NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
82
No cases occurred in the Northbrook Gardens or Jail Road camps.
Thirteen cases, all within ten days of arrival in camp, occurred in
the Municipal huts in F and G Wards,
Adding the cases in the C ward camps and the 13 cases in F and
G Wards, it will be observed that out of a total of 536 plague attacks
among contacts and evicts in camp, ail but 121 or practically 80 per
cent occurred within 10 days of arrival.
S3
CHAPTER VI.
Discretional Belief.
Discretional
Relief Fund.
On 17th November 1898 Government in their Besohltion 6294/6403-P
made known that the Government of India had sanctioned a grant for
the Bombay Presidency of 3 lakhs of rupees for expenditure on
"Discretional Relief" to be incurred in the form of grants placed at the
disposal of selected officers under the authority of the Government of
Bombay. Of this amount one and-a-half lakhs were reserved provision-
ally for the City of Bombay. Government Resolution 6230/6328-P General
Department (Plague), dated 14th November 1898, a copy of which is here
inserted, indicates the objects with which this Fund was constituted.,
and the rules laid down for its administration.
Plague,—
Finance.
Grant of Discretional Belief Funds.
General Department (Plague).
Bombay Castle,
No.
6230/6328-P
14th
November 1898.
RESOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT.
With a view to encourage the prompt reporting of cases of plague and to
facilitate and popularise as far as possible the measures undertaken with the object
of reducing mortality during the epidemic, Government are desirous of—
(1) making the hospitals attractive,
(2) removing the minor discomforts and losses attendant upon measures of
disinfection, &c., and
(3) removing the objections to temporary removal from an infected house
or locality.
2. If there is any dislike or distrust of hospitals, cases will be concealed and
opposition to removal will revive. Large numbers of hospitals have been opened
both by local authorities and by caste committees, and most of them have been well
maintained, but at present some lack those attractions which would causo patients
and their friends to regard them with gratitude. As the severity of the epidemic
increases, the strain on the benevolence of some of the poorer communities
intensifies. It is unnecessary here to enumerate the ways in which the sufferings
of the poor may be mitigated, but some may be mentioned, as for example, the
provision of extra rations before discharge, the gift of clothing or small sums of
money on discharge, the payment of funeral expenses, the support of the family
where necessary, during illness or interruption of ordinary avocations, assistance to
survivors or convalescents to return to their homes, and so forth. The popularity
of hospitals will be enhanced by fairly generous treatment of the sick and their
relations. Occasionally it may be useful to engage or subsidise popular hakims or
native practitioners to attend the hospitals. No person who objects should be
compelled to take medicines. It will be found sufficient to publish the results in
the case of persons who have accepted and persons who have refused treatment.
85
advance made by him and the names of those authorized to receive advances and the
amount of the advance allotted in each case. The Plague Commissioner will forward
weekly to the Accountant-General one copy of Form C with his countersignature,
which will he the voucher for the expenditure.
8. It is not intended that the necessarily very limited allotment available
for Discretional Belief should replace or dry up private charity. On the contrary
it is hoped that these instructions will stimulate many to come forward to supple-
ment the sums placed at the disposal of Officers. It will prove convenient that
any officer applying for an advance for Discretional Relief should state the amount
and the principal objects for which he requires it and how long he thinks it will last.
Experience has shown that even small sums judiciously expended are greatly
appreciated. The Deputy Commissioner in Bombay and elsewhere the Collector of
the District will promptly caution any officer whose expenditure appears to be
unduly heavy, and will take early steps to satisfy himself whether the distress or the
circumstances are so exceptional as to justify the expenditure, and whether the
discretion is being wisely exercised.
9. A copy of this Resolution should be furnished to the Government of India
in compliance with the request conveyed in paragraph 2 of their letter No. 4547-A.,
dated the 15th October 1898, Finance and Commerce Department.
A. WINGATE,
Acting Chief Secretary to Government.
Circular.
