NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
APPENDIX IX.
MEASURES TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF
INFECTION BY SEA,
A and B Quarantine Rules, 1879.
No. 1. Extract from the Proceedings of the Government of India in the Home Depart-
ment (Sanitary),—under date Simla, the 9th May 1879.
READ the undermentioned papers on the subject of Quarantine-
Rules for Indian Ports :—
Home Department Resolution No. 308, dated 19th September
1878.
Letter from Government of Madras, No. 676, dated 6th December
1878.
Letter from Government of Bombay, No. 3482, dated I5th Novem-
ber 1878.
Letter from Government of Bengal, No. 4273, dated gth December
1878.
Letter from Chief Commissioner of British Burma No. 16-20,
dated 6th January 1879.
Letter from Superintendent of Port Blair, No. 812-915, dated 6th
December 1878.
Despatch from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India, No.
200, dated 28th November 1878.
RESOLUTION.
In Home Department Resolution of 19th September 1878, after
discussing the whole question of quarantine, and the action which has
been taken from time to time on that subject in Indian ports, the
Government of India laid down two leading principles' : First, that a
system of medical inspection is sufficient to meet the case of all
vessels arriving with persons suffering from any disease which is
endemic in this country ; and secondly-, that quarantine should be reserv-
ed for occasions when there is danger of diseases being imported,
which are either unknown or not commonly rife in India—such, for
example, as plague and yellow fever. Local Governments and Admin-
istrations were requested to submit draft rules in accordance with
c 27
210
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX
these principles—one set for medical inspection which might, if it
appeared necessary, be sanctioned under Act I of 1870, and would
remain continuously in force ; and another set for quarantine, which
should be provisional, and would only be enforced, if occasion should
arise, with the previous sanction of the Government of india.
2, Replies from the Local Governments, with sets of rules propos-
ed by them, have been received ; and in the meantime a despatch has
also come from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India acknow-
ledging the receipt of the Resolution of 19th September 1878. Lord
Cranbrook expresses a hope that quarantine " rules may soon be
drawn up which shall be consistent with the views of Her Majesty's
Government and applicable to the whole of India." At the same time,
he points out the importance of meeting the prejudices of other
States as far as possible, so as to avoid the risk of restrictions being
imposed on vessels passing through the Red Sea ; and he adds—
" With regard, however, to this point, I would especially impress on
you that, if the Indian ports were known to be maintained in a thor-
oughly sanitary condition, and if a complete system were in force of
inspection of vessels arriving in port, including isolation of any persons
on board who might be sick from disorders of an epidemic charac-
ter, it is probable that the susceptibilities of other nations would be
sufficiently met, and that all occasion would be taken away for the
establishment of quarantine at any time in India." In a further des-
patch (No. 22, dated 2oth February 1879) on a kindred subject, the
Secretary of State forwards with approval a letter from the Foreign
Office, urging that the enforcement of misapplied quarantine rules at
Indian ports " materially weakens the hands of Her Majesty's Govern-
ment in protesting against bad quarantine arrangements at places be-
longing to foreign powers,"
3. Of the rules submitted by Local Governments, those for Madras
were drawn up by a Committee ; but the rules for medical inspection
appear strict and complicated, and they are mixed up with the rules
for quarantine proper. It is of primary importance that the two sets
of rules should be kept quite distinct, both because this is more con-
venient, and also because the one set is to be continuously in force,
whereas the other set is to be specially sanctioned only when occasion
arises. The Bombay rules are also open to some of the remarks stated
above ; and they might cause annoyance and hardship. The rules re-
commended for Calcutta were drawn up by a Committee ; but the
two sets of rules have not been kept distinct as they ought to be, and
they contain some provisions which could hardly be worked in prac-
tice. The British Burma rules are simpler, but, if strictly acted on,
they might do mischief without conferring any compensating benefit.
211
APP. IX. ]
spread of infection by sea.
The rules for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands make no mention of
quarantine or medical inspection. They are intended merely to
preserve discipline among the convicts, to prevent escapes and landing
of forbidden articles. But the case of the Andamans is so peculiar that
the requirements of that Settlement may be left out of account alto-
gether. The case of Aden is under separate consideration.
