NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
345
KATHIAWAR AGENCY.
Area
Population in 1891 ."
Density of population
Rainfall ...
••
20,880 sq. miles.
2,752,404.
131 82 per sq. mile.
Average 23 inches.
Boundaries.
Káthiáwár is a square peninsula, standing boldly out into the Arabian Sea, between
the smaller projection of Cutch and the straight line of the
Gujarát coast. Its physical features suggest that it may once
have been an island or a group of islands of volcanic origin. It is bounded on the north-
west by the Gulf of Cutch ; 011 the east by the Gulf of Cambay ; and on the south and south-
west by the Arabian Sea.
Climate and natural features.
Half-way along its northern border stretches a flat desert called the Rann, which in the
rainy season becomes a shallow lake, and in the dry season is
bare of vegetation and studded with deposits of salt. The
climate of the Peninsula is, in general, pleasant and healthy. January, February, and March
are marked by heavy dews and thick fogs. The hot weather months (April to June) are the
healthiest in the year. In September and October the heat of the sun is acutely felt, though
the weather is cloudy.
The west Gohilvád and Hálár is perhaps the pleasantest and healthiest part of the province.
The neighbourhood of the Rann, though hot and dry, is nob specially sickly, the people being
healthy, stout, and good-looking. But the stagnant water and excessive vegetation of the
Nál make it very unhealthy.
The soils of Káthiáwár may be classed under two main heads,—black and red, the red
being considered slightly less valuable than the black. In this District streams abound, ponds
and wells are fairly numerous, and there is much variety in the texture, quality and depth of
the soil.
Previous epidemics.
Kátchiáwár suffered much from the plague, which attacked one or other part of Gujarat,
Káthiáwár, and Cutch for a period of ten years between 1812
and 1821. This plague followed the famine of 1811 and 1812.*
In the beginning of the year 1897, Káthiáwár was again visited with this great scourge.
Káthiáwár.
Population—2,752,404.
First Epidemic.—Plague began in Káthiáwár with two indigenous cases on 7th February
1897 at Wadhwán Civil Station. During the following week
cases occurred at Jodia on the 13th February and 18th
February 1897. Quarantine camps were at once established
and evacuation of infected and adjoining houses begun. The former were established at
Bhávnagar, Verával, Perbandar, and Jodia.
Colonel Kennedy, Administrator, Navánagar State, immediately visited Jodia, and
Mr. O'Connor, Superintendent of Police, Navánagar State, watched events at Khambália.
Colonel J. M. Hunter, C.S.I., Political Agent, Káthiáwár, gives details of the first cases—
" On the 11th instant a man, his wife, and a female child of four years were found suffer-
ing from fever in a public lodging house in the Wadhwán Civil Station. The man had bubonic
* Bombay Gazetteer, Vol VIII.
87
KATHIAWAr.]
349
" The temporary camps in which the Khárwas were accommodated in the month of
June had necessarily scanty accommodation. In that month 1 find that 33 cases of plague
occurred in the camps. In July these people were removed to the spacious camp on the other
side of the creek, when there were 13 seizures only. The inhabitants of the Rathod Falia,
the Darbár Delo and the Panch Hatdi had 113 attacks in August. After the segregation of
the Mahomedans living in these localities, the attacks fell to 13, including those in the camps.
The spread of plague in the town was gradual from the time it first appeared in the
Khárvavad. The new town which is furthest from the Khárvavad was the least affected.
This fact leads to an inference that plague germs do not contaminate the atmosphere where
sanitary arrangements are fairly satisfactory."
Many circumstances, besides the fluctuations in the numbers of cases, rendered the Por-
bandar outbreak remarkable. It began in the hot weather, and continued all through it ;
the first people attacked were mostly females of the Khárwa caste, while for many weeks the
other communities, living beside them in the same crowded localities, remained unscathed.
Rats again had no perceptible connection with it.
" No dead rats were discovered," writes Colonel Hunter, " either before or after the out-
break.''
The epidemic ran a lengthy course in Porbandar, cases occurring up to the middle of
November 1898.
The following statement shows the number of monthly attacks and deaths :—
Month.
May
1898 — 4 weeks ...
June
,, —4 „
July
„ — 5 ,
August
„ —4
,
September ,, — 5
,
October
„ —4
,
November „ —4
,
Total ...
