NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
192
Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act. [App. IV.
Areas to be dealt
with in the first
instance by the
Board.
6. The areas which the Board will have in the first instance to deal
with in order to arrest the spread of the plague are the following:—
(1) The Town of Calcutta.
(2) The Port of Calcutta.
(3) The Municipality of Howrah.
(4) The small Municipalities adjacent to Calcutta and
Howrah.
(5) The lines of railway.
Sanitary and
precautionary
measures in
Calcutta.
7. The Town of Calcutta.—The plague has already been declared
to be a dangerous disease under section 321 of the Municipal Act, and
it is further understood that the measures indicated in the Government
letter of 30th September have already been adopted, or are in course of
adoption, by the Corporation. The Commissioners have asked the Gov-
ernment to select for them a Chief Superintendent to organise and con-
trol the conservancy and nuisance branch of the Health Department
for three months on a salary of Rs. 1,000 a month. Dr. Banks, Civil
Medical Officer of Puri, who possesses in a high degree the requisite
qualifications, has been appointed to the post, and directed by tele-
gram to join at once. Sites have been selected in Maniktola for an
isolation hospital and a special burning-ghat and burial-ground for
plague patients. The town is being divided by the Health Officer
into sanitary circles, and regulations under section 334 of the Act
are about to be submitted for the sanction of Government. The Lieu-
tenant-Governor feels sure that the Commissioners, the Executive Offi-
cers of the Corporation, and their subordinates will work cordially
with the Medical Board and carry out promptly and fully all the
recommendations of that body.
Sanitary and
precautionary
measures at
Howrab.
8. The Municipality of Howrah.-— The Chairman of the Muni-
cipality has been instructed by telegram to isolate the patient now
suffering from the plague, to destroy his clothes, and to disinfect the
house in which he has been living. The Municipality have asked by
telegram for the appointment of an officer of the rank of Surgeon-
Captain as Health Officer of the town on a salary of Rs. 1,500 a month
and carriage allowance ; but the Lieutenant-Governor considers that
the needs of Howrah can best be met by transferring the present
Civil Surgeon, who is in weak health, to a lighter station, and deput-
ing a younger officer, Surgeon-Major Walsh, to carry on the combined
duties of Civil Surgeon and of Health Officer with the assistance
of an experienced supervisor of the Public Works Department, who
will receive Rs. 500 a month with horse allowance and house rent.
The Deputy Sanitary Commissioner of the Weatern Circle was ordered
APP. IV. ] Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
193
to Howrah to assist in sanitary measures two days before the case
of plague was reported to Government.
Suburban
Municipalities.
Hooghly-Chinsurah
...Ŝ
erampur ..
,,. [
Uttarpara ..
... |
Baidybati ..
,,, {-In Hooghly
Bhadreswar .,
... 1
Kotrang
..
,., j
district.
Bansberia ,.
...J
Bally
.
,,, hi Howrah
district,
Cossipur-Chitpur
..."M
aniktola ...
,,,
Baranagar ...
,,,
South Suburban
...
South Dum-Dum
... [ In the 24-
North Dum-Dum
...
South Barrackpore
...
North Barrackpore
...
Baraset
•..
...
Parganas.
i
Naihati
...
...J
9. The adjacent Mimicipalities.—The Chairmen of the Muni-
cipalities noted in the margin
should now report to the Medical
Board, through the Magistrate of
the district, what steps they pro-
pose to take to prevent the plague
spreading to their jurisdictions;
The Deputy Sanitary Commis-
sioners will be directed to visit
these Municipalities as soon as
possible, and to explain to the
Chairmen personally what ought to
be done.
Quarantine
arrangement at
the Port.
10. The Port of Calcutta.—
The Government of India have
been moved by telegram to sanction the introduction, with such
modifications as may be necessary, of the revised rules for quarantine
against plague which were introduced in August 1894 for the protec-
tion of Calcutta from the importation of plague from Hong-kong.
