NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
326
[CHAP. X.
President—Major-General T. A. Cooke, Commanding Sind District.
Mr. R. Giles, Collector.
Members— Captain H. C. L. Arnim, Deputy Sanitary Commissioner.
Mr. J. Strachan, Municipal Engineer.
General Cooke at once threw himself energetically into the work, and on the 25th March the
first Military search party went out. All apprehension was soon allayed as to the result, for
from first to last not a complaint was ever preferred.
A slight decrease from February's figures was observable in March, and from the
middle of April the epidemic rapidly subsided.
The following are the plague figures, week by week, in Karáchi:—
Plague Deaths.
Week ending 10th Dec. 1896 ...
,,
17th
"
"
...
„
24th „
„
,,
31st
"
"
...
„
7th Jan. 1897 ...
„
14th „
,,
,,
21st
,,
,,
. .
,, 28th „
„
,, 4th Feb. „
„
11th
„
„
,, 18th „
„
,, 25th „
„
4th Mar. „
„
11th
,,
,,
„
18th „
„
1
9
21
28
103
159
200
181
295
262
239
217
197
207
189
Plague Deaths
Week ending 25th Mar. 1897 ...
,, 1st April „ ...
,, 8th „
„ ...
,, 15th „
„ ...
,, 22nd „
, ...
,, 29th „ ,,
6th May
,, 13th „ ,,
,, 20th „ ,,
,, 27th „ ,,
3rd June
,, 10th „ ,,
,, 17th „ ,,
,, 24th „ ,,
188
192
172
115
127
86
65
52
23
20
29
7
1
2
Karáchi District.
In the Karáchi District itself, outside of the City, only 238 cases and 178 deaths from
. plague occurred in all. Of these, only 53 and 41 were local cases
and deaths. The disease only took root in Tatta, with which its
Railway Station Jungshahi must be included, and in Kotri. Tatta
is a town of about 10,000 inhabitants, about 13 miles from Jungshahi. It is a favourite
resort of the upper classes of Karachi, and is on the main route to Cutch. From the middle
of December to the week ending the 19th February, 31 cases and 21 deaths, all imported,
had occurred in Tatta. The influx then appears to have ceased, and no more deaths were
reported till plague broke out locally in the week ending the 26th March. Thereafter the
outbreak was local, and practically ceased early in May.
Karachi City.
Second Epidemic (April 1898—August 1898).—The cause of the second outbreak is
obscure. Karachi was declared free from August 1897. On
the 28th March 1898 a case occurred, and on the 31st another.
But the City was prepared. The former Plague Committee, with General Cooke at its head,
had never been dissolved, aud immediately set itself to organize measures to combat the
disease. The measures in force during the second epidemic differed in two essential, and
several minor, respects from those which had been employed during the first : (1) Widely
extended compulsory evacuation ; (2) An improved system of voluntary evacuation, known
as " voluntary camps." Inoculation on a small scale, disinfection under English Medical
officers, &c., were amongst the minor contrasts. The Plague Committee was composed of—
President—Major-General T. A. Cooke, Commanding Sind District.
Mr. E. Giles, Acting Commissioner in Sind.
Members—
Lieut.-Colonel J. McCloghry, I. M. S., Civil Surgeon.
Mr. J. F. Brunton, Acting Secretary and Engineer to the Municipality.
KARACHI DISTRICT.]
327
The first measure was the organization of Superintendents (with staff for each). Passes
were introduced which were at first given to persons living in uninfected portions of the
town, but were afterwards restricted to persons who had completed ten days' residence in the
Malir Camp.
(1) Inoculation.—This was begun on the 13th of April 1898, land extended over
3 months, the last operation being performed on the 19th July 1898. The total number
of inoculations was 6,106 ; 3,911 being males and 2,195 females. The results up to the 25th
August were as follows:—Among the 287 twice-inoculated neither case nor death occurred.
Among the 5,819 once-inoculated there were 44 cases and 25 deaths, of which 14 cases, 10
deaths occurred within ten days of the operation.
