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had to render loyal service to Government. He joined the hospital at a time when,
though it is apt to be forgotten, every one, including doctors, thought that the work in a
crowded plague hospital carried the greatest risks. With regard to the work done by
those invaluable public servants, the hospital assistants, I cannot speak too highly of their
Untiring zeal, their kindness to the sick, their tact in dealing with an establishment like
our omnium gatherum. Government rarely get to hear what splendid work is rendered
in their service by these obscure men. If they could see them as I have done carrying in
their arms plague sick in the last stages of delirium who had wandered from their cot, or
who required changing, and doing this not by way of exception but as all in the work of
the day they would realize what heroic qualities are exerted in silence during troublous
times for the glory of Government by the men of subordinate medical establishment.
When the ward boys came up in a body and refused to remove the dead from the wards to
the dead house, because as they said, they would be known and ridiculed ever after as
corpse-bearers, we brought them to their senses at once, and made them ashamed of them-
selves by saying we would remove the dead ourselves. Though this hospital is probably
the largest ever known in the history of plague—at one time we had 235 sick—and the
pressure on our small executive enormous they would have stood by me in removing the
dead or doing any objectionable work rather than leave it undone. The spirit of the
whole establishment was kept up to its work because nothing was asked of any one which
the executive authorities were not ready to share into the full. 1 he man who stood out a
head and shoulders above everybody in every quality that can get work done and done
with smoothness is Mr. Hari Madick, the Senior Hospital Assistant in charge. I am
bringing his name up especially in a communication to the Surgeon-General with a hope
that such a brave and loyal worker in the public service may not go unrewarded.
XIV.—Mr. Plunkett.
I cannot close this account without expressing my thanks to Mr, Plunkett for the
loyal way he co-operated with, me from the first day we met. All my supplies, all my
servants were got through him and he never kept me waiting. The finances of the hospital
which for me would have been the biggest anxiety of all he most kindly took off my hands.
All the bills were counterchecked under his own eye. Everything was paid by him and I
am glad to be able to say that all the business of this improvised establishment was con-
ducted smoothly and I hope with satisfaction without a pice of public money passing
through my hands. His advice was ever ready and sensible. His one idea was to get the
work done. I do not think he cares a, straw, who gets any praise. This makes it all the
inore necessary to let Government know how much of the credit of the work is due to
Mr. Plunkett.
Notes on the purely medical aspect of the work, illustrated by photograph, will follow
as soon as possible.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) J. P. BARRY, B.A., M.B., I. M. S.,
Surgeon-Major,
(True copy)
R. A. LAMB,
Chairman, Poona Plague Committee.
12th August 1897,