NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
307
RATNAGIRI DISTRICT.
Area
Population in 1891
Density of population
...
Rainfall
3,998 SQL. miles.
1,105,926.
276 62 per sq. mile.
About 101 inches.
Boundaries.
The Ratnágiri District is bounded roughly as follows:—On the north, by the Sávitri
river ; on the east, by the watershed of the Sahyádri hills from
Hátlot to Naradva; on the south-east corner, by the
Sávantvádi State coming between Ratnágiri and the Sahyádri hills; and on the west, by the
Indian Ocean.
The climate and natural
features.
The climate, though moist and relaxing, is on the whole decidedly healthy. The rainfall
is abundant and comparatively regular. The climate on the
sea coast and for some miles inland is very temperate, extremes
of heat and cold being never felt.
The District is well watered by numerous streams and watercourses, which form its
very system. Hot springs are found in various parts of the District, the waters of which,
as far as taste and smell form any test, seem strongly impregnated with sulphur. The
temperature of the water varies in different springs from 100° to almost the boiling point
(212°), and at Tural the experiment of poaching an egg has been successfully performed.
Inland, near the trap of the Sahyádri hills, the mali soil is very soft, deep, and dark.
This is the richest soil in the District, and generally holds moisture enough for a
second unwatered crop. Pánthal soil is found in low-lying lands, where during the rainy
season water lies deep.
There is no authentic record of plague in the Ratnágiri District previous to 1896.*
First Epidemic.—A slight epidemic of plague prevailed in the Ratnagiri District
(population, 1,105,926) from the 4th December 1896 to 5th July 1897. The total number
of cases was 377 and deaths 316. Of these, however, no less than 2-11 were imported, leaving
only 136 indigenous cases during the 7 months. The last cases of this first epidemic occurred
during the week ending 9th July 1897 in the village of Veshwi (in which the disease broke
out again in February 1898).
Second Epidemic.—Plague began again on the 10th August 1897 at Burondi. Only
3 cases had previously occurred at this village. These were in April 1897. But the neigh-
bouring villages of Ladghar and Karden were both infected during the months of April and
May 1897.
No large town suffered. The following villages were attacked in the order given.
Burondi.
Population—3,183.
Three fatal cases occurred in April 1897, after which no more plague was reported till 27th
August 1897. But the suspicions increase in the mortality leaves
room for doubt whether plague had not been in the village for 2 or 3
weeks previously. Mr. K. R. Bomanji, Bo.'C. S., the Collector, reports :—
"Burondi is a village on the coast in the Dápoli Táluka, about 6 miles south of Harnai.
It has a population of 3,183 persons. Taking the death-rate at 40 per mille of the popula-
tion, the weekly normal rate would be 2 45. In August 1897, from 1st to 26th, there were 52
deaths in the village, all of them, except 7, being reported as due to fever, cough, asthma, or
similar diseases. The 7 deaths were from confinement and other causes. At first plague
* Bombay Gazetteer, Vol. X.
310
[CHAP. IX.
The source of infection was probably, therefore, Bombay. On the 4th March
its complete evacuation was begun. On the 8th, Major A. V. Anderson, I. M. S., arrived,
and agreed that it was not necessary to vacate the eighth and last Mohalla, seven having
been already emptied. Within a month of the completion of evacuation plague had
ceased. The following table shows the progress of the disease, week by week:—
Week ending
March 4th, 1898
"
11th
"
" 18th
"
" 25th
"
April
1st
"
"
8th
"
" 15th
"
" 22nd
"
" 29th
"
May
6th
"
"
13th
"
Total
Cases.
8
20
25
32
40
41
16
8
7
3
1
201
Deaths.
2
15
20
34
32
31
16
10
7
3
...
170
JAIGAD TOWN
Population 3,292.
The segregated people lived in sheds, which were supplied free to the poor. The
local supply being limited, the materials had to be brought from Málwan and Vengurla.
Messrs. Shepherd & Co. kindly transported the jhâmps used for plague free to any
part of the district. These were erected on the top of a hill some 1,000 yards from the
village. The vacated houses were twice disinfected with carbolic acid and perchloride of
mercury.
