NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
82
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. V1II.
considered, it can scarcely be denied that if the local officers had not
acted strongly, they would have had much to answer for. The con-
stant intercourse going on with the stricken area for drinking, social
and business purposes has been noticed above. Damaun town is
very dirty and the annual home of cholera. The local authorities
are so powerless that, if the Commissioner is rightly informed, they
cannot even fine a sepoy without a reference to Goa. The police
force is small and notoriously corrupt. The villages outside Damaun
being almost all alienated, the Central Government is practically
unable to enforce its orders in them even if it gives any. Lastly, His
Excellency the Governor furnished the best evidence of his opinion
about the right thing to do by absolutely segregating himself and his
staff in the fort on the south side of the river. He stopped the ferry
and so cut off all intercourse with his capital (Little Damaun) and the
rest of his territory, receiving complaints and issuing orders by post
only.
8. Fortunately there was to hand an admirable agency for pro-
tecting British territory in the persons of the Salt Preventive Force
usually employed on the frontier to prevent smuggling. It was under
the command of Mr. Judge, Assistant Collector of Salt Revenue, a
most useful and reliable officer, well supported by Messrs. Dart and
Smyth and later by Mr. Shepherd, all Inspectors of Salt Revenue.
A sketch of the frontier is appended in which the red line shows the
cordon as it is ordinarily maintained for salt and customs preventive
purposes. For the sake of simplicity and economy it is straightened
so as to leave outside two corners of British territory. As all British
subjects were entitled to protection at such a time as this if it were
possible to give it, the cordon was transferred to the real frontier (the
blue line) to provide for the greater length of which the guard was
increased by 60 men—from 260 to 320.
9. The plague preventive line was first established on the 30th
March. At first the stoppage of communication was too absolute, but
this was a fault on the right side. The mortality in Damaun was
steadily increasing. The operations of the Portuguese Government
against it were left to a force of one Jemadar of Police and 18 men.
They substituted ashes as a disinfectant for lime. The Government
charged a fee of 14 annas for registration of a death, but they took a
bribe of 4 annas for allowing non-registration. Partly through
corruption and partly through feebleness they allowed all classes to
snap their fingers at the orders to segregate and disinfect. Conse-
quently the hospitals remained practically empty while the people
died in hundreds in their houses. The Musalmans would not even
83
APP. VIII.]
spread of infection by land.
let the so-called "Sanitary Officer" walk about the town. The fol-
lowing is written by Mr. Judge from personal observation :—
" The plague being left unchecked worked frightful ravages
in the town, whole families were swept away, people died
in the fields and were devoured by vultures, or on the sea
shore, and were washed away to sea or in their houses and
were left to rot there. Some were attacked with plague
and no traces of them can now be found, robbery and arson
became common, houses were looted without check, sheds
burnt down, money lenders refused to trade and shop-
keepers closed their shops. The people were in despair.
On one occasion a gang of r,ooo men tried to force the
cordon, but being firmly met by Mr. Smyth, an officer under
me, with a body of armed men, and tactfully treated, they
returned to Damaun for the purpose of seizing the ferry and
attacking the Governor in his fort, to whose imbecility they
attributed their misfortunes, and it was with the greatest
difficulty that some leading men persuaded and cajoled them
to abandon their designs. While these horrors were being
enacted in Damaun the Governor and his staff, protected by
all the available troops, remained inert and panicstricken in
the Fort and never once put foot in Lower Damaun.
tc Out of a population of about 8,000 souls, about 2,600 have
been swept away up to the present."
10. The cordon arrangements have been much modified since the
beginning, but they have now for some time been in force as fol-
lows :—
(1) All Portuguese subjects are allowed to pass into Damaun
without question, and also all others who have reasonable
cause for going there. All are warned that they run the
risk for having to remain under observation on their
return, and this is an effectual check. The only classes
who are prevented from entering Damaun territory are
the British villagers who want to go to drink on the cheap
and then return home. It would be madness to allow
them to go to and fro, and they are peremptorily told
they must stay at home during the present danger. They
quite acquiesce in the reasonableness of this.
