14
argument that hospitals, while unnecessary in themselves, were a source of the
utmost danger to their vicinity."
14. The first case on the registers of the Health Department ended fatally
in the first week of September. Another was recorded in the following week,
four more in the third week, and 43 in the last week of the month in the Mandvi
ward. Scattered cases, making up the total for September to 79 deaths,
occurred in nine other sections. The progress of the disease is shown in the
following table:
Month.
Attacks.
Deaths.
September
135
79
October
406
313
November
339
273
15. The experience gained subsequently in Bombay City and the chief
centres in the Mofussil showed that even under the most conciliatory régime
there was a tendency to conceal cases, a tendency the strength of which no one
could have foretold at this time. Accordingly there are grounds for thinking
that much of the excess mortality during the epidemic period is to be ascribed
to the plague.
16. The Municipal Commissioner accordingly gives in a tabular form the
number of deaths from all causes for this period. Taking the average rate of
mortality as 36.00 per mille per annum (allowing for the fact that in famine
years the mortality has been always observed to be higher than usual in the city,
the normal death-rate of which is 30.64), this would give an excess of 1,539 deaths
from all causes for the months of August, September, October and November.
Of this total 665 were recorded as plague deaths.
17. In September the plague was practically confined to the section of the
Mandvi Ward which lies between the G. I. P. Railway line and the bandar. From
this region it subsequently spread into the centre of the city, finally ending in
the outlying portions of the island.
18. From time to time the Sanitary Commissioner visited the affected
localities and kept Government informed as to the state of affairs and the action
of the Municipal Executive. On October 29th he reported as follows:
"The Health and Drainage Departments are exhibiting unabated activity, and
extra powers have been conferred on the Municipal Commissioner. Regarding these
powers, that providing for compulsory removal has had to be cautiously used, as it tended
to concealment of cases, and is now used when proper treatment and accommodation
cannot be had."
SECTION 6.
Sketch of the history of Plague in the Mofussil up to the end of November.
1. In this period plague in an epidemic form was reported to be confined
to the City of Bombay. About 40 persons suffering from the disease were known
to have escaped to numerous scattered places in the Mofussil, but as they were
mostly in a moribund condition concealment was not easy, and on discovery
they were, as far as could be ascertained, promptly and appropriately dealt with
by the local authorities who were on the alert. Of indigenous plague it is
reported that there had been one case at Mahád in the Kolába District, 3 in the
railway goods yard at Ahmedabad and 29 at Sangvi, a small village in the
Sátára District; but at the end of the period under notice there were no signs
of a spread of plague in any part of the Mofussil.
2. Thána, the Sálsette Táluka whereof is joined to Bombay by causeways
at Bándra and Kurla, was, as already indicated, the district most exposed to the
risk of infection when plague first appeared in Bombay. As early as the 2nd
of October the Collector, after a consultation with the Civil Surgeon, decided
on appointing police constables to watch the railway stations of Thána, Bándra.
Kurla and Kalyán until other Inspectors could be appointed, and on sending
to the Civil Hospital all persons discovered at the Thána Station to be suffering
from plague. The advice of the Surgeon General, communicated to the Collec-