Deputy Commissioner. Plague Operations, Bombay
Collector
'
Small advances will be placed by the
at the disposal of certain officers for discretional relief in casos of distress, &c.,
connected with plague. This money must be regarded as quite distinct from
advances or grants made on account of ordinary plague charges and no funds held
on the one account should under any circumstances be used for expenditure on the
other. There must be no outlay whatever without a prior grant having been
sanctioned by the Plague Commissioner.
2. Officers will themselves learn by experience in what direction this relief
should be afforded and they should freely report for orders or for information any
instance requiring relief not enumerated below, but as a general guide the following
are indicated, provided always that the relief is intended for the poor and the
poor only :—
(a) Hospital Relief.
(1) The provision of extra rations before discharge.
Note.—This would ordinarily be arranged under the special direction of the
Deputy Commissioner for Plague Operations, Bombay.
Collector.
(2) The gift of clothing or small sums of money on discharge.
(3) The payment of funeral expenses.
(4) The support of a family, where necessary, during illness or interruption
of ordinary avocations, while in hospital or the hospital camp.
(5) Assistance to survivors or convalescents to return to their own homes,
86
(6) Compensation.
(1) Payment of prompt compensation for destruction of or damage to
clothing, &c.
(2) The grant of a trifling sum to cover in the case of the poorer classes the
petty expenses incidental to the vacation of a house.
Note.—Compensation for articles destroyed or damaged must be paid on the spot, and may
be calculated not only with regard to the value of the article but also with regard to the cost of
replacing it.
(c) Camps.
(1) Compensation for interruption of work or loss of wages.
(2) Expenses of transit.
(3) Provision of warm clothing or a blanket as a protection against the
increased cold of camp life.
(4) Provision of cots as a protection against dampness. Expendi-
ture under this head (4) must, however, be previously sanctioned by the
Deputy Commissioner for Plague Operations
Collector
as " Discretional Relief is intended as far as possible
actually to reach the pockets ot tne poor.
3. For each advance received the officer will furnish a receipt. No vouchers
will be required from the officers to whom advances from this Discretional Belief
Fund are made, except in case of purchase of supplies, blankets, &c., from trades-
men, when the receipts must be attached to the weekly return. They will, however,
be personally responsible that the money is properly expended and that the
accounts are correctly and punctually submitted.
4. It may be impossible for the officer entrusted with an advance to be
promptly on the spot in every case where relief is desirable, and these officers are
therefore authorized to entrust small sums to those of their volunteers and those of
their assistants in whose integrity and discretion they feel that they are able to
repose complete confidence. But such advances must not appear in the accounts
and the officer making the advance must exact from such persons a careful record
of the information necessary to complete the accounts in the prescribed form, and
any balance remaining with such persons should appear in the accounts in the
balance remaining in his own hands, and he must be ready to hold himself per-
sonally responsible for it. Each person so entrusted by the officer must keep the
same cash book and details as the officer, and the officer must keep a record of any
sums so entrusted.
5. Accounts should be kept in the accompanying sample Form A.*
6. If the advance runs short during any week it may be recouped on
application and on furnishing a receipt to the Deputy Commissioner/Collector. But the detailed
account will be furnished only once a week to the Deputy Commi ssi oner/ Col l ect or as provided
in the next rule.
7. A weekly return in the accompanying Form B* should be forwarded to
the Chief Accountant/Huzur Deputy Collector and should be for the week ending 6 A.M. on Saturday.
Blank forms are obtainable on application to the Superintendent, Government Central Press.
87
It should reach the Chief Account ant / Huzur Deputy Collector on Saturday if possible, and as soon as
possible thereafter the amount spent during the week will be recouped to the officer
concerned. If necessity arises additional advances can be made during the week
in anticipation of the submission of accounts. Expenditure will be classified under
3 heads as shewn in the Forma—Hospitals, Compensation, Camps.
To avoid confusion it is directed that where a camp is combined with a
hospital, the expenditure should come under the head 'Hospitals.' Camps will
include authorized segregation houses.