4. After considering all the replies of Local Governments and the
rules submitted by them, the Government of tndia have caused to be
prepared, for the guidance of all Local Governments, two separate
sets of rules, which are appended to this Resolution. These two sets
of rules must be kept quite distinct from each other. The Quarantine
Rules (Appendix B) can be, and are hereby sanctioned under Act I
of 1870; but they will only be brought into operation very occasion-
ally, with sanction of the Government of India, which must previously
be obtained in each case. Such sanction will be given only in the
case of plague, yellow fever, or some fatal epidemic not ordinarily
prevalent among Indian populations. The Medical Inspection Rules
(Appendix A), on the other hand, are intended for every-day use ; they
do not provide for any quarantine at all ; and they should be regarded
as executive orders of Government.
5. In conclusion, the Government of India take this opportunity
of pressing upon the Local Governments concerned the great import-
ance of attending to the sanitary condition of Indian ports, as urged
by the Secretary of State, and also the good to be derived from seeing
that all vessels leaving the port are well found in stores, &c., and are
in every other respect in a condition favourable to the health of both
passengers and crew.
ORDER.—Ordered, that this Resolution, with the appended Rules,
be forwarded to the Governments of Madras, Bombay, and Bengal, the
Chief Commissioner of British Burma, and the Superintendent of Port
Blair and the Nicobars, for information and guidance ; and that a
copy be forwarded to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India.
APPENDIX A.
THE following Rules for the medical inspection of vessels are
issued, for the guidance of Port Officers, Pilots, and Medical Officers
of Ports, by the
with the previous sanction of the Governor
General in Council : and they will take effect from the 1st June 1879
in the ports of
I.—The master of every vessel on board of which there is, either
among the passengers or crew, any case of cholera, small-pox, or other
epidemic disease common in India, shall report such case or cases to
the pilot or other boarding officer at the earliest opportunity, or, in the
212
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX.
absence of a pilot or other boarding officer, shall hoist a signal, which
shall be during the day flag R of the Commercial Code at the main
and during the night two lighted lanterns, one over the other, at the
fore.
II.—The Port Officer, having received information from the pilot
or other boarding officer, or by signal, that any case of such disease is
on board, shall communicate the information to the Health Officer of
the Port.
III.—The Health Officer, as early as possible after receipt of this
information, shall inspect the vessel, and more especially its sanitary
condition; shall inquire into the circumstances attending the case or
cases of the said disease ; and shall arrange for the conveyance of
all persons suffering from such disease to a hospital, unless the sick
person or his friends can make adequate provision elsewhere.
IV.—-The latter part of Rule No. III is, however, not to be en-
forced in the case of passengers bound for an onward port, unless
under the clearest necessity ; and of every such case a special report,
explaining the reasons for the action taken, must be submitted to the
Government,
V.—Where the disease or diseases in question are limited to
one or two cases, the vessel shall not be prohibited from taking up the
usual place of anchorage in the harbour, nor shall the passengers be
detained on board pending the inspection of the Health Officer; but
the master of the vessel shall be held responsible that no passenger
suspected of having such disease is allowed to depart before this
inspection.
VI.—Where cases have been more numerous than one or two, or
when, from their occurring on pilgrim or emigrant ships, or for other
special reasons, further precautions may be deemed advisable, the
vessel shall anchor in the place appointed for the purpose ; and none
of the passengers shall be allowed to leave until the Health Officer has
made his inspection.
VII.—Vessels coming under this last rule shall be thoroughly
cleansed and fumigated, under the directions of the Health Officer.
In the case of small-pox, it shall also be his duty to vaccinate or have
vaccinated all those on board who appear to require this protection
and are willing to accept it.
APPENDIX B.
IN exercise of the power conferred by Act I of 1870, the following
Rules for quarantine against plague or yellow fever have been made
213
APP. IX. ]
spread of infection by sea.
by
, with the previous sanction of the Governor General
in Council ; they will take effect from the
in the port of
:—
I.—The commander of every vessel, including buggalows or other
native craft, arriving from a port where plague or yellow fever pre-
vails, shall, before entering the harbour, indicate by signal the port
from which she has come.
II.—Such commander shall not, without having first obtained per-
mission 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 harbour.
