NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
270
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX,
effected on shore prior to departure. Under the terms of the Con-
vention foreign Governments may extend their precautions to arrivals
from uninfected portions of the country if the Government does not
take measures to prevent the infection of ships leaving healthy ports.
There is a possibility, probably regarded by the authorities in Europe
as greater than it would be regarded in India, of infected persons com-
ing from infected areas to embark at healthy ports such as Calcutta,
and the Government of India therefore determined that an examination
should be made of all persons embarking from a healthy port to
Europe, with a view to ascertain whether they come from an infected
area, and if so, whether they are infected or likely to be infected with
plague. For the same reasons the Government of India consider that
it is very desirable that the examination should take place exactly in
the manner prescribed by the Convention. Furthermore if the
examination is not made until the passengers are on board, then the
discovery of a plague case will necessitate the vessel being treated
as infected when she proceeds on her journey.
4. In view of these considerations the Government of India will be
glad if, with the permission of His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor,
the orders issued by the Government of Bengal are modified so as to
require the examination of all persons sailing on the vessel to take
place on shore prior to departure. The Governor-General in Council
considers that with a sufficient staff of inspecting medical officers
examination on shore in the manner prescribed by the Venice Conven-
tion should not cause any serious delay in the departure of vessels
nor any serious inconvenience to the passengers; and His Excellency
in Council trusts that, if this has not already been done, arranoements
will be made to minimise the inconvenience by the appointment of a
sufficient staff.
MADRAS.
No. 82.
No. 345-Marine, dated the 8th April 1897.
From—COLONEL D. McN. CAMPBELL, R.E., Secretary to the Govern-
ment of Madras, Marine Department,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
I am directed to forward, for the information of the Government
G. O., No. 344-Marine, dated 8th of India, a copy of the Proceedings
April 1897.
of this Government, quoted in the
margin, containing a Notification issued by His Excellency the Gov-
ernor in Council to prevent the spread of Epidemic Diseases.
ÀPP. IX.]
spread of infection by sea.
271
Extract from the Proceedings of the Government of Madras, Marine Department,
No. 344-Marine, dated the 8th April 1897.
Read the following papers—
From the Surgeon-Genera!, dated 2nd April 1897, No. 190.
Endorsement from the Local and Municipal Department, dated 3rd April
1897, No. 449.
Order thereon by the Government of Madras.
Ordered that the following notification be published in the Fort
St. George and all Maritime District Gazettes :—
NOTIFICATION.
In exercise of the powers conferred by Act III of 1897, the
Epidemic Diseases Act, His Excellency the Governor in Council is
pleased to declare that all vessels and persons leaving the undermen-
tioned ports of the Madras Presidency for ports out of India shall be
subjected to the regulations hereinafter contained :—
Gopalpur.
Calingapatam.
Baruva.
Bimlipatam. J.
Vizagapatain.
Cocanada.
Masulipatam.
Madras.
Cuddalore.
Negapatam. O L
Tranquebar.
Tuticorin.
Pamban.
Calicut,
Cochin.
Tellicherry. j
Cannanore.
Mangalore.
Regulations.
1. No person shall be permitted to embark on board a vessel
within any such port bound for any port out of India who has within
the preceding ten days resided in or visited a part of India believed
by the Health Officer of the port to be infected by the plague.
2. No vessel shall leave any such port for any port out of India
until she has been inspected by the Health Officer of the port and the
master or person in charge of such vessel has obtained a bill of health
or certificate in the form given below from such officer that the master
or person in charge, officers, crew and passengers (if any) of such
vessel are free from the bubonic plague.
3. Should the Health Officer of the port be of opinion that any
person on board of any vessel so inspected is suffering from the
bubonic plague or is not free from the infection of the plague, he
shall refuse to give a bill of health or certificate as aforesaid unless and
until such person is removed from the vessel and|such parts of the
vessel as has been frequented by such person shall have been disin-
fected to the satisfaction of the Health Officer.
4. After the master or person in charge of the vessel has obtained
a bill of health or certificate under the provisions of these rules, no
person or cargo shall be admitted or taken on board such vessel before
272
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX,
she leaves the port unless such vessel is again inspected by the
Health Officer of the port and another bill of health or certificate
obtained from such officer by the master or person in charge of such
vessel.
