NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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Chapter V.
SEA TRAFFIC INSPECTION AND OBSERVATION
CAMPS.
Outward.
The inspection of the outward sea traffic was started on the 6th
February under the Government Resolution, General Department,
No. 1975—1446-P, No. 624—130-P, of February 4th, and as soon as
the Plague Committee entered on their work they took up the question
of the inspection of the inward traffic. The plague had spread to
many places along the coast, and it was certain that most of the people
who had left Bombay would be forced to return shortly ; and it was
evident that the masses of mill hands who had fled to neighbouring
districts like Ratnagiri, and whose relations could not support them long
in idleness after their own savings were exhausted, would soon be
returning home. There was no time to lose, therefore, if the City was
to be protected against a fresh importation of the disease.
In addition to the people who had fled from Bombay, an influx of
people, not inhabitants of the City, flying from the plague in their own
villages, was to be anticipated. Many places were now suffer-
ing far more from, the plague than Bombay, and partly on this account,
and partly to escape the vigorous measures of the local authorities
to stamp it out, people had begun to flock into the City from the
districts most affected. Over this influx it was necessary to keep a
careful watch. A typical instance was the case of the fishermen
of Danda ; here the plague had broken out with great violence, and
Mr. Gilbert, the Chairman of the Bandora Municipality, removed all
the people from the infected village to a segregation camp outside. As
the ground in the camp became soiled by the number of people living
on it, they were moved from spot to spot, and every effort was made to
prevent the escape of plague-cases to other places. On this account,
on the 23rd of March, about 400 persons left their village and proceeded
to Bombay across the creek. Mr. Gilbert had of course no legal power
to detain them, and all he could do was to warn the authorities in Bom-
bay to be on the look-out for them ; he also suggested that they should
be induced, if possible, to return to their village, by warning them that
their houses would be broken open in their absence for disinfection, if
they did not return soon. As, however, it was easily ascertained where
they were living in the various districts, a close watch was at once
established over them, and it was not thought necessary or advisable by
the Plague Committee to take any special steps to disturb them.
Arrangements.
The examination of the steamer traffic presented comparatively
little difficulty, especially as Mr. Shepherd, who owns the line which.
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162
carries almost all the local passenger traffic, came forward with the most
valuable help and advice. The steamers arrived at more or less fixed
times, and the passengers landed at certain Bunders. The only
difficulty in regard to their inspection, therefore, was the provision
of the staff. This was done partly by the engagement of local medical
practitioners and partly by the employment of medical students from
the Grant and Ahmedabad Colleges.
NativeCraftc
The examination of the native craft presented many obstacles.
Arriving at all times of the night and day, landing their passengers
anywhere, and owned and sailed by men who were in full sympathy
with those of their passengers who wish to evade inspection, special
measures had to be adopted to prevent cases of plague being smug-
gled into Bombay by them.
In the earlier stages of the epidemic there was no record kept
of the numbers of persons who came or went by these craft.
But Mr. Shepherd estimated that over 8,000 people left Bombay by
them in the month of January, and it is more than probable that, if a
man had any suspicion about his health, he would prefer to go by
a native vessel, where no questions would be asked to risking the
chance of being rejected by one of the Steamer lines. The same would
apply to the returning stream of people in the months of April and May.
For Customs purposes there is at all tirnes a regular patrol of the whole
harbour from Middle Colaba as far as Sewri, and the officials of the
Customs are always on the watch to prevent persons from landing in
any but the regular places. The first step, therefore, was to ask
the Collector of Customs to refuse to allow any one to land who
had not obtained a pass certifying that he was free from plague.
All native craft were ordered to bring up at one of the following
anchorages :—
Tucker's Beacon.
Free anchorage.
Dutiable anchorage.
At each of these places there was a barge stationed with a Medical
Staff, detailed from ten Medical Students placed on this duty. As soon
as a craft came to anchor she was boarded, and the passengers examined
by a Medical Officer, who gave a certificate of health if the result of
his inspection was satisfactory.
