NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
104
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. VIII.
has replied that it has been decided to close all the routes except Nos. 4, 5,
6 and 7 with effect from the 1st July 1897."
Letter to the Chairman, Bombay Plague Committee, No. M.—574-P., dated
the 29th May 1897 :—
" With reference to my telegram No. M.—214-P., dated 2oth April last
enquiring whether you could arrange for five days' quarantine against vessels
arriving from Cutch, I am directed tc request the favour of information as to what
action was taken thereon in crder that any requisite sanction may be formally
given."
Letter to the Chairman, Bombay Plague Committee, No. P.—1064-P., dated
the 27th July 1897 :—
" I am directed to invite attention to my letter No. M.—574-P., dated the
29th May last, and to request that information as to the action taken as regards
quarantine (or a substitute therefor) in Bombay against arrivals from Cutch may
be furnished so as to admit of the subject being formally brought on the records
of Government."
Letter from the Chairman, Bombay Plague Committee, No. 4922, dated the
29th July 1897 : —
" In reply to your letter No. P.—1064-P., dated 27th July 1897, I have the
honour to report that, on receipt of your telegram No. M.—2I4-P., of 2oth April,
I communicated with the Commissioner of Customs, the Chairman, Port Trusts,
and the Port Health Officer regarding the steps to be taken for quarantining
vessels from Cutch Mandvi ; and I beg to attach a copy of the Rules which were
then drawn up."
RESOLUTION.—These papers may now be recorded.
2. The Chairman of the Bombay Plague Committee should be
informed, with reference to Rule 4 of the rules forwarded with his
letter No. 4922, dated 2oth July 1897, that Government rely on him
to submit, in good time, for approval, the rules for quarantine against
Cutch which he has proposed to draw up and hold in readiness for
future contingencies.
No. 52.
NOTE OF INSPECTION BY SURGEON-MAJOR-GENERAL
WARBURTON, OFFICIATING DIRECTOR-GENERAL,
INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE.
No. 331, dated 4/6th April 1897.
Ï beg to submit the following note on my recent visits to first
class plague inspection stations.
1. Khana.—I arrived at 5-11 P.M. and left at 6-20 P.M. on 24th
March. Surgeon-Captain Dyson, Sanitary Commissioner, Bengal, and
Surgeon-Captains Calvert and Jay-Gould, and Surgeon-Lieutenant
Peck, the three officers posted here for inspection duty, met me at
the station and showed me over the segregation camp, a very accurate
ÁPP. VIII. ]
spread of infection by land,
105
description of which, together with inspection and disinfecting arrange-
ments, etc., is given in the accompanying note by Surgeon-Captain
Dyson. The distribution of water by pipes and more efficient steam-
ing arrangements will shortly be completed.
There had been 364 admissions to date and there were 22 suspects
in the camp at the time of my visit, two of whom were in hospital,
one suffering from pneumonia and the other from chicken-pox.
I saw the passengers in the 6-2o P.M. train inspected and was
satisfied with the thoroughness of the inspection. Seven first and
second class and 363 third class passengers were examined. No
complaints were made.
So far no cases of plague have been discovered.
The lowest number of passengers inspected on_any one day was
1,799 and the highest 4,067.
The lighting arrangements were defective, but electric light will
soon be in operation at a special inspection platform which was
nearly completed and at which only trains from up-country will stop.
2. Manikpur.—I reached this station at 6 P.M. on the 25th and
remained there till 9-14 the next morning.
Only two trains from the Bombay direction—one at 7-24 A.M.
and the other at 7-5 P.M —are examined each day. There are no
night trains. Í was present at the inspection of two trains, the total
number of passengers examined being 360, of whom about 15 per
cent, were from the Bombay Presidency.
The examining staff consists of one Commissioned Medical Officer,
Surgeon-Lieutenant Dawes, and a native female nurse ; the former
examines all the men and feels the pulses of the females, whose
examination is completed by the nurse. The examinations were
carefully made. There were no purdah women and no complaints.
One hospital assistant is in charge of the segregation camp and
is present at inspections to take over any suspects or plague cases
that may have to be detained. The camp consists of tents and huts
for Europeans and natives with hospital properly isolated, but as
only two suspects had so far been detained, the hospital assistant
has had little to do. The small number of " suspects " at this station
is probably due to effective inspections at Jubbulpur and Itarsi.