5. No port clearance shall be delivered to any vessel bound from
any such port to any port out of India unless and until the master or
person in charge thereof shall produce the bill of health or certificate
so to be obtained as aforesaid ; and it shall be the duty of Customs
officers to refuse delivery of the port clearance without the production
of such bill of health or certificate.
6. The duties of Health Officers under these regulations shall be
discharged by the medical officers named below, by such ether medical
officer as may from time to time be appointed for such purpose by the
District Medical and Sanitary Officer :—•
Ports.
Gopalpur
Calingapatam
Bar u va
Binilipatam
Vizagapatam
...
Cocanada
Masulipatam
Madras
...
Cuddalore
Negapatam
Tranquebar
Tuticorin
Pamban
Calicut
Cochin
Tellicherry
Cannanore
Mangalore
Health Officer.
... Civil Apothecary.
Do.
Hospital Assistant, Sompeta.
Civil Apothecary.
... District Medical and Sanitary
Officer.
Civil Surgeon.
... District Medical and Sanitary
Officer.
... Port and Marine Surgeon.
District Medical and Sanitary
Officer.
... Civil Surgeon.
... Civil Apothecary.
Do.
Do.
District Medical and Sanitary
Officer.
,., Civil Surgeon.
Do.
Do.
District Medical and Sanitary
Officer.
7. Any person disobeying or contravening any of the foregoing
regulations shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable
under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and shall be liable on
APP. IX. ]
spread of injection by sea.
273
conviction to be punished with imprisonment of either description for
a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may ex-
tend to one thousand rupees or with both.
Bill of Health.
* Including officers and able-bodied
seamen.
This is to certify that ship (or steamer)
sailing
under the
Hag and under the
command of
as master of
with a crew of
persons*
tons bound for
and passengers and laden with a cargo of
is at the time
of leaving this port in a satisfactory sanitary condition and that no
case of bubonic plague exists among her officers, passengers, crew,
all of whom have been inspected by me.
t Or as the case may be.
It is further certified that the town
and port of
are at pres-
ent† free from plague.
No. 83.
No. 333-E., dated Ootacamund, the 13th May 1897.
From— The Secretary to the Government of Madras, Marine Department,
To— The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
No. 419-Marine, dated the 4th
May 1897.
I am directed to forward, for the information of the Government
of India, a copy of the Proceedings of this
Government, quoted in the margin, con-
taining a Notification issued by His Excellency the Governor in Coun-
cil to prevent the spread of epidemic diseases.
ORDER—By the Government of Madras, Marine Department.
No. 419, dated the 4th May 1897.
The subjoined Notification will be published in the Fort Sl. George
Gazette and in all District Gazettes, in English and the vernaculars.
NOTIFICATION. •
In exercise of the powers delegated to him under section 2, sub-
section (3) of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, His Excellency the
Governor in Council is pleased to make the following temporary Re-
gulation, to be read as a proviso to Regulation 2 of the Regulations
published in the Fort St. George Gazette Extraordinary of the 8th
April 1897 under G. O. No. 344-Marine, dated the 8th April 1897.
No deck passenger who appears to the Port Officer to belong to
the labouring classes shall be permitted to embark on board a vessel
within the port of Tuticorin bound for a port in Ceylon, until he has
satisfied the Medical Officer of the Government of that Colony stationed
at Tuticorin that he has not within the preceding- ten days resided in
or visited a port of India infected by the plague and that he is free
from infection with the plague and until the said Colonial officer has
c 35
274
Measures to prevent
the
[ APP. IX.
so certified in respect of him. The Health Officer of the Port of
Tuticorin shall not deliver a bill of health in respect of any such
vessel, if there be on board any such passenger in respect of whom
the Colonial officer has not certified as aforesaid.
No. 84.
Extract from the Proceedings of the Government of Madras of the 28th April
1897.
Read again the following paper :—
G. O., No. 86i-M., dated loth April 1897.
Read also the following paper :—
Telegram from the Colonial Secretary, Colombo, to the Chief Secretary to the
Government of Madras, dated 5th April 1897.
