308
[CHAP. IX.
was not suspected, but on the 27th August 1897 a man was found with a bubo ; and plague
may bo said to have been declared from that time."
The origin is not known. The first case reported was that of a man found with a bubo
and fever on the 27th August. As it was the rainy season, it was not possible to erect a
regular hospital ; and three houses were therefore utilized for this purpose. The patients were
kept in these houses, and their relatives and friends in sheds originally erected to shelter
boats during the rain—the boats being first removed. The cases occurred in the fishermen's
quarter. Owing to the rains the houses were not emptied, but the infected houses were
disinfected with carbolic acid and then lime-washed. At the expiration of a month from the last
case the segregated people were permitted to return to their houses. No cases occurred
subsequent to re-occupation.
The disease did not spread from Burondi to the neighbouring villages, partly owing to the
fact that the rains admitted of little intercourse, and even that little was prohibited, the
prohibition being supplemented by an observation camp.
The last case occurred on the 15th September 1897. Total number of cases and deaths,
. 13—11.
Bánkole.
Population—2,300.
This was apparently quite a fresh infection, the origin of which was probably due to
Bombay, as will be seen from the Collector's report, which also
details the action taken: —
"Bánkote is a village in the Mandangad Petta of the Dápoli Tatuko, on the bank of the
river Sávariti. Its population is 2,300. On 8th November 1897 a Kunbi boy named Vishram
Bábáji Kap got ill and died on the 15th idem. This boy was engaged as a servant in the
house of a Mahomedan, whose son is a serang in Messrs. Shepherd & Co.'s service. He
used to carry the bedding and luggage of persons coming by boat from Bombay and
Dásgaon, and probably caught the infection that way. Bankote was infected with plague in
April and May 1897. There were 1G cases and 10 deaths. In the last visitation there were
10 cases and 9 deaths. None of the houses infected in April and May 1897 were affected
during the season of 1S97-98. The last case occurred on the 2nd of February 1898.
The hut in which the first case occurred was burnt in the presence of the Assistant Collec-
tor, N. P., Mr. Swifte, and the roofs of 20 of the neighbouring thatched houses were removed
and houses were disinfected with carbolic acid. The inmates were segregated, and they lived
under trees on the top of a neighbouring hill to the south-west.
Rule 29 of the General Plague Rules was made applicable to this village from the 24th
November 1897, and all communication between the neighbouring villages was stopped. The
first case occurred in the Nadkar Moholla. The people of this and a neighbouring street,
Parkar Moholla, were segregated, and they lived in sheds erected by themselves infields. The
sick were kept in a hospital erected for the purpose, and they were visited daily by the Hospital
Assistant, who was stationed there since March 1897 for the examination of arrivals from
Bombay and other places. The people of Bánkote had great faith in a local Hakim whose
treatment they preferred to that of the Hospital Assistant. They were allowed to receive his
treatment under instructions from the Plague Commissioner."
A curious point in this outbreak is that although the quarter of the town infected was
the same as that which previously suffered, the houses in which cases occurred were all
different. The last case occurred on 2nd February 1898, and the people were allowed to
re-occupy their houses from the 30th April 1889. No cases occurred after re-occnpation.
Yeshwi.
Population—2,382.
This village was most probably infected by Bánkote. The history of the first case
and the measures adopted are thus described by the
Collector :—
"Veshwi is a village in the Mandangad Petta to the east of Bánkote and less than a
mile from it. Its population is 2,382. It consists chiefly of Kolis and Dáldis. On 3rd
February 1898 a Koli by name Dharmu Hari Ratarkar, aged 45, was attacked with fever.
He had a bubo in the left groin. He had not been to any infected area nor was he visited