It has also been suggested that under section 19 of the Sea Customs
Act the export of rags and second-hand clothing from Bombay should
be prohibited. Steps are being taken to provide accommodation for
plague patients near the quarantine anchorage at Diamond Harbour,
and all suspected vessels will be carefully examined and disinfected
by the Port Health Officer before communication with the shore is
permitted.
Inspection on
the railways.
11. The lines of railway.— Under section 71 of the Railway Act
IX of 1890, a railway administration may refuse to carry persons suf-
fering from any infectious or contagious disease, and under section
117 any such person may be removed by a railway servant from the
carnage in which he is travelling. On the 1st October, the Governor
of Bombay was asked by telegram whether, in event of the disease
increasing, he would be prepared to move the Railway Company to
prevent suspected persons from leaving Bombay by rail ; and on the
next day, His Excellency replied that the Municipal and Railway
authorities were in consultation, and that if the disease increased, the
necessary measures would be taken. The East Indian Railway have
already posted native doctors at Asansol, Allahabad, and Tundía to
scrutinise all passengers, especially those coming from Bombay,
while tickets are being checked. The Assistant Superintendent of
Emigration at Raniganj and Asansol has been instructed to give
b 25
194
Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act. [App. IV.
all possible assistance to the railway officials in the matter. The
Government of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, and the
Administration of the Central Provinces, have also been addressed on
the subject.
APPOINTMENT OF A MEDICAL BOARD TO DIRECT
OPERATIONS,
No, 36.
Plague Notification No. 1, dated the 10th February -1897.
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section
2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and by the Notification of the
Government of India in the Home Department, No, 302, dated the
4th instant, the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal is pleased—
The Special
Medical Board
charged with the
conduct of the
operations.
(a) to charge the Medical Board appointed by the Government
Resolution No. 937-T.—M., dated the 10th October 1896,
with the duty of preventing the outbreak and checking
the spread of bubonic plague within the territories,
subject to the administration of the Lieutenant-Governor
of Bengal ;
Municipalities
to carry into
effect measures
ordered by the
Board.
(b) to direct that every body of Municipal Commissioners, and
their officers and servants, shall carry into effect, with-
out delay, any measures which may be ordered by the
Medical Board for preventing the outbreak or spread of
bubonic plague within the area, subject to the authority
of such Commissioners ; and
Incidence of
cost.
(c) to declare that the cost of all such measures shall be a
charge on the Municipal Fund ; save in so far as it may,
in accordance with law, be recoverable from the owners
or occupiers of property.
REGULATIONS FOR THE INSPECTION OF TRAVELLERS
BY RAILWAY AND STEAMER.
No. 37.
Plague Notification No, 2, dated the 10th February 1897.
Preamble.
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Epidemic
Diseases Act, 1897, and by the Notification of the Government of
India, Home Department, No. 302, dated the 4th instant, the Lieutenant-
Governor is pleased to prescribe the following regulations for the
inspection of persons travelling by railway or steamer within the
territories subject to the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, and the
APP. IV. ] Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
195
segregation in hospital or in temporary accommodation of persons
suspected of being infected with bubonic plague :—
I. In these regulations—
Definitions.
(a) "Inspecting Officer" means a medical officer appointed
by the Lieutenant-Governor to inspect travellers, and
empowered to inspect and order the segregation of
persons suspected of being infected with plague.
(b) "Place of Inspection" means the railway stations or
steamer ghats at which the Lieutenant-Governor has
ordered travellers to be inspected, and includes the area
round such stations or ghâts, subject to the control of
the Railway Administration or Steamer company, as
the case may be.
(c) "Railway servant" means any person employed by a
Railway Administration in connection with service of a
railway.
(d) "Steamer servant" means any person employed by a
steamer company in connection with the service of
a steamer.
(e) " Hospital " and " temporary accommodation," respectively,
mean a hospital and a place of temporary accommodation
provided by a Railway Administration or steamer
company under Regulation 9.
Inspection sta-
tions at Khana
and Katihar.