The drinking water is here the great difficulty. Europeans get
theirs from Allahabad and natives use water from the railway well
and a neighbouring tank, both of which are drying up. The station
is badly lighted.
The medical officer keeps no diary. I have directed him to do
so, entering the number of passengers examined each day, especially
c 14
106
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. VIII.
noting the number from Bombay and to send a copy of the diary
each week to his superior officer.
The staff is sufficient and no new passenger is allowed to enter
the train till the inspection is completed.
3. Itarsi.—Surgeon-Colonel Hutcheson, Sanitary Commissioner,
Central Provinces, joined me at Jubbulpur, where I learned there
is a platform inspection of all passengers from the Bombay
direction, conducted by a Native Assistant Surgeon and hospital
assistant, but I did not consider it necessary to remain and see how
it was done. We reached Itarsi at 6-45 A.M. on 27th and left again
at 9-40 A.M.
The staff here consists of a Commissioned Medical Officer,
Surgeon-Captain Bourke, a female hospital assistant for examining
passengers, a Native Assistant Surgeon and Hospital Assistant for
camp and other duties. Hospital and segregation arrangements for
Europeans and natives are sufficient, except that a hospital for women
is required, and the camp is well situated and water-supply satisfac-
tory. There is an incinerator for the destruction of excreta and other
infected substances. There are no means of disinfecting clothing
or bedding except by boiling, but so far suspected articles of this
kind have been burned. I have suggested that some clothing and
bedding should be kept in stock to replace any destroyed.
There were 10 men and 3 women suspects in camp, and since
17th February, when Dr. Bourke assumed charge, 49 have been
detained ; none of these have developed into plague cases, though a
plague case, which proved fatal, was taken out of the train on
February 16th. Before that 10 cr 12 cases are said to have occurred,
but the infoimation is not reliable and there are no records.
Three trains are examined here daily, at 8-10 A.M., 4-35 P.M.
and 9-49 P.M , so that there is no night duty. Dr. Bourke calculates
that about 500 passengers are examined daily. I saw the examina-
tion of the 8-10 train in which were 121 passengers and was satisfied
with it. I also examined on my return on 30th in the 4-35 P.M. train.
On this occasion the carriages had not been locked at the last stop-
ping place, and passengers were able to get out before examination.
1 drew attention to this.
I discovered at this station that passenger carriages are attached
to goods trains on various railway lines and not being scheduled the
presengers thus conveyed are likely to evade inspection.
4, Bhusawal was reached at 5-3 P.M. on 27th and I remained
there till 9-35 P.M.
• APP. VIII. ]
spread of infection by land.
107
Four trains are inspected daily—at 8-20 and 9-16 A M. and 6-40
and 9-5 P.M. No night trains. About 700 passengers are examined
each day.
The staff consists of one Commissioned Medical Officer, two
Military Assistant Surgeons and five hospital assistants, and I found
hospital assistants assisting at the inspections. I saw the two evening
trains examined. The inspections were carefully performed.
I also visited the segregation camp, where there was accommoda-
tion for 20 plague cases and 5 suspects. There were 2 suspects under
observation and three cases recovering from plague under treatment :
11 other cases of plague, making 14 in all, of whom 7 had died and
4 had been discharged cured.
The water-supply was said to be satisfactory, but the roofs of the
huts were too thin to be a protection against the sun. This was about
to be remedied.
The staff I considered unnecessarily large, but I learned afterwards
at Kalyan that the Commissioned Medical Officer and two hospital
assistants were under orders for transfer. One of the remaining hos-
O
pital assistants might with advantage be replaced by a female hospital
assistant as there is none here. I was examined here on the 30th
in the 9-16 A.M. train. The examination appeared sufficient.
5. Nagpur.—We arrived here at 8 A.M. and left at 7-20 P.M. on
the 2Sth. Three trains are examined here daily, at 8 A.M., 4-30 P.M.
and 10 P.M. and from 400 to 500 passengers inspected.
The staff consists of a Commissioned Medical Officer, Surgeon-
Lieutenant Hammond, a Native Assistant Surgeon, female hospital
Assistant, and an hospital assistant. I saw the examination of the
train in which we arrived and was satisfied with it.
