The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-05-16
FAMINE AND PLAGUE IN INDIA.
'heir Effects on the Missionary Work.

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 l Their Effects on the Missionary Work. To the Editor of the Journal and Courier: 1 The report for 1897 of the Marathi Mission of the American Board in western India has just come out, and is of great interest on account of the remarkable effects which the famine and the plague have had on the mis- sionary work there. The district oc- cupied by this mission has been se- verely affected by both these dreadful | ViSitations. The deadly bubonic plague broke out in Bombay in Sep tember, 1896. It steadily increased during the months of December Janu- ary and February. People fled by hundreds and thousands from Bom- bay, taking refuge in the towns of all the surrounding country. Many of them carried the plague with them, but with few exceptions, besides these imported cases, it did not spread extensively outside of Bombay during those months. During the following rainy season, which lasts from June to October, the disease was much reduced in Bombay and hopes were enter tained that it was nearly stamped out. But as the cooler weather came on, it began to prevail again, and this time it ragged, not only in Bombay, but the germs which had been carried to other towns caused the disease to sweep over them too. Of the stations of the | American mission, Ahmednagar, Sirur, Sholapur and Satara were all visited. The government adopted strict quar- antine measures, which have doubtless reduced the proportions of the plague very considerably, but which have not stamped it out. A description of the conditions in one of these places will apply to all. In Ahmednagar, which narmaliy has population of about forty thousand, there are probably left in the city less than two thousand. The rest have fled to other towns or have encamped in the fields in huts and shelters of various kinds. The medical authorities have advised them to leave in order that the city may have thorough airing and disinfec ton. Wherever cases of plague ap- : pear the patient is taken to a hospital and those who have been exposed are hurried off to "the segregation camp" until it is seen whether the disease will develop. The house is given a thor ough cleaning and disinfection; some times the roof is removed to let in air and light; some of the poorer houses are burned down or torn down since they are built of mud which will not burn). All the schools Tn the city are closed and business is almost at a standstill. One missionary says: "The terror of the plague cannot be written. We have felt it personally, for the pes- tilence invaded our compound and claimed four persons as it's victims, among them two of our school-boys and much valued household servant, who refused our offer to leave us for a place of safety, and disinterestedly chose to share our danger" Another missionary writes: "The effect on trade and business is most paralyzing. Cities are depopulated, trade Is blocked by quarantines, railway passengers are examined and stopped if signs of fever are found, medical certificates are required to get railway tickets from infected towns, cotton and other mills are stopped, and the material prosperity of the country suffers inde- scribably" The city streets, which were formerly full of people with their Oriental noises, are now silent and de- serted, and 1t seems indeed like a city of death It is likely that with the rains, which begin in June, the rava- ges of the plague will be stayed, but whether it will break out again over a | ..1 season, is something which God only | knows.
 The famine is now over although the effects of it still remain. It caused un- told suffering, but the loss of life would have been far greater had it not been for the noble and heroic ef- forts of the government of India for famine relief. Our missionaries are of one mind in their appreciation of the gigantic efforts of the government to meet the twin calamities of famine and plague and to save life and relieve suf- fering. Their famine camps and other relief operations were found in every affected district, and but for these ef- forts the death-rolls would have been immensely increased. After the great
 
 an elaborate code of directions to off, cers in various departments for gui- dance in time of famine. The higher officers, especially the Europeans worked faithfully to carry out these directions. Just before leaving India ] visited a relief camp, which is typical of others. At ont time over seven thousand men, women and children were at work in that one camp. The scene was one battle against starva- tion. Overhead was the burninfg blistering summer sun, in sky that had been cloudless for six months while underfoot were the baked earth and hot stones The people were seat ed in long rows, generally accord ing to families and castes around them were piles of large stones which they were breaking with small hammers. Ragged clothes, bare | heads, blistered hands, hammered fin.