NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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Enlargement of the spleen might be regarded as a rough test in ascertaining
the people who had previously suffered from malaria, and all such people
would be treated by the method already described under the term " disin-
fection of the infected." In addition these people and all other inmates
would receive during the malarious season prophylactic doses in the manner
already described.
3. Prophylaxis for communities.—No system of prophylaxis can be con-
sidered entirely satisfactory which aims at the protection of only a few,
however important those few may be, while it leaves the great mass of the
inhabitants of a place in the same condition The object of a good malarial
prophylaxis should be to render everyone less liable to contract malaria, to
transform, in fact, a malarious place into a healthy one.
How can we set about this problem ?
We know that if we can exterminate all malaria-carrying mosquitoes
from the place or if we can eradicate all malaria parasites in infected
individuals we shall entirely get rid of malaria there, and one or both of
these methods must be attempted.
The suppression of Anopheline mosquitoes.—At the outset of our neces-
sarily very brief and inadequate account of the measures necessary for the
suppression of Anopheline mosquitoes it must be stated that in places which
can justly be called malarious the task of reducing the number of these insects
to an extent sufficient to lessen materially the prevalence of malaria is
always very difficult. When the suppression of Anopheline mosquitoes was
first recommended as a means of getting rid of malaria it was thought that
in nearly all malarious places the task would be comparatively easy and
inexpensive, and on this assumption many campaigns were begun. As the
campaigns proceeded it was found that little or no effect on the number of
Anophelines can be produced by small and comparatively inexpensive
measures such, for example, as can be accomplished by the unaided efforts
of what are called "mosquito brigades." When this was realized it became
obvious that the suppression of Anophelines is not a method of reducing
malaria which can be adopted everywhere, and that before deciding to adopt
it in a place we must ascertain whether, as Major Ross has said, " the game
is worth the candle." Unfortunately in the limits of this small book we
cannot discuss the factors by which we must be guided in coming to a
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decision upon this important matter, but it may be said that, as a general
rule, in every place which is entitled, or hopes to be entitled, to be called a
" town " measures for the suppression of mosquitoes should be begun and
carried on from year to year regardless of any difficulties that may be met
with. As a general rule also it may be said that in villages we should not
attempt the measure unless the conditions which cause the prevalence of
mosquitoes are obviously very easily remedied—in which case the village
would not, in all probability, be malarious—and as regards Indian canton-
ments we may say (again as a general rule) that the number of soldiers
present in them during the malarious season of the year is usually so small
and the area of ground covered by the cantonment is usually so large that
simpler and in the circumstances more efficacious measures are indicated in
preference to the attempt to suppress Anopheline mosquitoes.*
Turning now to the measures required for the suppression of these insects
we know that Anopheline and other kinds of mosquitoes are much more easily
dealt with in their larval condition in water than in their adult state. The
main object of all efforts directed to the suppression of mosquitoes is therefore
to get rid of all places where they can breed. This is comprised in the words
" effective drainage." From the earliest times it has been recognised that
malaria may be diminished, and in some places banished, by drainage and
drying of the soil. It is probably by these means chiefly that large tracts of
country in England, Holland, France, and many other places which formerly
were very malarious have been rendered healthy and productive. It is also
for this reason that large towns such as Rome in Italy, Calcutta, Bombay and
Madras in India, are far less malarious than the outlying villages which sur-
round them, though in the latter cities a great deal in the way of effective
drainage still remains to be done. In our towns in India, in proportion
as we effectively prevent the formation of stagnant pools of water, and
in proportion as we carry out measures for drying the soil and lowering
the level of the sub-soil water, so will the number of malaria-bearing
mosquitoes and in consequence the prevalence of malarial fevers,
diminish.
* In Mian Mir, for example, about 800 European and 1,700 Native soldiers are
distributed over an area of 8,661 acres or 13½ square miles.
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In many parts of India irrigation by means of canals is the chief cause
of the prevalence of malaria. We have already seen that the chief malaria-
carrying species of Anopheline mosquitoes breed almost entirely in the
running water of irrigation watercourses, and apart from this the
effect of bringing in large supplies of water to a district which already is
improperly drained, is further to increase the water-logging of the soil and
the formation of numerous pools where mosquitoes can breed.
The same result is produced by bringing in a drinking water supply to
a town from outside without first providing for the efficient drainage of all
superfluous water.
