DURATION OF PLAGUE EPIDEMICS. ] 65
The average duration of plague in towns between 20,000 and 60,000 appears to be
therefore between 15 and 18 weeks-or about 4 months. The effect of evacuation, the
phenomenal outbreak at Hubli, and want of measures in Mandvi, etc., combine to render
the figures less definite than they would otherwise be.
Places with a population of under 20,000 still remain to be dealt with. The variations
in the duration of plague in these places, even when situated in the same District, and
administered by the same officers, render it necessary again to resort to subdivision.
In the next category, therefore, towns of from 20,000 to 7,000 are alone included. But
the number of such towns is so large that it is necessary to treat them aggregately by Districts.
(d) Duration of plague in towns with a population of between 20,000 and 7,000.
District.
Number of places (20,000- 7,000) affected.
Total aggregate duration of plague (in weeks).
Average duration (in weeks).
Thana District
9
131
14 5/9
Surat ,,
4
51
12
Satara ,,
3
40
13 1/3
Kathiawar Agency
3
44
14 2/3
Other Districts
15
167
11 2/5
Total
34
433
12 25/34
In places with a population of under 7,000 the duration of an epidemic appears to be
limited to a few weeks. The results in the case of these latter obtained by the same method as
statement (d) are given in the following statement:-
(e) Duration of plague in towns and villages with a population of 7,000 and under.
District.
Number of places (7,000 and under) affected.
Total aggregate duration of plague (in weeks).
Average (in weeks).
Bijapur District
51
293
5 8/5 5/1
Thana ,,
42
359
8 2/4 8/2
Dharwar ,,
40
299
7 1/4 9/0
Surat ,,
39
316
8 6/3 4/3
Cutch State
32
316
9 7/8
Belgaum District
28
240
8 4/7
Kolaba ,,
26
203
7 2/2 1/6
Ahmednagar,,
23
147
6 9/23
Kaira
22
79
3 1/2 3/2
Broach
16
51
3 8/16
Other Districts
25
165
6 3/5
Total
344
2,468
7 1/8 5/6
A comparison of all these statements appears to show that the duration of plague is to
some extent dependent on the area and population of the place affected.
In order to obtain information on the general question of the continuance of plague
in a place, the following Circular was issued by the Plague Commissioner on the 15th of
August 1898:-
17