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weekly rate be taken at 40 instead of 31, a distinct recrudescence is
observed in September and October; and the more serious epidemic
starting about 6th December 1898, rose rapidly to a maximum death-rate
of 262 in the week ending 7th March 1899 and lasted to the end of the
year-a total period of 25 weeks-though its fall was as rapid as its rise.
The total mortality of the year (4,686) was 1,271 greater than in
1896-97 and 118 less than in 1897-98. But in that year a sharp outbreak
of cholera during the monsoon went to swell the figures. In the earlier
stages plague jumped about without much method from one portion to
another of this large section, but when the epidemic once seriously
started the whole of Byculla was thoroughly infected.
Mazagon.-There was a very slight recrudescence at the end of
September, but the real epidemic began about 13th December, and the
death-rate after rising to a maximum of 163 in the week ending 28th
March 1899 fell rapidly. The epidemic lasted till the end of the year-
a total period of 24 weeks. Its progress through the section was from
South to North. The epidemic of 1897-98 covered approximately the
same period, that of 1896-97 was about 2 months earlier. The
total mortality this year (2,386) was 315 greater than in 1896-97 and
50 greater than in 1897-98. In that year, as in Byculla, there was
a specially high mortality in September.
Tarwari had a slight recrudescence in October, the epidemic began
about 3rd January 1899, increased for 8 weeks, maintained a high level
for 3 (maximum 111 in the week ending 21st March 1899), and was not
far from normal at the end of the year after a course of 21 weeks. The
violence of the epidemic was considerably greater than in either of the
preceding years and the total mortality (1,516), which was 200 per cent.
above normal, exceeded that of 1896-97 by 579, and that of 1897-98
by 411.
Kamatipura.-A recrudescence in September was followed by an
epidemic beginning about 27th December 1898, rising gradually for 10
weeks, to a maximum death-rate of 117 in the week ending 7th March
1899. It began to fall steadily a fortnight later, and the death-rate was
normal during the last week of the year, after a course of 21 weeks.
The epidemic followed very much the same line as in the preceding
year, but was less severe, and both the monsoon recrudescence and the
epidemic were a few weeks later. The total mortality this year (2,668)
was less by 85 than in 1896-97, and by 604 than in 1897-98.
Tardeo.-After a brief recrudescence at the end of September and
the beginning of October, the mortality rose steadily for 9 weeks from
27th December 1899, maintained a high level for 4 weeks, with a maxi-
mum of 94 in the week ending 7th March 1899, and was again normal
at the end of the year, having lasted 21 weeks. The period of rise and
fall thus synchronised closely with that of Kamatipura. The epidemic
lasted longer than in either of the preceding years and the total mortality
(1,723) exceeded that of 1896-97 by 329 and that of 1897-98 by 87.