progress and results of inoculation were as
follows :—
Once inoculated
Twice inoculated
Uninoculated*
...
...
...
...
Numbers.
1,907
9,978
Varying
Total cases.
141
λ 1
41
1,190
Total deaths.
55
21
929
* Of these 1, 256 were specially exempted on account of age, sickness, etc.
Note.—Over 17,000 inoculations had been performed at this date in Dhárwár Town : but only the above
proportion of the inoculated remained in the town.
DHARWAR DISTRICT.] 289
The figures rose rapidly; while at the same time an exodus began which ultimately
diminished the population by nearly 30,000.
The following statement shows the gradual rise of the plague and the exodus:—
Week ending
August 26th,
1898
September 2nd
"
"
9th
"
" 16th "
"
23rd "
"
30th "
October 7th "
"
14th
"
" 21st "
" 28th
"
November 4th "
"
14th
"
"
18th
"
Average population throughout the
epidemic
Actual population,
week
by week,
during the
epidemic.
35,552
33,753
33,039
32,619
30,262
30,000
Census
b e i n g
taken.
12,172
1,1402
10,163
9,720
9,850
10,081
21,551
Population
by Census of
1891.
32,841
32,841
Cases.
23
40
55
102
118
128
185
167
75
122
64
32
12
1,223
Deaths.
19
39
46
96
81
85
156
133
124
89
42
22
6
938
DHARWAR TOWN
Population 32,841
73
290
[CHAP. IX.
The actual percentages of attacks and deaths were, therefore, 5.5 and 4.3 on the popula-
tion. The experience gained at Hubli was fully utilized in Dhárwár : Plague Hospitals
were built and set apart : Camps were established : inoculation was vigorously introduced :
evacuation was ultimately almost complete : the disinfection of houses was prompt and
through. The great demand for timber and building materials was met by an arrangment
made with the Forest Department for the direct retail supply of timber to applicants at
reduced rates : a depôt was opened : and the remission of the royalty fee was much
appreciated by the people.
A Plague Relief Fund was also started for those in distress from the ravages of
plague.
Details of the inoculation measures are given in Government' Resolution No. 5331/6923-P
dated 19th October 1898.
The Plague Staff at Dháwár was distributed as follows :—
Mnjor T. H. Hardy, I. S.O., Superintendent, Plague Operations.
Dr. (Miss) A. M. Corthorn, in charge of Inoculation, work.
Dr. R. Hornabrook, in charge of Inoculation work and Plague Hospital, Dhárwár.
Miss M.
Murphy,
Lady
Nurses, Plague Hospital; Dhárwár.
,,
E.Riley,
The following table shows the number of cases and deaths in Dhárwár Town, month by
month, from August 189S to February 1899 :—
Month.
August
1898
September ,,
October
,,
November
,,
December
,,
January
1899
February
,,
...
...
...
...
...
......
...
Total
...
......
...
...
...
IMPORTED.
Cases.
4
...
]
3
7
01
22
Deaths.
5
...
1
...
4
3
I
14
INDIGENOUS.
Cases.
3 6
443
649
126
23
4
1
1,282
Deaths.
27
347
502
79
17
3
1
976
Dhárwár Jail.
Towards the middle of October 1998, a slight outbreak occurred among the inmates of
the Dhárwár Jail, who then numbered 304. The first
attack was on the 19th October, and being promptly dis-
covered was prevented from communicating infection. But on the 24th, a new arrival, who
was kept under observation before admission, developed plague and a prisoner was attacked
on the following day. Thereupon Major Corkery prevailed on the inmates to get themselves
inoculated, and the operation was completed by the 6th November. In the meanwhile three
cases occurred on the 28th October, 3rd November, and 6th November, one of the cases
being that of a prisoner iuoculated two days before attack. He recovered, while the other
two died, and there were no further cases.
Gadag.
Population—23,899.
Gadag, the third town in which inoculation was successfully tried, was attacked in Nov-
ember 1898. A few imported cases had previously occurred
(July, August, and October 1898) before indigenous plague
was discovered towards the end of October 1898. Up to the