Cases.
44
61
73
137
111
34
5
465
Deaths.
29
38
55
110
84
27
4
356
The operations were carried out by the State officials under the direction of the Adminis-
trator and were very successful. The following remark by Lieutenant-Colonel Snell deserves
mention :—
" Porbandar is one of the few places where plague has indirectly resulted in a benefit to the
State, for, in addition to insanitary places having been cleaned and opened up, Rs. 47,514
have already been paid into the Treasury for land sold to people who wish to leave congested
localities and to live either in the new town or beyond it. There is still a demand for land,
and as it is uncultureable waste, the State is recouping itself for all the expenditure it was
compelled to incur during the past year."
Below are given the numbers for the whole of Káthiáwár, month by month, beginning
with January 1898 :—
Months.
* January 1898
‡ February ,,
March
,
April
,
† May
,
June
,
§ July
,,
Population.
2,752,404
Cases.
12
24
28
7
45
61
114
Deaths.
10
13
16
6
30
38
77
REMArKS.
*All
imported up to 25th
February 1898,
† Only Kutiyána indigenous,
all the rest imported.
‡ From 27th May, Porbandar
only (all indigenous).
§ Includes 19—8, Bantwa
(indigenous).
83
KATHIAWAR.]
351
Agency Surgeon, visited Bantwa about the middle of August and inspected all the arrange-
ments. The weather at this time was most unfavourable. Heavy rains, storms, etc., made
the camps almost uninhabitable, and rendered the drying of clothes impossible.
The cases leapt up from 19—8 (week ending 29th July 1898) to 153—103 (week ending
2nd September 1398). The following week, 9th September, the figures were 247 cases—134
deaths. Colonel Hunter applied for help, and Lieutenant J. K. Condon, 18th B. I., arrived
on the 12th September at Manawadar with Lieutenant R. S. Pottinger, the Pránt Officer,
who had been away on tour for a couple of days.
On the afternoon of that day (12th September 1898) a violent storm passed over the town
and camps, leaving the whole place more or less under water. The condition of the camp
produced a general stampede, which, augmented by a misunderstanding between the Police
and the fugitives, and taken advantage of by a few badmáshes, resulted in an affray, in which
the Police Faujdar and one of the Hospital Assistants were hurt. Several of the townspeople
were said to have been injured, but the truth of this was never discovered. News of this
reached Lieutenants Pottinger aud Condon on their arrival about 6 P.M., and they at once
rode out to Bantwa to see what could be done. A heavy storm was raging at the time, and
the rain was falling in torrents. When they arrived, the town was apparently quite quiet.
They then rode out to the camps. These were indeed a desolate sight. Empty, dilapidated
and bedraggled tents were dotted about two large shallow lakes of water: and huts, blown
down by the wind, lay, masses of sodden débris. Thence they went to the dispensary, where
they found the two injured men and the Nyáyádhish, who gave an unintelligible account of
the affair. The next morning broke clear and bright and saw them early at work. From
this date the ward system, with evacuation and prompt disinfection, were all energetically
recommenced and pushed forward; the fine weather which now set in making the task of
getting the people out of the town gradually easier and easier, and at the end of 10 days
(about 23rd September 1898) some 2,000 were once more out in camp, and more and more
people segregated themselves daily.
On the 23rd September 1898, Khán Sáheb Fazl Ahmed, who had done very good work
in Karáchi, arrived, and the results of his work soon testified to its excellence. The disease
steadily subsided, and by the end of October had practically ceased. The last case occurred
on the 4th November 1898, since which date the town has been free. The figures for this
short but virulent epidemic are as follows:—
Week ending
29th July
1898
5th August
12th " "
19th
26th " "
2nd Sep t "
9th
16th " "
23rd
30th
7th Oct.
14th
21st " "
28th
4th Nov.
Total
Cases.
19
34
42
38
119
153
247
120
75
57
25
3
1
933
Deaths.
8
14
20
22
60
103
134
111
52
40
26
8
1
599
BANTWA TOWN.
Population 8,321
352
[CHAP. XL
Unfortunately, the disease spread from Bantwa to three neighbouring villages, Buri,
Nákra and Kambhála; but they were completely evacuated, and the disease consequently
never got a firm hold on any of them, and died out in a brief space of time.