(2) Structural improvements.—A large number of structural improvements, carried out
by the influence of the Plague Superintendents, were particularly noticeable when the Acting
Commissioner accompanied the Plague Commissioners on a tour of inspection through
Karáchi City on the 25th of January 1899.
(3) The Relief Fund, ably managed as before by Mr. Motiram Advani.
(4) The opening of the grain shops, when the regular shops were closed, by Ráo
Báhdur Vishindas Nihalchand, who, as in the previous epidemic, maintained an excellent
Private Hospital at his own expense.
(5) Dr. Simond s visit between 9th May and 6th June 1898 in order to test the efficacy
of Dr. Roux's serum. Dr. Simond operated on 75 persons, of whom 37 died, 31 recovered,
and 7 remained under treatment.
The following are the figures, week by week, of the epidemic from the 31st March 1898
to the 2nd September 1898—
Week ending
23rd March 1898
8th April ,, ...
...
15th ,,
,
22nd
„
„
29th
„
„
6th May
„
13th „
„
20th „
„
27th „
,,
31St
,,
,,
. .
..
...
Total from 23rd March to 31st May
1898
Municipal limits
of Karáchi.
Cases.
8
20
76
179
314
597
656*
408
280
124
2,662
Deaths.
13
52
131
221
496
528
367
207
97
2,112
Week ending
1st to 3rd June 1898
10th June 1898
17th ,
..
24th ,
1st July
,
8th ,
15th ,
„
22nd ,
29th ,
5th Aug.
12th „
19th „
26th „
2nd Sept
Municipal limits
of Karachi.
Cases.
' 72
144
91
47
31
19
11
21
23
19
14
9
19
9
Deaths.
55
101
74
34
22
14
9
17
19
15
11
5
10
5
* 51 of these occurred previously.
330
[CHAP. X.
It is worthy of note that during this epidemic the plague mortality amongst males was
far greater than amongst females ; that amongst children being comparatively insignificant.
The subjoined statement compares the figures for each of these classes :—
February—
Cases ...
Deaths...
March—
Cases
Deaths...
April—
Deaths
May-
Cases ...
Deaths ...
Adults.
Males.
55
42
585
384
928
668
359
268
Females.
17
11
175
117
500
370
183
153
Children.
3
...
33
25
80
62
46
42
The infection appears to have visited every part of the city.
As regards the measures taken to meet it, the following were the most prominent :—
(1) Health, Observation and Segregation Camps.
(2) Evacuation.
(3) Disinfection.
The Gamps, with their objects, have been previously described. They were established
at Malir, Kiamari, Jati (for arrivals from Cutch) in the District ; and at Translyari, at
Lyari, at Tatta Naka and at Thul, in the city itself.
Most of these Camps had stood in each epidemic, and served their various purposes
with considerable success ; it is only necessary to dwell here, therefore, upon the modifi-
cations of their working during 1898-99. The chief modification was that introduced
throughout the whole Presidency in November 1898, when detention was abolished and
surveillance was introduced.
The following remarks on the City Camps and on Evacuation by Mr. Sladen are full
of interest :—
"In the Camps, 413 cases and 299 deaths occurred between 21st February and 31st
May. The numbers seem large, but it has to be remembered that all persons are included
who were not actually known to have plague when they left the town, and a very large per-
centage of the cases occurred within a few days of the arrival in Camp. Last year, all cases
that developed within 10 days after leaving the town were entered as cases in the town.
Latterly, when the bulk of the people had left the town and cases continued to occur, very
careful enquiries were made, with the invariable result that the person attacked was found
to be either a regular visitor to the infected part of the town or more often had stopped
the night or till very late in the evening at a house or shop instead of coming back to Camp.
Cases attributable to personal contact in the Camps were very rare, and in no cases was
there reason to suspect local infection. Mr. Motumal writes that, generally speaking, those
who died in his division were Chaprus, Mekranis and low class Katchis, who found employ-
ment sewing gunny bags and working as coolies at Kiamari or in godowns in the city.