2. Persons travelling by railway in the direction of Calcutta shall
be inspected at the station of Khana on the East Indian Railway
and at the station of Katihar on the Eastern Bengal State Railway.
At Damukdia.
3. Persons travelling by steamer down the Ganges from the direc-
tion of the North-Western Provinces shall be inspected at Damukdia.
Segregation,
4. Persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infected
with plague shall be required by him to undergo segregation in hospital
or in temporary accommodation for a period of not less than seven
days, which may be reduced at the discretion of the inspecting officer.
Travellers to
obey instruc-
tions.
5. All persons travelling by railway or steamer aforesaid who are
required by the inspecting officer or by a railway servant or steamer
servant or police officer to submit themselves to medical inspection
shall comply with the instructions given to them, and shall not leave
the place of inspection without the permission of the inspecting officer.
Segregated per-
sons to obey
instructions.
6. All such persons who are required by the inspecting officer to
undergo segregation in hospital or in temporary accommodation shall
comply with the instructions given to them, and shall not leave the
said hospital or accommodation without the permission of the inspect-
ing officer.
239
APP. IX. ]
spread of infection by sea.
if the vessel has undergone since leaving Bombay a quarantine, which
is properly proved, for not less than eight days at Colombo, or some
other British port, the Health Officer shall grant such permission as
aforesaid.
If the vessel has not undergone eight days' quarantine at Colombo
or some other British port since leaving Bombay, the Health Officer
may direct the commander to take the vessel to the quarantine anchor-
age and there to remain for a period of eight days from the date of
arrival in the harbour. In such case the Health Officer shall also
direct the commander to prohibit, during the period for which the
vessel remains at the quarantine anchorage as aforesaid, all communi-
cation, except such as is hereinafter provided for between such vessel
and the shore, or other vessels and boats in the harbour.
No. 42.
Notification by the Government of India, Home Department, No. 387, dated
Simla, the 4th November 1896.
Rules at Madras
against Bombay.
THE following rules for quarantine against plague, which have
been made by the Madras Government in exercise of the power con-
ferred by section I, Act I of 1870, with the previous sanction of the
Governor General in Council, are published for general information.
The rules have effect from the 28th October 1896 as a temporary
measure at the port of Madras :—
I.—The Commander of every vessel arriving from Bombay shall,
before entering the port, indicate his arrival by signal.
II.—Such Commander shall not, except as hereinafter provided,
allow any communication, either with the pilot boat, except orally or
with the shore, or with any other vessel or boat in the port.
III.—Immediately on any such arrival being signalled, the Health (or
other Medical) Officer of the port shall go alongside the vessel and
ascertain by enquiry from the Commander whether any person on board
is suffering, or has during the voyage suffered, from plague. If there is
no case of plague on board, pratique may be granted at the discretion
of the Helth Officer whether the vessel carries a qualified Medical
Officer or not. Pratique granted at Colombo will be recognised.
IV.—If the Health Officer shall have reason to believe at the time
when the vessel arrives in the port that any person on board is suffer-
ing, or during the voyage has suffered, from plague, he shall direct the
Commander to take the vessel to the quarantine anchorage, and there
to remain for a period of fifteen days from the day of arrival in the
port ; and shall further direct that, during such fifteen days' intercourse
between the said vessel and the shore or other vessels and boats in the
harbour shall be prohibited.
240
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX.
V.—If; during the period a vessel is at the quarantine anchorage
aforesaid, any case or cases of plague should occur on board, the
said vessel shall remain in quarantine for a period of fifteen
days from the date of the last case occurring, and be subject to all the
prohibitions provided for in rule IV.
VI.—When any vessel has been placed in quarantine as aforesaid, the
Health Officer may direct the removal of so many of the passengers and
crew as may not be suffering from illness, and whose services may not
be required on board the vessel, to such particular spots as may from
time to time be selected as places of quarantine, there to remain for a
period of fifteen days. If a case of plague occurs among such passengers
and crew during any such period, they shall remain in a place of
quarantine for a period of fifteen days from the date of the occurrence
of the last case of such illness.