This work was extremely arduous from the number of the boats
and also from the fact that most of these boats carry vegetables, &c.,
for ¿he Bombay Market, They arrive at about midnight, and if their
men were not allowed to go ashore the first thing in the morning, great
inconvenience would be felt by the whole city for want of fresh
vegetables, &c. The work of inspection had, therefore, to be carried on
mainly in the night, and great credit is due to the staff, who worked
so cheerfully under these uncomfortable conditions.
163
The inspection of steamers was carried on at three bunders :—
Modi Bunder.
Victoria Dock Wall.
Prince's Dock Wall.
All these arrangements were carried out by Surgeon-Major MacCartie, the
Health Officer of the Port, who had been in charge of the outward
inspection from the month of February.
The pressure of work on the inward and outward staff was during
all this time extremely heavy. The hours were frequently from 5-30
a.m. to 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., with only a short interval for breakfast. The
special feature of the examination for the detection of the plague is
the fact that the two most prominent symptoms of plague, viz.,
fever and buboes, are so extremly common among natives of this
country that a very large number of persons had invariably to be set
aside for a prolonged examination, as many as a dozen thermometers
being in use at one time on occasions. Moreover, every possible effort
was made, as, might be expected, by the native passengers to avoid
inspection. On one occasion two men were caught actually trying
to squeeze their bodies through the railings on the Lakri Bunder, and
were seized by a peon of the Customs and taken before a doctor.
It was found that both were in the last stage of plague, and
they were despatched at once to the Arthur Road Hospital. This was
a parallel to the cases already mentioned in the land traffic portion
of this report, and shows how erroneous was the general idea that it
was only cases in the incubation stages which would have the strength
or determination to travel.
The matter being an extremely urgent one, the inspection was
actually begun under the orders of the Plague Committee on April 1st
in anticipation of the publication of the rules framed by Government
which were published on April 12th.
GOVERNMENT RESOLUTION, GENERAL DEPARTMENT.
No. 1975—1446-P, dated April 12th.
1. The Bombay Plague Committee is hereby authorised to appoint persons as
Plague Authorities.
2. Such Plague Authorities are hereby empowered to medically inspect per-
sons coming to Bombay Island by sea by vessels, including native craft, which have
touched at any port in India between Bhatkal and a line ten miles north of Karachi,
and to detain or send for detention to such hospitals or other places as may be ap-
pointed by the Bombay Plague Committee for the purpose any persons whom they
find or suspect to be suffering from plague.
3. The master of every vessel, buggalow and every kind of native craft arriv-
ing at the Port of Bombay from, and having had communication with, any place on
164
the West Coast of India between Bhatkal and a line ten miles north of Karachi, on
board of which there is or has been during the voyage from which she is arriving or
has last arrived, either among the passengers or crew, any case or suspicious
case of bubonic plague, or if one or more deaths from any cause whatever
shall have occurred on board on the said voyage, shall report the same at the
earliest possible moment by signal to the Health Officer of the Port or through the
pilot or water-police.
4. If the vessel is coming into port, the master shall report such cases to the
pilot or boarding officers at the earliest possible opportunity, or, if she be not
boarded or be already at anchor within port limits, shall hoist a signal, which
shall be during the day the flag B of the Commercial Code, at the main, and
during the night at the same place, three lights, namely, red, white, and red, and
shall also verbally or in writing inform the Officer in charge of the Harbour Police.
It shall be the duty of the pilot or other officer to whom such report under Rule 1
is made, to communicate the same without delay to the Health Officer of the Port.
5. Pending the arrival of the Health Officer of the Port, the master shall
anchor in the stream and shall not permit the departure or landing of any of his
crew or passengers until permitted to do so by the Health Officer of the Port.
6. The masters of vessels to which Rule 3 is applicable and the masters of all
vessels arriving from the ports or places inside the limits prescribed in Rule 3 shall
only permit the disembarkation of their crews and passengers between the hours of
6 a.m. and 6 p.m. and at such bunders or places as may be directed by the Health ·
Officer of the Port.
