57
Procedure.
" Bowman" at. Narielwadi, was investigated by Dr. Marsh in the middle
of April 1898. Regarding the " Equifex" he concluded his remarks as
follows :—
" The conditions under which these experiments were carried out were such as-
" include the severest tests of the disinfecting action and penetrating power of steam
" through bulky articles, and the results obtained allow of the conclusion that under
" ordinary conditions of use the apparatus at the Modikhana Gamp would prove
" efficient as a disinfector."
Regarding the " Bowman" sterilizer he wrote :
" The process of disinfection proved sufficient to sterilize not only the compara-
" tively feebly resisting plague bacillus, but also the more resistant hay bacillus and
" its spores. I have the honour, in conclusion, to state that I find the ' Bowman'
" apparatus to be an eftective and easily managed disinfector and a rapid and reliable
" drying machine."
Another disinfector lent by Government was erected in the Byculla
camp. This was also of the " Equifex " pattern. These three disin-
fectors were of great use to the districts, camps and hospitals in their
neighbourhood, and large quantities of clothing were passed through
them.
The following note by Lieut, Warneford indicates the regular
procedure in C Ward in the matter of disinfection—other districts followed
the same general lines. The actual process of disinfection, where it
differed from, has now been assimilated with the instructions laid down
in the above quoted circular :
Disinfection has been carried on in the ward on a uniform system as described
below, and while carrying it out thoroughly, every endeavour has been made,
by the personal supervision of superior officers, to prevent damage or other cause
for complaint, and especially the bribery and extortion of subordinates, which may be
considered one of the greatest evils and hardships to which our plague work may give
rise. The District Officer or an Assistant District Officer went round the houses
for disinfection every afternoon to see the work which had been already executed
in the morning and the afternoon's work in course of execution, and this supervision
kept a sufficient check on subordinates so long as the amount of work was small,
but when the present recrudescence began in January it was found essential to have
a trustworthy superior officer to superintend disinfection alone, and I consider that
this system of having a superior officer to personally superintend disinfection
has been the means not only of carrying out disinfection much more thoroughly, but
also of minimising the possibility of hardship and complaint. The routine ordinarily
observed in this ward in regard to the carrying out of disinfection is as follows :—
When a Sectional Medical Officer has enquired into a plague case or death and
has ascertained the actual place where the case used to sleep or live, he returns
to the District Office and enters the case in a book. At the time of his making
enquiries at the place he is supposed to mark the actual rooms that he wants disin-
fected with charcoal or pencil, and on entering the case in the book he must give
the number of rooms to be disinfected and the floor that they are on. A disinfecting
Sub-Inspector gives out the work from the book to each rnuccadam and gang
and he and they are responsible that unless the District Officer orders otherwise,