202
[CHAP. VΙΠ.
"The Rájápur outbreak appears to have been concealed by the village officials for at least
a fortnight. It began on October 2nd, and showed 9 cases on 16th, and 22 cases on the 19th-
The village officers were suspended ....
The means of introductions of the plague has
not been ascertained. Suspicion was aroused by the high mortality. The disease began
amongst the Mahárs and Chambhars ....
Mr. Ghosal proceeded to the spot, took a
census of the village, built a camp with mats and bamboos sent from Nagar, and had the place
evacuated. Poor persons segregated were fed at the expense of the Local Board, blankets
being supplied from charitable funds. But the people seem to have been refractory on being
turned out of the village ....
and Mr. Ghosal thought it wise to send for a re-
inforcement of Police from Nagar."
Later information, however, pointed to Sirur being responsible for the infection of
Rájápur. Mr. Ghosal states that the brother of a Márwári from Sirur, who died of the
plague, presented the clothing of the deceased to a family of Mahárs, of whom five caught
the infection and died. Within a fortnight after evacuation plague had ceased, during
which time only 4 more cases had occurred.
Jaola still continued to show plague, and during the week ending 12th November
1897, reported 10 cases. Mr. R. C. Brown, I. C. S., who now succeeded Mr. Ghosal there,
reported great difficulty in the matter of disposing of bodies. "He states," writes the
Collector, "that buriers refused to work even at Rs. 12 a month, that burning was expensive
(costing at least Rs. 4), and that the burial-ground of Jaola was in an insanitary state—the
graves were shallow and malodorous, and had in some cases been rooted up by animals."
Ultimately Mahárs were engaged at Rs. 15 a month for the work.
Three cases of plague occurred at this time in Pimpalner (Párner Táluka). It was
promptly vacated. The large village of Nighoj (population, 2,722) in the same Táluka was
attacked on the 14th November. It was also promptly vacated under Mr. Brown's direc-
tions, and the outbreak rapidly subsided. Another outbreak, which caused serious anxiety,
was at Rájur (population, 1,959), the market town of the western portion of the Akola
Táluka. Mr. Kent, Assistant Engineer, was sent from Nagar to deal with this attack, and
the epidemic was soon suppressed.
Before and during the time when these events were in progress, circulars were
issued from time to time to all the village officers in the District with the object of restoring
confidence and inducing co-operation in Government measures. The people were repeatedly
urged to protect themselves from the invasion of infection, and advised as to what they should
do if an outbreak occurred. It may also be noted that the Civil Surgeon had always a party
of trained disinfectors with appliances ready to send out to the Districts at a moment's notice.
As soon as a party was sent out a fresh set of men was engaged and trained.
Camps.
Camps were established at the following places:—Dhond, Nagar Railway Station
Cantonments, Kupurvádi, and Sávedi. These Camps were of two
kinds—Observation Camps and Health Camps. Some of those
just mentioned served both purposes, e.g., the Cantonment Camp and that of the Railway
Station.
Of the Observation Camps, the largest and most important was that at Dhond.
Although in the Poona District, it had for its object the protection of Ahmednagar District,
and its history may therefore appropriately find a place here. The object of this Camp was to
check the influx of passengers coming from infected districts by the G. I. P. Railway ; and
it might be termed the southern gate of the Ahmednagar District. It was established on
the 3rd December 1897, Mr. K. C. Rushton, Assistant Superintendent of Police, being
placed in charge. It was situated some 300 yards to the south of the Railway Station,