The effects of this outbreak were severely felt by the fishermen, who were not allowed
to sell fish while in segregation. Their grain-supply was small, and the local Banias either
left the town or refused credit. The Collector, however, sent for them and persuaded them
to advance grain. The healthy males were shortly afterwards permitted to catch fish for
food but not for sale. On these hardships being brought to the notice of His Excellency
the Governor, he asked Mr. Leslie, the Secretary of the Famine Fund, to send Rs. 300 for
the Jaigad and Padwa poor. In all Rs. 178 were allowed for Jaigad, besides a small
amount locally raised.
There being no cases amongst the inhabitants of the Ingalwádi and Parkot Mohallas,
they were permitted to re-occupy their houses on the 10th May 1898. The remainder
gradually returned between the 21st and 25th of the same month. The last case occurred
on the 20th May: and none have occurred since re-occupation.
312
[CHAP. IX.
in Padwa, a large number consisting of women and children, were poor. These women used
to do household work for others in the village and thus maintained themselves. But their
occupation was gone, and they had no means of subsistence. They were given grain-doles out
of the balance of a fund raised for famine relief last year, and a friend had contributed Rs. 100.
But the number of such persons was nearly 200 in Padwa alone, and the balance at my
disposal was small. The fact was brought to the notice of Government in the weekly progress
report, and, as already stated, I received Rs. 300 from the Indian Famine Charitable Relief
Fund at the kind request of His Excellency the Governor. Out of this sum, Rs. 225 were sent
to Padwa, and Rs. 169-8-0 were given out of local contribution, i. e., in all Rs. 394-8-0 have
been spent from 7th April to 31st August last in feeding the poor. During the rains these
people could get no occupation, and they have had to be fed much longer than I had first
expected. They have now taken to fishing and other work. On the 23rd of May the people
of Padwa were allowed tore-occupy their houses."
The last case occurred on the 4th May 1898, and the people were permitted to re-occupy
their houses from 15th May on account of the approach of the monsoon. No case occurred
after re-occupation.
Three other villages also reported cases, but either these cases were all imported or for
some unknown reason the disease did not develop. In the case of Veins the whole village
was evacuated ; in the cases of Nandiváda and Bágmandla, the infected quarters only.
The following tables show—
(i.) the gradual spread from village to village and the population, number of cases and
deaths, and source of infection (where known) ; and
(ii.) the results of evacuation as shown by Jaigad and Padwa when the number of cases
occurring both before and after that measure are compared.
Table showing the order of infection of the villages with the population and
the number of cases and deaths.
Village.
Burondi
Bánkote
Veshwi
Jaigad
Nandiváda ...
Padwa
Velás
Bágmandla ...
Population
(Census of 1891).
3,183
2,300
2,382
3,292
......
1,800
3,278
2,786
Date of First Case.
About 15th August
1897.
8th Nov. 1897
3rd Feb. 1898
About 17th Febru-
ary 1898.
26th March 1898.
3rd April 1898 ...
15th April 1898 ...
21st April 1898 ...
Source of Infection.
Recrudescence [?] ...
Bombay [?]
Bánkote ...
Bombay [?]
Jaigad ...
[?]
Bánkote ...
Veshwi
....
Bánkote ...
...
Velás
In all 8 villages infected — Total..
TOTAL NUMBER OF
Cases.
13
16
13
201
2
76
} 8
} 4
333
Deaths.
11
10
8
170
2
64
6
3
274
RATNAGIRI DISTRICT.]
313
Table showing result of Evacuation on Cases and Deaths in Jaigad and Padwa.
Village.
Jaigad ...
Padwa ...
Date of First Case.
About 17th Feb-
ruary 1898.
3rd April 1898 ...
Evacuation complete
on
9th April 1898 ...
8th „
„
...
Date of Last Case.
20th April 1898 ...
4th May 1898
...
Number of
Deaths before
evacuation.
134
29
Number of
Deaths after
evacuation.
36
35
With the exception of a few imported cases, the Ratnágiri District remained free of
plague till the end of February 1899.
Ratnágiri District.
From February to May 1899 the Ratnágiri District returned 237 and 198 plague
cases and deaths, respectively. During June and July the
District was practically free, but suffered from a slight
epidemic from the beginning of August to the end of October. The figures from June
1899 to the last week in October for the whole District being :—
Cases, 331—Deaths, 239.
79
315
CHAPTER X.
SIND.