To return to the Agency generally—
Sardárgadh, a large town, was reported as infected on 17th July 1898, and Saláya on
the 11th August. Dead rats were found previous to the outbreak in the latter place, and the
occurrence of the first cases produced a panic. Lieutenant-Colonel W. P. Kennedy, Admini-
strator, Navánagar State, writes—
" On arrival here with Mr. O'Connor on Saturday last, 13th August, I found the
town almost absolutely deserted, the inhabitants having stealthily at night left the
place through fear during the last few days. Approximately about two-thirds of the
population have distributed themselves in 31 villages of this State, the rest, with the
exception of those remaining in the place, embarked on 20 vessels, and were prepared
to go, but were stopped by the Chief Customs Officer pending my arrival. Out of a
population of 3,273, only some 100 townspeople remain; in addition to these, there are
the State and Government officials and their families. Many of the townspeople have,
left, taking nothing with them and leaving their household property and ornaments and
stores of merchandise behind."
As regards its origin, he says—
" In my opinion the plague was not imported by human beings coming into the
place from infected areas, and that everything points to its inception through ruts
which must have come from some infected port, Bombay, Karáchi, Mándvi (Cutoh),
Porbandar or Beyt, as there is frequent communication by sea between Saláya and these
ports. But so far it is impossible to say to which of these places, one or more, the
mischief is traceable.
" At any rate the plague in Saláya must be classed as indigenous."
But it soon declined, and by the end of October there was very little plague in
the Agency: Khambália alone showing 18—16 out of 39—35. The following table
gives the monthly plague cases and deaths in the State (excluding Bantwa and Porbandar)
from 1st August 1898 to 30th November 1898 :—
Month.
August
1898
September
,, . ,
October
"
November
"
Total ...
Cases.
71
230
254
51
606
Deaths.
49
177
209
33
463
Thereafter plague continued in a slight degree, but no indigenous case has occurred
since the 17th March 1899. The figures, both imported and indigenous, reported from the
beginning of November 1898 to 31st May 1899 are :—
Months.
Goinj
Khakarda
Khambaiia ...
Kambhla ...
Porbandar ...
...
...
Vadatra
Wadhwan ...
...
...
..
...
Other places
Total ...
Cases.
21
17
12
14
11
10
9
41
135*
Deaths.
15
17
12
9
6
8
7
26
100*
* 30—17 imported,
KOLHAPUR.]
355
Period.
August 1898 — 4 weeks
September ,, — 5 ,,
October
„ — 4 ,,
...
. .
November ,, — 4 „
December ,, — 5 ,,
January 1899—4 .,
February
„ —4 „
March
,, — 5 ,, ...
Total ...
KOLHAPUR AND S. M.
COUNTRY STATES.
Cases.
508
2,341
2,879
2,691
2,071
1,013
1,014
580
13,157
Deaths.
381
1,551
2,214
2,033
1,590
772
744
460
9,745
SANGLI STATe.
Oases.
329
1,009
1,036
748
647
386
34]
142
4,638
Deaths.
217
642
803
593
460
286
239
108
3,354
Considering that there were 8 infected States in Kolhápur, it is worthy of notice that
over one-third of the total plague mortality occurred in Sángli, leaving nearly two-thirds to be
accounted for by the remaining seven States.
With regard to the infection of Sángli, Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Wray reports :—
" A railway servant from the Hubli Workshops, where plague was prevalent, came by
train as far as Shedbal, 18 miles from Sángli, walked into a Sángli field, remained there for
the day and went stealthily to the priest's house at night, stayed there a couple of days and
returned to Shedbal. Immediately after his departure his host's wife and son were attacked
with plague and both died. Three other members of the family died also. As for the man
himself, I believe he never had plague at all; so he must have brought it in his clothes."
Infection may, however, not have been due to this man at all, but to some undetected
cause.
Miraj (Sonior) State.
Population—88,343.
Miraj (Senior) was first attacked on 24th January 1897. Infection was due to importa-
tion from Bombay. A few sporadic cases occurred till
September 1898, when the mortality began to rise.
The following are the figures for the epidemic :—
Period.
September 1808 — 5 weeks ...
October
„ — 4 ,
November „ — 4 ,,
December ,, — 5 ,
January 1899—4 ,
February ,, — 4 ,
March
,, — 5 ,
Total ...