(2) All persons not suspected, such as persons from Big
Damaun where the Governor's Fort stands, are allowed
to pass out of Damaun territory after medical examina-
tion, but all who come from Little Damaun and neigh-
bouring villages are treated as primâ facie suspicious,
84
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. VIII,
Considering what a fostering sink of plague this area is,
no other presumption is possible. For all suspicious
persons comfortable residential sheds have been provided
on the road as marked on the sketch map. They are
provided with a provision shop, good well water, and
isolated hospital for cases of sickness. Their clothes and
kit are divided into two heaps—one to be burnt or sent
back at the option of the owner, and the other to be
disinfected by boiling. After selecting a suit of clothes
that has been boiled and dried, the owner goes to a healthy
shed and after taking a disinfecting bath he puts on the
clean clothes and throws those he was wearing over the
fence, whence they are taken up and boiled. He remains
for 10 days under observation and is then allowed to go
if found to be healthy. The Commissioner, on paying a
surprise visit recently to the camp, found the inmates
most cheerful and happy. No complaints were made.
This is also the testimony of the Collector.
There was ample accommodation for those who had come up to
date. At the moment there were about 75 in residence. To provide
for a larger afflux at the beginning of the rains, preparation was
ordered to be made for another shed.
(3) On the passage of goods there is absolutely no embargo.
Passes have been granted to 12 agents selected by Mr.
Judge and the Governor of Damaun who are allowed to
take delivery of parcels at the railway stations and bring
them into Damaun. The only limitation on goods of any
kind is that at the two frontier stations of Chola and
Patherpunja they must change carts and cartmen. The
Commissioner can certify the arrangements to be simple
and effective. They are necessary to prevent infected
carts and drivers from passing into British territory. As
inspection is possible at only two nakas the traffic is
limited to the two routes, but this causes no inconvenience
at all, for under the Land Customs Act these are the only
two roads open in ordinary times,
II. Finally the Commissioner begs to submit that—•
(1) Whatever precaution is taken, it cannot be enforced over 38
miles of open country without a cordon. Hence a cordon
is absolutely necessary unless plague is again to be let
loose.
(2) Passage from Damaun through the cordon is only
allowed to suspected persons on one route. To establish
85
APP. VIII. ]
spread of infection by land.
observation camps at other points would involve more ex-
pense and would be less acceptable to the people
because the supervision would be less efficient. The one
route through Chola can be easily used by the whole of
Damaun, and Mr. Judge and his assistants are able to
permanently stay there and look after things.
(3) Government may supply a Commissioned Medical Officer,
but the advantage will not be obvious. The present
medical officer knows his work and he acts with the
immediate personal assistance of Mr. Judge. This sup-
plies all the guarantee which would be afforded by a
Commissioned Medical Officer and is less expensive.
The Commissioner's own opinion is that the presence of
Mr. Judge who has had many years' experience and more-
over holds command of the salt sepoys is far more valu-
able than that of a young doctor new to the country.
Supersession too would be a poor return for his excellent
work.
(4) It has been explained above that only those are detained
who are reasonably regarded as " suspicious, " that the
camp of observation is quite large enough at present,
and further provision is being made for possible further
needs ; and that no restriction exists on the transport of
goods except what is in practice a slight precaution
against the spread of infection.
No. 43,
No. 1788, dated Simla, the 7th July 1897.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department,
To—The Secretary to the Government of Bombay, General Department.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 76o-P.,
dated the 17th June, on the subject of the measures taken on the
Damaun frontier to prevent the spread of plague.
2. I am to say that the Government of India are glad to learn that
the originally stringent measures which were imposed against Damaun
have been relaxed, and that they consider that the existing arrange-
ments reported in your letter and enclosure are not open to objection.
In particular I am to say that, as the Government of Bombay are
satisfied with the medical arrangements at the inspecting station,
the Government of India do not desire to-press for any change in
this respect.
