NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
258 MEDICAL STORES. [SECT. XI.
ment to do so. Should the balances be found to correspond with the quantities
indicated in the accounts kept by the Medical Examiner, no further verifica-
tion is needed ; but, should the discrepancies be noticeable, either as to the
amount, or the number of articles examined, then it will be necessary that
the whole of the stock should be examined by a Committee nominated for
the purpose. This rule applies also to provincial Depôts, and the Deputy
Inspector General of the circle will select the articles to be verified.
10. LIST OF DRUGS FOR VERIFICATION.—In selecting the articles to be
examined by the verifying officer, the Inspector General, or Deputy Inspector
General, is to seal and deliver the list into the hands of the person deputed to
perform the duty. The officer so deputed is to make careful scrutiny of the
stores, and to enter in his own hand-writing the quantities remaining, and
the condition of the stores mentioned in the list. Having completed the
examination, he is to return the list to the Inspector General, or Deputy
Inspector General, Indian Medical Department.
11. S A F E C U S T O D Y O F S T O C K . — T h e P r i n c i p a l M e d i c a l S t o r e - k e e p e r i s
enjoined to exercise the utmost care in the custody of the stock committed to his
charge. He is to adopt every precaution to preserve the drugs, chemicals, and
instruments, from deterioration by the effects of climate, moisture, &c. In
the preparation department, the strictest supervision is to be used to prevent
waste, or improper use of the materials given out for the manufacture of
pharmacopœial preparations.
12. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF STORE-KEEPERS.—All Medical Store-
keepers are personally responsible for the safe custody of the property com-
mitted to their charge, and are liable to be called upon to make good the value
of articles, the loss of which is not satisfactorily accounted for.
13. ISSUE OF STOCK.—In the issue of supplies, Medical Store-keepers
will always expend the articles longest in store, provided that they are
perfectly serviceable, and fit for issue.
14. CONDEMNED MEDICINES.—All medicines, which have been condemned
as damaged or useless, are to be destroyed, under instructions from the
Inspector General, in the presence of the Principal Medical Store-keeper, or
Deputy Medical Store-keeper. All packing cases, instruments, utensils, &c.,
which cannot be repaired or again be made use of for the public service, are
to be sold by public auction, under instructions from the Inspector General,
Indian Medical Department, and the proceeds are to be deposited to the credit
of the Government in the Madras Bank, or a Government Treasury, the
Medical Store-keeper receiving a receipt, in duplicate, for the amount, one of
which is to be sent to the Examiner of Medical Accounts.
15. REPAIR OF INSTRUMENTS.—All repairable surgical instruments will,
as far as possible, be made serviceable by the cutlers of the Presidency Medical
SECT. XI.] MEDICAL STORES. 259
Stores, and all demands for such repairs by Deputy Medical Store-keepers
and Executive Medical Officers must be accompanied by an indent for the
sanction of the Inspector General, Indian Medical Department. In case of
repairs being required, for which there are no appliances in the Presidency
Medical Stores, the Principal Medical Store-keeper will submit an indent,
stating the probable cost of the work to be executed, for the sanction of the
Inspector General, Indian Medical Department.
16. LOAN OF INSTRUMENTS.—Surgical Instruments, air beds, &c., may in
some cases be given out on loan to Executive Medical Officers at the Presidency,
and other places within reach of Store Depôts, who, in making such requisi-
tions, will send to the Medical Store-keeper indents or receipts, in duplicate,
for the sanction of the Inspector General, Indian Medical Department. Under
urgent circumstances, Medical Store-keepers are authorized to make such loan
on their own responsibility, but must immediately afterwards make a report
of the circumstance to the Inspector General, Indian Medical Department, or
Deputy Inspector General of the Circle. Store-keepers are responsible that
articles lent in this way, are returned again to stock.