Plague among high-caste persons was exceptional, although they went daily to Karachi
to their offices."
332
[CHAP. X.
The following were the figures for the third epidemic :—
Week ending
3rd March 1899
10th
„
17th
„
„
24th
„
„
31st
„
,
7th April
,
14th
„
,
21st
„
,
28th
„
,
5th May
12th „
19th „
,
26th „
,
27th to 31st May 1899
Total from 1st December 1898
to 31st May 1899
Grand Total from 1st June 1898
to 31st May 1899 ...
Karachi City.
Cases.
59
88
139
217
316
356
428
361
275
276
254
87
30
30
2,995
3,578
Deaths.
35
58
103
140
207
278
275
281
207
208
181
96
19
19
2,164
2,591
Villages in Karáchi Taluka outside
Karachi Municipal limits.
Imported from
Karachi.
Oases.
2
2
3
5
5
6
3
2
• •«
6
6
...
41
59
Deaths.
1
2
2
4
2
4
3
2
1
5
6
1
34
49
Indigenous.
Cases.
...
...
...
•••
...
...
...
...
..
...
3
1
4
13
Deaths.
...
...
...
...
. ••
...
...
...
• ••
...
1
1
2
8
Total.
Cases.
2
2
3
5
5
6
3
2
...
6
9
1
45
72
Deaths.
1
2
2
4
2
4
3
2
1
5
7
2
36
57
There was no indigenous plague during the third period at any other place in the
Karachi District, although 14 cases—8 deaths were imported into various places outside
the Karachi Taluka.
Charts shewing weekly plague mortality in Karachi City and District are given opposite.
KARACHI CITY
Population 98,195.
Chart showing Plague Mortality.
KARACHI DISTRICT.
Chart showing Plague Mortality
333
SHSKARPUR DISTRICT.
Area
Population in 1881
Density of population ...
Rainfall
8,148 sq. miles.
915,497.
112 38 per sq. mile.
About 5 inches.
Boundaries.
The Shikárpur District, lying in the extreme north of Sind, is bounded on the north and
west by Baluchistán ; on the east by the Rájputána Agency ;
and on the south by Karachi and Hyderabad.
Climate and natural features.
The climate of Shikárpur District is hot and dry, with a remarkable absence of air-
currents during the inundation season ; and it is, in consequence,
very trying to a European constitution. The hot weather
commences in April, and ends in October ; it is generally ushered in by violent dust-storms ;
the cold season begins in November, and lasts till March. The general aspect of Shikárpur
District is that of a vast alluvial plain, broken only by low limestone hills, which tend to
preserve a permanent bank for the Indus. Towards the west rises the Khirthar range, with
an extreme elevation of upwards of 7, 000 feet, forming a natural boundary between Shikárpur
and Baluchistan. Large patches of salt land, known as Kalar, occur frequently, especially in
the upper part of the District; and towards the Jacobabad frontier, barren tracts of clay, and
ridges of sand hills covered with caper and thorn jungle, constitute a distinctive feature in
the landscape.
Previous epidemics.
There is no previous authentic record of plague in Shikár-
pur, the principal disease being malarial fever.*
Sukkur.
The first case of plague in Sukkur was reported by Major W. A. Corkery as having
occurred on the 12th February ; and on the 25th and 26th four
more cases were reported. Lieut.-Colonel A. H. Mayhew,
the Collector of Shikárpur, went to Sukkur to inaugurate measures, and remained there
during the outbreak. Sukkur, like Karachi, shows no imported cases. The same orders
which had been issued to the Collector of Hyderabad were issued to the Collector of Sukkur,
and the same steps taken, and the progress of the disease is remarkably similar in both these
districts:—
Week eudiug
26th February
1897
5th March
,,
12th
19th
26th
2nd April
,,
9th
„
16th
23rd
„
30th
,.
7th May
14th „
21st
,,
,,
28th „
4th June
,,
Total ...
HYDerABAd.
Local.
Cases.
3
5
42
40
117
119
75
49
13
8
1
2
...
