12 [CHAP. I, ?T. II.
The importance of the people's co-operation in plague measures cannot be overrated,
In a Town or Village which is determined to protect itself from infection, every person in
such Town or Village becomes a plague authority to prevent the introduction of infection;
a fact to which the Panch Mahals, Broach, and other places which escaped for a long period
bear eloquent witness.
In the introduction and enforcing of any plague measure it should be remembered that
trade is liable to be affected, the occupations of the people to be seriously interrupted, their
prejudices and feelings shocked, and their comfort interfered with. It may be said that
hardly any plague measure has yet been introduced which has not had as a result one or
more of these undesirable consequences.
In weighing plague measures, therefore (the co-operation of the people themselves
being essential to their successful operation), next to their beneficial effects, the extent to
which they will hamper trade, interfere with professions and occupations; shock widespread
prejudices and still widerspread feelings, and produce general discomfort, must be
considered.
The considerations affecting the introduction of a plague-measure may be classed as
follows :-
(1) Its feasibility.
(2) Its beneficial effect and utility.
(3) Its influence on trade and on the lives, occupations and minds of the people.
(4) Its expense-costliness.
(5) The sphere of its effect.
(6) The duration of its effect.
(7) The organization required to carry it into effect, and a few other minor con-
siderations.
The value of a measure may be arrived at by an appeal to-
A.-Facts.
B.-The opinions (founded on personal experience) of those who have had a large
acquaintance with its operation.
The facts are contained in the statistics of Plague. Unfortunately, a small circumstance
will vitiate them, e. g., the natural subsidence of plague having begun before evacuation
was started, concealment of the existence of the disease until a great many cases have
occurred, false statements made by persons wishing to avoid plague restriction,
inexperience, etc., etc. These and many other similar reasons render the attitude of
the statistician towards plague figures and statements one of extreme caution; and such an
attitude makes confident deduction and reliable results almost impossible. Executive
work has, moreover, unfortunately militated against the keeping of reliable detailed records.
In such cases, however, the results have left their impressions on the minds of those
engaged in carrying out the measure; and these impressions will be noticed later.
The following is a brief sketch of the measures introduced throughout the Presidency from
September 1896 to the present time: -
Bombay City, the scene of plague's first appearance in 1896, being at once the seat of
Government, the chief commercial and trading port of India, and the Capital of the Presidency,
the following points were of the first importance :