Cases
68
269
599
360
192
96
35
1,619
Deaths.
58
235
458
276
133
67
29
1,256
179 cases—127 deaths on 11th November 1898 were the highest recorded during any week
of the epidemic.
Miraj (Junior) State.
Population—35,487.
Miraj (Junior) was slightly infected, reporting only 576 cases—452 deaths for the
three years during plague. It had a slight epidemic from
August to December 1898, as the following figures show:—
Months.
August
1898
September ,,
October
„
November „
Total ,..
Cases.
24
271
123
16
434
Deaths.
19
192
116
13
340
356
[CHAP, XI.
Kurundvád (Senior) State.
Population—43,809.
Kurundvád (Senior) State was free from plague till the 20th December 1897, on which
date one case was imported into Angol from Belgaum. Strict
measures were adopted and the disease did not become
epidemic; only 263 cases—138 deaths being reported during
the 8 months from December 1897 to August 1898, giving a monthly average of 33 cases—17
deaths. But this immunity did not last long, for in the second week in August 1898 the
number of attacks rose from 3 in the week previous to 22. But the epidemic was not very
severe, as the highest weekly figures recorded were 79 cases—49 fatal on the 30th Septem-
ber 1898.
Kurundvád (Junior) State.
Population—32,528.
Kurundvád (Junior) was not infected till January 1898, and then it only reported a few
sporadic cases. However, from July 1898 to January 1899 a
moderate epidemic took place, as the following statement
shows :—
Months.
July
1898
August
September ,
October
"
...
November "
December
,
Total ..
Cases.
101
91
390
429
294
135
1,440
Deaths,
75
65
285
388
236
119
1,168
There were 1,878 cases—1,528 deaths in all in this State between January 1898 and
June 1899.
Jamkhandi State.
Population—102,102.
Jamkhandi State was attacked in the week ending 9th September 1898 and reported
15 cases—2 deaths. The source of infection is unknown, but
is probably due to importation from Sángli or Kurundvád
(Junior), which were both having particularly severe epidemics
at the time.
The epidemic lasted 7 months, and was worst in November 1898, when it gradually began
to subside.
The following statement gives the figures for the epidemic, month by month:—
Months.
September 1898
October "
November
"
December "
January 1899
February
,,
March
,,
Total ...
Cases.
198
120
818
764
237
209
120
3,066
Deaths.
115
451
589
625
197
147
88
2,212
Rámdurg State.
Population—36,181.
The remaining State, Rámdurg, was the last to succumb (December 1898), but up to
May 1899 has only returned 238 cases—179 deaths, or a
weekly average of 14 cases—11 deaths nearly.
KOLHAPUR AND
SOUTHERN MAHRATTA COUNTRY
Chart showing Plague Mortality.
357
PALANPUR STATE.
Area
Population in 1891
Density of population
Rainfall
7,775 sq. miles.
645,526.
83 02 per sq. mile.
Average, 26 inches.
Boundaries.
Situated in the north-west of Grujarát to the east of Cutch, the District is bounded on the
north by Márwár and Sirohi; on the east by the Mahi Kántha ;
on the south by the Gaikwar's territory ; and on the west by
the Runn of Cutch.
Climate and natural features.
The year has four seasons, hot and dry, rainy, hot and moist, and cold. In the hot and dry
season, the heat, even in the Pálanpur territory, is great ; and
in the north towards Márwár, and in the west towards the Runn,
it is intense.
The thermometer rises to 120° in the shade, and the hot winds are so fierce as to keep
even the people of the country from travelling during the daytime. Especially away from the
hills and near the Runn, the rains are slight.
The third season, September, October and November, is very unhealthy. Both Europeans
and natives suffer from fevers of a bad type. November, December, January and February
are pleasant, and for Europeans, healthy, the cold, especially towards the Runn, being at
times very great.
Except in hollows, where it is clay, and near the Runn, where it is mixed with black
earth, the soil in the plain country is sandy.
The District contains no natural lakes, but, especially in Rádhanpur, has many ponds.
Close to the hills the water is very near the surface, but gradually sinks in the sandy
western plains. Towards the Runn, water is specially scarce and blackish, and, in this part
of the District, a scanty rainfall causes the greatest hardship.
Previous epidemics.