544
Peaths.
"2
4
29
27
25
58
104
68
40
12
8
2
2
...
413
SUKKUR.
Local.
Cases.
4
14
28
97
105
111
87
42
17
33
6
4
1
1
Add 12th Feb. 1
537
Deaths.
1
8
9
19
7G
59
50
16
8
5
5
1
Add 7th July
1
391
* Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. XII.
81
334
[CHAP. X.
Major R. J. Baker, I. M. S., was sent to Sukkur, and in company with Major Corkery
made a thorough house-to-house inspection of the infected locality, reporting 2 cases in the
Isolation Camp and 1 in the Health Camp. The stringent removal of the sick led to the flight
of about 10,000 people, and three-fourths of the inhabitants of New Sukkur fled to the
neighbouring villages.
Messrs. P. R. Cadell and W. H. Lucas and Major Baker (who had been placed on
special inspection duty) all arrived in Sukkur about the end of March; and shortly after,
Lieutenant A. E. Beadon, with 30 men of the Wiltshire Regiment, appeared on the scene.
The Acting Commissioner paid two visits to Shikárpur and three to Sukktir during the
outbreak. Grharibabad was the worst infected corner of New Snkkur, but Mr. Lucas
removed the whole population of the quarter (about 600) to the Health Camp on the 17th
April, and not another case occurred.
The disease gradually died down during April, and the last case occurred on the 2nd
June 1897.
Shikárpur.
Shikárpur escaped lightly, owing to the able defence of Captains C. J. Milne and E. S.
Clark, I. M. S., warmly supported by the people, who equipped
two large Plague Hospitals. The Government Plague Hospital
received the imported cases. Large Camps were standing to receive the population of any
area that might be attacked. The railway and road appoaches were carefully guarded, and
every new-comer found himself in the Observation Camp. Rigid corpse-inspection also
obtained, and deterred sick arrivals. The comparative immunity of Shikárpur is undoubtedly
due to the attitude of the people themselves, led by the Judges, Messrs. Dayaram and
Tyabji, and the City Magistrate, Ráo Bahádur Choithram.
Rohri.
Rohri was also badly infected. Mr. Mountford, I. C. S., was in charge, and fought the
disease with energy. He was assisted by Lieutenants Leith,
Hislop, and Bailey, who were indefatigable. A small steam
disinfector, with a bathing shed attached, was used, and larger ones at Shikárpur and
Sukkur.
Other places.
Plague also appeared in the following places, but did not develop into a serious epidemic
in any of them :—Abad, Táluka Sukkur ; Thati, Táluka Rohri ;
Miani Baghat, Táluka Rohri; Tando Mir Muhammad Hasan,
Táluka Rohri; Larkhána (imported cases only) ; Khairpur Dahirki, Táluka Ubauro ; and a
few others The Thar and Párkar Districts, and the Upper Sind Frontier, escaped practically
scot-free with 3 cases—2 deaths, and 4 cases—3 deaths, respectively: all, except one,
imported.
335
CHAPTER XI.
AGENCIES AND STATES,
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
CUTCH
KATHIAWAR
KOLHAPUR AND SOUTHERN MARATH A COUNTRY ...
...
PALANPUR
REWA KANTHA
SAVANTVADI
...
...
...
...
...
PAGES
337 to 343
345 to 352
353 to 356
357 to 362
363 to 365
367 to 369
337
CUTCH STATE.
Area
Population in 1891
Density of population
Rainfall
6,500 sq. miles.
558,415.
About 85 per sq. mile.
About 14 3 inches.
Boundaries.
Cutch State is bounded on the north and north-west by the Province of Sind ; on the
east by Pálanpur State; on the south by Káthiáwár State and
the Gulf of Cutch ; and on the west and south-west by the
Indian Ocean.
The climate is mild and agreeable, except during May and June, when a burning wind
and dust-storms prevail.
[Climate and natural features.