3. I am, however, to remark that the present information is not in
all respects complete. It does not show, for instance, when the
86
Measures to prevent the
' [ APP. VIII.
relaxations and improved arrangements were introduced, nor how many
persons are allowed to pass without detention, nor does it answer the
question contained in my telegram of the 26th May asking for how
many persons accommodation has actually been provided in the obser-
vation camp. The Government of India consider that the Commis-
sioner of the Northern Division should have furnished full information
on these points in order that they and the Government of Bombay
might be in the best position to judge how the arrangements are
working.
4. The Government of India will also be glad to know that assur-
ance the Government of Bombay have that the guard of 320 men, of
whom not more than 150 could be on duty at the same time, have
effectively guarded a frontier of 38 miles, and how the British vil-
lagers assisted in rendering the guard effective.
O
O
O
5. In conclusion I am to forward, for disposal, under the orders of
the Governor in Council, a petition* from Ardeshir Sorabjee, Post
Walla, purporting to be on behalf of the inhabitants of Lower Damaun,
complaining against the arrangement on the frontier.
No. 44.
No. 1816, dated Simla, the 13th July 1897.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department,
To—The Secretary to the Government of Bombay, General Department.
I am directed to refer to your letter No. 759-P., dated the I7th
June, forwarding, for the information of the Government of India, a
copy of a Memorandum by the Commissioner of the Northern Division
relative to the danger of British territory being infected with plague
from Damaun.
2. The Commissioner suggests that the Portuguese authorities
should be asked to select a strong executive officer and to give him
powers to disinfect the houses in order to prevent a revival of the
pestilence. He considers that unless the Portuguese authorities can
be induced to take this step, Damaun will probably remain a source of
plague infection for years.
3. The Government of India agree that it is very desirable that
steps should be taken to thoroughly clean and disinfect Damaun, and
that unless this be done there will be danger of a recrudescence of
the disease in Damaun spreading infection over the border. They will
therefore be glad if the Government of Bombay will address the
Governor General of Portuguese India on the subject and will
endeavour to persuade him to cause the necessary measures to be
thoroughly carried out.
* Not printed,
87
APP. VIII. ]
spread of infection by land.
No. 45.
No. 4377—2954-P., dated Bombay Castle, the nth August 1897.
From —The Secretary to the Government of Bombay, General Depart-
ment,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
With reference to your letter No. 1788, dated 7th July 1897, I
am directed to forward, for the information of the Government of
India, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Commissioner,
Northern Division, No. 1591, dated 31st idem, regarding the measures
taken on the Damaun frontier to prevent the spread of plague.
No. 1591, dated Ahmedabad, the 31st July 1897.
From—F. S. P. LELY, Esq., I.C.S., Commissioner, Northern Division,
To—The Secretary to the Government of Bombay, General Department.
In reply to the questions put in the Government of India's letter
No. 1788* of 7th instant, forwarded under
requSer lth retarned " y our No ' 998-P. of 18th idem, I have the
honour to report as follows.
2. It is difficult to give the exact dates of the introduction of the
various relaxations and improvements in the preventive measures
against Damaun, as they were made from time to time as experience
warranted. The whole of the present system, as described in my
No. 212 of 11th June, was established before the date of the Govern-
ment of India's telegram of 26th May.
3. Freedom to lona fide Portuguese subjects to enter Damaun
was allowed almost from the first, but the Commissioner's first written
order to that effect is dated 21st April. The camp of observation was
established on 9th May under my letter to the District Magistrate,
dated 21st and 27th April, which set forth the instructions of the
Government of India. The free passage of goods coming by rail sub-
ject to the one condition mentioned in my report was ordered in my
letter of 21st April to the District Magistrate. Agents to take
delivery of goods, and the passage of cattle were appointed on 3rd
May and preceding dates. On the 3oth April intimation was person-
ally given by Mr.Judge to the Governor of Damaun (1) that goods
from the railway, and also grain, grass and fuel would have free pass-
age subject to the one condition of change of cart and driver on the
frontier, (2) that persons coming from the infected town of Damaun
would be regarded as prima facie suspicious, but would be given
ample opportunity of proving themselves free from infection, and
would, in case of their doing so, be allowed to pass.
4. The number of persons allowed to pass out of Damaun, without
detention, is approximately 400 up to date.