Permanent works of surface drainage of a radical and comprehensive
nature and such other measures as are hinted at above are doubtless the
most important and effective means of rendering places less malarious which
we know of at present. They should form a prominent feature of the general
sanitary campaign in every newly opened town and should be carried on
steadily from year to year according to a definite scheme previously decided
upon. It may be noted as regards the scheme that the plans for surface
drainage should be devised during the rains, and that, if possible, they should
be made out with the assistance of an expert malar ologist. The provision
of a piped water-supply for all the inhabitants, the satisfactory disposal of
sewage, of sullage water, and of storm water, and the making of good roads
and the proper paving of streets are among the more important matters to
be considered in the scheme. In carrying out the scheme the endeavour
should be not to obtain immediate results by ill-considered and hurried works
of an imperfect and temporary nature, but to carry out thoroughly each year
such portions of the comprehensive scheme as the funds of the town allow.
While the scheme is being carried out and for some years after its com-
pletion the radical works of permanent benefit must be supplemented by the
following measures : (1) the covering of all wells, water reservoirs, rain water
tanks, cesspools, etc., with mosquito-proof netting ; (2) the passing of a bye-
law prohibiting the inhabitants from storing water in any receptacle which
has not been rendered mosquito-proof; (3) the employment of "'mosquito-
brigades." A mosquito-brigade consists of from 10 to 20 or more workers
under the direction of a skilled superintendent, the duties of the workers being
(1) to visit regularly once a week the compound of every house and destroy
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every pool "of water which, can harbour mosquito larvæ ; (2) to cover with a
layer of kerosine oil every collection of water which is too large to be destroyed ;
(3) to remove all broken tins, pots, bottles, etc., which can contain water and
harbour larvæ ; (4) to instruct the inhabitants in the recognition of mosquito
larvæ and in the methods of destroying them ; (5) to see that the bye-law,
requiring that all fixed receptacles of water, cesspools, etc., should be made
mosquito-proof is carried oat, and to bring to the notice of the superinten-
dent any house-holder in whose premises mosquito larvæ are frequently
found ; (6) during the rains to drain off quickly all superficial collections of
water which can last sufficiently long to become breeding grounds of mos-
quitoes ; (7) to endeavour to kill adult mosquitoes in houses, out-houses, and
stables by fumigation with sulphur or by other means ; (8) to make observa-
tions on the seasonal prevalence of mosquitoes, on their habits, and on every
matter regarding which increased knowledge might aid in the extermination
of these insects.
In towns which extend over a wide area it is necessary, of course, to
employ a number of brigades, the town being sub-divided into areas of such
size that every house and every possible breeding place of mosquitoes can
be visited once a week by a member of the brigades.
The eradication of all malaria parasites.—Dr. Koch's method, which
has already been described, is applicable to small communities in isolated
places. A staff of trained observers is necessary, and the inhabitants must
be willing to adopt the treatment by quinine. The free distribution and
cheap sale of quinine are important measures in a campaign of this nature
and are widely practised in Italy and India.
We have now considered briefly all the methods which have been recom-
mended for the prevention or extirpation of malarial fevers and have
attempted to do so in such a way that those whose duty takes them to
malarious places will be in a position to reason out for themselves what
measures should be undertaken there. It has, I hope, been made plain that it
is impossible to lay down hard-and-fast rules for a campaign against malaria
that will be applicable to every place or to every class of people and that
before undertaking measures in a place it is essential (1) to have a good
knowledge of the prevalence of malaria in the place, of its exact seasonal
incidence and of all the conditions on which the prevalence depends; (2) to
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decide definitely whether the aim of the measures shall be to render the place
as a whole less malarious or to protect from malaria only a certain class of
people in the community; and (3) before beginning the operations to
consider thoroughly the practicability of the measures which one proposes to
carry out.
If these essentials were always kept in mind much money would be saved,
and much disappointment prevented.
THE
MADRAS PLAGUE REGULATIONS AND
STANDING ORDERS
IN FORCE OUTSIDE THE PRESIDENCY TOWN
Revised up to 1st January 1924
MADRAS
PRINTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, GOVERNMENT PRESS
PRICE, 3 annas.]
1924
THE
MADRAS PLAGUE REGULATIONS AND
STANDING ORDERS
IN FORCE OUTSIDE THE PEESIDENCY TOWN
Revised up to 1st January 1924
MADRAS
PRINTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, GOVERNMENT PRESS
1924
CONTENTS.
I. The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897
II. Plague regulations in force outside the Presideiicy town ...
III. Standing Orders
Appendix A. — Memoranda on plague-preventive measures
„
B. — Plague report to be submitted to the Collector ...
,, C. — Half-yearly list of officers on plague duty
,,
D. — Salaries of officers temporarily entertained for
plague duty
...
,, E. — Pay and allowances of plague inspectors
„
F — Inoculation certificate
Index
...