There is no permanent river, but in the rains streams of considerable size flow from the
central hill ranges northwards to the Rann and southwards to
the Gulf of Cutch. At other times a succession of pools marks
the courses of these streams. The subsoil is rocky; the upper soil porous, which makes
the storage of water in ponds and reservoirs difficult; but at no great depth from the
surface, water abounds ; and excellent wells are consequently numerous. There is no
railway communication; there is a sea route to and from Bombay, and laud routes
to and from Sind and Káthiáwár.
Previous epidemics.
Epidemics of plague occurred formerly in Cutch in 1812 and in 1815. In 1812
Cutch was visited by a pestilence of such severity that half
the population is said to have perished.
In 1815, the year of the heaviest known rainfall, it was again visited; East Cutch
(Wágad) being attacked and suffering severely.
In 1878, the year of the heaviest rainfall since 1815, a virulent type of fever appeared
in every part of the province. About 100,000 were attacked, of whom 12,500 died. *
Cutch State.
Population—558,415.
First Epidemic.—The date of the first case of plague in Cutch was the 3rd October
1896. It was imported from Bombay. From this date to the
28th of February 1897, 47 imported cases (25 fatal) were
reported. Indigenous plague appeared on the 4th January
1897; and from the beginning of February 1897 plague was epidemic. Mándvi Town
(population, 38,155) suffered very severely, with 4,359 cases—3,853 deaths up to the end
of August 1897, the rest of the Agency reporting 840 cases—641 deaths; but the figures
are unreliable and can be taken as approximate only. Plague appeared at 24 places in all.
Second Epidemic.—Plague did not cease during 1897 in the State, but only three
places were infected at the beginning of July in that year, besides Mándvi, in which plague
was rapidly dying out. The second epidemic may be said to have begun at the beginning
of September 1897, when Mundra Town was attacked and the number of infected places in
the State rose to 13.
Mundra Town.
Population—10,433.
Mundra Town remained practically free during the first epidemic, some 43 cases in all
being reported between February and June 1897. Of these
the large majority were imported. During the week ending
27th August 1897, 6 cases—4 deaths occurred, and a moderate
* Bombay Gazetteer. Vol. V.
85
CUTCH.]
341
Week ending
6th May
1898
13th „
20th „
„
27th ,, ,,
3rd June
,
10th „
17th „
24th „
1st July
8th ,,
15th „
22nd „
,
29th „
5th August
12th „
19th
„
26th „
2nd September
Total for 4 months ...
NUMBER OF INDIGENOUS
CASES IN
Camp
(35,000).
14
20
14
BO
19
16
15
8
6
13
9
10
10
!)
3
8
7
...
206
Town
(5,000).
30
22
50
51
3G
30
43
20
12
. 20
29
26
23
28
19
35
29
22
525
REMARKS.
9 in Salaya.
1
do."
3
do.
6
do.
9
do.
8
do.
9
do.
9
do.
24
do.
17
do.
9
do.
and
7 cases in Post
Offices, hitherto
immune.
104 cases in Salaya.
These results may be compared thus :—
Locality.
Outside the town
Inside the town
Salaya
Population.
35,000
5,000
4,000
Period.
4 mouths ...
4
„
2½ „
...
Number of Cases.
206
42]
104
REMARKS.
Includes houses out-
side the town.
Excluding Salaya.
Captain Mason inoculated 1,044 persons of all ages with preventive serum obtained
from the Pasteur Institute. The results were very satisfactory, for only 5 of these were
attacked with plague and 3 of them recovered. The two fatal attacks occurred in a brother
and sister 12 days after inoculation.
A noteworthy feature of the epidemic was the immunity enjoyed by certain classes of
people.
The Political Agent observes—
"The immunity among the sweepers and whitewashing parties which made up a large
number of persons is noticeable. Up to the date of this report, 31st May, there has not been
one case amongst this class, who were all accommodated outside the town in chappar huts.
" Another class which always seems to enjoy immunity from plague are the Wághris
living in mud huts with thatch-roofs out in the open. The wealthy well-to-do have classes
also been more or less free."