88
Measures to prevent the
[ APP. VIII.
5. As to the extent of accommodation provided, I was under the
impression that the Ioth paragraph of my report gave as accurate
information as was possible in stating that there was ample room for
those who had come, up to date, and that the number was then about
75. As the people, from choice, live together in family or caste groups
and as much as they can in the open air, it is not possible to state its
capacity in definite figures. The average number of inmates for the
last three weeks for which I have received reports are 86, 34, 51, and
for these there is ample room. Since my last visit the accommoda-
tion has been increased, and is now calculated to be sufficient for 100.
6. With regard to the questions asked in paragraph 4 of the Gov-
ernment of India's letter, I have the honour to quote the following
from Mr. Judge's recent report :—
"Along the whole 38 miles to be guarded, a path, about 10 feet
wide, was demarcated by boulders and clods of earth, and the path
roughly cleared and made practicable for patrolling by night and day.
Along this path there are 39 chowkeys taken into use (including 17
new ones), thus giving chowkeys about one mile equidistant from one
another. The men off duty were not allowed to leave the chow-
keys, excepting with leave from their Amaldar, and, as the chowkeys
are in most cases visible from one another, this ensured a guard
visible to each other in the day. At every mile two sentries were put
on duty between each chowkey during the day, and consequently with
the men off duty at the chowkeys at every 552 yards there was a man
on watch during the day.
The whole force went on duty at night.
Advantage was taken of the conformation of the territorial frontier
and the existence of two tidal rivers to decrease sentries in one direc-
tion and increase them in another, and along the principal part to
be guarded, I was enabled to place eight men per mile and in the other
about six men per mile at night and half these men went on sentry-go,
while the other half went to sleep on the line at places selected by
myself and equidistant from one another. By these means at approxi-
mately every 1/4 of a mile there was a man asleep and likely to be
awakened by persons or vehicles passing, and in the 440 yards between
each sleeper there was a sentry patrolling. Where roads bisected
the cordon, modifications were made by placing a chowkey or sentry
post, etc., to guard them.
At every other chowkey there was an Amaldar placed whose duty
it was to see that the men went on duty during the day, and twice
every night he had to patrol over his sub-division of two miles called
Naik's beat and see the sentries were alert. The line was again dividec
into four divisions called Jamadar's patrol and each division place
APP. VIII.]
spread of infection by land.
89
under a Jamadar (three Jamadars and one senior Havildar being
utilized) who had to see that orders were carried out, occasionally
visit the line, and once in every 24 hours either by day or by night at
irregular hours go over the whole of their division. The line was
again divided in two major divisions and placed under the Inspec-
tors who had to visit their respective beats on four nights and two
days during each week and at such irregular hours as they deemed
fit.
The Inspectors, each, also had a small detective party under an
Amaldar who could be utilized by being sent out to pay surprise visits
along the line, or should any particular sentry or beat come under
suspicion could be sent out quietly to watch behind the said sentry or
beat, and arrest any one improperly let through, As such an arrest
would lead to the dismissal of the offending sentry, and possibly to
his prosecution, no sentry was safe if he attempted to accept a bribe.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
You will thus see that the line being strongly guarded by sentries,
about 1 to 1/4 of a mile, constantly patrolled by Amaldar's, and regularly
visited by the supervising staff, it was absolutely impossible for per-
sons to get across during the day unperceived and next to impossible
for them to do so at night.
Now as all the roads were guarded, and as ordinary passengers
would not be able to find their way over the fields at night and when
in addition to finding their way, they would have had to evade a
strongly guarded cordon, it will be seen that the task of crossing the
cordon was, for ordinary persons, rendered impossible at night also
even for healthy persons.
About 40 persons who attempted to evade the cordon at various
times were detained and prosecuted and convicted.
The villagers assisted in making the patrol path and erected the
" Kacha " mandwas required on moving the line forward to the terri-
torial frontier.
No persons have been arrested as having evaded the cordon by
villagers, but the patels, etc., were put on the watch for them and
would have done so had the necessity arisen, as they and their villa-
gers, after they realized the danger from contagion or infection,
became extremely keen on keeping their villages " free from
strangers."