In the year 1815-16, the Districts of Rádhanpur, Sami and Munjpur, were visited by
a disease very like plague and so fatal that it carried off about
one-half of the population. The disease appeared under two
forms, one with swellings in the arm-pits and groin, and the other with fever and spitting of
blood. Except when the buboes suppurated and discharged freely, the patient seldom recovered.
No treatment proved of any avail.
Fever is very prevalent from the middle of September to December. *
Plague was introduced in the Pálanpur State by a Jain Bania who went to Pálanpur
Town in February 1897 from Bombay. As the epidemics in the State at large and in the
town comprised separate periods, it is convenient to review them separately.
Pálanpur Town.
Population—21,092.
First Epidemic.—Plague was at first confined to one part of the town and to the Jain
community alone, but it gradually spread and resulted in a
slight epidemic during March and April 1897. On the 2nd of
April, Captain H. F. Cleveland, I. M. S., arrived on special duty, and on the same day Dr. J.
A. Lowson visited Pálanpur. The measures taken under their direction resulted in the rapid
*Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. V,
60
P ALANPUR.]
361
introduction of the lists rendered this work comparatively easy. The names of absentees
were given to the village Patel with instructions to detain them under observation for ten
days outside the village.
Out of 53 villages, 5 only were re-attacked after re-occupation. In two cases the
villages were found to have been very imperfectly cleaned, dirty rags, etc., being found in
many of the houses. It is most probable that the site was still infected when the villagers
returned. In two villages, though indigenous cases occurred, the first cases were imported.
These villages were then partially evacuated and cleaned, and no further cases occurred.
In one village the villagers themselves were infected and had concealed their cases in order
to be allowed to re-occupy their village. This village and one of the two badly cleaned
villages were again completely evacuated and thoroughly disinfected: the other village was
only partially emptied and cleaned. In none of the five villages was re-occupation followed
by a further recurrence of plague.
A curious feature of the epidemic in this State was the small number of dead rats
observed. In the town it was quite exceptional to find them, even when disinfection was
being carried out ; and 3 was the largest number ever found in one house. In the first few
villages infected, no previous hi story of rat-infection could be obtained and very few rats
were found. In those infected later, dead rats were found, and 9 villages were evacuated
on this account alone, This step was afterwards justified, as cases actually occurred in all
these villages.
The following table compares the results in the town and the villages:—
Pálanpur Town
Total villages, excluding
Pálanpur
Villages not imme-
diately evacuated
Villages
immediately
evacuated ...
Population.
21,092
57,934
36,031
21,633
Cases.
674
953
616
337
Deaths.
418
656
454
202
Mortality
per cent.
61 2
66 8
73 7
59 9
Case inci-
dence per
mille.
31 9
15 5
16 0
15 0
Average.
duration
(first to last
case in days).
1 53
31 3
46 6
14 1
Number of
Villages.
1
53
22
31
The number of cases and deaths, month by month, was as follows :—
Month.
August
1897 — 4 weeks
September ,, — 4 ,,
October ,, — 5
,,
November ,, — 4 ,,
December ,, — 5 ,,
January 1898—4
,,
February ,, — 4
,,
March
,,
—4
,,
April
,,
—5 ,,
Total ...
PALANPUR STATE (excluding
Palanpur Town).
Cases.
...
23
167
293
210
108
127
25
953
Deaths.
...
16
110
219
130
79
82
20
656
PALANPUR TOWN.
Cases.
31
251
295
84
6
3
(5
1
...
674
Deaths.
17
151
182
60
1
1
1
...
...
413
91
362
[CHAP. XI.
From the end of April 1898 plague ceased, and the State was free from it till the end
of September 1898. There has fortunately been no third epidemic. Towards the end of
September 1898, the village of Dantiwada, 14 miles from Pálanpur Town, was infected by
a Baroda village, and 18 cases and 7 deaths were reported in the first week (22nd—29th
September). Prompt evacuation was resorted to, and, as a result, plague died out here in
two weeks, after 25 cases and 16 deaths in all had been returned. Some more villages were
attacked in February and March 1899, but the number of cases reported is not large. The
last case reported was in the week ending 14th April 1899.
Since the end of May 1899 the Pàlanpur State has enjoyed exceptional immunity
from, the disease, for, save for one fatal imported case returned for the week ending 23rd
June 1899, there has been absolutely no plague there up to time o£ writing (September 1899).