I also visited the segregation camp which had been opened on
15th February with accommodation for 24 men and 8 women. At
the time of my visit there were six cases under observation with four
dependants. One case in hospital suspected to be plague but
diagnosis not confirmed. Before the opening of the camp there had
been two cases of plague with one death and one recovery, but no
cases had occurred since.
There is a good water-supply and the huts suitable and well situ-
ated.
6. Kalyan.—As I found I had a day to spare, I decided to visit
Kalyan and wired accordingly to the Surgeon-General with the Bom-
bay Government. I arrived there at 6 P.M. and left again at 11-40
P.M. on the 29th.
îc8
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. VIII
I was by the courtesy of the Surgeon-General, to whom my thanks
are due, met by Surgeon-Major Street, D.S.O., Deputy Sanitary
Commissioner, and Surgeon-Captain Prall, Acting Secretary to the
Surgeon-General, also by the two commissioned Inspecting Medical
Officers, Surgeon-Lieutenants Walton and Dixon, and shown over the
segregation camp. The morning report showed that there were 15
persons in the observation sheds and 19 cases in the plague sheds.
From 13th February to 20th March 301 passengers have been de-
tained. Of these 250 were suspects. About 98 appear to have been
plague cases with 63 deaths, 16 discharged cured and 19 remaining
under treatment. The above figures are, perhaps, not quite accurate
as some deaths from other causes appear to have been mixed up with
those from plague.
Twenty scheduled trains have to be examined daily, but I could
not find out the number of passengers inspected.
The staff consists of two Commissioned Medical Officers, two
Military Assistant Surgeons and nine hospital assistants, besides six
sepoy attendants. There are 11 policemen in charge of the camp.
An additional Commissioned Medical Officer is under orders to join,
as the inspection work here is necessarily very hard and trying. Í
was present at the examination of three trains and found them
carefully and properly conducted.
The camp is on ground which will become a swamp in the rains
and I am told that the only suitable position in the neighbourhood is
the military encamping-ground.
Efforts are being made to arrange for proper disinfecting
apparatus.
The water-supply from a well is said to be good.
I learned here that another first class inspection station is about
to be started at Manmad, the junction of the Dhond and Manmad
Railway,
There is, I understand, ample room for a large segregation camp
here, and should it be found necessary to detain all passengers from
Bombay, this would be a suitable place for such detention.
7. Jhansi.—I arrived here at 2-55 A.M. and left before 4 A.M.
on 31st, and I saw Surgeon-Lieutenant Robertson make a very
thorough inspection of the passengers in my train. Five trains are
inspected here daily—At 1-45 A.M. and 2-45 A.M. from Bombay,
3 A.M. and 12 noon from the Gwalior direction and 9-30 A.M.
from Manikpur. Dr. Robertson has been here since February 8th.
The arrangements made for preventing passengers booking at
Jhansi from entering the train before the inspection is completed are
APP. VIII. ]
spread of infection by land.
109
defective. I have drawn the attention of the Inspector-General of
Civil Hospitals to this, and some other defects observed.
No. 53.
MEDICAL STAFF AT BOMBAY RAILWAY STATIONS.
Government of Bombay Resolution No. 1069—539-P., dated the 26th February
1897.
Letter from the Surgeon-General with the Government of Bom-
bay, No. 2045, dated 25th February 1897 :—
"With reference to paragraph 2 of Government Resolution No.
751—249-P., dated 11th February 1897, I have the honour to forward
the accompanying list showing the names of commissioned medical
officers and medical subordinates deputed for inspection duty at
Kalyan, Palghar, Ahmedabad, Bhusaval, Hotgi and Loncla Railway
Stations. "
List showing the names of commissioned medical officers and medical
subordinates deputed for inspection duty at Kalyan, Palghar,
Ahmedabad, Bhusaval, Hotgi and Londa Railway Stations.
Kalyan Station.
Surgeon-Lieutenant H. J. Walton.
,,
H. A. D. Dickson.
Military Assistant Surgeon W. P. B. Hart.
„
„
„
A. G. Brown.
Senior Hospital Assistant Shaik Dadoo Miya.
„
,
,
Bapoo Sawant.
First Grade
„
Eknath Babaji.
„
„
„
Nathu Mai.
„
,,
„
Didar Bux.
