2
but in only one quarter, on the eastern side of the town, the grain merchants'
quarter, did it take root at this time.
9. This was probably due to the infection of the large colonies of rats to be
found where grain is stored. In my opinion these rats probably became infected
through the excreta and dejecta of human beings, and they in turn conveyed the
infection from house to house.
10. This conclusion is strengthened by the fact that, as previously shown,
plague was introduced by fugitives from Bombay in November and December
1896, while the first appearance of dead rats is stated to have been in January.
Moreover, numbers of dead rats were found in the grain quarter at the end of
February and beginning of March—rats in all stages of decomposition, perfectly
fresh bodies and dried-up remains of skin and bone, which latter must have lain
in the houses for at least a month. It will be seen later on that the spread of
plague by rats has an important bearing on the question of house disinfection.
11. The epidemic spread westward over the town, until by the end of
March every quarter was attacked.
12. The accompanying Chart A*shows the rise and fall of the epidemic
from the time it was officially recognized as indigenous in the town, and it will
be seen that the period of greatest intensity was from March 8th to April lltb.
The decline after April llth will be shown to have followed the progress of the
disinfecting operations in the town.
The records of temperature during the epidemic show a mean maximum
of 82° F. and a mean minimum of 72° F.
(b) Plague Preventive Operatians.
13. There are three ways of access to Bulsár—rail, sea and road.
In December last a medical inspection of passengers from the Bombay side
was begun, but not by all trains, and it was only since
Precautions with regard to February last that passengers by all trains from the
Bombay side were subject to medical examination.
14. The medical inspection of arrivals by sea was not begün until the
middle of February. There was no inspection of travellers by road either to or
from the town. As the epidemic subsided in the town, arrangements were made
to prevent, as far as possible, any further introduction of plague.
Passengers by every train alighting at Bulsár were subject to medical ex-
amination.
The crews of all boats coming up the creek were similarly examined, and
guards of military or police sepoys were posted night and clay at each entrance
to the town, with instructions to detain any person who appeared to be ill for
medical examination.
15. Previous to my arrival in Bulsár sanction had been granted the various
.
communities to erect their own hospitals on approved
healthy.
sites, and Hindu, Mahomedan and Pársi hospitals
were in course of erection.
16. In addition to these there were the municipal and railway hospitals.
The arrangement and management of the caste hospitals was left to the separate
communities, subject to general supervision by the Plague authority or a medical
officer deputed by him ; and although the system entailed increased work on a
staff already hard-pressed, yet this was more than compensated in the diminu-
tion of concealed cases of plague.
17. It soon became evident that the people had no objection to the segre-
gation of their sick, provided the place of segregation was conveniently situated,
and perfect freedom in the matter of treatment and attendants was allowed.
18. At a later period, when the Mahomedan quarters were severely affected,
permission was given for the erection of two more hospitals convenient to the
houses and burial-grounds.
* Not printed.