3
This disinfectant was chosen before I had heard of Dr. Dyson's success with it in
treating houses. Whole castes were washed—Shráwaks, Suthars, Dhobis, Mochis,
Fakirs, sections of the Kunbi and Mussalmán populace. The results were
excellent.
The sepoys were not kept very long. Their work was soon over and they
returned to Baroda. The people evicted were gradually allowed to return to their
houses and Ránder very soon wore its ordinary aspect.
The second fatal defect which I referred to was connected with the action
taken or rather want of action regarding the relations of the plague-stricken—
the " probably infected." They were at first not controlled in any way. Before
I came to Rander I believe the point was raised how far it would be possible to
segregate these people, and Mr. Band was against making the attempt on the
ground that it was practically impossible. It would certainly have been very
difficult. But there can be no doubt that our earlier measures were rendered
futile by the neglect to prevent the spread of contagion in this way. It was
perception of this fact which made me so anxious on every occasion to turn the
people out of the town, and it was this which led me to adopt the wholesale
disinfection of clothes. There is one thing which I must say. After being a
month or so in Rander I could naturally do things without serious opposition
which could not have been thought of in the beginning.
The total number of deaths from plague was 141 out of 157 persons
attacked. The bulk of the victims was Hindu.
The following table shows what happened :—·
Caste.
Mussalmáns
Hindus —
Shávak Wánias
Kunbis ...
Bráhmans . . .
Ghanchis
Mochis ...
Suthárs ...
Number of
cases.
11
42
17
20
8
3
4
Number of
deaths.
7
40
15
17
7
2
4
Caste.
Hindus — contd.
Dhobis
Machhis
Bhandaris . . .
Khárwás
Other Hindus...
Pársis
Dheds
Total ...
Number of
cases.
1
11
13
6
17
1
3
________________
157
Number of
deaths.
1
10
13
δ
17
...
8
________________
141
It will be seen that very few Mussalmáns were affected. This however
was due to the fact that the disease originated at the end of the town opposite to
where they live and gradually spread towards the centre. But it never reached
the Mussalmán side where there were only a few isolated cases. Shrávaks suffer-
ed very heavily. These are people of incredibly dirty habits largely owing to
their religious prejudice against destroying, animal life. I am afraid that a good
deal of animal life must have been destroyed when their clothes were disinfected.
Of the persons who died from plague 55 died in their houses or elsewhere
before being segregated, 86 died in the segregation hospitals, and 17 recovered
and were discharged cured from the hospitals. Of the whole number 77 males
and 80 females were attacked, of whom 71 males died and 70 females died.
Mr. Chunilal Dalal states that he treated* 38 persons and of them 16 recovered
and that 74 persons were treated in the general hospital by their own doctors and
all died. Besides these, 5 women were treated in the pardánishin hospital, of
whom 3 died and 2 recovered. Mr. Dalal's method of treatment was, I believe,
dissection or excision of the gland and maintenance of the patient's strength by
means of stimulants and good food.
The measures taken for repression of the outbreak were naturally unpopular.
The people were on the whole, however, very docile and amenable. The most
* There is something wrong with. Mr. Dalal's figures I fear. I think only
of his patients
recovered and 2 women in the Mussalmán segregation place were under Mr. Dalal's treatment,
Mr. Dalai has probably counted the few cases which came from Adájan.—C. N. S.