The period required to lapse before re-occupation of infected houses was originally a
month, but was subsequently reduced to 20 days, and later to 10 days. No evil can be said
to have resulted from this measure, for only in three instances did cases occur after
re-occupation. As regards the attitude of the people, Major Hyde-Cates remarks :—
86
342
[CHAP. X.
" The people are certainly beginning to see the good of some of the measures. There
has been more than one instance where villagers have prevented any one from an infected
village coming to live in theirs, and they also begin to see the good results of turning out,
as many have turned out, at once on the first cases occurring, without waiting for any
persuasion."
The following table shows the villages attacked, Táluka by Táluka :—
Village.
Mándvi Táluka.
Maska ...
..
Gundiali
...
Kodae
Bada
Meráu
Náná Bhadia
Godhra
Nagalpur
Mahápur
Baet
Ran
Mándvi...
13 other villages
Total ..
Mundra Táluka.
Mundra
...
...
Toda
Barai ...
Sadan ...
Kapava
Beraja ...
Gundula
Luni
Patri
Moti Khákher
15 other villages
Total .
Mhúj Táluka.
Kera ...
Daisra...
Total ...
Population.
1,642
4,280
3,011
1,400
1,318
1,077
1,992
1,058
242
1,197
1,069
38,155
12,318
68,759
10,000
350
1,159
753
1,260
1,752
1,498
1,068
1,535
872
15,403
35,650
2,009
435
2,435
Date of First Case.
9th March 1897..
10th „ ,, ...
8th April ,, ...
11th May ,, ..
24th „ ,, ...
26th June
4th July
28th Aug.
4th Sept.
17th „
,,
...
11th Oct. ,, ...
14th Jan. 1898 ...
17th April 1897...
17th Sept. „ ...
27th „ ,, ...
5th Oct. ,, ...
29th „ ,, ...
4th Dec.
6th „ ,, ...
11th „ ,, ...
26th Jan. 1898 ..
1st April 1897...
15th Sept. „ ...
TOTAL.
Cases.
163
240
331
75
99
61
108
30
36
68
30
292
51
1,286
505
61
46
77
75
125
67
61
40
34
123
1,214
139
75
214
Deaths.
139
214
22
66
85
45
98
30
36
66
29
205
43
1,078
367
55
38
73
59
87
52
46
33
30
96
936
99
52
150
REMArKS.
4 cases, all fatal, be-
tween 3rd and 16th
January 1897.
2 cases, both fatal, be-
tweeu 16th and 21st
September 1897.
From September 1898 plague gradually decreased in Mándvi Town, and the
returns for the weeks ending 2nd and 16th December 1898 were blank ; but on the 30th
of that month 6 cases and 4 deaths were reported.
Third Epidemic.—For three months after Mándvi ceased to return plague, the Cutch
Agency was practically free, save for a few sporadic cases in the last week of December 1898
CUTCH.]
343
and it was nob till the second week of February in the new year that signs of a recru-
descence became manifest. This epidemic confined itself more particularly to Mándvi Town.
Mándvi Town.
The returns, for the last week in February 1899, indicated that Mándvi was doomed to
suffer a third epidemic, which, though not so severe as the first,
returned at its worst point so many as 279 cases and 191 deaths
for one week ending 14th April 1899. The steady way in which
this epidemic grew portended long duration ; but on the 31st March the figures had doubled
those for the previous week, and from that date the disease continued with unabated severity
up to the 12th May 1899; the mortality having never gone below 110 between those dates.
From the 13th May there was a marked decrease, the disease eventually dying out by the
16th June. The following are the figures :—
Month.
1899.
February
March
...
April
May ...
June ...
...
...
Totals . . .
Number of
Cases.
14
388
898
368
24
1,692
Deaths.
7
26(5
656
309
23
1,261
REMARKS
(For one week.)
(For two weeks )
Cutch State.
Excluding Mándvi which is now entirely free, the rest of the Agency still continues to
return plague, the figures for the time between June 1S99 and
the present (September 1899) being :—
Cases.
396
Deaths.
342