8. The Deputy Commi ssi oner/ Col l ect or will arrange that the cash book of each officer
holding an advance shall be inspectedonce a week/from time to time so that he may be in a position
to satisfy the Plague Commissioner that the relief money is being expended on the
object for which it has been given, that there is no waste and that due foresight is
exercised so that the small available funds may not too rapidly be exhausted.
9. Form C* will be prepared from Form B and will be forwarded punctu-
ally by the Deputy Commi ssi oner/ Collector to the Plague Commissioner in duplicate.
* Blank forms are obtainable on application to the Superintendent, Government Central Press.
88
A.
Cash Book of
Ward for Discretional Relief Fund.
RECEIPTS.
Date.
October,24th.
October 29th.
October 31st.
y rom whom received.
Opening Balance
Deputy Commis-
sioner.
Deputy Commis-
sioner.
Total for Week
ending Oct. 30th
Rs. a. p.
......
50 0 0
25 0 0
75 0 0
Opening Balance.
&c.
61 8 0
EXPENDITURE.
Date.
October 24th
„
24th
„
24th
„
27th
„
27th
Name and
Address of
Recipient.
A.B.
Thomas Street B
C. D.
Byculla Camp I
E. F.
Maratha HOs-
pital.
G.H.
Maratha Hos-On
pital.
K. L.
Byculla Camp
&e.
Total for Week c
1
Purpose of
Belief.
edding burnt.
Expenses
of
moving to
Camp.
Funeral, ex-
penses of.
discharge.
Wages for days
in Camp.
ending October
81st.
Relief
in Hos-
pitals.
Rs. a. p.
......
.....
5 0 0
2 0 0
7 0 0
Compen-
sation.
Rs. a. p.
4 0 0
4 0 0
Balance
Relief in
Camps.
Rs. a. p.
1 0 0
1 8 0
2 8 0
on. hand
Weekly
Total.
Rs. a. p.
13 8 0
61 8 0
75 0 0
B.
Return of Expenses on Discretional Relief for Week ending 30th October 1898.
Date.
October 24th
October 29th
Receipts.
From Dy. Commissioner
Do.
do.
Total
Rs. a. p.
50 0 0
25 0 0
75 0 0
Expenditure.
Hospitals
... .. .
...
...
Camps
...
...
..
...
Total
Balance in hand
Bs.
7 0 0
400
2 8 0
13 8 0
61 8 0
75 0 0
Vouchers for all articles purchased from tradesmen are attached hereto. I certify that all
the charges entered in this return have been incurred by me on the objects therein mentioned.
District Officer.
Forwarded to the
89
c.
Return of Expenses on Discretional Relief for Week ending
Dale.
October 2ith ...
RECEIPTS.
Eeccivcd from Plague Commis-
Total ...
Rs. a. p.
5,000 0 0
5,000 0 0
EXPENDITURE.
Disbursing Officer.
District Officer, A Ward, Fort and Colaba ...
,,
B „ Mandvi, ice.
"
C"
"
"
"
"
"
"
E
"
"
„
F & G Wards „
* Balance in hand ...
Relief in Hospital.
Rs. a. p.
120 0 0
200 0 0
25 0 0
315 0 0
Compensation.
Rs. a. p.
35 0 0
15 0 0
10 0 0
5 0 0
65 0 0
Relief in Camp.
Rs. a. p.
50 0 0
100 0 0
40 0 0
175 0 0
......
365 0 0
Total.
Rs. a. p
205 0 0
315 0 0
75 0 0
180 0 0
......
...
775 0 0
4,225 0 0
5,000 0 0
* Includes balances wtih Disbursing Officer.
I certify that I have received accounts for the sums entered in this statement and have satisfied myself that the money is properly expended.
Data
. - 189 .
Signature of the Deputy Commissioner
in Bombay and of the Collector of
the District
elsewhere.
Forwarded to tho Plaguo Commissioner.
Below is a statement showing the amount expended by the
various Officers to whom advances were entrusted. It will be seen that
Rs. 800 was contributed towards the maintenance of the private
Hospitals of two impeunious communities, the remainder was spent
in ordinary relief in the Districts and Hospitals.
