NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
247
APP. IV. l Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
Isolation effected
either in the re-
sidence of sick
person or in
segregation
hospital or camp.
5. It has been represented to His Honour that, in isolating persons
suffering from, or within the influence of, bubonic plague, hardship
are apprehended unless a detailed procedure is prescribed. The
following explanations are therefore given, In the revised rules
published herewith it will be seen that isolation may be effected either
in the residence of the sick person or in a segregation hospital or
camp. In this matter the Lieutenant-Governor desires to apply to
the native community the same rules which will apply to the European
community. If, in the opinion of the sanitary authorities, isolation and
segregation can be'effectively carried out at the sick person's residence,
it will not be necessary to remove such sick person to a hospital
or segregation camp ; but, if isolation and segregation in the sick
person's residence is not, in the opinion of the sanitary authority,
practicable, then it is essential that such authority should have the
power to direct removal to a segregation camp or hospital established
in a suitable situation. This segregation camp or hospital may be a
suitable house or hut or collection of huts licensed for the use of a
particular family ; or a suitable house or collection of huts licensed
for the sole use of particular castes or;classes of the people ; or, lastly,
a hospital or collection of huts established for the general use of the
public by Government. The Government will, whenever necessary,
construct such huts or hospitals, or help private persons to construct
them. In designing these huts or hospitals particular care will be
taken that the customs of the country regarding the maintenance of
parda shall be strictly observed, and that those members of the
family who wish to accompany the sick person shall be comfortably
accommodated, submitting themselves merely to the sanitary precau-
tions which are required by the rules. It is also to be understood
that private medical practitioners of all classes must be allowed free
access to the sick who desire their attendance, and that it is incumbent
upon no one to submit himself to European medical treatment. Each
patient may choose freely his own medical attendant.
Bodies dispos-
ed of by friends in
accordance with
religious
cus-
toms subject to
sanitary precau-
tions.
6. The friends and relatives of persons who have died of plague
will be left to dispose of their dead in accordance with their religious
customs, subject only to certain sanitary precautions which do not
conflict with the mortuary practices of any religion ; but, should un-
fortunately deaths from plague become numerous in any city or town
it may be necessary to establish burial-grounds outside cities or
towns for the interment of persons who have died of plague and are not
cremated. These burial-grounds can be selected in communication
with the heads of the community concerned and made over to them
by Government,
248
Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act. [ APP. IV.
Use of quick-
lime.
7. Exception has been taken to the use of quicklime in burials.
The Lieutenant-Governor does not regard the matter as of essential
importance. In cemeteries well removed from the inhabited portion
of a city and well away from the water-supply the precaution will not
be required. In cemeteries situated near habitations the precaution
is more necessary. Objections to the use of quicklime seem to be
met by a suggestion made to the Lieutenant-Governor by a deputa-
tion of the representative Muhammadan citizens of Lucknow, viz. } that
if used, the lime should not be allowed to come into contact with the
coffin (takhta] or corpse.
Assistance by
all classes of the
community.
8. In conclusion the Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Commissioner
trusts that the necessity for bringing these rules into widespread and
general operation may never arise ; but to secure this result the
assistance of all classes of the people, on the earliest occurrence of
cases of plague, is essentially necessary. If the introduction and
spread in these provinces of bubonic plague is to be avoided, all
classes of the community must combine to assist the Government by
giving the earliest information of any case of bubonic plague which
may come to their knowledge and by helping the authorities to carry
out the measures now prescribed, which have been designed with the
sole object of preventing the introduction and spread of the disease.
Experience will show whether these rules meet all requirements, or
whether they should be modified or supplemented in any other way.
No. 47.
Notification No. XV1
2^2
404- . B -, dated 26th March 1897.
Preamble.
