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PLAGUE 



military discipline, and in circumstances far superior 

 in a sanitary sense to those of the average villager. 

 When the disease appeared, the lines were isolated, 

 so that none could enter or leave without the know- 

 ledge of the military. A special hospital was erected 

 close by, where all sick persons were sent as they 

 were discovered by the search parties of European 

 artillerymen, who visited each house thrice daily. 

 It is therefore probable that all cases of plague 

 were promptly discovered and removed to hospital : 

 and in each case the usual disinfection was thoroughly 

 and systematically carried out. Yet, in spite of all 

 this, it was found that, in those not protected by 

 inoculation, i out of every 6 of the population was 

 attacked, and 2 out of every 3 attacked died. 

 The epidemic was, therefore, a severe one. The 

 population of the lines numbered 1530; and, out 

 of these, 671 volunteered for inoculation. At the 

 close of the epidemic, the plague-hospital admission 

 and discharge book was examined, and compared 

 with the register of those inoculated, when the 

 following result was got. The population operated 

 on being under military discipline, and confined to 

 their lines, makes the accuracy of the figures un- 

 doubted : — 



Inoculated, 671, with 32 cases, of which 17 



died = 2.5 per cent. 

 Uninoculated, 859, with 143 cases, of which 

 98 died = 1 1.4 per cent. 



" Here, then, is seen a body of people divided 

 into two groups by the fact that one had under- 

 gone inoculation and the other not, but differing in 

 no other way, reacting towards plague in such a 

 markedly different manner that the conclusion is 