Doctor Moraes appointed for duty Tuticorin. Government assumes
that there will be no objection to his examining all passengers on
board for Ceylon, none being allowed to land without his certificate.
Order No. 999-M., dated 28th April 1897.
Dr. Moraes has been deputed by the Government of Ceylon for
duty at Tuticorin in connection with the examination of passengers
for Ceylon from parts of India infected by the plague. Every facility
will be afforded him for the inspection of persons proceeding as
cooly emigrants from this Presidency, and no person of that class
will be permitted to embark without a certificate from Dr. Moraes.
A regulation will be issued to that effect accordingly. Other passen-
gers may voluntarily present themselves before Dr. Moraes and
obtain his certificate for use on landing in the Colony, but will not be
required to do so. They should, however, be warned that they will
be liable to be prevented from landing at Colombo unless they
possess Dr. Moraes' certificate. The foregoing instructions do not in
any way dispense with the necessity imposed on all passengers
conforming to the existing plague and quarantine regulations.
2. The Collector of Tinnevelly will report how the Health Officer
at the Port of Tuticorin assures himself that emigrants who profess
to be Madrasi coolies from an uninfected district are really such and
not travellers from an infected area passing themselves off as such
coolies to evade the plague rules and regulations. He will also
report in what manner, in his opinion, the Colonial officer who has
been deputed to Tuticorin can best assist the local authorities in the
necessary examination and enquiries on the point.
3. The following telegram will be despatched to the Colonial
Secretary, Colombo :—" Your telegram, 5th instant. Orders under
issue requiring all persons embarking as Madrassi cooly emigrants to
procure Dr. Moraes' certificate. Other passengers may also volunta-
rily obtain his certificate, "
APP. IX.]
spread of infection by sea.
275
REVISED MADRAS QUARANTINE RULES.
No. 85. Extract from the Proceedings of the Government of Madras a Marine Department,
No. 363, dated the 22nd April 1897.
Read the following papers :—
No. 689-S., dated Madras, the 18th March 1897.
From— SURGEON-LlEUTEXANT-COLONEL
W. G. KlNG, M.B., C.M.,
D.P.H., Sanitary Commissioner for Madras,
To—The Secretary to Government. Public Works (Marine) Depart«
ment.
With reference to G. O., Mis. 301-M., dated 26th February
1897, I have the honour to forward somewhat modified suggested
regulations as to ports in connection with plague. For convenience
of reference I forward an extract from my letter referred to in the
Government Order quoted.
Extract from letter from Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. King,
M.B., C.M., D.P.H., Sanitary Commissioner for Madras, to
the Secretary to Government, Local and Municipal Department,
No. 434, dated 20th February 1897.
With reference to telegram from the Chief Secretary, dated 1st
instant, received by me on the evening of the 12th and to G. O.
No. 165, dated 20th January 1897, I have the honour to submit, here-
with, suggestions for the regulations in connection with the proposed
Epidemic Diseases Prevention Act.
2. Most of the regulations suggested are justified as to precedent
by English or Indian Law—several are merely transcripts altered to
suit local requirements. In the case of the section referring to ship-
ping, the wording is throughout practically that of the General Order*
* To all Port Sanitary Authorities. (L.G.B. England), 1890. I would parti-
cularly invite your attention to the re-
gulations in this connection. 1 hose issued by Government asa
temporary measure in Fort S L George Gazette Notification, No. 30,
dated 12th instant, seem to me most undesirable. The method
adopted by these is virtually that of penning up the sick and healthy
in an infected ship alike, notwithstanding the discretion given to the
Medical Officer of Health.
This course has not in practice proved successful. So long as
men have money with free wills and means of locomotion, they will
defy such measures of quarantine, and the very sense of safety which
such apparently stringent measures elicit, conduces tofailure. There
is nothing more likely to hamper trade, and spread disease than a
defective system of quarantine. Such measures are in strong contrast
276
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX.
tothose possible on land. If it were necessary to hem up sick and
healthy alike in a ship, why not also so detain the occupants of a train ?