SIND
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
H.YDERABAD ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
KARACHI ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
SHIKAKPUR ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
PAGE'S
317 to 320
321 and 322
323 to 332
333 and 334
SIND.] .
319
With the exception of a few imported deaths, the Khairpur State remained clear of
plague, which was most creditable to the precautions taken by His Highness the Mir's ad-
ministration. His Highness also considerately offered the services of his Assistant Surgeon
when he heard doctors were required in Karachi, but being the only Medical Officer it was
thought better that the Assistant Surgeon should remain where he was in case his services
became necessary in the State.
The extent of the plague in the Province of Sind is exhibited in the tables below. In the
first epidemic there were 6,063 cases and 4,779 deaths. The population of the Province was
returned in 1891 as 2,871,774. During the cholera epidemic of 1892, the three Districts of
Karachi, Hyderabad, and Shikarpur lost 14,659 persons by cholera. Of the number attacked
by plague, nearly 79 per cent. succumbed.
In the second epidemic there were 3,675 cases—2,819 deaths.
No other epidemic was reported during this year. Of the 3,675 attacks 76 71 per cent.
proved fatal.
In the third epidemic there were 3,063 cases—2,219 deaths. During this year Karáchi
Town suffered from a very severe cholera epidemic, the figures for which were 2,295 cases—
2,064 deaths. Of the 3,063 attacked by plague, 72 45 per cent. succumbed.
Total Plague Cases and Deaths in the Province of Sind.
FIRST PERIOD.
(From January 1897 to May 1897.)
Locality.
Karáchi City
...
...
...
...
...
...
Karachi District.
Tatta
Jungsháhi ...
Kotri
Other places ..
Total Karáchi District ...
Total Karachi District, including the City of Karáchi...
Hyderabad District.
Hyderabad ...
Tanclo Alahyár
Other places
Total Hyderabad District ...
Shikárpur District.
Shikárpur
Sukkur
Abad, Táluka Sukkur
Rohri
Thati, Táluka Rohri
Cases.
4,181
53
28
44
113
238
4,419
58C
18
37
641
32
537
45
151
50
Deaths.
3,393
41
17
25
95
178
3,57G
451
15
33
490
21
391
32
88
3G
Percentage
of Deaths
to Cases.
81 27
77 36
60 71
56 82
84 07
74 79
80 92
76 96
83 33
89 19
77 85
G5 63
72 81
71 11
58 28
72 00
REMARKS.
185 cases—137
deaths imported.
-
84 cases—75
deaths imported.
320
[CHAP. X.
Total Plague Cases and Deaths in the Province of Sind—(contd.).
FIRST PERIOD.
(From January 1897 to May 1897.)
Locality.
Shikárpur District—(contd.).
Miani Raghat, Táluka Rohri
Tando Mir Muhammed Hason, Táluka Rohri
Larkhána
Khairpur Dahirki, Táluka Ubauro
Other
places
Total Shikárpur District ...
Thar and Párkar District ...
Upper Sind Frontier
Total for the whole Province of Sind . . .
Cases.
2G
20
20
34
81
996
3*
4†
6,063
Deaths.
15
16
14
24
62
699
2*
3t
4,779
Percentage
of Deaths
to Cases.
57 69
80 00
70 00
70 59
76 54
70 18
66 07
75 00
78 82
REMARKS.
139 cases—96
deaths imported.
* All imported.
† 3 cases—2
deaths imported.
SECOND PERIOD.
(From March 1898 to November 1898.)
Locality.
Rest of District
Total Karachi District, including the City of Karáchi...
Hyderabad District ...
Shikárpur District ...
Thar and Párkar District ...
...
Upper Sind Frontier
...
...
Total for the whole Province of Sind ...
Cascs.
3,245
430*
3,675
3,675
Deaths.
2,539
280*
2,819
...
2,819
Percentage
of Deaths
to Gases.
78 24
65 12
76 71
...
...
...
...
76 71
REMARKS.
* 402 cases—
265 deaths im-
ported from Ka-
ráchi City.
THIRD PERIOD.
(From February 1899 to June 1899.)
Locality.
Karáchi City
...
...
...
...
...
Rest of District
Total, Karachi District, including the City of Karáchi ...
Hyderabad District.
Hyderabad ...
...
Rest of District ...
...
...
...
Thar and Párkar District ...