17. ISSUES OF MEDICINES ON PAYMENT.—Medicines are allowed in some cases
to be issued on payment. The Inspector General before sanctioning indents of
this description, requires to be satisfied that the stores in question are surplus
to the established proportion; that the issue can be made without inconvenience
to the public service ; and, also, that the articles are not procurable in the local
market. The indents of private individuals, when sanctioned, are valued by
the Examiner of Medical Accounts at 35, and some at 55 per cent. in addition
to cost price, to cover the charges of freight, customs duty, breakages, &c.
The value of stores sold to private persons must be paid into the Madras
Bank, or local treasury to the credit of Government, and a receipt, in duplicate,
forwarded to the Store-keeper, before the indent can be complied with. Arti-
cles used in packing must be included in the sanctioned indent, so that the
same may be valued, and the amount recovered of the purchaser.
18. LABELLING OF POISONOUS DRUGS.—The Principal, and all Deputy
Medical Store-keepers are enjoined not to issue any
drugs, which have been known to give rise to accidents
in dispensing, except in fluted bottles, or with the word " Poison" in large
printed characters being affixed to the bottle, vessel, or box containing the drug.
The word poison is to be in larger characters than the name of the medicine.
19. VERNACULAR LABELS.—For this purpose, labels of convenient sizes,
on blue paper, are to be printed with the word poison in English, and one of
the following vernaculars, Malayalum, Canarese, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindus-
tani, and to be affixed to all ordinary bottles, &c., containing poisonous drugs
issued from the Stores.
Cir. No. 179 of 23rd
January 1863.
260 MEDICAL STORES. [SECT. XI.
20. FLUTED PHIALS.—When fluted bottles and phials are used, the poison
label may be omitted. None but poisonous drugs are
to be issued in fluted bottles. These bottles are never to
be used for any other purpose than the retention of poisons ; and when no
longer required, are to be returned by Medical Officers to Store Depôts. Such
bottles are never to be sold with unserviceable articles.
21. UNUSUAL DEMANDS ON STORE DEPOTS.—In order that the Inspector
General, Indian Medical Department (with whom rests
the responsiblity of keeping up an adequate supply of
Medical Stores for all departments of the Government) may be kept acquainted
with the state of the Store Department, it is directed that the Principal and
Deputy Medical Store-keepers bring to the notice of the Administrative Medical
Officers of their Circles any unusual demands that may be made on the stores
under their charge.
22. CHECKING OF INDENTS.—The indents of Medical Officers of the
British Medical Service are checked by the Administrative Medical Officers of
that Service. A similar course will be followed as regards indents of officers
of the Indian Medical Department, and of the Veterinary Department.
23. VETERINARY SUPPLIES.—The Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon shall,
finally examine and pass all indents for veterinary medi-
cines, instruments, stores, &c., required for current use,
and his signature on the face of the indents, shall be sufficient authority
to the Medical Store-keeper to comply with the same.
24. INSPECTING VETERINARY SURGEON TO PREPARE ESTIMATE FOR VETERINARY
SUPPLIES.—In order that the veterinary stock in the Medical Stores may be
properly replenished, it is directed that the Inspecting Veterinary Surgeon
shall prepare an annual estimate of articles, local and home, required for the
use of the Veterinary Department of the Presidency, and that this estimate
shall be forwarded to the Principal Medical Store-keeper, by the 1st January of
each year for incorporation in his estimate of local supplies and annual indent
for stores from home.
25. CUSTODY OF BLANK BOOKS, FORMS, &c.—As a security against theft,
all blank books, returns, records, &c., when of necessity
not kept under lock and key, should be tied up cross-way
with tape and. sealed, so that any abstraction from the bundle may be easily
observed.
26. Indents. EXECUTIVE MEDICAL OFFICERS.—The annual indents for
Medical Stores of Executive Medical Officers are to be
in duplicate, and to be dated 1st April in each year.
Extra indents must also be in duplicate. Extra indents must be accompanied
by laters explanatory of the necessity of the demand, and. must invariably be
Cir. No. 2,308 of
29th May 1866.
Cir, No. 3,339. of
3rd Septr. 1867.