8
Statement of Expend incurrediture on Discretional Relief from 12th November 1898 to 27th May 1899.
Particulars.
Amount of advance sanctioned—
By Government for Discret onal Relief—
On 2nd November 1808 .
„ 19th January 1899
.,
„ 3rd February „
„ 23rd • M
„
„ 17th March
»
„
„llih April
„
Total.«Rp,
Amount.
lîs. a. p
5000 0 0
5,000 0 0
10,000 0 0
10,000 0 0
10,000 0 0
10,000 0 0
10,000 0 0
60,000 0 0
Names of Officers.
9 Dr. K. B. Shroff and Capt. Cuppage
14 Lieut, K. E. Nanglo ...
...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
Relief in
Hospital.
lis. a. p.
238 10 0
1,773 3 9
901 15 9
585 6 9
4,587 0 3
19 8 0
1,806 4 0
400
826 9 3
7 8 0
153 4 6
53 0 0
57 0 0
369 11 0
14 4 0
3 14 0
95 0 0
31 7 3
66 0 0
060
300
1,456 2 9
12,553 3 3
Compensation.
Es. a. j..
3,128 8 0
4,036 1 0
4.090 3 6
1.117 13 6
20 0 0
3.504 4 6
1,934 8 0
1,602 "7 0
340 2 0
805 7 6
481 10 0
288 8 0
120 0 0
CU O
73*74 0
43 0 0
83 0 0
28"**0 0
22 0 0
5 8 0
36 6 0
20 4 0
21,788 4 0
Relief in
Camp.
Us. a. p.
5,546 2 0
3,005 14 9
1,624 10 G
3,232 It 0
13 0 0
122 13 0
83 5 0
J67"*2 0
440 10 1
32 9 0
44 7 0
333 3 0
4C4 8 0
581 7 3.
1
52 6 0 i
63 8 0 !
20 0 0 j
57 "4 0 1
20 10 0
20"*9 0
10 12 6 !
230 0 0 i
16,157 8 1 ¡
Balance in hand ...
Total Rs...
Total.
Rs. a. p.
' ' 8,913 4 0
, 8,815 3 6
: 6,616 13 9
4,935 15 3
4,620 0 3
3,627 1 6
2,037 5 0
1,806 4 0
1,763 9 0
1,107 5 4
845 8 6
679 5 6
87411 0
641 8 0
588 2 3
369 11 0
140 8 0
110 6 0
103 0 0
'95 0 0
85 4 0
74 1 3
71 8 0
57 5 0
34 0 6
*1,686 2 9
50,498 15 4
9,501 0 8
60,000 0 0
Advance
made to
Disbursing
Officers.
B9.
1,500
1,000
1,000
700
750
750
250
500
ZOO
200
500
200
100
200
100
150
100
250
100
100
200
100
100
250
100
Mr. Dosabhoy PramJI Dubosh for rations, ¿c., supplied at Arthur Roui Hospital
Ho. through Mr. M. C. Muraban
Mr. Llmji Manecfcji contractor, for cota suppl
' Do
do.
led to Bycalla Camp
do.
.. Bs.
. . . . »j
Us.
,
SI
Rs.
100
600
656
SCO
SO
60
1,456
105
126
1,686
0
0
8
0
0
0
2
0
U
2
0
0
8
0
0
0
9
0
U
9
101
blankets, clothes, oranges, biscuits and other extra rations amounting to about
Rs. 1,000 more. Omitting fractions the weekly totals have been as follows :—
Fortnight ending
Week ending
„ J.W 1 o l°ll
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
January
,,
February
,,
,,
,,
March
,,
,,
,,
April
,,
14th
21st
28th
4th
llth
18th
25th
4th
llth
..
18th
25th
M
8th
Total ...
Number of Cases
relieved.
17
20
25
21
Cost.
Rs.
87
96
93
109
44
197
25
142
39
.