In exercise of the power conferred on this Government by Noti-
fication No. 302, dated 4th February 1897, of the Governor General
in Council, the Lieutenaut-Governor of the North-Western Provinces
and Chief Commissioner of Oudh is pleased to issue the following
orders under Act No. III of 1897 (an Act to provide for the better
prevention of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Disease) in super-
session of those issued in Parts I and II by Notification No, „.. T
58 ——,
X VI—404-15,
dated I2th February 1897 : —
Part I.—Rules relating to Villages and small towns,
(i) Duties of Proprietors of Land.
Proprietors of
land to use best
endeavours to
secure full com-
pliance with pro-
visions.
I. Every taluqdar, zamindar or other proprietor of land shall use his
best endeavours to secure full compliance with the following provi-
sions as to the immediate reporting to the police of the occurrence
of each case of plague in his property ; as to the segregation of the
sick and their attendants ; as to the disinfection of the houses of
persons who have suffered from plague ; and as to the disposal, in
25o
Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act. [ APP. IV.
house in which
plague cases have
occurred.
disease, he shall, in the absence of the Tahsildar and in anticipation
of orders from the Civil Surgeon or Magistrate, see that all the
precautions specified in Annexure I are rigorously observed. He
will take similar action on learning of the occurrence of a case of
bubonic plague at any wayside railway station in his circle.
(2) If in the opinion of the headman and two other respectable
residents of the village a person in any other house, (i.e., in any house
in which a death from plague has not occurred) is ill with bubonic
plague, the precautions specified in Annexure I should also be
adopted in that case.
Police officer to
work through
the village
headman and
landlord.
9. In carrying out these instructions the police officer shall work
as much as possible through the headman of the village and the
landlord ; and, so long as the prescribed instructions are obeyed;
allow the people themselves to carry them out in accordance with
their customs and practices.
Report to
district
authorities.
1o. The officer in charge of the police station shall report
immediately to the District Superintendent" of Police, the Magistrate
of the District, the nearest medical subordinate and the Civil Surgeon,
any case of bubonic plague, or suspicious case, brought to his notice.
The Civil Surgeon will inform the Inspector-General of Civil Hos-
pitals and the Sanitary Commissioner by telegram.
(Hi) Duties of the Revenue Staff.
Report.
11. Every patwari shall report to the registrar, kanungo and the
Tahsildar the death of any person in his village in cases where the symp-
toms of bubonic plague, as described in Annexure I, were present.
Enquiry by
Tahsildar, who
is also to assist
in enforcing
precautions.
12. On receipt of stich report, the Tahsildar shall satisfy himself
that the necessary action, described in the preceding rules, has
been taken by the police. If possible, the Tahsildar shall go himself
to the spot or depute his Naib or ask a Relief Officer to assist in
enforcing the sanitary precautions.
Report to
Magistrate.
13, The Tahsildar shall communicate the information forthwith to
the District or Sub-divisional Magistrate.
(iv) Duties of the Famine Relief Staff.
Enquiry by
Hospital
Assistants to
watch arrivals
and report
sickness.
14. Every Relief Officer on his rounds shall visit the spot and
see that the necessary sanitary measures are taken. He shall com-
municate the result forthwith to the Civil Surgeon.
(v) Duties of the Medical Staff.
Visit to the spot
by the nearest
Hospital Assist-
ant.
15. The nearest medical officer to receive information of cases of
bubonic plague from the officer in charge of a police station may be the
Hospital Assistant of a Branch Dispensary. The Hospital Assistant,
on receiving a report of a case, shall (if possible) at once visit the spot
and see that the necessary sanitary measures are taken. He shall
communicate the result forthwith to the Civil Surgeon.
251
ÀPP. ÏV. ] Régulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
16. In villages in which a Branch Dispensary is situated Hospital
Assistants shall themselves watch all arrivals and report sickness, with
a description of the symptoms, to the Civil Surgeon of the district.
Civil Surgeon
or subordinate
to visit places
where cases are
reported and
to enforce
precautions.
