3
(4) Instructions were also issued for examination and segregation
at all other towns and villages.
The Darbár also reported that, in the event of the plagne becoming
epidemic in any place, a general turn out of the people would be enforced,
persons affected would be separated, and the village cleaned and disinfected.
Strict orders were issued for enforcing general sanitary measures. As a matter
of fact, however, when the plague broke out in Mándvi in an epidemic form about
the beginning of April, there were no disinfectants for Mándvi at all, and very
little for Bhúj. In fact, 1 think, I might sai'ely say that there were nob 500 Ibs.
of disinfectants of any sort in the whole of Cutch.
The Darbár also reported that the medical and municipal staffs had been
strengthened.
When the exodus, from Karachi began, as well as from Bombay, I felt
sure that plague must attack Cutch in au epidemic form sooner or later, for
when 5,000 people a week were landing from these places, it was impossible to
arrange for an efficient camp of observation on shore. A large police force would
have been necessary, and a very large quantity of supplies. Water, too, was not
available for such a large number in one place. The Darbár, therefore, issued
strict orders to the Pátels and Dhrus of villages to keep in quarantine for 15
days outside the village any arrivals from Mándvi or other infected places. It
could never be expected, however, that these orders would be properly carried
out in every case.
Precautions at Bhúj, the
capital.
Special precautions were taken to prevent the plague spreading to Bhúj.
All persons coming from Mándvi were detained in
quarantine at a place called Dahisara, about 15 miles
from Bhúj. This place was chosen on account of there
being a large dháramshala there. Later on, about the end of April when the plague
in Mándvi had got a firm hold, the Darbár asked for the services of Surgeon-
Captain Ricketts, of the l7th Native Infantry stationed at Bhúj, in addition to his
own duties. Dr. Ricketts, advised the Darbár regarding preventive measures and
carried out measures for its suppression should it appear, by the erection of segre-
gation sheds, hospitals for Mahornedans and Hindus, the ordering of a supply of
disinfectants, &c., &c. A strict registration of deaths was kept and the cause
of each death ascertained. As soon as an imported case occurred in a house, the
persons residing in it, as well as in the adjoining houses, were turned out and
the house at once disinfected, and I believe in two cases the houses or rather
huts were burnt down. By these means the plague has up to date been kept out
of Bhúj and there have been only 6 imported cases.
In addition to looking after Bhúj, the services of Dr. Hicketts have been
utilised for taking preventive and suppressive measures at other places such as
Anjár, Kera and Mundra. He has also been looking after the sanitation of
Bhúj and the places above mentioned and occasionally inspecting them to see
that his suggestions have been carried out.
Latterly the Darbár decided to send the Chief Medical Officer and Dr.
Karanjia, the Medical Officer ordinarily in charge at Mándvi, on a tour of
inspection of the villages to ascertain whether the plague is more widely diffused
than is supposed and whether the orders issued by the Darbár are being carried
out. Dr. Damauia, owing to an outbreak of cholera in Bhúj and a recrudescence
of plague at Mundra, has not been able to go, and he has been sent to Mundra;
but Dr. Karanjia has gone out and has sent in some reports, which have not
yet been sent to me.
Of Mándvi and the measures taken to suppress the plague there and in the
surrounding villages I shall treat separately.
Turning out the popula-
tion of a village.
There is no doubt that, when it can be done, there is nothing like turning
tue inhabitants out of a village. This was done in
the case of the village of Kathda, which had 27 in-
digenous cases and 27 deaths : and the plague at once
ceased. This was also partially done in the case of Ráwápur, the houses in
which the deaths occurred being opened up, as well as a large number of the
surrounding houses, with the best results. In Cutch, there would be little
difficulty in doing this in every case when a village becomes badly infected, and
other measures have failed to eradicate the disease ; for with the exception of