The following is a copy of the certificate which had to be signed
by the masters of vessels arriving at Bombay from ports other than
those on the West Coast of India between Bhatkal and a line ten miles
north of Karachi :—
" I do hereby certify that the Ship
Steamer
has not, since leaving
on its present voyage, directly or indirectly, either for the purpose of taking in, or
landing, passengers or cargo, or for any other purpose, touched at, nor held any
communication with, any port or place on the West Coast of India between Bhatkal
in the south and a line drawn ten miles north of Karachi. I further certify that
to the best of my belief there is not, nor has there been during the present voyage,
any case or cases of bubonic plague amongst the crew or passengers of my vessel.
(Signed)
(Signed)
Medical Officer, if any.
Captain.
The following Staff under Surgeon-Major F. F. MacCartie, I.M.S.,
Port Health Officer, was employed on the inspections :—
A. Outward—
Surg.-Major Crimmin, I.M.S., V.C., Additional Health Officer.
Surg.-Lieut. Evans, I.M.S.
,,
Clemensha, I.M.S.
„
Richards, I.M.S.
Miss DeCunha, Lady Doctor.
„ Bradley, Lady Doctor (worked up to May 18th).
Mr. Fernandez, Assistant Surgeon.
Mr. Wakeman
„
Mr. O'Leary
„
Mr. Abdulla, Hospital Assistant.
165
B. Inward-
Surg.-Capt. Taylor, A.M.S.
Surg.-Lieut Baines, I.M.S.
,,
Sealy, I.M.S.
Mrs. Van Ingen, Lady Doctor (worked up to end of April).
Mrs. Walker
„
Mrs. Clemensha.
Dr. Munday, Private Practitioner.
Dr. Hormusji
„
Mr. St. Romaine, Assistant Surgeon.
Mr. Croning
„
Mr. Herring
„
Mr. Coxe
„
Mr. Deeks
„
Miss Fereira, Lady Student.
And the following 13 male Medical Students :—
Messrs. Spooner, Cooper, Quadros, Ghande, A. J. Dallas, D. P. Dallas,
Sidore, E. Moses, Gadgil, Bhat, Naik, Pardhy, Kah, and Khandekar.
In addition to the above, Surgeon-Major MacCartie and Surgeon-
Major Crimmin, V.C., and always one and sometimes two of the
Surgeon-Lieutenants of the Outward Staff, had to be present and assist
at the inspections.
The Lady Doctor, Miss DeCunha, on the Outward Staff, had also to
lend assistance almost every day, the work being too. heavy for the
sanctioned Inward Staff.
Treatment of
suspicious
cases.
The procedure adopted in dealing with suspected cases varied
according to the port from which they came. In the case of ports other
than Cutch Mandvi and the Kolaba District, only those persons whose
temperature was above normal were detained for observation; for this
purpose observation sheds were established at Nariel Wadi, Reay Road,
Wari Bunder, and in the shed on the Malet Bunder formerly used for
the inspection of the Mecca pilgrims, which at this time was not in use,
owing to the total prohibition of the pilgrim traffic by the Government
of India.
Persons so detained, who had come from places only slightly, if at
all, infected, were detained for a period of 24 to 48 hours and were then
discharged if their temperature fell to normal.
Passengers from Kolaba, where the plague had been severe in
parts, were all, whether their temperature was normal or not, kept under
observation for five days ; while passengers from Cutch Mandvi, where
the plague had been more severe than in any other place were kept
under observation for eight days.
Persons developing plague in camps of observation were sent to
one of the Government Plague Hospitals. If they wished to be sent to
one of their own caste hospitals, this was permitted ; it having been
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166
found, however, that some persons who had been sent to caste hospitals
for observation on account of their having a suspiciously high tempera-
ture had been discharged before the proper time had elapsed, this
concession had to be revoked in so far as observation cases were
concerned. At first, difficulty was experienced in preventing persons
sent to the observation wards escaping at night ; there were no walls or
fences round the sheds, and the guard was not strong enough to patrol
the whole circuit, while the general fear which all at first had of a Gov-
ernment Hospital prompted men to run great risks to escape. Subse-
quently, however, the fencing round these hospitals was increased, and
gnards strengthened, and every effort was made to reconcile the people
to their short imprisonment. They were provided with the materials for
preparing their own meals free, and other arrangements were made to meet
their caste prejudices ; in some cases communities came forward with
food, servants, &c., to meet the wants of their caste-fellows. These
measures proved quite successful, and no trouble was experienced after-
wards. Some idea of the magnitude of the task before the Inspecting
Staff may be conveyed when it is mentioned that in the month of April
the number of inward passengers inspected was 81,254 and including
crews 106,272.