No country has had more experience of these matters than England,
but she has finally rejected such measures, adopting instead the liberal-
minded regulations I have quoted. In short, I would advise on sea as
on land the application of the method of " observation " which has al-
ready been adopted under my advice by the Municipality of Madras
and other municipalities throughout the Presidency. This system of
observation must be supplemented by rapid action on the part of all
authorities to secure a safe sanitary condition of each locality, and a
sufficient sanitary staff to effect rapid segregation of all infected per-
sons and matters.
No. 110-G., dated the 23rd March 1897.
From —COMMANDER H. A. STREET, R.I.M., Presidency Port Officer,
Madras,
To—The Secretary to Government, Marine Department.
With reference to the proposals contained in letter No. 689-3
dated 18th March 1897, from the Sanitary Commissioner, which ac-
companied Marine Department Memorandum No. 209-E., dated 20th
March 1897 (enclosures herewith returned), I have the honour to make
the following remarks for the information of Government, viz.:—•
(1) Regulations as to shipping.—I think that the definition given
in clauses (2), (3) and (4) of section 3 of Indian Ports Act X of 1889
of the terms " Port officer," " vessel " and " Master " should be subs-
tituted for the definition proposed by the Sanitary Commissioner.
(2) Respecting the hoisting of flags. It is proposed that flag Q
shall be hoisted on board of an infected ship, and that a black flag
shall be hoisted below flag Q under certain conditions, but as it is
proposed that a vessel shall be deemed infected with plague in which
there is, or has been during the voyage, or during the stay of such
vessel in a port in the course of such voyage, any case of plague, it
would be necessary, according to the instructions contained in the
concluding part of 1 (a), for the second flag to be displayed. If
this is so, when should flag Q be alone shown ?
With regard to the " black " flag, I would point out that vessels
are not supplied with flags of that colour. I would suggest flag R
(the flag used to denote the presence of cholera, small-pox or other
epidemic disease on board ship) being used instead. Flag Q should
be hoisted at the foremasthead instead of being displayed, as proposed,
below the ensign where it would not be so distinguishable. No signal
is proposed to meet the case of an infected vessel arriving at a port
APP. IX.]
spread of infection ly sea.
277
after dark ; I, therefore, propose.that such vessel shall hoist, on com-
ing to an anchor, one white light at the foremasthead and one red
light at the mainmasthead.
(3) I have no remarks to make regarding the proposals under the
heading " regulations as to detention by Port officer."
(4) Regulations as to Sanitary authorities.—In paragraph 6, the
expression " Chief officer of the Port " is used ; the term Port officer
should be substituted.
I have no further remarks to offer.
Telegram No. 1290 (Sanitary), dated Simla, the 14th April 1897.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department,
To—The Secretary to the Government of Madras, Marine Department.
Your telegram dated 3rd. Government of India agree to proposal
of Sanitary Commissioner, Madras, that rules should issue under Act
3 of 1897 tha t all passengers from infected ship should be landed, sick
being sent to isolation hospital. They are not however able to agree
that healthy should be allowed to proceed to their destination and
there kept under observation in accordance with general order of
English Local Government Board of 1890, the reason being that
one of principal objects of quarantine regulations imposed on Indian
ports is to prevent quarantine in Europe of ships sailing from them,
and if European powers understood that quarantine was not rigorously
enforced at Madras, neither that port nor others at which vessels
proceeding from it might touch on way to Europe would be regarded
as uninfected. Healthy should therefore be detained under observation
in suitable isolation shelter for ten days from date of landing or from
last subsequent case. Clothing of passengers and other susceptible
articles should be disinfected before passengers allowed to leave.
Please send copy of rules for publication in Gazette of India stating
date from which they take effect.
Order thereon by the Government cf Madras.
Ordered that the following notification be published in the Fort
St. George and all Maritime District Gazettes :—
NOTIFICATION.
In exercise of the powers delegated to him by the Governor-Gen-
eral in Council under section 2, sub-section (3) of the Epidemic Dis-
eases Act, 1897, His Excellency the Governor in Council is pleased
to prescribe, under the said Epidemic Diseases Act, the following
temporary regulations to be observed in all ports of the Madras
278
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. IX.
