6
Outline of mea-
sures adopted.
The following report from the Municipal Commissioner to the Cor-
poration gives in outline the measures adopted to combat the plague :—
No. 18550 OF 1898-99.
BOMBAY, 18th October 1898.
FROM W. L. HARVEY, ESQ., I.C.S.,
Acting Municipal Commissioner for the City of Bombay.
To THE MUNICIPAL SECRETARY.
SiBj—With reference to Corporation Resolution No. 3284= of the 7th July 1898,
asking me to report on the measures it is proposed to take with the view of dealing
with any recrudescence of plague in the City, I have the honour to state, for the
information of the Corporation, that the operations at present in progress are based
on the general lines of policy initiated by Government in March 1898, and detailed at
pages 186 et seq. of the report of Bombay Plague Committee for 1897-98, copies of
which have been supplied to the Corporation. A copy of detailed instructions to
District Officers, issued in July, is also forwarded herewith. Considerable latitude in
the direction of relaxation of rules is allowed to District Officers according to the
varying circumstances of different localities.
2. In addition to the more general measures, viz., removal of the sick to
hospitals, observation of contacts and evacuation and disinfection of affected houses,,
particular attention is being paid to the following subjects :—
(a) Inoculation is being encouraged.
(6) Rats are being destroyed.
(c) Arrangements have been made for the local preparation of Lustig's serum.
(d) The different communities are being moved and assisted to start health
camps and hospitals of their own.
(e) Arrangements have been made for tile-turning.
(f) A systematic survey of houses in the City is being made with a view to
their sanitary improvement.
The regulations regarding the segregation of contacts have been materially re-
laxed, and they are permitted to attend to their ordinary duties on the sole condition
of returning to camp in the evening.
3. Orders have been issued by Government regarding the abolition of passes
and detention camps for travellers by railway. There will be free communication
between the City of Bombay and the Island of Salsette, and inspections at the Cause-
ways have been discontinued.
4. In conclusion, I have the honour to observe that all the measures at present
in force depend on the assistance and co-operation of the Volunteer Committees in the
different Wards. The main object to be attained is the discovery of plague cases, and
up to the present the working of the Committees has, except in a few instances, been
attended with very satisfactory results. The answer to the question as to whether the
present system will continue rests with the Committees themselves. They have
accepted the responsibility of keeping the District Officers informed of cases of plague
or suspicious illness, and of giving them general assistance in the carrying out of the
necessary sanitary measures ; where this duty is loyally performed, I should be sorry
to propose any change. There are, however, a few localities in which little or no help
is given by the Committees, and should they remain apathetic and indifferent in the
event of a serious recrudescence of the epidemic, it may be necessary to substitute a
more efficient agency—I have, &c.,
W. L. HARVEY,
Acting Municipal Commissioner.