17. Civil Surgeons will arrange to proceed, as soon as possible,
to places from which cases are reported or to depute a qualified
subordinate to undertake the duty in their place. On arrival, tlie
Civil Surgeon (or qualified subordinate) shall be guided in his action
by the instructions conveyed in rules 31 to 42, sofaras they are
applicable to the circumstances of the case.
Temporary
encampment in
the open.
18. Should the Civil Surgeon consider it necessary that the '
inhabitants of a village in which bubonic plague is prevalent should
temporarily be located in chap par s or other structures in groves or
in the open at a distance from the village in the manner indicated
in rule 39, he may make a report to that effect to the Magistrate
of the District, and the latter may direct the inhabitants to vacate
their houses accordingly. The houses shall in this case be not again
occupied till they are thoroughly disinfected.
Headmen of
villages surround-
ing infected vil-
lage advised to
have no commu-
nication with it.
19. Should plague appear in a village, the headmen of surround-
ing villages should be advised to have no communication with
the infected village until the disease has completely disappeared.
(vi) Dut ies of the pub lic.
The public to
obey instructions.
20. Every person to whom an order is given by any officer em-
powered to act under the preceding rules with regard to his seg-
regation, the disinfection of his house or personal property, or with
regard to any other matter falling under these rules shall duly
obey that order.
Part II.—Rules relating to Municipalities and Cantonments.
Foregoing r ule
to apply to
municipalities
and cantonments,
provided that
police are not to
act without
orders of
executive or
sanitary
authority.
21. The foregoing rules, with the exception of rule I, shall be
observed, so far as possible, in municipalities and cantonments,
provided that no police officer in a municipality or cantonment shall
act under rules 6, 7 and 8 without having previously reported the
facts to, and obtained the written orders of, the executive or sanitary
authority in such municipality or cantonment. The police officer
shall show the written orders to the head of the house if required to
do so.
Following
special rules
apply.
22. The following special rules apply to every municipality
constituted under Act No. XV of 1873 or Act No. XV of 1883 and to
every cantonment.
Health Officer.
23. The words "Health Officer" used in the following rules
include a duly authorised Deputy or Assistant Health Officer, a
252
Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act. [ APP. IV.
Medical Officer entrusted with sanitary duties and, in a municipality
where there is no resident Sanitary or Health Officer, the Magistrate
exercising executive control in the municipality.
Formation of
Committees of
Residents to
assist Health
Officer and to
explain
measure to
public and report
complaints.
24. In every municipality and cantonment a committee shall be
appointed by the Magistrate or cantonment authority for the purpose
of assisting the Health Officer in performing his duties under these
rules. The Committee should consist of two members, one a Hindu
and one a Muhammadan, for each ward of a municipality or definite
portion of a cantonment; and their most important duties will be
to accompany the Health Officer on his rounds of inspection, to ex-
plain the necessity of the sanitary measures, to assist in causing these
to be carried out, and to bring to notice any complaints that may be
made or abuses that they mav discover.
Enforcement
of simple
sanitary
precautions.
25. In any municipality or cantonment the Magistrate of the
District or any Magistrate authorised by him in this behalf may issue
general orders that by a certain specified date certain sanitary
precautions of a simple nature, such as the limewashing of houses, the
cleaning of latrines, the removal of filth and rubbish, shall be carried
out, and the persons to whom the order is addressed shall comply.
Notice to be
given of
employment in
factories of
persons from
the Bombay
Presidency.
26. Every occupier of a " factory " shall, on employing in his
factory any person who has come from the Bombay Presidency or
Sind, immediately give notice in writing of the fact of such employ-
ment to the Magistrate of the District, and shall report to the
Magistrate the name and address of the person employed.
" The word ' factory ' used in this rule means any premises
wherein is carried on any process for, or incidental to, making,
altering, repairing, ornamenting, finishing or otherwise adapting for
use or sale any article or part of an article, and wherein steam,
water or other mechanical power is used in aid of any such process."'
Householders
to report plague
cases.