...
...
..,
...
PAGE
1
2
4
15
35
36
37
37
38
i to y
THE MADRAS PLAGUE REGULATIONS IN FORCE
OUTSIDE THE PRESIDENCY TOWN.
I
THE EPIDEMIC DISEASES ACT (III OF 1897)
An Act to provide for the letter prevention of the spread of
Dangerous Epidemie Disease.
WHEKEAS it is expedient to provide for the better prevention of the
spread of dangerous epidemic disease ; It is hereby enacted as
follows :—
Short title, extent and
commencement.
1. (1) This Act may be called the Epide-
mic Diseases Act. 1897.
(2) It extends to the whole of .British India (inclusive of Upper
Burma, British Baluchistan, the Santal Parganas and the Pargana of
Spiti) ; and
(3) It shall come into force at once.
Power to take special
measures and prescribe
regulations as to dangerous
epidemic disease.
2. (1} When at any time the Governor-General in Council is satis-
fied that India or any part thereof is visited by,
or threatened with, an outbreak of any dan gér-
ons epidemic disease, the Governor-General in
Council, if he thinks that the ordinaiy provi-
sions of the law for the time being in force are
insufficient for the purpose, may take or require or empower any person
to take such measures and. by public notice, prescribe such temporary
regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of
persons as he shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such
disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and
by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall
be. defrayed.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing provisions, the Governor-General in Council may take measures
and prescribe regulations for—
(a) the inspection of any ship or vessel leaving, or arriving at,
any port in British India and such detention thereof, or
of any person intending to sail therein, or arriving thereby,
as may be necessary ; and
(b) the inspection of persons travelling by railway or otherwise
and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation
or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer
of being infected with any such disease.
Concurrent powers of
Local Government.
2-A. When any Local Government is satisfied that the province or
any part thereof is visited by, or threatened
with, a.n outbreak of any dangerous epidemic
disease, and that the ordinary provisions of the
law for the time being in force are insufficient to prevent tne outbreak of
such disease or the spread thereof, such Local Government may exercise
all or any of the powers conferred by this Act on the Governor-General
in Council.
* Inserted by the Devolution Act XXX VIII of 1920.
2
Penalty.
3. Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this
Act shall "be deemed to have committed an
offence punishable under section 188 of the
Indian Penal Code.
XLV of I860.
Protection to persons
acting under Act.
4. No suit or other legal proceeding shall
lie against any person for anything done or in
good faith intended to be done under this Act.
II
The following regulations issued in G.O. No. 1140, P.H., dated the
7th July 1923, embody the special powers conferred on officers of the
Government and other persons and the special obligations laid upon the
public in connexion with plague : obstruction of the former or breach
of the latter renders a person liable to prosecution and punishment
under the law :—
i
PLAGUE REGULATIONS IN forCE OUTSIDE THE PRESIDENCY TOWN.
Whereas certain parts of the Presidency of Madras are visited by,
and other parts arc threatened with, an outbreak of the dangerous
epidemic disease known as plague, and whereas the ordinary provisions
of the, law for the time being in force in the Presidency are insufficient
for the purpose of preventing the outbreak or spread of the disease :
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 2-A of the Epidemic
"Diseases Act. 1897, as amended by the Devolution Act XXXIII of
1920, the Local Government are pleased to prescribe, in supersession of
all regulations previously issued on the subject, the following temporary
regulations to be observed throughout the Presidency except the City
of Madras for a period of one year from the 15th of July 1923 :—
1. In those regulations
(a) ' Infected area ' means any area which is notified under
these regulations by the Local Government or, subject to their control
by the Collector of a district, to be infected with plague.
(b) : A loca.l authority ' means the local medical officer or, if
there is no such officer, the village headman, the District Health
Inspector* or any other person appointed as a local authority for The
purposes of plague by the Collector of the district.
(c] ' Plague Officer ' means the District Health Officer or the
District Medical and Sanitary Officer where there is no District Health
Officer and the Revenue Divisional Officer within his -jurisdiction and
includes any other person who may be appointed by the Government
or by the Collector as plague officer over any definite area.
2. The Local Government may, by notification in the Fort st. George
Gazette, declare a,ny place or area in which one or more indigenous
cases of plague have occurred, or in which the existence of plague among
rats has been proved, to be infected with plague. In similar circum-
stances, the Collector of the district may notify by tom-tom and by
publication in the district gazette that any place or area in his district
is infected with plague, informing the Government forthwith of the fact
that he has done so.