The number of persons inspected up to 21st June was 258,684, of
whom about 5,000 passed through observation camps.
RESULT OF SEA-TRAFFIC INSPECTION.
Month.
No.
April
May
June up to 21st...
of Persons Inspected.
106,272
123,812
33,205
Sent to Observation Camps.
447 (from April 13th)
3,047
1,341
Total number of plague cases detected by inward inspection from
March 1st to June 30th = 57.
The Borah and Cutchi Memon hospitals reported that none of the
cases sent to them turned out to be plague cases ; this cannot be con-
sidered as altogether satisfactory.
The ports from which the plague cases arrived were :—
Karachi ... ... ...
Cufcch Mandvi
Malwan ... ... ...
Devgad ... ... ...
Rewadanda ... ... ...
Daramtha ... ... ...
Goa ... ... ...
Verawal ... ... ...
Bbawnagar...
...
Caried over...
12
11
4
3
2
2
2
2
1
39
Brought for ward . . . ... ...
Jamnagar ... ... ...
Satara
...
...
...
Vingorla
...
... ...
Barowli
... ... ...
Vizziadroog ... ... ...
Jaygad
...
...
...
Modi Bunder ... ... ...
Harbour (exact port of depar-
ture unknown)
...
...
Total...
39
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
9
57
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- The following are the details of the work done at the various ob-
servation camps :—·
Nariel Wadi.
Converted into an observation camp on April 25th ; in all 1,161
persons were sent here for detention, of whom 17 developed plague
and were transferred to various hospitals.
Reay Road.
Converted into an observation camp on May 7th, and received in all
664 patients. Seven of these developed plague.
Modikhana.
Opened on 10th May. Number of patients received 1,227. Cases
detected 7.
Malet Bunder.
Opened on 5th June 1897. Number of cases received 1,370, of
which two developed plague. This hospital is still open.
Wari Bander.
Was opened on 18th May 1897. Number of cases detained 1,371.
One case of plague was discovered.
Most of the people arrived in an emaciated condition, and some, hav-
ing come from famine districts, were detained mainly to improve their
condition by feeding them up before they were allowed to go. Had they
been admitted into the City in the state in which they arrived, they would
have been highly susceptible to an attack of plague or cholera. Raw food
was provided them ; they cooked for themselves and a marked improve-
ment was noticed in their health after a few days. Every precaution was
taken to meet their caste prejudices ·, special servants were engaged for
those who did not wish to cook their own food ; and special parts of the
camp were set apart for some of the higher castes to suit their require-
ments in cook-rooms and latrines.
The diet allowed was as under :—
Class.
Children over 8 (c)...
Children under 8
Rice.
Lb.
1
1
¼
¼
Atta.
Lb.
½
½
½
½
Ghee.
Oz.
2
2
1
Salt.
Oz.
½
½
Dal.
Oz.
4
4
3
2
Veg-
etable.
Oz.
6
6
6
6
Sugar.
0z.
1
1
1
1
Tea.
Oz.
¼
¼
Meat.
Oz.
1
½
...
Milk,
Pts.
...
1
(a) Meat was given tw a week.
(b) If atta was preferred, then l Ib. atta was given and ½ Ib. rice.
(c) Tinned milk of good brand. ·
1.69
Chapter VI.
Description of No. 10 District, typical of the Sanitary
Work carried out in all charges under the Control
of the Plague Committee.
No. 10 District, in charge of Surgeon-Captain. Jennings, I.M.S., comprises the
Northern half of the Island of Bombay , an extensive area, sparsely populated.
It is bounded on the north by the Mahim river ; on the south by Maha-
luxrni, Byculla, Tarwari, and Mazagon ; on the east by the Bombay Harbour ;
and on the west by the open sea.
The northern part of the district is made up of North Mahim, Dharavi, and
North Sion ; the southern part of South Parel and South Worli Pakhadi ; the
eastern part of Sion/Govari, Vadalla, Sewree, and North Parel ; the western part
of North Worli Pakadi, Worli Koliwada, and Mahim ; while Dadar, Bhoiwada,
and Matunga occupy the central part.