III.—Immediately on the signal of such arrivals being made, the
Health Officer of the port shall go alongside the vessel, and ascertain
by enquiry from the commander whether any person On board is then
suffering, or has during the voyage suffered, from plague; and if such
officer is satisfied by such enquiry that no such case has occurred, he
shall by writing under his hand, to be delivered to the commander,
permit free communication between such vessel and the shore, and
with other vessels and boats in the harbour.
IV.—If the Health Officer shall have reason to believe that any
such case has occurred, he shall direct the commander to take the
vessel to the quarantine anchorage duly appointed and notified by
Government, there to remain for the space of fifteen days from the
day of arrival in the harbour or from the elate of the occurrence of the
latest case of illness, and shall further direct the commander to pro-
hibit during the said fifteen days all communication, except such as is
hereinafter provided for, between such vessel and the shore, or other
vessels or boats in the harbour. The Health Officer may further
direct the removal of so many of the passengers and crew as may not
be suffering from sickness, and whose services may not be required
on board the ship, to such particular spots as may from time to time
be fixed upon by the Local Government as places of quarantine, there
to remain for a space of fifteen days, or, in the event of the occurrence
of a case of sickness, for a space of fifteen days from the date of the
occurrence of the last case,
V.—Any mails or cargo which may be brought by any vessel so
arriving shall be landed under such precautions as may be deemed
necessary by the Health Officer to prevent the spread of the disease.
VI.—It will be the duty of the Superintendent of Marine to facili-
tate the conveyance to the vessel in quarantine of all supplies of provi-
sions, stores, and other articles required by those on board. These
supplies should be placed on the boats of the vessel, to be subse-
quently removed by members of her crew.
214
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX.
Quarantine Rules against Hong-kong imposed in
1894.
No. 2.
No. 1654 (Marine), dated Calcutta, the 27th July 1894.
From—K. H. STEPHEN, Esq., Under Secretary to the Government of Bengal,
Marine Department,
To —The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
With reference to your telegram of the 25th instant, I am directed
to forward herewith a copy of this Department's Notifications, Nos.
60—61, imposing revised quarantine rules at Calcutta and Chittagong
against arrivals from Hong-Kong and Canton.
2. I am to explain that similar rules are not necessary for the
Orissa Ports as vessels from Chinese ports do not call there.
Notification No. 60 (Marine), dated the 27th July 1894.
With the previous sanction of the Governor General in Council
the following revised rules for quarantine against plague have been
made by the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal in exercise of the power
conferred by section 1, Act I of 1870.
These rules have effect, as a temporary measure, from 1st August
1894 in the Port of Calcutta:—
I.—The Commander of every vessel, including buggalows or
other native craft arriving from Hong-Kong or Canton,
shall, on arrival at the Sandheads, 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
boarding a vessel from Hong-Kong or Canton 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
permission as hereinafter provided, allow any communica-
tion 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 com-
munication 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
* Not printed.
215
APP. IX. ]
spread of infection by sea.
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 the 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 arrival 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 the plague.
VI.—If the Health Officer is satisfied that no one is suffering from
the plague, or has suffered from the plague since the
vessel left Hong-Kong or Canton port, and if the vessel has
been allowed pratique at Singapore, he shall allow the
passengers to land, but shall detain the vessel at Mateea-
brooj till such measures have been taken for the disinfec-
tion 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 hand, 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 communica-
tion with the shore and with vessels and boats in port.
VIII.—If the vessel has not been allowed pratique at Singapore, 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 is suffering, or has suffered, during the
voyage, from the plague, he shall direct the Commander to
take the vessel to the quarantine anchorage at Mateeabrooj
or elsewhere duly appointed by the Port Officer, and there
to remain for a period of eight days from the date of
arrival in harbour. 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 communication except such as is hereinafter
provided for between such vessel and the shore, or other
vessels and boats in the harbour.
IX.—If the Health Officer, as the result of the enquiry made
under paragraph V above, has reason to believe, at the
216
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX.
time when the vessel arrives in the harbour, that any
person on board is suffering, or during the voyage has
suffered, from plague, or if during the time the ship is in
quarantine at Mateeabrooj under Rule VIII, any case of
the disease breaks out, he shall direct the Commander to
take the vessel to the quarantine anchorage at Diamond
Harbour or elsewhere, and there to remain for a period of
fifteen days from the day of arrival in the harbour; and
shall further direct that during such fifteen days inter-
course between the vessel detained under this rule or Rule
III, and the shore or other vessels and boats in the
harbour shall be prohibited as provided in Rule II.