VII.—Any mails or cargo which may be brought by any vessel so
arriving shall be landed under such precautions as the Health Officer
may deem necessary to prevent the spread of the disease.
VIII.—It will be the duty of the Port Officer to facilitate the convey-
ance to all vessels in quarantine of such supplies of provisions, stores
or other articles as may be required by those on board. Such supplies
will be placed on the boats of the vessels in quarantine, to be subse-
quently removed by members of their crews.
IX.—All vessels arriving at the port which may have communicated
with infected vessels coming from Bombay shall be subjected to the
same quarantine as vessels arriving from Bombay with plague on
board.
No. 43.
Telegram, dated 2nd January 1897.
From—Madras, Marine, Madras,
To—Home, Calcutta.
Your telegram 562-Sanitary. Quarantine against Karachi will be
imposed at port of Madras with effect from the 6th instant. Copy of
rules follows.
No. 44.
Telegram, dated 6th January 1897.
From—Madras, Marine, Madras,
To—Finance, Calcutta.
Sanction requested to issue of Quarantine rules against Bombay
and Karachi for port of Tuticorin, similar to those sanctioned for
Madras. Steamers occasionally arrive at Tuticorin from the infected
ports named,
241
APP. IX. ]
spread of infection by sea.
No. 45.
Telegram, No. 10, dated 8th January 1897.
From—Home, Calcutta,
To—Secretary to the Government of Madras, Marine Department.
Your telegram dated 6th. Governor General in Council sanctions,
as a temporary measure, the issue of Quarantine rules against Bombay
and Karachi for port of Tuticorin, similar to those sanctioned for
Madras. Please wire date of Notification publishing rules, and send
copy for publication in Gazette of India.
No. 46.
Telegram, dated the 11th January 1897.
From—Madras, Marine, Madras,
To—Home, Calcutta.
Your telegram 10-Sanitary. Quarantine against Bombay and
Karachi will be imposed at port of Tuticorin with effect from the 13th
instant. Copy of rules follows.
No. 47.
Rules at Madras
against Karachi.
Notification of the Government of India in the Home Department, No. 33, dated
the 15th January 1897.
The following rules for quarantine against plague, which have
been made by the Government of Madras in exercise of the power
conferred by section I, Act I of 1870, with the previous sanction of
the Governor General in Council, are published for general inform-
ation.
The rules have effect from the 6th January 1897 as a temporary
measure at the port of Madras :—
I.—The Commander of every vessel arriving from Karachi shall,
before entering the port, indicate his arrival by signal.
II.—Such Commander shall not, except as hereinafter provided,
allow any communication, either with the pilot boat, except orally,
or with the shore, or with any other vessel or boat in the port.
III.—Immediately on any such arrival being signalled, the Health
(or other Medical) Officer of the port shall go alongside the vessel and
ascertain by inquiry from the Commander whether any person on
board is suffering, or has during the voyage suffered, from plague,
If there is no case of plague on board, pratique may be granted at the
discretion of the Health Officer whether the vessel carries a qualified
Medical Officer or not. Pratique granted at Colombo will be recog-
nised.
IV.—If the Health Officer shall have reason to believe at the time
when the vessel arrives in the port that any person on board is
c 31
242
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX.
suffering, or during the voyage has suffered, from plague, he shall
direct the Commander to take the vessel to the quarantine anchorage,
and there to remain for a period of fifteen days from the day of
arrival in the port ; and shall further direct that, during such fifteen
days, intercourse between the said vessel and the shore or other
vessels and boats in the harbour shall be prohibited.
V.—If, during the period a vessel is at the quarantine anchorage
aforesaid, any case or cases of plague should occur on board, the
said vessel shall remain in quarantine for a period of fifteen days
from the date of the last case occurring, and be subject to all the
prohibitions provided for in rule IV.
