EVACUATION.]                                              29
But in this connection there is a hopeful sign in the gradual comprehension by the people
of uninfected villages and towns themselves, who are at length beginning to realize their own
danger in harbouring such fugitives, and consequently to deny to such fugitives entrance into
their towns and villages. On the intelligent co-operation of the people, then, depends to a
very large extent the necessity for Government organizations to prevent dissemination in
the manner just described ; and it is hoped that this co-operation will become ever more
efficient and valuable as the masses comprehend the salient characteristics of the disease.
(5) and (6).-The sphere of evacuation; and the duration of its effect.-
The sphere of evacuation is only limited by the size and population of the town or
village emptied ; and extends, moreover, not merely to the protection of such population, but
to the complete eradication of infection in the village itself : provided that the measure has
been allowed sufficient time to do its work.
The duration of its effect, though uncertain, appears to be more or less permanent ; the
cases where a town or village, which has once been completely evacuated for a sufficient
length of time, has afterwards suffered from a recrudescence-as distinguished from a re-
infection-if any such exist, being exceedingly rare.
The disadvantages and drawbacks attributed to evacuation are :-
(i.)    Danger to person and property from dacoity.
(ii.)   Injury to health from exposure.
(iii.) Impossibility of efficient death registration.
(iv.)    The hardships it imposes on certain of the poorer classes.
Careful inquiries have been instituted on the first two points, with the following result :-
(i.) Evacuation and Crime.
That the vacating of a town leaves the houses empty, and increases the risk of robbery,
cannot be denied. This difficulty has been partially met by police guards and patrols, and
by carefully securing the doors so as to prevent ingress except by force.
Dacoities on the people in the fields also occur, but are not numerous, and seldom serious.
From reports received by Collectors it would seem, therefore, that the complete evacuation of
villages does to a small extent in some districts tend to increase dacoity and robbery. In
other districts, on the other hand, the increase is insignificant. Ahmednagar may be cited as
an instance of such a district, and Mr. C, Hudson, I. C. S., the Collector, submits an interest-
ing report on the point :-*
"The following offences were committed during the years 1897 and 1898 in this district
at places which were evacuated on account of plague :-
Dacoity	1
Robbery	2
House-breaking thefts       ...        ...         ...         ...         ...         ......	18
Simple thefts         ...         ...        ...        ...         ..          ...         . .	7
Receiving stolen property            ...         ...         ...	3
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2.    The   cases  were  distributed  over   Nagar City and the villages of Bhingar, Savedi,
Máliváda, Shrigonda, and Rájur.   Nineteen cases were disposed of by being brought to trial,
* No. 968 of 1st February 1899.
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