X.—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 IX.
XI.—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 by the Port Officer as places of quaran-
tine, there to remain for a period of eight days if under
Rule VIII, or if the vessel has been placed in quarantine
for fifteen days 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 quaran-
tine for a period of fifteen days from the date of the
occurrence of the last case of such illness.
XII.—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 and 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.
No. 3.
No. 2782, dated Bombay Castle, the 26th July 1894.
From—W. L. HARVEY, Esq., I.C.S., Under Secretary to the Government of
Bombay, General Department,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
In continuation of the telegram from this Government of the 26th
instant, I am directed to forward herewith, for the information of the
APP. IX. ]
spread of infection by sea.
217
Government of India, copy of a Notification No. 2780, dated 26th
July 1894, containing rules for the enforcement of quarantine at ports
in the Bombay Presidency against arrivals from Hong-Kong and
Canton in modification of the rules published in the notification of
this Government, No. 2641, dated l6th instant, a copy of which was
forwarded to the Government of India with the letter from this Gov-
ernment, No. 2643 of the same date.
Notification No. 2780, dated Bombay Castle, the 26th July 1894.
In exercise of the power conferred by Act I of 1870, the follow-
ing rules for quarantine against plague have been made by the Gov-
ernment of Bombay, with the previous sanction of the Governor
General in Council, in modification of those published in Government
Notification No. 2641, dated 16th July 1894: they have effect in the
ports of the Bombay Presidency, including Sind, as a temporary
measure :—
I.—The Commander of every vessel, including buggalows or
other native craft arriving at ports in the Bombay Presi-
dency, including Sind, from Hong-Kong and Canton,
shall, before entering the harbour, hoist a yellow flag (or
if entering a port at night time, show whatever quarantine
light signals are customary in the port) and indicate by
signal the port from which such vessel has come, and
shall keep such flag and signals flying until permitted to
take them down as hereinafter provided. The pilot on
going alongside a vessel from Hong-Kong and Canton
shall direct the flag prescribed above to be hoisted, if it
has not already been done.
II.—Such Commander shall not, without first having obtained
permission as hereinafter provided, allow any communica-
tion, except orally, with the shore or any other vessel or
boat, excepting with the boat supplying pilots, and in that
case communication shall be limited to receiving on board
the pilot, his servant and baggage.
III.—On any such arrival being signalled, the Health Officer of the
Port shall, as soon as possible, 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, and if the Health Officer is
satisfied by such enquiry that no person on board is
suffering, or during the voyage has suffered, from plague,
and if the ship carries a qualified Medical Officer quaran-
tine shall be dispensed with, and pratique granted.
c 28
218
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. XI.
If the vessel does not carry a qualified Medical Officer, he
shall direct the Commander to take the vessel to the
quarantine anchorage duly appointed and notified by
Government, and there to remain for a period of eight
clear days from the date of arrival in the harbour. The
Health Officer shall also direct the Commander to prohi-
bit, during the period for which the vessel remains at the
quarantine anchorage as aforesaid, all communication,
except such as is hereinafter provided for, between such
vessel and the shore or other vessels and boats in the
harbour.
IV.—If the Health Officer, as the result of the enquiry made
under paragraph III above, shall have reason to believe at
the time when the vessel arrives in the harbour that any
person on board is suffering, or during the voyage has
suffered, from plague, he shall direct the Commander to
take the vessel to the quarantine anchorage as aforesaid,
and there to remain for a period of fifteen days from
the day of arrival in the harbour: 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, as provided in Rule III.
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 termination of the
last case either by death, recovery or removal from the
vessel, and be subject to all the prohibitions provided for
in Rules III and 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 ill-
ness, and whose services may not be required on board the
vessel, to such particular spots as may from time to time
be selected by Government as places of quarantine, there
to remain for a period of eight days, or if the vessel has
been placed in quarantine for fifteen days, 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.