20.
Appendix 19.—Drawing of the hospital and its surroundings.
Appendix 20.—Daily statement of cases.
Appendix 21.-—Statement of men, women and children treated at the
hospital.
Appendix 22.—Statement of cases with groups of statistics.
Appendix 23.—Statement of superior establishment.
Appendix 24.—Statement of nurses.
Appendix 25.—Statement of establishment employed when the hospital
was fullest.
Appendix 26.—Copy of the Plague Committee's rules relating to the
hospital.
13. A plan of the hospital drawn to scale has already been submitted to
Government with my No. 1063 of the 8th May 1897. One of the first duties of
the Plague Committee was to arrange for the extension of the General Plague
Hospital to accommodate the increased numbers of patients that were expected to
be brought there. Again, during the month of May, a portion of the hospital had
to be adapted to monsoon requirements, and monsoon accommodation for 75
patients was ordered to be provided. Works in connection with this hospital
were carried out by the Public Works Department. It may be mentioned that
the hospital with its burial grounds at one time occupied an area of 15 acres and
2 gunthas.
14. Surgeon-Major Barry's report on the hospital is clear, and there is
little in it that requires comment from me. I am not sure, however, that he is
correct in saying that the labours of the European nurses were largely wasted.
Of the value of their work from a medical man's point of view I am of course
unable to express an opinion. From, what I have seen with my own eyes I con-
sider, however, that the attentions of the nurses were much appreciated by the
patients.
15. The tabular statements relating to the hospital for the most part do not
appear to call for remarks from me. I must however draw attention to Appendix
20 as showing the remarkable increase that took place in the number of admis-
sions from March 14th, i.e., from the time the military search parties commenced
work. There is a striking contrast in the number of admissions before and after
that date, though there is every reason to think that there was more plague in
Poona at the beginning than at the end of March. Nothing could show more
clearly the value of the military search parties than this record of admissions to
hospital. In explanation of the fact that the marked increase in the number of
admissions occurred on the 14th, while the search by the military commenced on
the 13th, I may mention that the hospital returns were made up to 6 A.M. daily
and the returns for the 14th would include all persons admitted after 6 A.M. on
the previous day.
16. I have much pleasure in acknowledging the valuable work done by
Surgeon-Major Barry as Supervisional Medical Officer. The comfort of the
patients was looked to in every way, a high standard of sanitation was maintained,
and the discipline enforced upon the large staff of hospital subordinates was
excellent. Surgeon-Major Barry has been ably seconded by Mr. Plunkett, by
Doctor Dárábshett, the Medical Officer in charge, and by Miss McIntosh, who has
been in charge of the nursing arrangements since April 18th.
Mahomedan Plague Hospital.
17. This hospital was erected with my sanction by the Mahomedans of
Poona, the funds for constructing and maintaining it being raised by voluntary
subscription. It was managed by a Committee, of which the leading spirit was
Mr. Jaffer Jussuff, the well-known Commission Agent. The management was
subject to the control of the Plague Committee. The Committee of management
admitted all Mahomedans to the hospital free of charge and provided them with
free board and lodging while they remained inmates.