3
were made for the medical inspection of the pilgrims arriving at Bársi Road,
Mohol and Mádha. The next big yátra came on in February, and as the
disease was then raging in Bombay it was thought advisable to stop the yátra
altogether. This was done, and a similar order was enforced against the Ghaitri
fair in April and the less important yátras in the intervening months and
against several minor fairs in the district. In ordinary years the Municipality
receives Rs. 10,000 in pilgrim tax during the two fairs that were stopped, but
the receipts would probably have been less this year on account of the famine.
Hospitals.
The Sholápur Municipality put up a Plague Hospital with separate accom-
modation for suspected cases and provided the neces-
sary menial staff. The hospital was in charge of the
Civil Surgeon. There were two admissions, of which one recovered and one
died. The Municipality have now replaced it by a building that will stand the
monsoon. At Bársi Road the cholera hospital put up by the District Local
Board was used for the reception of the one plague case that was discovered
in the camp of observation. The patient was treated by the Hospital Assistant
in charge of the camp. The case was fatal.
Death-rate.
The death-rate in the towns of Sholapur, Paudharpur and Bársi was care-
fully watched. Up to the end or January it was
normal, but then it began to increase and is still above
normal. The increase cannot be traced to the presence of plague. It is
attributed partly to the prevalence of small-pox and latterly of cholera, but in
the main it seems to be due to the hardships people are put to on account of
the high price of food-grains. In Sholápur the death-rate among young child-
ren, especially among those under one year, showed a higher percentage of in-
crease than among the rest of the population. The death-rate figures are col-
lected at the municipal nákas by which all funerals must pass. The reports
from the nákedárs are handed over to the Ward Inspectors who make further
inquiries at the houses where death occurred and of the neighbours. Not a
single case has been reported in Bársi or Sholapur, and no case is known to have
occurred. In Pandharpur one case was found after death.
At Bársi a segregation Hospital was erected by the Municipality outside the
town, and a special peon was engaged bo assist in the work of obtaining in-
formation of the occurrence of plague cases.
At Pandharpur the Cholera Hospital was prepared for the reception of
plague cases and a segregation camp was established 011 the Karád Road. A
qualified medical officer assisted by a special staff of Ward Inspectors was appoint-
ed for the detection and treatment of plague cases in the event of an outbreak,
A special establishment had also to be entertained to assist the Police in pre-
venting the assembly of pilgrims at the yátras which were stopped.
The Bársi and Paudharpur Municipalities jointly paid for the Hospital
Assistant appointed to the Bársi Road camp of observation, and both Munici-
palities increased their stock of disinfectants to be ready against any emergency.
Hotgi Plague Inspection.
Under the orders contained in Government Resolution No. 751, General
Department, dated 11th February 1897, a plague inspec-
tion station was established at Hotgi for the medical
examination of passengers passing out of the Bombay Presidency. A temporary
hospital and observation camp with quarters for the staff were put upon a site
selected by the Sanitary Commissioner. The menial staff consisting of a cook
ward boys, watchmen, sweepers were entertained locally, and a party of Civil
Police was posted to gurd the camp and prevent escapes. The down trains
were locked at Sholapur and were emptied at Hotgi when every passenger was
examined. Suspected cases were detained under observation and were dieted
at the expense of Government. Under the orders contaiued in Government
Resolution No. 2234, dated 29th April 1897, further arrangements were made
to disinfect by boiling any articles of passengers' baggage which the medical
officer in charge might suspect of being infected. Boiling apparatus was ob-
tained and a staff of dhobis employed. Up to 21st June the operations at
Hotgi were in charge of a Commissioned Medical Officer who had under him an