Third Grade
„
Buswant Sing.
,,
„
„
Arjundas.
Third Grade Hospital Assistant Rahmatali.
;,
,,
,,
,,
Gopal Prasad.
„
„
„
„
Narayen Sing.
Third Class
„
,,
Govind Rajaram.
,,
„
,,
„
Bhowanishankar Harnarayan.
,,
„
,,
„
Makund Sakharam.
,,
,,
„
,,
Shaik Jamal Hoosein.
Mr. Waman Narayen.
„ Bhugwant Gopal.
1
10
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. VIII
Palghar Station.
Surgeon-Lieutenant A. E. H. Pinch.
Military Assistant Surgeon P. H. Taylor.
Senior Hospital Assistant Mahomed Ghouse.
First Grade Hospital Assistant Ghous Sharif.
,,
„
,,
„
Shaik Abdulla.
„
„
,,
,,
Nagapa Pillay.
,,
;,
„
,,
Sreenivasa Pillay.
Third Class
,,
,,
Cooverji Rustomji Avari.
Such of these
officers as
are required
will be util-
ized as oc-
casion arises
to help at
the railway
inspection.
Ahmedabad Station.
Surgeon-Lieutenant A. W. R. Cochrane.
Military Assistant Surgeon F. E. Knight.
Assistant Surgeon J. D. Khambatta.
„
,,
B. H. Nanavati.
,,
,,
N. K. Kalyanwala.
„
„
Khan Bahadur K. B, Kooper.
,,
„
S. F. Chandhi.
Stipendiary Pupil Kalidas Goculdas.
,,
„ Kashtur Tricum.
„
„
Harilal Nathabhai.
„
,,
Jethalal Chimanlal.
,,
„
Chunilal Parbhudas-.
Civil Medical Pupil Manekrai Dolatrai.
„
„
„ Rawasing Dulesing.
Bhusawal Station.
Military Assistant Surgeon C. W. Maine.
Third Class Hospital Assistant Khanderao Narayen.
„ Grade
„
„
Salij Ram.
,, Class
,,
„
Namdeo Hari.
Hotgi Station.
Military Assistant Surgeon C. J. A. Meneaud.
„
„
„
F. H. Brooks.
First Grade Hospital Assistant Mahomed Jaffer.
Third „
„
„
Gokulchand.
,,
„
„
„
Mahomedali Khan.
APP. VIII. ]
spread of infection by land.
111
Londa Station.
Military Assistant Surgeon W. J. Masterson.
„
„
„
L. P. Kenyon.
Third Grade Hospital Assistant Mulchand.
,,
,,
,,
,,
Nurullah.
„
„
,,
„
J. P. Mascarenhas.
RESOLUTION.—The Surgeon-General's list is approved. He
should be requested to issue all necessary instructions to the inspect-
ing staff. The Chief Medical Officer of each station should submit a
daily progress report to Government.
2. The Collectors of the districts concerned should be requested
to render all necessary assistance.
3. Copy should be sent to the Public Works Department, Rail-
way, for communication to the Railway authorities. Copies should
also be sent direct to the slationmasters of the stations concerned.
MEDICAL STAFF AND ACCOMMODATION AT RAILWAY
INSPECTION STATIONS.
No. 54.
Telegram Nos. 1252 to 1263, dated Simla, the I2th April 1897.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department,
f The Secretary to the Government of Bombay.
The Secretary to the Government of Madras.
The Secretary to the Government of Bengal.
1 The Secretary to ihe Government of the North-Western Provinces
and Oudh.
The Secretary to the Government of the Punjab.
To—. The Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces.
The Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Burma.
The Agent to the Governor General in Rajputana.
| The Agent to the Governor General in Baluchistan.
The Agent to the Governor General in Central India.
The Resident at Mysore.
The Resident at Hyderabad,
In a despatch regarding plague, Secretary of State asks for in-
formation to make it clear that sufficient temporary hospitals with
adequate staff doctors and nurses were promptly established at each
plague centre, and that where available women doctors were employed
112
Measures to prevent
the
[ APP. VIII
To Local
Governments
other than
Bombay.
in
plague wards tor women. Government or India are aware that
temporary hospitals have been erected at stations where medical in-
spection is carried out, and that at other places hospitals have been
arranged for in case plague should occur, but the information which
they have is not sufficiently definite to place before the Secretary of
State. They would therefore be obliged if complete information cart
be given by telegram giving details as to special or temporary plague
hospitals, number of Medical Officers, Assistant Surgeons, Hospital
Assistants, women doctors and nurses detailed for plague duty.