Upper Sind Frontier
Total for the whole Province of Sind
Cascs.
2,948
45*
2,993
65
5
70
3,063
Deaths.
2,130
36*
2,166
49
4
53
2,219
Percentage
of Deaths
to Cases.
72 26
72 73
72 37
...
75 71
...
72 45
REMARKS.
* 41 cases —
34 deaths import-
ed from Karúchi
City.
321
HYDERABAD DISTRICT.
Area
,
Population in 1891
Density of population
Rainfall
...
8,271 sq. miles.
918,646.
111 07 per sq. mile.
Average from 6 to 8 inches.
Boundaries.
Hyderabad, a vast alluvial plain, 216 miles long by 48 broad, is bounded on the north by
Khairpur State ; on the east by the Thar and Párkàr District;
on the south by the same tract and the river Kori; and on the
west by the river Indus and Karachi District.
Climate and natural features.
Fertile along the course of the Indus, which forms its western boundary; it degenerates
towards the east into sandy wastes, sparsely populated, and defy-
ing cultivation. Considerable variations of climate obtain
within the District. In the north, the hot season of -April and May is followed by two months
of Hood, the rest of the year being cold and dry. In the central tract the cold season sue-
ceeds the hot without any intervening inundations to graduate the transition; and the change
occurs sometimes with such suddenness that, to quote a local saying, ' sunstroke and frost-
bite are possible in one and the same day.' In normal years, the District is healthy as com-
pared with other parts of India. Fevers, however, are very prevalent in September and
October, when the inundations cease and the canals are drying up ; and they last till the
northerly winds set in.
Previous epidemics.
There is no authentic record of plague in Hyderabad previous to 1897. The year 1869
is memorable for an outbreak of epidemic cholera, and in
Hyderabad Taluk a of severe fever.*
Hyderabad Town.
The disease appeared in Hyderabad at the beginning of January in imported form, and
from the 8th January to the 19th February 33 cases and
23 deaths had been so reported, no week containing double
figures in either cases or deaths. Hyderabad, like Karáchi, is
a closely-packed old town With numberless narrow lanes and blind alleys. Its situation on
a hill, and its dry climate—both, doubtless, unfavourable to the germ--probably prevented
the serious development of the epidemic.
On account of the large number of imported cases, Mr. C. G. Dodgson, I. C. S., the
Collector, made Hyderabad his head-quarters. He insisted on house-to-house inspection
being made a reality, and on the removal of patients, when their condition permitted, to
sheds; and on the 23rd of February proceeded to take action in person by causing the
evacuation of a group of houses containing about a hundred families where the epidemic was
increasing.
On the 3rd March it was evident that plague had broken out in Hyderabad and medical
inspection on the Railway was commenced in view of a probable exodus. Sixteen medical
students were placed on the main roads leading out of Hyderabad, and it became difficult
for any sick person to get away.
Large numbers of dead rats discovered in the houses when opened for disinfection and
cleansing proved the wisdom of removing the inmates of houses, which, though not actually
infected themselves, were yet in proximity to such houses as were. Mr. R. Knight. I. C. S.
Impesial Gazetteer of India, Vol. V.
81
322
[CHAP. X. HYDERABAD DIST.]
the Judge, and a strong body of volunteers, amongst them Mr. M. Hesketh, Principal
of the Siud College, and Mr. Dayararn Gidumal, the Judge of Shikárpur in Hyderabad,
ably assisted Mr. Dodgson in his fight with the plague.
Mr. Dayaram Gidumal established a Private Hospital on the Native Library premises
under the Reverend A. Cauney, C. M. S., and Miss Piggott, Z. M., of which Lieuteuant-
Golouel Hume Henderson, I. M. S., held general medical supervision.
On the 24th of March the Government High School was opened as a Plague Hospital
under Licut.-Colonel Hume Henderson and a staff of Lady Nurses from Calcutta. Both
Hospitals were closed on the 15th of June 1897.
Apart from Hyderabad itself, 55 cases and 48 deaths occurred in the District, of which
13 cases and 15 deaths occurred at Tando Alahyár,
But in spite of all efforts the epidemic grew, spread in every direction by fleeing
victims, and with the week ending 9th April 1897 threatened to become severe. Mr.
Dodgson broke down under the strain and was compelled reluctantly to take furlough.