287
77
400
61
85
60
43
105
622
312
488
334
323
675
3,543
The above report sets forth in detail how I have endeavoured, with the limited
time at my disposal owing to my professorial duties, to carry out a scheme which
owed its conception to the kindness of heart of His Excellency Lord Sandhurst,
and to the generosity of the Government of India, who provided the funds.
Though the distribution of the fund and the keeping of the necessary accounts
have required a great effort and have left me no leisure at all, the gratitude of the
patients both to Government and myself has been an ample reward.
The object of the fund was to endeavour to alleviate the distress and untold
misery caused amongst the poor of Bombay by this terrible pestilence.
By
doing this through the hospitals, Government have shown more clearly than
ever to the masses that they are actuated by the desire to help the plague-
stricken in every way. Every rupee, every blanket, every orange that has been
given away has been given in the name of the Government (Sircar) and it
has been fully explained to all again and again that the Government desired to
help all who came to the hospitals and who required help. The scheme has
undoubtedly done a very great deal to popularize the hospitals. The plague-stricken
feel now that if they go to hospital not only are their wants attended to and
everything done to save them that human skill can devise and money procure,
but their wives and children and other relatives are taken care of while they are
sick, and if they die a good Government will provide for their dear ones and send
them to their homes. The only pity seems that Government should not have let the
general public know more about their great scheme of benevolence. Their kindly
action is, however, well-known and greatly appreciated amongst those classes who
suffer most from the plague, who form in short the bulk of our hospital and contact
camp population.
The increasing popularity of the hospitals has been very marked and apparent to
any frequent visitor to these formerly dreaded institutions. On any morning at the
Maratha Hospital an observer may see patients arriving voluntarily at the hospital
gates. Some come in bullock carts, some in reclas, some even in Victorias (but
these are disinfected). Others are carried in on the backs of their friends, and I
have seen a sick wife led gently along by her husband, or a mill-hand has been
brought in carried along by two fellow-workers whom he held round their necks for
105
CHAPTER VII.
Volunteers.
The total number of Volunteers on the various Committees in each
district is marginally shown.
A Ward
B Ward (South) ...
B Ward (North) ...
C Ward
D Waid
...
...
E Ward (West)
B Ward (Byculla)
E Ward CEast), Wari Bandar
F and G- Wards
Central District
Total ...
28
54
21
233
160
47
9
5
102
Ia3
802
More than half of these did real work
and rendered valuable service. Their
organization and methods varied in
different districts.
This organisation was, perhaps, more perfect in C Ward than in
any other part of the City, though in many other sections the volunteers
worked equally well, but rather as individuals than members of
Committees.
The following is an account by Lieut. Warneford of the organisa-
tion of Volunteer Committees in C Ward, in the month of October, before
the formation of the Central District had taken away Kharatalao and a
portion of Bhuleshwar :—
Each section has a certain number of Committees, as follows :—
Market
Kumbharwada
...
•••
• •
GC
... 7
4
6
6
committees.
,,
,,
,,
" These Committees are composed of gentlemen who may be divided into three
" classes as regards their working—(1) those who have influence and who use it
" actively and personally ; (2) those who have influence but who do little besides
" lending their names to the Committees ; and (3) those, forming the most numer-
" ous class, who have not much influence but who work actively and steadily at
Lt their duty of house visitation. On the C Ward Committees there are representa-
" tives of all classes and creeds. There are great merchants, leaders of various Hindu
" and Mahomedan communities, who support caste hospitals and other plague institu-
" tions at their own expense. There are many professional gentlemen, doctors, pleaders
" and solicitors, members of the Bombay Municipality, moulvies and mullahs, shop-
" keepers, clerks and others. In all there are 37 Committees with 257 members.*
ÍC Each Committee is composed of a chairman and from 3 or 4 to, in some cases, 12 or
" 15 members. These divide the streets apportioned to their Committee between them
" and inspect these streets individually, under the general supervision of the chairman.
