19
Sukkur, like Karachi, shows no imported cases. All were local, and, though
Karachi people went to Sukkur, none were traced to have died of plague.
By the 12th February, when the girl was discovered, there must have been a
good many sick in Sukkur, to give rise to the panic that followed her removal.
In the neighbouring town of Shikarpur, plague measures aroused no panic,
because the townspeople had no sick in their households. The early figures
for Sukkur are—
For week ending 12th February
" 19th "
" 26th
"
"
5th March
" 12th "
Cases.
1
0
4
6
14
Deaths.
0
1
1
8
9
On the 3rd March it was evident that plague had broken out at Hyder-
abad as well as at Sukkur, and a telegram was despatched to both Collectors,
pointing out that, local plague cases having occurred, migration of the popula-
tion would commence, and medical inspection of all departures by rail should
be arranged, and at exits by road Plague Authorities should be stationed to
detain sick and suspected for medical examination, and no plague case be
permitted to depart. A second chain of inspecting stations should be made
at suitable points at 10 to 15 miles distant, and every effort made to prevent
sick persons travelling. Any sick found to be detained in hospital. On the
4th March, the measures to be adopted were recapitulated for the guidance of
the Collectors and to strengthen their hands. Private hospitals were the
alternative to forcible removal, but always a discretion was left.
The Collector of Hyderabad reported that 16 medical students were being
placed on the main roads leading from Hyderabad, assisted by Police. Nice
huts were erected for them, and it thenceforward became very difficult for
any sick person to get away. The Hyderabad-Holm Railway Station and the
steam ferry across the Indus were carefully watched for departing families.
The burial and burning grounds were under close supervision, and no conceal-
ment was now possible. The exodus of healthy persons was most desirable,
the town being overcrowded. The Collector of Shikarpur reported that he had
established cordons, but the rush had taken place and guarding the roads was
of little use. It was pointed out that this was true enough, but as each new
street got infected some would still try to escape the measures being taken, and
this must be checked. The arrangements for examination of passengers leav-
ing the Railway Station were also detailed.
Sukkur and Rohri are practically one place, connected by the Lansdowne
Bridge over the Indus, and with railway lines to Hyderabad, to Karachi, to
the Punjab, and to Shikarpur and Baluchistan. A more dangerous spot for
an outbreak of plague could hardly be named, and with the large important
town of Shikarpur, teeming with Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur fugitives, and
having business connections all over India and as far as Bokhara in Central
Asia, situated within 25 miles of Sukkur, the progress of the epidemic was
watched with the keenest anxiety, and the resources of the Province were
strained to check its apparently resistless march northwards.
The Principal Medical Officer was asked to permit Surgeon-Major Baker
to visit Sukkur and assist Surgeon-Major Corkery in making a thorough house-
to-house inspection. Surgeon-Major Baker arrived at Sukkur on the 8th
March, and under date of the 12th idem reported that he had found 2 plague
cases in the isolation camp and 20 persons in the health camp, one of whom
had just developed plague. Old Sukkur, where the wealthier portion of the
community lived, and which was separated from New Sukkur by the European
and Railway quarters, was not deserted to any appreciable extent, but
three-fourths of the inhabitants of New Sukkur had left for the surrounding-
villages.
On the 10th March, Mr. W. H. Lucas, I. C. S., who had just been relieved
at Jacobabad by Mr. M. D. Mackenzie, was put in orders as Personal Assistant
to the Collector of Shikarpur, as no extra establishment had yet been sent,
there and Mr. Cadell had been taken for Karachi. But the Collector did not