Please telegraph complete information on subject. Information should
contain complete list special and temporary plague hospitals with
staff both at plague centres and inspection stations. Also number of
medical officers of each class and nurses employed on plague duty,
and where employed. Also required information about women doc-
tors.
No. 55,
Telegram No. 3686, dated the 13th April 1897.
From—The Agent to the Governor General, Central India,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
Your telegram of 12th April. There is no plague centre in
Central India Agency, except Khandraoni in Gvvalior territory, re-
garding which daily reports reach you. No other cases of plague
have occurred, except at Ujjain, and those were all imported cases.
The following are the arrangements at the inspecting stations of Rut-
lam Ujjain, and Indore : At Rutlam—Surgeon-Major Kanga, I.M.S.,
and Hospital Assistant Mahomed Yassin. Huts for segregation of plague
patients have been erected there. A female Hospital Assistant has
not yet been found, though the employment of one has been sanction-
ed. At Ujjain—Surgeon-Captain Hardy has under him Hospital
Assistants Sheonarain and Joglekar. There is no female attendant.
All arrangements for segregation and treatment are complete. At
Indore—Hospital Assistants Sheopershad and Hadi Hosein with two
of Maharaja Holkar's Medical Officers inspect all trains. There are
arrangements for segregation and treatment both in the Residency
and in the city.
No. 56.
Telegram, dated the 13th April 1897.
From—The Secretary to the Government of Bengal, Financial Depart
ment,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
Your telegram of 12th. There are temporary plague hospitals at
Khana on East Indian Railway, Katihar and Damukdia on Eastern
Bengal State Railway, and at Maniktola near Calcutta. The staff
employed is the following: Khana—three Commissioned Medical
APP. VIII.]
spread of infection by land.
113
Officers, one Military Assistant Surgeon, two lady Doctors; and four
Civil Hospital Assistants; Katihar—one commissioned Medical Officer,
one Lady Doctor, and one Civil Hospital Assistant ; Damukdia—one
Military Assistant Surgeon and a Lady Doctor, who will be posted there
shortly. Maniktola is under Health Officer, Calcutta, who has been
asked for particulars of staff, but has not replied. Information will
follow.
No. 57-
Telegram, dated the ißth April 1897.
From-^The Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Burma,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
Yours of 12th. There is no medical inspection in Burma, except of
vessels from infected ports Bombay, Karachi, Goa under quarantine
rules, and of vessels from other ports under ordinary rules. A flat has
been provided at Rangoon for use of plague hospital and arrangements
made to supply other flat if necessary. Site has been selected for
segregation camp if required at Bassein. Temporary building has
been erected at Akyab. Site has been selected at Moulmein. Flat
will be used, No medical officers or nurses yet detailed for plague
duty.
No. 58.
Telegram, dated the i^th April 1897.
From—'The Government of Bengal,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India,, Home Department.
In continuation my telegram yesterday. Mauiktola Plague Hos-
pital is subdivided for Hindus, Mahomedans, Christian?, and accord-
ing to sects attached to it are observation and rest camps. The
present staff is one Medical Officer, one Compounder, two Hospital
Assistants and menials. There are no patients at present. If plague
breaks out, staff will be raised to two Medical Officers, two Lady
Doctors, twelve trained nurses, twenty-four Hospital Assistants,
besides menials. Sites have been selected for three other hospitals
on similar lines.
No. 59.
Telegram No. 1465-6.,, dated the i5th April 1897.
From—The Agent to the Governor General, Rajputana,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
Your telegram dated s 2th. Temporary plague hospitals at Abu
Road, Nana, Mar war Junction, Jodhpur, Bikanir, Ajmere, Nasirabad,
Jeypore, Bandikui, Bhurtpore, Dholpore, and Ulwar. Special plague
European Medical Officers and nurse, Ajmere. European Medical
Officer and Female Hospital Assistant, Bandikui. Special plague
Hospital Assistants Abu Road, Nana, Marvvar Junction, Bikanir, and
"5