The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-08-27
THE RECENT PLAGUE IN INDIA.
Intense Aversion of the Natives to Re-
mOva1 of Hospitals

Intense Aversion of the Natives to Re.
mOval of Hospitals.
There was blue Book issued the
other day containing the official story
of the bubonic plague in India down to
May. This, of course, does not include
the period of the outrages in Poona and
the riots in Calcutta; but there is much
in the dispatches that helps us to under
stand the native panic. AS to
the sanitary precautions enforced. the
Bombay government resisted for some
time the attempt of the Indian govern
ment, urged by the home government,
to impose too drastic regulations upon
the people. TAis was the opinion of the
Bombay administration.
From the beginning of the outbreak
of this disease it has been found that
the native inhabitants of the CITY are
very reluctant to leave their houses or to
allow any member of their family af-
flicted with the disease to be taken
away. Indeed, their dread of the dis
ease itself appears to be hardly so pow
erful as their horror of being removed
from their houses. Ignorance and su.
perstition prevent them from discern
ing either that removal to a hospital is
good for the sick or removal to infected
dwellings good for the healthy, and
they are far more easily moved by fear
of the municipal and police authorities
than by any realization of the benefits
that will accrue from a sensible course
of action. 1t is estimated that not less
than 100000 persons have already fed
from Bombay, moved so to do, not only
by fear of the plague, but quite as
much, If not more, by an unfounded
and unreasonable fear of what might
happen to them at the hands of the po-
lice and municipal authorities were
they to remain.
The exodus has already necessitated
precautionary measures against arri-
walls from Bombay in every part of the
presidency; it has led to the plague be-
coming epidemic in Poona and in parts
of the Thana district; it has resulted in
overcrowding by refugees from Bombay
of many cities and towns, and it has
made demands on the number of quail
flied medical practitioners available to
the government, that can with difficulty
be met. Every addition to the number
OF refugees adds to the possibility of
spreading the disease, and to the diff
Guilty of dealing with it should it break
out.
The measures taken may not have
been so stringent as those that would,
In European city, have gained general
support, but they are the most string
emit that it was possible to undertake
without almost certainly producing a
calamity more serious and more wide
spread than the very terrible one that
has now to be dealt with.
The Indian government, however,
were Impressed by the necessity of de-
cisive action, and replied:
"The government of~mdia having
carefully considered your telegram 1872
P; dated 18th, and letter 263-P., dated
18th, regarding the evacuation of
plague-infected houses, regret that,
while giving full weight to Che opinions
OF the local government in regard to
the disposition of the people, they are
unable to accept the view that the con-
siderations adduced in your letter show
that it is impracticable to induce peo-
pie to move from infected houses to a
healthy locality. This course has been
strongly recommended by the medical
adviser of the government of India. 1t
is only the measure attacking the root
of evil which appears practicable, and
experience in Karachi seems to show
that it can Zoe so introduced as not to
offend the prejudices of the people and
is effectual in holding the disease in
check. London News.