13
No. 3000 OF 1897.
From
THE COLLECTOR OP RATNÁGIRI;
To
THE COMMISSIONER, S. D.
Ratnágiri, 9th July 1897.
SIR,
As directed in your No. B. P.—164 of the 10th ultimo, I have the honour to
forward a report on the progress of the plague in this district, and the measures
taken for its prevention and suppression.
2. Its history consists of a number of isolated outbreaks, independent of
each other, originating in cases brought from Bombay, and in one instance from
Bhiwndi, in the Thána District, and in one from Alíbág. It scarcely ever travelled
from one village to another or even from one quarter to another of the same
village.
3. As soon as it was noticed in the newspapers that there was plague at
Bombay, on the advice of Dr. Collie, Civil Surgeon, I issued orders to the
Revenue and Police officers that all cases were to be reported at once in the
same way as cholera cases and the same precautions as to segregation and dis-
infection were to be used. The vaccinators were also ordered to report any
cases that came under their observation, but the Sanitation Department objected
to their being asked to help on the ground that they could not be expected to
diagnose the disease.
4 The first suspected case reported was at Sangmeshvar, the largest town
in the táluka of that name. It occurred on the 15th December and was reported
on the 18th. The news of this spread quickly in the neighbourhood, and the people
were so alarmed that the weekly bazar was almost unattended.
5. On receipt of the report, arrangements were made at all the ports, where
steamers call from Bombay, for segregating persons who appeared to be suffering
from the plague when they landed. Sheds were built and the duty of seeing that
the sick did not go to the Dharmshálas and mix with the public was entrusted
to the police.
6. From this time several cases were reported at the rate of one or two
daily. On 11th of February 1897 the Police Pátels were again warned to be
careful in reporting all apparent or suspected cases, to segregate the sufferers
and their relatives, and to have the locthes and bedding burned and houses
disinfected and emptied for 10 days,
7. The first indigenous case occurred on January 20th.
8. On the receipt of Government telegram, dated 10th February last, more
effective measures were taken at the ports. As many Hospital Assistants as
could be spared from the Civil Hospital and other institutions at head-quarters
and from municipalities were stationed at the different ports from 14th February
1897. Two pensioned Hospital Assistants were engaged for Viziadrug and Mai-
van, and Government were asked to send men to Bánkot and Devgad. On 18th
March 1897 one arrived at Bánkot and then all were supplied except Devgad,
where the Mámlatdár's Head Kárkun did the work of inspection. No quaran-
tine was imposed, but all passengers were examined, and those found to be or
suspected to be affected with plague were detained in sheds built for the pur-
pose. The Customs Officers were asked to bring the crews and passengers of
boats landing at the smaller ports to the main ports to be examined, but this
was not found generally possible. The Bombay Customs Collector was asked
to give port clearance only for the main port, but he could not comply with this
request.
9. Orders were issued to stop all fairs and large gatherings and remained
in force until the beginning of the monsoon.