230 Measures in the Bombay Presidency and Sind. [CHAP. VIII.
strength of the military, with unlimited officers and men and habits
of rigid discipline, on the existing material, and soon had the popu-
lation under thorough control." The first sittings of the Committee
were attended by Surgeon-Major Reade, one of the doctors who had
been through the Hong-kong plague.
Disinfection of
clothing and
bedding before
removal to camp.
"He suggested the bathing and disinfecting sheds for arrivals
at each camp, the disinfection of all bundles and baggage brought
to the camp, and similar arrangements on leaving. These suggestions
were most carefully elaborated by the Plague Committee. Disinfection
of the person and personal clothing had previous to this been in the
back ground, the getting of sick and healthy out of the infected
houses and the disinfecting and cleaning of those houses absorbing
all the time of the workers. Now immediate transference to hospi-
tal and camp was working smoothly, and it was possible to perfect
that control of the camps to which Surgeon-General Cleghorn has
invited attention. This thorough and painstaking disinfection of the
clothing and bathing of the persons in tubs with a mixture of Jeye's
fluid in the water soon extended up-country with marked effect."
Military search
parties.
"On the 25th March, the first military search party went out.
It was very carefully organised and admirably managed, the civil
officers accompanied by medical men taking charge of each party.
The General had carefully instructed the men, and from that day for-
ward there was no need for the slightest apprehension, either that
the soldiers would not deal tenderly or that the people would not
welcome them: not a complaint was ever preferred."
Close of the
operations.
From this time onwards the epidemic steadily decreased, and the
operations, the gradual and cautious introduction of which have been
described, were carried to their successful conclusion.
HYDERABAD.
Course of the
epidemic.
In Hyderabad very thorough measures were adopted almost from
the outset. After the occurrence of a number of dropping imported
cases local cases began at the end of February, there was a con-
siderable increase in the number of cases in the middle of March,
and a still great increase at the beginning of April. The disease
reached its height in the middle of that month, and the last case
occurred on the 2nd of June.
Organisation.
At the end of January, house-to-house inspection was com-
menced by Municipal officers, and in the middle of February, the
town was divided into eight divisions, each in charge of a European
officer, the Military officers cordially volunteering to assist. Each