No. 2877 OF 1897.
From
LIEOT.-COLONEL F. H. JACKSON,
Political Superintendent, Pálanpur ;
To
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
General Department,
Bombay.
Pálanpur, 31st July 1897.
SIR,
Submits a report of the out-
break of plague at Palanpur
and the means adopted for
its suppression.
As required bv Resolution in the General Department, No. 3045, dated the
2nd June 1897, I have the honour to submit a report
of the outbreak of plague at Palanpur and the means
adopted for its suppression.
The population, the ruler,
and the influential commu-
nity of Palanpur.
2. Palanpur is a town of 22,500 inhabitants situated on the Rájputána-
Málwa Railway, about 40 miles from Mount Abu and
17 from the British Camp at Deesa, with which it is
joined by a branch rail. The ruler of the Native State,
of which it is the capital, is a Mahomedan styled " The
Dewán." His name is Sir Mahomed Sher Khanji, K.O.I.E. Although the
Mahomedans are numerically the strongest, the most influential community in
the place is that of the Jain Baniyas.
Introduction of the plague
from Bombay during the ab-
sence of all the principal
authorities from head-quar-
ters.
3. The plague was introduced from Bombay at an unlucky time when all
the principal authorities were absent from head-quar-
ters. On the 5th January 1897 the Political Superin-
tendent proceeded on his cold weather tour in the
districts and on the 20th the Dewán, his two some and
a large party left Palanpur for a long-proiected tour
in Northern India. The Chief Minister and the State Medical Officer accom-
panied this party. The current duties of the State were left in charge of a
former Minister, a Jain Baniya by caste, while a special Hospital Assistant was
engaged to look after the town. There was one other Medical Officer available,
vie., Assistant Surgeon J. P. Wádia, who has charge of the Superintendence
and the Railway within certain limits. In consequence of the exodus from Bom-
bay, which commenced in January, this officer, on the 14th of that month, was
directed to commence the inspection of Railway passengers.
Two Jain Baniyas coming
from Bombay and Yisnagar
introduced the plague on the
8th February.
4. About the 11th February a report reached me in camp that some
suspicious deaths had occurred m the town, but it was
not till the 20th that the official in charge wrote to
say that, since the 16th, six cases of plague had occurred,
four of which had proved fatal, and that before the
16th there had been some cases which were not medi-
cally treated. It subsequently transpired that two Jain Baniyas coming from
Bombay and Yisnagar early in the month had brought the infection with them,
and that the first death from this cause actually occurred on the 8th of February.
The first few cases were hushed up so that the authorities had not the opportu-
nity of dealing with them, even if they had wished to do anything.
The measures adopted to
prevent the plague from
spreading.
5. I returned to Palanpur on the 23rd February and lent my assistance to
tne local offcials. A Committee was formed to deal
with all matters connected with plague. The principal
townspeople were interviewed and an attempt was
made to excite their interest in preventive measures.
It was at first desired to do everything by persuasion and not by force. The
people proved to be quite apathetic about the matter. White-washing, disinfect-
ing and fumigating were feebly carried out. All our establishments were with-
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