G. O., No. 604 of
19th Feb. 1867, M. D.
G. O., No. 2,878 of
5th Augt. 1867, M.D.
Cir. No. 3,319 of
8th Oct. 1864.
SECT. XI.] MEDICAL STORES. 261
restricted to such articles as are urgently needed for the treatment of the sick.
Medical Officers are to confine their requisitions to the list of drugs, &c.,
included in the printed indents. Supplementary lists are prohibited. (See
Section XIII. " INDENTS.")
27. DEPUTY MEDICAL STORE-KEEPER.—The annual and extra indents of
Deputy Medical Store-keepers are to be in duplicate, and the annual is to be
dated 1st August, and despatched, so as to reach the Principal Medical Store-
keeper not later than 15th September.
28. The indents of Deputy Medical Store-keepers are to be uniformly
headed—
" 1 8
1 st August.
Anuual indent for Medicines and Medical Stores for the use of the Civil and
Military establishment in the —Division, to meet
the requirements of the year
—."
29. EUROPEAN STORES. —The a nnua l i nde nt on t he Home Gove r nme nt
for Medical and Surgical Stores is to be dated and despatched on the 1st August.
30.De po t s . —De pôt s of Me di c a l St or e s a r e ma i nt a i ne d a t t he f ol l owi ng
stations :
—
Bangalore—This depôt supplies the Military and Civil stations in the
Mysore Division.
Bellary—supplies the Military and Civil departments of the Ceded
Dis-tricts (except Cuddapah and Gooty.)
Cannanore —supplies the Military and Civil departments in the provinces
of Malabar and Canara (except Calicut.)
Vizagapatam—supplies the principal Civil and Military stations in the
Northern Districts (except Masulipatam and barriers of the
Godavery.)
Trichinopoly —supplies the principal Military and Civil stations in the
Southern Districts.
Kamptee —supplies the Military and Civil Departments of Nagpore sub-
sidiary force, &c.
Secunderabad —supplies the Hyderabad Subsidiary Force, Hyderabad
Contingent, and Civil departments in the Assigned Districts.
Rangoon—supplies the Military and Civil establishments of British
Burmah, Andaman Islands, and Nicobars.
31. CHARGE OF DEPOTS. —A Deputy Medi cal Store-keeper and an Apo-
thecary are allowed for the duties of each Medical Depôt. The Deputy Medical
Store-keeper is either the Garrison Surgeon or the senior regimental Medical
Officer of the Indian Department present.
3 2 . S U B S I D I A R Y R U L E S . —I t i s c o mp e t e n t f o r t h e P r i n c i p a l Me d i c a l
Store-keeper to lay down subsidiary rules, approved of by the Inspector Gene-
Ibid.
262 MEDICAL STORES. [SECT. XI.
ral, Indian Medical Department, for the conduct of the duties of the various
members of his establishment, and also for Deputy Medical Store-keepers to
direct the Apothecaries and servants attached to their establishments in their
duties. It is understood that Government look to Store-keepers for the
efficient conduct of their establishments, and hold them pecuniarily responsible
for the safety of the property committed to their charge.
33. PACKAGES TO BE SEALED.—Medical Store-keepers will be held respon-
sible for the correct issue of all supplies leaving their depôts ; and, in order to
prevent theft during transit, all packages and cases are to be properly secured
with sealing-wax, bearing the impression of the office seal.
34. SHIPMENT OF STORES.—When supplies are ready for despatch, the
Medical Store-keeper, if they are to be sent by sea, will forward the same with
an application for their shipment and conveyance, and a tonnage statement, to
the Master Attendant.
35. PACKAGES SENT BY LAND.—If to be sent by coolie, cart, or rail, a
similar application will be made to the Executive Commissariat Officer, with
indent, stating the weight in pounds of the packages and the nature of the
carriage required. In case of supplies for the civil department, the cost of
carriage will be paid to the Commissariat Department by the Medical Store-
keeper, who will receive an annual grant to meet such charges.
