PLAGUE IN LAHORE

IN a recent issue, we expressed a misgiving regarding the accuracy of the plague figures and asked the Health Department of the Lahore Municipality to publish a statement showing the daily mortality from fevers. It is gratifying to note that the department has lost no time in responding to the public demand in this matter. On another page will be found a communication from the department about the latest figures of mortality from fever and pneumonia, the only diseases that are likely to be confounded with plague. As these figures do not show that mortality under either of those heads is on the increase, it is not unreasonable to conclude that the plague figures are not wholly inaccurate. In this connection, we are assured that the department makes every endeavour to find out all cases of plague. The present, however, is exactly one of these cases in which the department can do nothing substantial unless the people whole-heartedly cooperate with it, not only in the matter of reporting all cases of plague within their knowledge and of disinfection, but in the still more vital matter of keeping their houses clean and rat-free. Plague, as the department pointed out in a recent communique, is essentially a disease of the homes of the people, and until the inside of the houses is properly looked after, no amount of cleanliness of roads and drains outside the houses — also highly important and deserving of attention — will enable either the Municipality or the people to control the spread of the epidemic. As from all accounts, plague is on the increase in the city, we earnestly hope that not only the leaders of the people but all those who have any influence with them will lose no time in doing their duty in this matter.

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