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Removal of
the dead.
After the death of a patient, the body is immediately removed to the mortuary
by the wardboys, the patient's name written on a piece of paper, being tied to the
wrist for subsequent identification before the body is removed from the ward. No
corpse is allowed to remain for more than 12 hours, at the end of which period it is
considered as unclaimed and disposed of accordingly.
Disposal of un-
claimed bodies
of Hindoos.
In the case of unclaimed Hindoos of all castes, a telephone message is sent
to Health Department Stables at Paltan Road, and a cart specially kept for the
purpose of removing dead bodies is requisitioned for. Unclaimed Hindoo corpses are
removed therein to the Haines Road Cemetery.
Unclaimed
Mahomedans.
For the removal of an unclaimed Mahomedan pauper, arrangements nave
been made with the Sonapore authorities who, upon receiving information, send
three Mahomedan corpse-bearers with a bier to remove the body. These men are
paid at the rate of Rs. 3 for each body.
Unclaimed
Protestants.
In the case of unclaimed Protestants, information is sent to the Superinten-
dent of Police, A Division, who arranges about the funeral through the Government
Contractors.
Unclaimed
Roman
Catholics.
In the case of Roman Catholic paupers, the necessary pauper certificates are
furnished by the priests of their respective jurisdictions.
Haffkine's
Cases.
8. Two cases treated with Mr. Haffkine's prophylactic inoculations, were
admitted into the Modikhona Hospital:—
The first case was Samuel John, (Reg. No. 1969), a Madrasi Christian, male,
age 26 years, was inoculated on the 3rd of February 1899. On the 23rd February
he was admitted into this hospital with fever and tenderness in right axilla, in a
semi-unconscious and delirious condition, pulse weak. On admission, he was noticed
to get epileptiform fits, every 15 minutes. At first twitchings used to commence
in the left arm, and then spread over the whole body, ending in tonic spasms with
sighing respirations and much foaming at the mouth. The man's relations stated
that he never suffered from any fits before he was inoculated.
The fits continued the next day, when a swelling was noticed in the left
parotid region, pulse weak, patient semi-conscious.
Under the influence of Bromide the fits ceased. On the 2nd March the
tender axillary gland could not be detected, the parotid swelling was fluctuating,
The man was decidedly worse. He died the next day.
No bacteriological examination was made.
The second case was Reg. No. 2347. Valentine Vaz, Christian, male, aged
17 years, was inoculated with Haffkine's prophylactic on the 15th February 1898.
On the 16th of March 1899, he was admitted into this hospital, suffering from fever
and a small tender bubo in the left groin. On admission he was conscious but depress-
ed, tongue coated, pulse rapid but fairly strong. The bubo had made its appear-
ance the same day. The next day the gland was very painful, the pulse weak and
the evening temperature was 103°. On the 20th he was delirious. The next day
his condition began to improve ; the temperature never rose above 103°·6, the bubo
softened and was incised on the 25th and a large amount of pus let out. He made
an uninterrupted recovery and was discharged cured on the 24th April 1899.
Mortality
amongst Staff;
9. As regards sickness and mortality amongst the staff, there is much satis-
faction to note, that this has been exceptionally low, considering the liability of
infection to which the hospital staff has been exposed. In October 1898 a hospital
dhobie died of Pneumonic Plague, which there is reason to believe, he must have
contracted during the discharge of his duties. This occurrence took place before
the Modikhana sterilizer was re-opened for use.