126
Cases of plague in the camps.
9. The following table shows for the different camps (including the Old Sukkur Camps)
the number or occupants admitted to each camp and the number
of cases of plague that occurred in each from 1st April to the
close of the camp : —
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Names of the Camps.
Old Sukkur Segregation Camp
New
do.
do.
Old Sukkur Health Camp ...
Gharibabad
do.
Mekrani Cooly Camp
Limji Charhi Health Camp ...
New Sukkur Health Camp opposite
Limji Charhi Camp
...
...
Sweepers' Health Camp
...
Railway Locomotive Health Camp
Total ...
No. of
occupants.
52
529
131
367
312
232
346
104
1,100
3,173
Seizures.
2
11
1
1
1
...
7
6
29
Deaths.
1
7
1
1
1
...
S
4
18
Cured.
1
3
...
...
...
...
4
...
2
10
Absconded.
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
As for the New Sukkur Segregation Camp it is surprising that so few as 11 cases occurred
among 529 people, all of whom had before their removal into camp been very closely exposed to
infection, and who came for the most part from Gharibabad, Limji Chahri and the neighbour-
hood of. Frere Street and Babarki Bazar at the east of the town, where the plague assumed a
very virulent form at the beginning of April and numbers of corpses were discovered. Of the
cases which occurred in the segregation camp 1 case occurred one day after admission, 1 two
days after, 4 four days after, 1 five days after, 1 six clays after, 1 seven days after, and 1
eleven days after. The eleventh case occurred 13 days after admission. It was that of a woman
who had a miscarriage and it was rather a doubtful case of plague.
In the New Sukkur Health Camp 346 persons were admitted, all of whom had been exposed
to almost as great danger of infection as the inmates of the segregation camp. Still only 7
cases of plague occurred among them, of which 2 occurred the next day after admission, 1 the
second day, 2 the third day, 1 after five days, and 1 after eight days.
It is extraordinary that there should have been only 1 case of plague in the Mekrani Cooly
Camp. The origin of this solitary case was traced to the man having been on visiting terms
with a Márwari in Limji Charhi who was subsequently attacked with plague.
When it is remembered how heavy was the mortality among coolies employed in house
cleaning work in the early days of the plague in Sukkur (and this was the reason why at the
end of March labour could not be procured on any terms), the most probable explanation why
these 312 masons and coolies were not attacked with plague must be the precaution they took
of disinfecting all houses with perchloride solution before entering them.
The immunity enjoyed by the sweepers after their removal into camp has already been
alluded to.
Arrangements of the segrega-
tion and health camps.
10. Surgeon-Captain Borrodaile, A. M. S., held charge of the New Sukkur Segregation
and Health Camps from 5th April to 19 th May inclusive. After
this the general supervision was taken over by Surgeon-Major
Corkery, I. M. S.
The following staff was employed at these two camps, which were only about 300 yards
apart:
1
1
1
Superintendent on
Assistant on
...
...
. • •
...
Es.
100
50
Hospital Assistant, Sweepers, Kahars and Bhisties.
The period of detention was ordinarily 10 days, but might be more. It was of course
always extended in the case of inmates of a hut in which a case of plague occurred.
Observation huts were provided for both camps with separate latrine arrangements. The
camp latrines were regularly disinfected with chloride of lime and were continually sprayed
with perchloride of mercury solution. Upon arrival in camp each person was given a phenyle
bath, and such clothes or other property as the Superintendent of the quarter, whence he had
been segregated, had permitted him to bring with him, were disinfected by boiling in large iron
cauldrons, or by spraying with perchloride of mercury. Beds and bedding were provided in the
camp and were disinfected every day. Men of the Wiltshire Regiment superintended the
boiling and disinfection.
Both camps were rigorously guarded by police. Printed registers were maintained, and
printed tickets given to every person admitted showing details of date of admission, &c.