SHOLAPUR DISTRICT.]
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It was now (about 27th October 1897) that the first important change in dealing
with the epidemic was made by an appeal to evacuation. The Sadar Bazár, Modikhána,
Mángwáda and Mochiwáda were emptied of their poorer inhabitants, who were removed to a
camp on the Bijápur Road near the Motibág Tank. They were supplied with bamboos and
matting, and built their own huts. " The disease now rapidly decreased," writes the
Collector, " amongst the people so removed from their infected surroundings, but continued
to rage with unabated severity amongst the better classes who had remained behind in
. their houses."
Major A. V. Anderson, I. M. S., arrived about this time, and by his advice it was
decided to vacate the Modikhána and Sadar Bazár completely. This decision was announced
by beat of drum, and by the 12th November 1897 the measure had been carried out. Most of
the inhabitants went into fields and gardens round the city, but those who had no connection
with land—butchers, bakers, tailors, etc.—went into the Motibág Camp and remained there
for the next six months. Another large health camp for mill-workers was started on a large
open plain near the Fort.
This latter work was done by Mr. Virchand Dipchand, C.I.E., at his own expense,
for his mill-employes, who gladly left their houses to live in the comfortable sheds built for
them. Mr. Virchand Dipchand also added a special hospital and segregation shed to the
camp. A special doctor was attached to this hospital.
With the complete evacuation of Modikhána and the Sadar Bazár the first stage of the
Sholápur epidemic may be said to end.
The interest now shifts to the town, which in its turn was to undergo the same
ordeal : a long ineffectual struggle with the rising epidemic, accompanied with difficulties,
various in kind, great in degree : and ultimate success almost wholly due to the complete, if
tardy, evacuation of the whole city.
About the middle of November the number of cases in the town had become so large
that it was clear that the existing organisation could not cope with the task, and the
Collector accordingly asked for help.
The first to arrive was Captain B. H. F. Leumann, I. M. S. (between the 17th October
and 3rd November), who headed a sort of flying column carrying medicines, disinfectants,
etc., with it ; and throughout November the arrivals of persons on plague duty, with their
work, were as follows :—·
On 3rd November 1897 Mr. F. G. Pratt, I. C. S., was placed on special plague duty.
12th—Captain B. H. F. Leumann—appointed Plague Medical Officer, Sholápur
Town.
13th—Lieutenant W. St. A. Wake, Middlesex Regiment—to No. 6 Ward (Sadar
Bazár, Camp, Modikhána and Motibág).
15th—Lieutenant M. B. L. Bruce, I. S. C.—to No. 3 Ward.
18th—Lieutenant K. Henderson, 2nd Bombay Grenadiers—to charge of disinfection
of passengers at Sholápur Station. Relieved of this by Captain Battiscombe on 29th and
posted to No. 4 Ward.
29th—Lieutenant Cumming, Durham Light Infantry—to No. 7 ward ; and Lieutenant
Kidd to No. 3 Ward.
Besides these, all the masters from the Municipal and High Schools, which were
closed, as well as subordinates from all Departments throughout the district, were called
into the town and enrolled for plague duty ; and by the middle of November, the ward
system was in effective working order,
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