The population of the district is 98,402, or about of the total population of
Bombay, and the number of houses is 9,612, or about ¼ of the total number of
houses in Bombay.
In the scheme for combating the epidemic of plague, the district was divided
into four sub-divisions, viz., Parel, Sion, Mahim and Worli. Each sub-division was
provided with a complete organisation and establishment (as will be described in the
course of this report) for the purpose of finding cases of the plague, removing them
into a temporary Plague Hospital, and treating them there, providing accommo-
dation for the relatives of the sick, disinfecting infected quarters, and attending
generally to the sanitary condition of the sub-division.
Such organisation comprised, in a general way, the following :—
(1) A temporary Plague Hospital (the size of which was regulated by
the number of inhabitants) with quarters for the medical nursing
and menial staffs, and also for segregating the relatives of patients.
(2) A Sub-divisional Office.
(3) A temporary barrack for a military detachment.
(4) Conductors of Search Parties, such as Justices of the Peace, and
other gentlemen who volunteered for the work of house-to-house
visitation.
(5) A sub-divisional staff ; comprising a sub-divisional medical officer, a
clerk, medical subordinates, nurses, ward-orclerlies, military and
police sepoys for search work, Hospital servants, sanitary staff for
disinfecting, workmen for building, demolishing, lime-washing and
other purposes ; coolies for conveying ambulances ; an office peon ;
and Police Ramosees for watch-work. (Details of establishment of
each sub-division are appended to this report.)
(6) Hand ambulances on bicycle-shaped wheels, with India-rubber tyres,
and stretchers attached.
(7) A locksmith, or bunches of keys, for opening up locked houses.
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170
(8) Pails, mops, engines, reels, hand-pumps, and all other appliances
and tools necessary for disinfecting, building, demolishing, dig-
ging, burning, lime-washing, etc.
(9) A stock of disinfectants, jars for holdiog solutions, and kettles for
holding small quantities.
(10) Complete hospital equipment according to a scale drawn up with
reference to the size of hospital. (An example is appended.)
(11) Arrangements for supplying hospitals with daily provisions, stores,
ice, etc.
(12) Arrangements for disposal of unclaimed dead bodies.
(13) Arrangements for discharging patients on recovery in as aseptic
condition as possible.
(14) The provision of a bullock carriage, when necessary, for conveying
the relatives of patients to the hospital segregation rooms.
(15) Provision of leather shoes for all servants on plague hospital work
who would otherwise be bare-footed.
An explanatory description of such points in the above headings as will
illustrate more in detail the objects of the scheme will now be given.
(1) Hospitals were built according to a definite scale, and were classified
according to the number of beds they contained. One with ten beds was called
a Half-section Hospital, one with twenty a One-section Hospital, and so on ι ten
beds being always considered as a half-section. ·
Each hospital was provided with out-houses, which comprised quarters for
nurses, medical subordinates, ward-orderlies, menials and sweepers.
The following out-houses were also provided for each hospital :—latrines,
cook-rooms, segregation quarters for relatives of patients, and a mortuary.
Each hospital ward contained ten beds, and matting (movable) screens were
constructed to place between each pair of cots.
The hospitals were built of bamboo posts and beams, matting walls on
wooden frames, and jowli roofing with canvas ceiling. The cooking rooms were
of corrugated iron construction with timber posts.
Water was laid on to each of the hospitals, and drawn from taps fixed on
to stand-pipes.
The name of each hospital was printed in large type on signboards placed
in conspicuous positions.
(2) The sub-divisional offices were in all cases as near as possible to the
hospitals, and the subrdivisional clerks did their work in them ; a description of
which work is given under the proper heading.
(3) Temporary barracks were also situated near hospitals in order that
the detachments occupying them might, in addition to their other duties, prove
useful as a protection to hospitals in case of any disturbance.
(4) Conductors of Searoh Parties were all voluntary workers, and
consisted of Justices of the Peace and other gentlemen. They were each provided
with a suitable staff of Military Police and disinfectors, and had sections of sub-3