Presidency. These regulations will come into effect from the date
of publication thereof and will supersede the regulations now in
force under Act 1 of 1870,
Definitions.
In these regulations—
"Vessel" includes anything made for conveyance by water or
human beings or of property.
"Port officer" includes any person acting under the authority of
Government in charge of Port discipline.
" Master,'' when used in relation to any vessel, means any person
(except a pilot or harbour master) having for the time being the charge
or control of the vessel.
"Sanitary authority " means the Collector of the district, and
every Municipal Council and Local Board, the area under whose
jurisdiction includes or abuts on any part of a customs port ; and the
jurisdiction of every Sanitary authority shall, for the purposes of these
regulations, extend to seaward for a distance of three miles beyond
low water mark on all parts of the coast line bounding the area ordi-
narily under its jurisdiction.
" Port Health officer" includes any duly qualified medical practi-
tioner appointed by a Sanitary authority or by the Local Government
to act in the execution of these regulations.
For the purpose of these regulations, every vessel shall be deemed
infected with plague in which there is, or has been, during the voyage
then in progress or presently concluded, or during the stay of such
vessel in a port in the course of such a voyage, any case of plague.
I.,—Flags to be hoisted by vessels infected with plague.
1. (a) The master of every vessel infected with plague shall,
when within three miles of the coast of any part of the Madras Presi-
dency, cause to be hoisted at the foremasthead the Commercial
Code flag Q being a yellow flag, and shall keep the same displayed
during the whole time between sunrise and sunset, If any person
on board such vessel be at the time sick of the plague, the master
shall also hoist the Commercial Code flag R below the yellow flag Q.
Any such vessel arriving at a port after dark shall hoist on coming to
an anchor one white light at the foremasthead and one red light at
the mainmasthead.
(b) He shall before arriving at an anchorage free his vessel from
bilge water and pass fresh sea water over the parts that have been
in contact with such bilge wate 1
APP. IX.]
spread of infection by sea.
279
II.—Regulations as to detention by Port Officers.
2. If a Port officer on the arrival of any vessel ascertains from
the master of such vessel or otherwise has reason to suspect that the
vessel is infected with plague, he shall detain such vessel, and order
the master forthwith to moor or anchor the same in such position as
may be appointed under regulation 6.
3. While such vessel shall be so detained, no person shall leave
the same.
4. The Port officer detaining any vessel as aforesaid shall forth-
with give notice thereof and of the cause of such detention to the
Sanitary authority of the port.
5. Such detention by the Port officer shall cease as soon as the
vessel shall have been duly visited and examined by the Port Health
officer or, if the vessel shall, upon such examination, be found to be
infected with plague, as soon as the same shall be moored or anchored
in pursuance of regulations 6 and 10 ; provided that, if the examination
be not commenced within twelve hours after notice given as aforesaid,
the vessel shall, on expiration of the said twelve hours, be released
from detention. In such latter case, the Port officer shall send
immediate information to the Sanitary authorities of the port to which
the vessel is bound or at which she is next about to call.
III.—Regulations as to Sanitary Authorities.
6. Every Sanitary authority within whose jurisdiction a port
exists shall, as speedily as practicable, with the approval of the Port
officer, fix some place where vessels may be moored or anchored for
the purpose of regulation ro ; and shall make provision for the recep-
tion of plague patients and persons suffering from illness removed
under regulations 13 and 14. The place to be fixed as aforesaid,
where any vessel may be moored or anchored for the purpose of regu-
lation lo, shall be some place within the jurisdiction of the Sanitary
authority, unless the Local Government otherwise orders, in which
case the place so fixed shall, for the purposes of these regulations, be
deemed to be within such jurisdiction.
7. It shall be the duty of the Port officer on the approach to the
port of an infected vessel to make the fact known to the Port Health
officer who shall forthwith visit and examine the vessel, in regard to
which such notice shall have been given, for the purpose of ascertain-
ing whether she is infected with plague.
8. The Port Health officer if he has reason to believe that any
vessel which has arrived or is within the jurisdiction of the Sanitary
authority, whether examined by the Port officer or not, is infected with