" At the end of each week the chairman sends in a report to the District Officer of
" the number of houses visited and reported by his Committee during the week, also
" of any sanitary defects or other matters that he wishes to bring to notice, and the
• Note.—At the end of the year when Kharatalao and a portion of Bhuleshwar had been transferred to the
Central District there were 32 Committees and 233 member a.
115
3. Such a campaign cannot be carried on without whole-hearted devotion
to duties often monotonous, generally unpopular and always dangerous ; but those
who have volunteered have for the most part carried them through with vigour and
on orgy, with tact and discretion, and with complete disregard of the danger incurred :
and it is largely due to the hearty co-operation of the volunteer workers that the
measures devised to combat the plague have been carried out with so little friction
during the past year.
4. Of those mentioned below, some by an enlightened exercise of then-
influence, by wise counsel or by personal example have done much to contribute to
these results; others have lavished money on the erection and maintenance of
hospitals, or on the successful organisation and management of health camps ; most
of the medical men on the list have been content to undergo a loss of private practice
through their loyal devotion to the duties of good citizenship; but the majority of
those whose names are recorded have by cheerful, consistent hard work, and by the
daily exercise of tact and firmness, won the confidence of the District Officers and
reconciled the people to the measures concerted for the public good.
5. His Excellency the Governor-in-Council has keenly watched their efforts
and now desires to convey to each and all of them the best thanks of Government
and his hearty appreciation of the very valuable services they have rendered. Their
names are here set forth:
Names.
Sir Diushaw Maneckji Petit, Bart.
Mr. Navroji Maneckji Wadia, C.I.E.
Sirdar Khàn Bahadur Mir Abdul Ali, J.P.
Professor O. V. Muller, J.P.
Mr. N. V. Maudlik, J.P.
Revd. R. M. Gray.
The Honourable Dr. Bbalchandra Krishna,
J.P.
Mr. Adamji Peerbhoy, J.P.
Shams-ul-ulma Jivanji Jamsetji Modi.
Ward A.
Mr. K. E. Kama, J.P.
Khan Sabeb Mahomed Faridudin.
Mr. C, Hummel.
"Dr. N. N. Katrak, J.P.
Mr. Dumodiir Gordhandas, J.P.
Khan Bahadur B. B. Patel, J.P,
Dr. D. N. Sahcr.
„ B. N. Dorabshct, J.P.
„ E. T. Narirmin.
Mr. E. P. Karkaria.
„ N. N. G-uzdar.
„ A. N. Guzdar.
„ B. P. Dliondy.
„ Hubert Crawford,
Ward B.
Rao Bahadur Yithalrao Krishnaji Vande-
kar, J.P.
Mr. Ibrahim Rahimtulla, J.P.
„ Eamchandra Vithalrao Vandekar,
Names.
Ward B. — contiuued.
Rao Saheb Balkrishna Bhivaji, J.P.
Mr. Joseph Ezekicl, J.P.
Khan Sabeb Maueckji Jamsetji Ghandana.
Rao Bahadur Karamsi Damji, J.P.
Rao Bahadur Keshavji Nathu Saelor.
Rao Saheb Yasanji Tricumji.
Mr. Narsi Keshavji.
„ Lakhamsi Nappoo, J.P.
„ Ranchordas Haridas.
Khan Bahadur Mahomed Ibrahim Husein
Baloo, J.P.
Dr. Khajab Abdulla.
Khan Saheb David Solomon.
Khan Saheb Kazi Mahomed Ali Saheb
Moorgay.
Mr. Ismaelji Ibrahimji Kurwa.
Haji Cassum Jusab, J.P.
Mr. Pazulbhoy Meherali Chinoy.
Ward C.
Rao Bahadur Nurayan Trimbak Vaidya,
J.P.
Dr. Cowasji Hormusji, J.P.
Rao Bahadur Bhaskerrao Balkrishnaji Pitale,
J.P.
Dr. Cowasji Postonji.
„ L. P. Pinto.
Rao Bahadur Ganasham Nilkant Nadkarui,
J.P.
Dr. A. G. Viegas, J.P.