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No. 25.
Report of the " Vasanjee Tricumjee" Hospital,
Bombay, from the 1st June 1898 to 31st May 1899.
History of the foundation of the Hospital.
The Vasanjee Tricumjee Plague Hospital for the Dassa Oswal Banias was first
opened in March 1897, its want being sadly felt during that time. On the first out-
break, there was a general panic amongst the natives, and a strong feeling and pre-
judice arose against the patients being treated at Municipal hospitals. The name of
the Arthur Road Municipal Hospital was a droad to many people, and they declined
to go to it with the result that the plague spread in Mandvi and other parts of the city
with great force and virulence. In consequence of this false dread against the Ar-
thur Road Hospital, against which they loudly clamoured, they secreted many cases
which resulted in untold mischief. An appeal was made by H. E. Lord Sandhurst to
the leaders of native community, and it was in response to this appeal that at this stage
Seth Vasanjee Tricumjee of his own accord and intention came to the rescue of the
people, and offered to start and maintain an hospital for the Dasaa Oswal community.
The spontaneous movement was at once warmly approved by General Gatacre, who
complimented Seth Vasanji Tricumjee on his laudable and generous spirit in coming
to the succour of the authorities as well as the people. As soon as the hospital was
opened, all the troubles disappeared, and the people having great confidence in Seth
Vasanjee, who is loved by them on account of his kindness and benevolence, went to
the hospital willingly as the first symptoms of fever manifested themselves. The hos-
pital was maintained at a heavy cost and proved a boon not only to the Dassa Oswals,
but the members of the Brahmin caste also, who availed themselves of it when attacked
by the insidious and invisible foe—the plague. Seth Vasanjee spared neither pains nor
money to make the hospital attractive, useful, and as popular as possible. Everything
that money and science can do to save the lives of the people was done. When poor
patients were discharged cured, Seth Vasunjee gave them new clothes and money to
start life again ; this and other kind considerations, combined with the personal exhort-
ations of Seth Vasanjee, induced the people to go to the hospital, which was in the heart
of the native town Mandvi where the plague played most havoc, and committed ravages-
awful to contemplate. The hospital was visited by H. E. Lord Sandhurst
Sir A. Wingate, Sir Charles Ollivant, the Hon'ble Mr. Nugent, Surgeon-
General G. Bainbridge, Surgeon-Major H. P. Dimmock, Lieut. Brackenbury, Dr. J.
A. Britto, S. R. Hutchinson, Sir J. W. Campbell and many others, who were all
pleased witli the arrangement made in the hospital which showed what success a popular
leader like Seth Vasanjee can achieve over the members of his community by settino-
a noble example and persuading them to go to the hospital. This institution, from
its earliest commencement, became so popular that its example was followed by high-
class persons of other Hindu castes also. Seth Vasanjee Tricumjee Muljee thus
succeeded in gaming the confidence of his people, who in return laid aside all
prejudices and imaginary fears and rushed to the hospital at the- earliest symptoms
of the disease.
The hospital, as stated above, was founded in March 1897, when, after doing excel-
lent work for four months and-a-half, was closed during the monsoon. It re-opened
with the second epidemic on the 1st of December 1897, to be closed on 31st May
1898. On the recurrence of the third epidemic, it was once more opened on February
14th, 1899, to carry on its noble work, which it still continues to do.
All through the three years the whole expense of the hospital has been defrayed 1
solely by its generous founder Seth Vasanjee Tricumjee, by which noble deed he has-
won the lasting gratitude of the public.