PLAGUE IN DELHI.

Shannon News, 16 October 1923, Page 4

PLAGUE IN DELHI.

» IN NATIVE QUARTERS ONLY. PASSIVE RESISTANCE TO MEDICAL RELIEF. If I am not mistaken, history tells us that the Great Plague in London i was succeeded in the following year by a fire which destroyed a considerable portion of the slums in which the epidemic had occurred, states the Delhi correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian.” Frankly, it is almost to be hoped that history will repeat itself in Delhi, Heaven knows where the inhabitants would go to if it did. But that is by the way. For the benefit of those who are unacquainted with te Indian capital, it may be said that Delhi consists of two parts—the city proper and the civil lines. The city can again be subdivided in to’ the Indian quarter and the European shopping' quarter at Kashmir Gate. Bubonic plague first broke out in the Indian quarter last November, having started in some neighbouring villages a few weeks previously. At first there were som« 12 or 15 cases a day, and the epidemic is still confined almost entirely to the native part of the city. The reason is not far to seek, when you see that salubrious district. Bermondsey, North Shields, Gallowgate, are veritable garden cities in comparison, It is, in fact, remarkable that even now,, five months after the first case was reported, the daily death rate from plague seldom exceeds 40 or 50. (About the middle of March matters began to grow serious. I am not aware what official steps were being taken either to relieve the plaguestricken or to suppress the plague, beyond disinfecting wth phenyl those “houses’* where deaths had occurred , only to drive the rats and their fleas elsewhere—and inoculating the few people who were not of a fatalistic turn of mind. Delhi is none too fully staffed with qualified doctors; few of the patients are either willing or able to pay fees in any case. It was this apparent deficiency which stirred a lady of the Cambridge .Mission to organise relief work amongst the unfortunate people who were' affected. She was joined by other members of the mission staff and some students of St. Stephens’ College, members of the Social Service League, and the group'placed themselves at the disposal of Dr. Sinha, the able and energetic Assistant-Health Officer of Delhi. THEi HOMES OF THE VICTIMS. Now relief, a simple enough conception in itself, presents, some diffiiiiics when the scene of operations - roh c.hed. These can best be understood by a personal visit to the “bastis.” A basti, generally speaking’, is a small courtyard, surrounded on all sides by mud r huts. You enter,/ climbing over the day’s refuse heap; there is a shout* qf "A Sahib has come,” and all the children disappear, all the women cover their faces, and all the dogs (these are legion) start to bark.

“Is anyone ill?" you ask. No reply, but the'women uncover and stare. “Is there any sickness here?” you repeat, “No, there ig.none. Absolutely none. °All are well, thanks be to God.” '“Then what is the matter With that man on the bed.” “He? He has fever for five days.” “Will he take medicine?” you ask, approaching-. “No, he will not.” On examining him there is the bubo which marks this vile disease. Strong iodine ointment is administered thereto on a betel leaf, and the swelling bound Up. Having got so far, resistance is usually overcome, and. they allow you to administer the medicine which is provided. If the sufferers are found within a day ar two of the first attack of fever, dosed, made to lie down, and fed on milk and water, an encouragingly large percentage of them recover, the chief enemy to be grappled with, of course, being fright. “’And are there any other chses ” “Oh, no; no more.”. “Has anyone died’here?” "Yes; two to-day and one yesterday.” “What did you do with their clothes?” “Gave them to the ' sweeper,| of course.” “Where does he live?”' "God knows. What is that to us?” “Who is that little girl over 'there?” She has fever. Her mother died and her father is mad. He also will die.” She also has plague and is dosed. “Hut who will give her her medicine this afternoon?” you ask, “Sabib, if we touch her we die. All who have touched her are now dead.” “Then who feeds her?” “What business of ours is that? If we touch her we die.” THE HOSPITAL. Take her to the infectious diseases hospital (if you can) certainly. But look at it first. A group of one-time tombs, With the Usual domed roof and open sides. No .beds —you must bring your own. A semi-educated compounder and an uneducated assistant in charge, who certainly do their best. Between the buildings one of Marshall’s steam rollers, aiding and abett. ing- the laying- down of a magnificent highway to the new city, Raisina. In this place, Dr Sinha struggles in spare moments to revive the sick — though enticing them thereto is a far, far harder thing than introducing a pauper to the British workhouse. Meanwhile the Senior Health Officer tries to bring- up the total number of inoculations. But why this inoculation? “If God wills it, we live. If not, we die. There will be ‘taklif’; we shall lose two days’ pay.” Tries also to educate some of Delhi’s citizens. “Let us,” said Mr Amin Uddin, secretary of the Social Service League, “start a - rat-destruction campaign.” "N 0,,” replied one of his members; “it is not good to take life.” We are told that .provided the thermometer curve rises, as it should, the epidemic will-begin to decrease ■early in May. The litto (companions ’who carry the germ from rat to maa and' from man to his fellows, expire then, it would appear. Which is for»