3. In an infected area or in a district adjoining an infected area the
Collector may close any existing market and may appoint special places
* Designation since changed into ' health inspector,'
13
24. The salaries attached to special temporary appointments created
on account of plague are shown in Appendices D and E. All question
relating to the grant of extra allowances should be referred for the
orders of Government.
Estimates of
plague
expenditure.
Board 3 of Revenue
(Land Revenue).
Director of Public
Health.
Surgeon-General , .
Inspector-General
of Police and the
Commissioner of
Police.
22-E. General
Administration.
33-0. Public
Health.
32. Medioal.
26-C. Police.
25. The Board of Revenue (Land Revenue), the Director of Public
Health and the burgeon-(General,
the Inspector-General of Police and
the Commissioner of Police are
required to include in their Provin-
cial budgets under the respective
major and minor heads (vide margin)
consolidated estimates o E plague
expenditure debitable to Provincial
funds. The Board of Revenue (Land Revenue) will obtain the estimates
for the districts from the Collectors, and the Director of Public Health
and the Surgeon-General the estimates for the districts and the City of
¡Madras from the Collectors and the Commissioner, Corporation of
Madras, respectively. The figures relating to plague charges should
appear under a separate sub-head " Plague expenditure."
Similarly each district board or municipal council should enter in
its budget under a separate sub-head the provision it makes for plague
expenditure.
Traneferof
funds.
26. The Board of Revenue (Land Revenue), the Inspector-Genera]'
of Police and the Surgeon-General can sanction reappropriation of funds
from one minor head to another within the same major head, provided
(a) that the expenditure is entirely under their control ; (6) that the
transfer does not involve reappropriation either from or to the group
head ' Salaries' ; and (c) that savings on non-recurring expenditure are
not reappropriated in order to provide for additional recurring expendi-
ture.
The Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Health and
Collectors can sanction reappropriation of funds within the same minor
head where the expenditure is entirely under their control, subject to
the following conditions :—
(1) the total of the grants under their control shall not be
exceeded ;
(2) savings under Salaries shall not be reappropriated to other
classes of expenditure ; and
(3) savings on non-recurring expenditure shall not be reappro-
priated in order to provide for additional recurring expenditure under
Salaries, Establishment, or on any other account.
NOTE.—The following items of expenditure should be treated as non-reourring :—
(1) Temporary establishments, unless the establishment, though
lemporary, is in reality likely to be employed continuously.
(2) Grain compensation allowance.
(3) Dieting charges.
Fines.
27. Fines recovered in prosecutions under the Plague Regulations
ahould be credited to the head XVII-B. Administration of Justice
—General fees, fines and forfeitures.
Classifica-
tion of
plague
charges.
28. ' Direct ' plague expenditure is that exhibited in the Provin-
cial accounts under the head " 33-0. Public Health—Expenses in
connexion with Epidemic diseases." ' Indirect ' plague expenditure
14
includes all other extra expenditure due to plague but "brought to
account under the ordinary appropriate service heads.
(i) All officers who draw bills for indirect plague expenditure
should write conspicuously at the head of each such bill, besides the
account head, the word ' Plague ' in red ink. If only some of the items
• in a bill are plague charges, the word ' Plague ' should be written
against each such item instead of at the head of the bill.
• (ii) Contingent expenditure on account of plague, e.g., stationery,
postage, telegrams, office furniture and such like, should be charged
against the heads of accoant to which the salaries of the officers incur-
ring such expenditure are debited.
(iii) The pay and allowances of officers and establishments form-
ing part of existing departments or services whose employment on
plague duty does not involve the payment of salaries to other persons
for the performance of their legitimate duties, or the payment to them
of extra allowances on account of plague, do not constitute indirect
plague charges (of course they are not direct plague charges) beoau.se
they do not involve extra expense.
Plague
correspond-
ence and
destruction
of records.
29. All correspondence about plague should be addressed to the
Secretary to Government, »Local Self-Government (Public Health)
Department, through the Director of Public Health and should be
marked with the word ' Plague ' in red ink on the outside covers and on
the left-hand corner of the papers. Telegrams should be addressed to
' Madras, Plague '. All references regarding account matters should be
addressed to, or forwarded through, the Accountant-General.
30. Plague correspondence should be entered in. a separate current
register, and the papers shown against a new item £ Plague ' in the
half-yearly business returns. A separate series of numbers should be
given to the disposals, and the question of destroying- or retaining them
should be dealt with in accordance with B.P. No. 101, dated 18th April
1898. Reports of plague cases and deaths received from authorities
outside the Presidency may be destroyed at the end of the month
succeeding that to which they relate ; all other reports and returns
after one year.