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The quarters that were originally meant for servants' quarters were turned into
a ward and some of the cook-rooms were utilized for the servants.
A plan of the hospital is attached and shows fully the number of wards and all
buildings.
Hospital.
V. The most important feature of the hospital was the provision of a separate
room for each patient. This seems specially necessary in a hospital to which persons of
all castes are admitted. Some freedom was given in allowing friends and relatives
to be present and the patients always seemed far happier, each in his own room, than
in a big ward where they are constantly exposed to the sufferings of others and the
only too frequent removal of the dead. Of course, this system considerably increases
the difficulties of the nursing staff, but its extremely beneficial effect to the mental
condition of the patients, a most important point in plague, is undoubted.
Conservancy.
VI. There was one block of latrines consisting of five seats. Two seats were
reserved for women and 3 for men. The building was of corrugated iron. The sewage
was removed by the sweepers in the ordinary way and emptied into a sewage cart
placed at the outskirts of Parel Village.
All clothes, on being removed from the hospital, were taken to the outer com-
pound and placed in large tubs filled with a strong solution of Phenyle ; after being
soaked for some time they were laid or hung out in the sun and then handed over to
the Dhobies.
Water
supply.
YII. The water was laid on from the Vehar main by the Water Department.
VIII. The principal disinfectant used was Carbolic Powder which was plenti-
fully sprinkled over all the floors in the hospital two or three times a day.
The huts and floors were not lime-washed.
The buildings being of matting with a good draft of air through them, it was not
considered necessary to use Perchloride often.
The Steam Disinfector was not used as it was too far off.
Disposal of
the Dead.
IX. As a rule the dead were removed by their friends or relatives.
Unclaimed bodies were removed in the following ways :—
Hindus by Hindu sweepers at a cost of Rs. 2 per body which was paid out of
the Discretional Relief Fund by order of the Chief Accountant. Efforts were made
to get better class Hindus to do this work but it was found to be impossible.
Mahomedans.—These bodies were removed under arrangements with a Mulvi
who resides near at hand. The cost was Rs. 10 per body and was paid in the same
way as for Hindu bodies.
Christians.— The Health Department was notified and they sent a hearse free
of charge and made all arrangements. The mortuary was a small building containing
8 small rooms, each of which would hold a body.
There were no doors to this building and plenty of ventilation was secured.
The ground in the rooms and all round outside where the people prepared the
bodies for burial was kept well disinfected.
The people were given disinfectants to wash in after handling the corpse.
Personal
Explanation.
X. From this point in the report most of the paras, are entirely of a medical
nature and as the Doctor has left Bombay I can only state what I have been able
to gather from the records.
Inoculation.
XI, Seven patients were known to have been previously inoculated with
Haffkino's Serum, out of these 4 died and 3 recovered.
XII. There was no case of sickness of any sort or kind amongst the staff.