27. If in any house a person becomes ill, or dies of bubonic
plague, the owner of such house, or, if the owner be non-resident, the
occupier, and every head of a family resident therein shall forthwith
report the occurrence of such illness or death at the nearest police
station.
Householders
to report illr.ess
or death of
persons from the
Bombay
Presidency.
28. If there is, or has been, resident in any house a person who
has come since the ist January 1897 from Bombay, Poona, Karachi,
or other place in which bubonic plague is prevalent, the owner of
such house or, if the owner be non-resident, the occupier, and every
head of a family resident therein shall report at the nearest police
station (I) the illness of any person in such house, or (2) the death
of any person in such house, immediately such illness is apparent or
death occurs.
254
Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act. [ APP. IV.
Householders
to obey
instructions of
Health Officer
regarding
cleansing,
disinfection
and other sanitary
measures, and to
permit Health
Officer to enter
house.
Apaftments
occupied by
females.
shall comply with any direction that may be issued by the Health Officer
or other sanitary or executive authority with regard to the disinfection
and cleansing of a house, the disinfection or destruction of bedding,
clothing and articles of a similar nature, the improvement of the sanitary
condition of the premises, and with regard to other sanitary matters ;
and shall permit the Health Officer (who should be accompanied, when-
ever possible, by a member of the committee appointed under rule 24)
to enter his house or premises for the purpose of inspection. Provided
that, when an apartment is occupied by a female who according to the
custom of the country does not appear in public, the Health Officer
shall not enter such an apartment without giving notice and affording
time to such female to withdraw. In such inspections the Health
or Sanitary Officer shall always be accompanied by a male member
of the family.
Health Officer
may himself
carry out
sanitary
precautions.
Destruction of
non-masonry
structures.
33. The Health Officer shall, if he considers it necessary, himself
take measures for the disinfection of a house and for the other matters
referred to in the preceding rule. Should the Health Officer think it
necessary and practicable to burn or otherwise destroy any non-
masonry and inflammable structure, he will report the case to the
Magistrate of the District and act on his orders. The Magistrate
O
of the district, or in his absence the Magistrate in charge of his
duties, may order the burning or destruction of any hut or other
temporary structure, if disinfection cannot be satisfactorily effected
otherwise, awarding compensation to persons who are so poor as to
be unable to replace at their own expense the structure that has been
burnt or destroyed.
Entry and
examination of
persons.
Females.
34. The owner and occupier of any house shall permit the Health
Officer to enter his premises and examine any person whom such
Health Officer has reason to believe to be infected with bubonic plague.
If the person be a female who, according to the custom of the country,
does not appear in public, the examination shall be made through a
female doctor, female Hospital Assistant or other female agency.
Segregation in
the house.
35. (1) If the Health Officer is satisfied that a person is suffering
from bubonic plague in any residence and if, in the opinion of the
Health Officer, the residence of the sick person is so situated and
possesses such accommodation that the sick person can be properly
isolated therein or in the immediate vicinity thereof, such sick
person shall not be removed from his residence against the will of
the family.
Certificate that
house has suitable
segregation
accommodation.
(2) Any resident of a municipality may apply at any time to
the Health Officer to inspect his house and to grant (free of charge)
a certificate to the effect that the house is so situated and possesses
255
APP. IV. ] Regulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
such accommodation that one or more persons suffering from plague
can be properly isolated therein or in the immediate vicinity thereof.
Segregation in
suitable private
or caste hospital.
(3) If the sick person's residence does not permit of satisfactory «
isolation being effected in it, the Health Officer shall, if he thinks it
necessary, require the removal of such sick person either to a
suitably situated house or temporary hut licensed as a private
hospital for the accommodation of the particular individual or or his
family or to a hospital licensed for the sole use of particular
castes or classes of the community or to a hospital established
for the use of the public. The house or building licensed as a
hospital should be located as near the residence of the sick person
as the Health Officer considers safe.
Friends and
attendants may
accompany
patient to hospital.
Patients may
employ their
own medical
attendants and
may receive visit
from religious
persons.