36. PREPARED MEDICINES.—Prepared medicines for issue to small detach-
ments or working parties will be made up at the Fort Dispensary, and sent
to the Principal Medical Storekeeper for despatch.
37. ESTABLISHMENT.—An establishment as below is sanctioned for the
Principal Medical Store-keeper. The pay of the Store Establishments is
drawn on abstract by Medical Store-keepers.
No.
Designation.
Amount
of Salary. No.
Designation.
Amount
of Salary.
RS. A. P.
RS. A. P.
1 Apothecary
...
. . .
1 Record-keeper ...
... 10 8 0
1 Assistant Apothecary ...
1 Artificer
...
. . . 28 0 0
1 2nd Uncovenanted Asst. ...
8 0 0 0 1
Do. ...
... 24 0 0
1 3rd Do. do. ... 60 0 0 1
Do.
...
. . . 16 0 0
1 4th. Do. do. ... 50 0 0 1
Do. ... ... 12 0 0
1 5th Do. do. ... 35 0 0 1 1st Tindal
...
. . .
8 12 0
1 Head Writer ...
... 70 0 0 1 Cooly Lascar ...
. . . 7 0 0
1 Writer
... . . . 45 0 0 15
Do. at 6-5-4 each... 95
0 0
1 Do.
...
... 30 0 0 3 Peons at 7-0-0 do. ... 21 0 0
1 Do
...
... 24 8 0 14 Commissariat Coolies at6-0-0
each (pay for Sundays and
holidays being deducted).
Carpenter at 7 as. per diem
Cooper at 11 Rs. per mensem
Thes e l abour er s
a r e e mp l o y e d a s r e q u i r e d & p a i d
by t he Commi s-
sariat Dept.
1 Do.
...
... 17 8 0
1 Do.
...
... 14 0 0
1
1
SECT. XI.] MEDICAL STORES. 263
38. Establishments of Provincial Depôts.
Designation.
T r i c h i n o p o l y .
B e l l a r y .
B a n g a l o r e .
C a n n a n o r e .
V i z a g a p a t a m .
K a m p t e e .
R a n g o o n .
S e c u n d e r a b a d . *
Monthly Salary.
Apothecary ...........
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Pay of Class.
Clerk...................
. . . ... . . .
. . .
. . .
. . . l* 1† *Rs. 75. † Rs. 20.
Compounders .........
. . . ... . . .
. . .
. . .
. . . 2 ... Rs. 12-8 each.
Peon ..............
. . . ... . . .
. . .
. . .
. . . 1 ... Rs. 7-8.
Cooly Lascars.........
4 3‡ 3 3 3 3 3§ 4 Rs. 6-5-4 ‡ Rs. 6 ea.
§ Cooly Lascars in
Rangoon get Rs.
12 per mensem.
39. LIST OF RETURNS.—The following returns will be furnished by the
Principal and Deputy Medical Store-keepers.
Principal Medical Store-keeper.
At what time.
To whom.
Subject.
Weekly ... Inspector General Indian
Medical Department.
Weekly Report of Indents received,
despatched, and remaining uncomplied
with.
Monthly ...
„
Monthly Return showing the alterations
and additions of Establishment autho-
rized by Government.
„
1st ... Deputy Inspector General
Presidency Dn.
Nominal Return of Medical Officers and
Subordinates.
„
16th... Examiner of Accounts
Medical Department.
Monthly Return of Medical Stores of
Receipts, Issues, and Remains.
Annual.
April 10th... Commissariat Department Indent for Asiatic medicines, &c.
„ „ ... Commissary of Ordnance
„ Artificers tools and tar-
paulin's.
„
„ ... Superintendent Gun Pow-
der Manufactory.
„ Nitre purified.
„ „ ... Principal Medical Store-
keeper, Calcutta.
„ Mineral Acids,Extract of Can-
nabis Indica,and Opium, &c.
„ „ ... Medical Examiners of
Madras, Calcutta, and
Bombay.
Statement showing what medicines and
instruments Medical Store .keeper can
spare to other Presidencies from surplus
stock.
