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The arrangements as described above continued in force till the end of April, when,
owing to the outbreak of indigenous plague in the town of Kálka itself, it was considered
that the disinfection of arrivals there was an illusory measure for the protection of Simla,
and it was accordingly ordered that the system of disinfection at Kálka should be stopped
and the Thresh Disinfecting machine despatched to Simla."
INSPECTION POSTS NEAR SIMLA.
(c) The arrangements in and near Simla are described by Mr. Craik as follows :—
" There were disinfection stations at Tara Devi on the Kálka road and Tawi on the
old road leading to Kálka viâ Kasauli. At Tara Devi there is a 'Thresh' Steam Disinfec-
tor and at Tawi an " Equifex" (smaller) machine. The clothes of all arrivals from infected
areas and localities were disinfected in these machines, and the travellers were then, their
names having been recorded, allowed to proceed to Simla.
" The only exceptions to the rules for disinfection were—
(a) travellers by tonga ;
(b) tonga drivers ;
(c) drivers and guards of Government Bullock Trains.
" The names of class (a) were, however, recorded at the disinfection posts.
" Besides the two disinfection posts described above, there was an observation post
3½ miles from Simla on the Mashobra road, but as it was found that no travellers from
infected areas ever come into Simla by this road, it was abolished in August 1902.
" The road leading into Simla via Kasumpti was also occasionally patrolled by the
police. No regular guard was however kept on this road, the police visiting it at irregular
intervals 4 or 5 days in each week. The number of travellers arriving by this route was
insignificant.
" The names of all arrivals, whether from infected or uninfected areas, were recorded
at the two disinfection posts. All arrivals, with the exception of travellers by tonga and the
Government Bullock Train Staff, were given certificates at these posts to the effect that
their clothes have undergone disinfection or do not require it, and they were instructed to
give up these " parchas " on arrival at Simla to the Mohalladár of their Mohalla.
" The system of surveillance over arrivals in Simla was organised as follows :—
" The native part of the station was divided into 20 wards, for each of which there
was a Ward Member, a Native. The disinfection posts supplied the police daily with a list
of all new arrivals, and the police in turn handed to each Ward Member a list of the new
arrivals in his ward. The Ward Member had to find each of these new arrivals and to give
to the police, as a proof that he had done so, the certificate given to the travellers at the
disinfection post. If the Ward Member could not produce the requisite number of certificates
from his ward, it was clear that he had not found all the new arrivals, and the police there-
upon searched for them. The Ward Members had instructions to see all new arrivals daily
for 10 days after they came to Simla.
" The agency employed was thus in the main voluntary ; the system worked very
well, and the surveillance exercised was an effective one.
"Europeans and their servants, not living in the native parts of the station, were kept
under observation for 10 days after their arrival by the police. A small force of police was
detailed specially for this duty, and were instructed to make daily visits to the houses of new
arrivals. Europeans themselves were not personally inspected, as this was not necessary,
but natives living in the compounds of Europeans' houses were.
" Tonga drivers and the Bullock Train Staff were kept by the Post Office authorities m
the limits of the Post Office premises, and were not allowed to go into the bazar. These
arrangements were left entirely to the Post Office authorities.
" Cartmen and ekka-drivers who only stayed in Simla as a rule for 24 hours were
kept under surveillance by a staff of vaccinators under the Health Officer, Simla."
The following Medical Officers and subordinates were employed on plague inspection
duty in the district :—
1. Captain E. L. Perry, I. M. S.
2. Dr. C. V. Naidu and 7 Hospital Assistants and 2 Dháis.
Note.—Dr. Doyle, Health Officer of the Simla Municipality, was also employed on
plague duty.