The best proof of the efficiency of the cordon and the co-operation
of the villagers is the immunity of the Pardi Taluka, and especially the
frontier British villages when compared with the 3,000 cases of plague
that have occurred within the Damaun territory.
ç 12
90
Measures to prevent the
[App. VIII.
Papers regarding the Inspection of the Railway
Traffic.
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB
REGARDING HOSPITAL SHEDS AND THE TREATMENT
OF EUROPEANS AND EURASIANS.
No. 46.
No. 42, dated Lahore, the 16th January 1897.
From—H. J. MAYNARD, Esq., Junior Secretary to the Government of the
Punjab and its Dependencies,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Home Department.
From "Inspector-General
of Civil Hospitals, No. 34,
dated 7th January 1897.
To Inspector-General of
Civil Hospitals, No. 38,
dated l0th January 1897.
In continuation of my letter No. 19, dated the 17th of January
1897, I am directed to forward, for the infor-
mation of the Government of India, a copy of
the further correspondence noted on the mar-
gin, reporting the measures to be taken for
the removal from trains and isolation of Euro-
pean or Eurasian passengers found to have symptoms of bubonic
plague, and containing suggestions for hospital sheds.
No. 34, dated Lahore, the 7th January 1897.
From—SURGEON-COLONEL D. O'C. RAYE, M.D., Inspector-General of
Civil Hospitals, Punjab,
To—The Junior Secretary to Government, Punjab.
With reference to your letter No. 4 of the 5th instant, I have the
honour to enclose a note which I have made showing the preliminary
requirements for isolation and quarantine sheds. The contents of
this note might, I think, be communicated to the authorities concerned
in the case of Rewari and Bhatinda.
Suggestions for Hospital sheds.
I think that the hospital sheds might be 18 feet by 6 feet, with
side walls 8 feet high, and a sloping roof, the centre pole of which
would rise say 6 feet above the wall.
This would accommodate 4 patients, giving over 600 cubic feet of
space to each. I would have a doorway 6x4 feet provided with a
mat door in each side wall and an opening about 2 feet square, with a
mat shutter at each end, placed about 5 feet from the ground.
Taking each bed as 6 x 4 feet, there would be 4 feet between
the beds, while each would be 2 feet from the wall, and a central pas-
sage 6 feet wide would be provided between the feet of the beds,
APP. VIII, ]
spread of injection by land.
91
These rough sketches show the general idea and how the beds
would be placed. The walls should be of reeds or thatch, not mud.
Such walls allow perflation of air, and with sufficient bedding would
not be too cold.
* A moveable screen of
thatch, 6 feet by 5, should
be kept in readiness, so
that if a female patient were
admitted, privacy could be
effected.
* An observation shed for two beds should
be also provided, say 18 feet by 8, with but
one door.
A hut of similar construction about 12 feet square would be needed
for the Hospital Assistant.
† A small thatch-work
enclosure, without a roof,
and about the size of an
ordinary 'necessary' hut,
should be placed a few
yards from the hospital
sheds.
† At first two beds in the hospital shed
and one in the observation ward need only be
equipped.
For each bed 2 pairs of sheets, 3 country blankets, 1 mattress and
I pillow each filled with straw would suffice.
For European patients, a tent would be most suitable, in which a
newar cot with a durrie, a rezai, 4 sheets, 2 pillow covers, 3 blankets
and 2 cotton pillows would be at first necessary, also a chair, a com-
mode, urinal, and ' necessary ' tent.
No. 38, dated Lahore, the l0th January 1897.
From—H. J. MAYNARD, Esq , Junior Secretary to the Government of
the Punjab and its Dependencies,
To—The Inspector-General, Civil Hospitals, Punjab.
No. 34, dated 7th January
1897.
In continuation of our endorsement No. 21, dated the 8th of Jan-
uary 1897, and with reference to your commu-
nication to this office noted on the margin. I
am directed to say that (as suggested by you) the tollowing instruc-
tions should be observed in case of European or Eurasian passengers