„ „ ... Examiner of Medical
Accounts, Madras.
Inventory of Surplus, deficiencies, and
unserviceable articles.
„ „ ... Superintendent Govern-
meat Press.
Indent for Blank Printed Papers and
Books.
„
15th... Examiner Medical Ac-
counts.
Annual Return of General and Veterinary
stock of Medical Stores.
„ „ ...
„
„ Medicines prepared in Store.
„ „ ...
„
Statement of Medical Stores supplied to
Detachments proceeding to Burmah on
Foreign Service.
* An allowance of Rupees 15 per mensem for Stationery is sanctioned for the Store
Department, at Secunderabad.
264 MEDICAL STORES. [SECT. XI.
Principal Medical Store-keeper. —(Continued.)
At what time.
To whom.
Subject.
July
1st... Barrack Master.
Indent for repairs and exchanges of
Office furniture.
„ „ ... Inspector General Indian
Medical Department.
Estimate of articles required from
England.
August 1st...
,,
Annual Indent on Home Government.
„ „ ... Barrack Master.
Annual Return of Office furniture.
„
15th... Superintendent of Sta-
tionery.
Estimate of articles of country manu.
facture.
„ „ ... Inspector General Indian
Medical Department.
Budget of the Office Establishment, and
Budget for country medicines, &c.
September 1st ... Supt. of Stationery.
Estimate of articles of Europe manufacture.
„
15th... Barrack Master.
Estimate of repairs and exchanges of
Office furniture.
October 15th ... Superintendent of Sta-
tionery.
Indent for the actual requirements of
articles of Stationery, both Europe and
country manufacture.
„
15th ... Inspector General Indian
Medical Department.
Detailed List of Carts and coolies
required for Civil Departments.
Deputy Medical Storekeepers.
At what time.
To whom.
Subject.
Monthly.
... 16th... Examiner of Accounts
Medical Department.
Monthly Return of Medical Stores of
Receipts, Issues, and Remains.
Annual.
April ... Principal Medical Store-
keeper.
Indent for Asiatic Medicines, &c.
... 10th... Examiner of Medical
Accounts.
Inventory of surplus, deficiencies, and
unserviceable articles.
... 15th...
„
Annual Return of General and Veteri-
nary stock of Medical Stores.
July ... Principal Medical Store-
keeper.
Estimate of articles required from
England.
Inspector General Indian
Medical Department.
Annual Indent for Medical Stores, &c.
September ...
„
Budget of the Office Establishment, and
for country medicines, &c.
40. RELINQUISHING CHARGE.—On a Medical Officer relinquishing charge
of a Store Depôt, he must obtain and forward to the Medical Examiner, a
Certificate signed by the relieving officer in the following form :—
" Received from — all the European and Indigenous Medicines,
Surgical instruments, Utensils, &c., borne on the books of the — Depôt,
as remaining on this date.
Station.
(Signed) —"
Date.
SECT. XI.] MEDICAL STORES 265
Surgical instruments.
41. ATTACHED TO CHARGES, NOT TO INDIVIDUALs.—Surgical instruments
will be attached to the charge, and not to the individual
Medical Officer; by whom the charge is held. They will
be supplied from the public stores on indents, countersigned by the Adminis-
trative Medical authorities, as follows :—
To a full Regiment of British Cavalry
or Infantry
One capital or complete case of Field
instruments, and two Pocket-cases.
Head-quarters of Brigade, Royal Artillery.
One capital and one Pocket-case.
Battery of Horse Artillery.
Light Field Battery of Artillery.
A full Regiment of Native Cavalry or Infantry.
Wings of Regiments, , whether European or Native, when
detached from Regimental Head-quarters.
Garrison Batteries of Artillery when in charge of a separate
Medical Officer.
Detachment of Troops in charge of a Medical Officer.
Jails, Civil Hospitals, and Dispensaries.
For Jails and Civil Hospitals, Pocket-cases,
one for each subordinate.