VI.—When any vessel has been placed in quarantine as aforesaid,
the Health Officer may direct the removal of so many of the passen-
gers and crew as may not be suffering from illness, and whose
services may not be required on board the vessel, to such particular
spots as may from time to time be selected as places of quarantine,
there to remain for a period of fifteen days. If a case of plague
occurs among such, passengers and crew during any such period,
they shall remain in a place of quarantine for a period of fifteen days
from the date of the occurrence of the last case of such illness.
VII.—Any mails or cargo which may be brought by any vessel so
arriving shall be landed under such precautions as the Health Officer
may deem necessary to prevent the spread of the disease.
VIII.—It will be the duty of the Port Officer to facilitate the con-
veyance to all vessels in quarantine of such supplies of provisions,
stores or other articles as may be required by those on board. Such
supplies will be placed on the boats of the vessels in quarantine, to be
subsequently removed by members of their crews.
IX.—All vessels arriving at the port which may have communicated
with infected vessels coming from Karachi shall be subjected to the
same quarantine as vessels arriving from Karachi with plague on
board.
No. 48.
Notification of the Government of India in the Home Department, No. 24, dated
the 12th January 1897.
Rules at Calcutta
against Karachi.
The following rules for quarantine against plague, which have
been made by the Government of Bengal in exercise of the power
conferred by section I, Act I of 1870, with the previous sanction of
the Governor General in Council, are published for general inform-
ation.
The rules have effect from the 6th January 1897 as a temporary
measure at the port of Calcutta :—
I.—The Commander of every vessel, including buggalows or other
native craft arriving from Karachi, shall on arrival at the Sandheads
243
APP. IX. ]
spread of infection by sea.
hoist a yellow flag, and indicate by signal the port from which she has
come, and shall keep such flag and signal flying until permitted to
take it down as hereinafter provided. The pilot on going alongside a
vessel from Karachi shall direct the flag prescribed above to be hoisted
if it has not already been done.
* N.B.—Pilotage is compulsory for
all vessels over 100 tons in the Port of
Calcutta.
II.—The Commander shall not, without first having obtained permis-
sion as hereinafter provided, allow any
communication except orally with the
shore or any other vessel or boat,
excepting only with the boat supplying the Pilots* from the Pilot Brig
and in that case communication shall be limited to receiving on board
the Pilot, his Leadsman, servant and baggage.
III.—If there is any case of sickness on board, and the Pilot has
reason to believe that it is plague, he shall telegraph to the Port
Officer from Saugor, and not proceed beyond Diamond Harbour
without the permission of the Port Officer.
IV.—If the Pilot has no reason to believe that there is any one
suffering from plague on board, he shall bring the vessel up the river
to Mateeabrooj, and shall anchor it there till the Health Officer has
visited it.
V.—The Health Officer, as soon as he has received information of
the vessel at Mateeabrooj, shall visit it, and ascertain by enquiry from
the Commander or the Medical Officer on board, or other sources of
information, whether any person on board is suffering or has suffered
from plague.
VI.—If the Health Officer is satisfied that no one is suffering from
plague, or has suffered from plague since the vessel left Karachi, and
if the vessel has been allowed pratique at any intermediate port
including Colombo, he shall allow the passengers to land, but shall
detain the vessel at Mateeabrooj, till such measures have been taken
for the disinfection of the mails and cargo and hold as he may consider
necessary.
VII.—When he is satisfied that the necessary measures have been
taken for the disinfection of the mails, cargo and hold, he shall allow
the mails and cargo to be landed, and shall by writing under his band,
to be delivered to the Commander, permit such vessel to haul down
the yellow flag, and to proceed upwards in the Port, and to hold free
communication with the shore and with vessels and boats in Port.
VIII.—If the vessel has not been allowed pratique at Colombo or
other intermediate ports, or if through her not carrying a qualified
Medical Officer, or for other reasons, the Health Officer is not satisfied
that no one on board has suffered during the voyage from plague, he