His last act was to recommend a Plague Committee, and one was constituted under the
orders of Government on the 9bh April 1897. This Committee did good work, minimising
correspondence and promoting united effort. The Camps, carefully laid out and systematically
worked by Captain Cater Joues, were brought under the control of European non-commis-
sioned officers and soldiers.
Towards the middle of April the disease, owing probably to the exodus of the healthy,
rapidly subsided, and the last case occurred on the 2nd of June ; 23,000 persons had passed
through the disinfecting depots. The weekly figures for this first epidemic are given in
the Chapter on Sind as a whole. From June 1897 to March 1899 the Hyderabad District
was free from plague, 2 imported cases (1 fatal) occurring throughout this period at
Hyderabad Town.
From March to June 1899 a few cases occurred in the town, the following being the
figures:—
Week ending
10th March 1899 ...
19th
„
„
24th
„
„ ...
31st
„
„
...
...
...
7th April
,,
14th
„
„ ...
21st
„
„
28th
.,
,,
5th May
„
12th „
19th „
„
26th „
„
Total...
Hyderabad
Town.
Cases.
2
4
5
3
3
12
20
11
3
2
65
Deaths.
2
1
5
...
4
6
16
11
3
1
49
Best of the
District.
Cases.
...
...
1
. . .
.«•
3
1
...
5
Deaths.
• * .
1
* . .
2
I
...
4
Since June 1899 Hyderabad Town has suffered from an epidemic which began in the
week 11th—18th August, the average number of cases being about 70 weekly. The total
number from 18th August to 27th October was 814 cases—716 deaths for the whole Dis-
trict. Husree village was also affected, but the infection spread no further.
323
KARACHI DISTRICT.
Area .
Population in 1891
Density of population
Rainfall
14,303 sq. miles.
564,880.
39·49 per sq. mile.
5 inches.
Boundaries.
Karáchi District is bounded on the north by Shikárpur; on the east, by the Indus and
Hyderabad; on the south, by the Arabian Sea; and on the west,
by Baluchistán.
Climate and natural features.
The climate of Karachi City and the neighbouring country, which is in every direction
open to the sea-breeze, possesses a great superiority to that
which prevails throughout the remainder of Sind. The hill-
country of Kohistáu is also cooler in Summer and warmer in Winter than is the case in the
plains. In the north, on the other hand, near the barren Laki range of hills, the heat often
becomes insupportable. The hot season commences about the middle or end of March, reaches
its maximum in the month of July, and lasts till the end of August, when the temperature
once more becomes tolerably cool. Karachi City is said to enjoy the healthiest climate in all
Sind.
Previous epidemics.
There is no authentic record of plague in Karáchi previous
to 1896.*
Karachi City.
First Epidemic. (December 1896—May 1897).—The first case of plague reported in
Karachi City was that of a Brahman cook, 16 years old, who was
taken ill on the 4th December 1896 and died on the 9th. Three
more cases were reported on the 11th, and on the 19th plague was declared epidemic.
Although plague, therefore, must have existed in Karachi from the beginning of December,
the Acting Commissioner in Sind draws attention to the fact that the mortality during
October, November, and December, taken either daily, weekly, or monthly, gives no
indication of its presence. He also points out that the usual imported cases are wanting
in the history of the introduction of plague into Karáchi : nor is there any record of an
abnormal mortality amongst rats. The origin of the disease in Karáchi, therefore, remains
wrapped in mystery.
The locality first attacked was the old town quarter. Up to the end of December, out
of 63 cases (59 fatal), 51 occurred there.
On the 25th December Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Clarkson, Sanitary Commissioner for
the Government of Bombay, addressed the Acting Commissioner, strongly recommending
compulsory segregation of the sick ; and to ensure this, and also prompt information of
sickness, the Acting Commissioner issued orders to all District Officers calling for daily
reports from any place where plague appeared, and directing compulsory segregation of
patients. Meanwhile in Karachi cleaning and disinfection were being energetically carried
out by the Municipal Executive ; and suitable houses were set apart as Caste Hospitals for
such patients as did not possess suitable private dwellings, and, by a resolution of the Muni-
cipality, compulsory segregation was limited to those patients who, in the opinion of the
Health Officer, had no proper segregation accommodation.
* Imperial Gazetteer of India, Vol. V.