The above allotment refers only to capital and pocket-cases. Other
instruments and appliances of approved utility will be issued in such numbers
or quantities as may, be deemed requisite by Administrative Medical Officers
of Circles.
42. INSTRUMENTS HOW KEPT.—The instruments will be kept in the
Surgery, subject to the rules in force to secure the condition and sufficiency
of all other surgical equipment, &c., belonging to Hospitals. They are to be
examined periodically by Inspecting Medical Officers, and are to be included
in the periodical stock-taking and examination, in common with all other
Medical Stores ; a half-yearly return of the instruments in use, according to
a form in the Appendix, is to be furnished regularly to the Medical Examiner.
43. HANDING OVER CHARGE TO SUCCESSOR.—On all occasions involving
change of duties, the relieved Medical Officer is to obtain triplicate receipts, indi-
cating the nature, completeness, and general condition of the instruments he has
made over to his successor, one copy being forwarded to the Medical Examiner,
one lodged in the Hospital records, and one retained as his own voucher.
44. ASSUMING CHARGE:—Executive Medical Officers on assuming charge
of their appointments shall at once bring to the notice
of the Deputy Inspector General of the Division, any
deficiencies in instruments, and their condition, if damaged, with a view to
G. 0. G., No. 379 of
16th October 1866.
Cir. No. 1,190 of
29th March 1867.
Cir.No. 880 of 5th
March 1868.
266 MEDICAL STORES. [SECT. XI.
the recovery of their value from the responsible Officer. Officers neglecting
this precaution will be held personally responsible for any loss or damage
that may have occurred.
45. RETURN OF INSTRUMENTS TO STORE DEPOTS.—On the return to
Regimental head-quarters of wings of Regiments and detachments, on
relinquishing charge of a Garrison Battery to another Medical Officer having
a charge with like instruments assigned to it, and, generally, on the comple-
tion of all duties which call for the maintenance of a separate set of instru-
ments, the Medical Officer will return the instruments to the Presidency or
Divisional Medical Store-keeper, from whom receipts, in duplicate, will be
obtained, one to be forwarded by the Medical Store-keeper with his monthly
returns, to the Medical Examiner, the other to be retained as the Medical
Officer's voucher. Store-keepers on receiving such instruments into store,
will submit a list of the same, showing their condition, for the orders of the
Inspector General, Indian Medical Department.
46. L O S S O R D A M A G E . — W h e n i n s t r u m e n t s a r e d a m a g e d o r l o s t , a f i x e d
rate of two-thirds of their original value will be recovered from
the Medical Officer responsible for their safe custody, except
in cases where articles of silver, such as probes or caustic-
holders, which have an intrinsic value, have been lost, when their full value
will be recovered, unless the injury or loss be explained (through the
Inspecting Medical Officer) to the satisfaction of the Inspector General. When
the losses are satisfactorily accounted for, the sanction of Government to
the instruments being written off the Returns must be obtained ;—cases of
fair " wear and tear," and petty deficiencies excepted.
47. PROMPT REPORT OF LOSS.—Medical Officers and subordinates are
directed promptly to report to the Inspector General, through
the Deputy Inspector General of the Circle any loss that may
have occurred, or may hereafter occur, of instruments in
their charge ; and should the accompanying explanation be satisfactory, the
necessary authority will be obtained for the writing off the deficiency to
". profit and loss."
48. Should the loss be first discovered by inspecting officers, or on
return of instruments into store, or be brought to notice by
relieving officers, the value of the missing instruments will
be recovered from the responsible officer, without awaiting a reference to
him for explanation.
49. UNSERVICEABLE INSTRUMENTS.—Instruments becoming unservice-
able, or requiring repair, are to be returned into the pub-
lic stores, the sanction of the Inspecting Medical Officer
being requisite for this transfer, as well as for the issue, on
G. O. G., No.
448 of 22nd Oct,
1867.
Cir. 1084 of
23rd March
1868.
G. O. G., No.
379 of 16th Oct.
1866.