Accommoda-
tion for females.
(4) It the Health Officer decides that a person suffering trom
bubonic plague shall be removed to a private or public hospital, the
friends and servants of the person shall be allowed to accompany
him, subject to necessary sanitary precautions, The sick person
or his friends shall be allowed to employ their own medical attend-
ants and to receive visits from maulvis, priests or other religious
instructors subject to the sanitary control of the Health Officer and
shall be under no obligation to submit to European medical treat-
ment. Separate suitable accommodation shall be provided for
females, and, in the case of a female who by the custom of the
country does not appear in public, parda shall be strictly preserved
both in removal to the private or public hospital and during stay
there.
Segregation of
the family of sick
person in own
house,special
accommodation
or general camp,
(5) Should it be necessary to place the family or any of its
members under segregation, this will be effected in their own
house if, in the Health Officer's opinion, this be possible. If in the
Health Officer's opinion this be not possible, then the segregation
will be effected in a suitable place which may be chosen by the
family and approved by the Health Officer, or in the general segre-
gation camp. In any case strict attention will be paid to the main-
tenance of the parda and the convenience of the family.
Care of house
while under
disinfection.
A member of the family, with the necessary servants or
caretakers, may remain in, or near, the house while under
disinfection.
Explanation.—Segregation of a whole family may not always
be necessary. It may depend on the number of members in a
family or the extent to which they have been in contact with a
person suffering from plague. Thus in a family of three members,
if one were attacked by plague, it might be necessary to segregate
the other two. If there were six members, of whom two only
2 5 6
Régulations under the Epidemic Diseases Act. [ APP. IV.
had been in attendance on the sick person, the segregation of those
two only might suffice.
Companions and
attendants of
the sick.
30. 1f m any case a person removed to a public or private
hospital is accompanied by friends or attendants, the Health Officer
may require so many of them as are not in immediate attendance
on the patient to live in the immediate neighbourhood of the hospital
in segregation huts or tents provided for the purpose and to
remain in such place until they receive permission from the Health
Officer to depart.
Segregations of
the same if
attacked by
plague.
37. If a person is attacked with bubonic plague while so segre-
gated, the Health Officer shall remove such person to a public or
private hospital and may treat his friends and attendants as provided
in the preceding rule.
Segregation for
10 days of non-
provisional
attendants on the
sick.
38. Upon the death of a sick person from bubonic plague, the
Health Officer shall for ten days detain under observation persons
who have been in attendance upon him, in segregation huts, tents or
suitable structures established for the purpose in the neighbourhood,
if segregation in the house or enclosure be not feasible, provided
that this rule shall not apply to any medical practitioner, hakim or baid
who may at any time attend upon a sick person or to corpse-bearers,
mourners and friends who have not been in attendance on the deceased.
Evacuation of
infected locality.
39. If bubonic plague has become prevalent in a portion of a
municipality or cantonment, the Health Officer or Sanitary Com-
missioner may, with the sanction of Government, direct the inhabi-
tants of any street, muhalla or other locality to evacuate their houses,
to remove to a temporary settlement at a distance from the infected
quarter. Each householder shall be permitted to make suitable
arrangements for the care of his house and property during his
absence and the Government will arrange for the watch and ward of
the empty houses. After evacuation, the Health Officers shall
arrange for the thorough disinfection and cleansing of the empty
premises and shall not permit the inhabitants to return until the
premises are considered to be free from infection.
Persons dealt
with under fore-
going rules to
obey instruc-
tions.
40. A person dealt with under the foregoing rules shall
comply with any directions that may be given to him by
the Health Officer with regard to his removal to, and resi-
dence in, an observation shed, public or private hospital or place
of segregation and with respect to disinfecting or burning of
bedding, clothing and articles of a similar nature or with
respect to any other sanitary matter. He shall not depart from any
such place without the permission of the Health Officer.
41. If the place oE burial be one set apart by Government as
suitable for the interment of corpses of persons who have died of