NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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gular access is now obtained by a steam ferry, is separated from the
mainland by tidal creeks which leave much marshy land exposed as
the tides fall. The island consists of two hills with an intersecting
valley, it is of trap formation intersected by dykes of black basalt,
and thrown up into the two " mountains " already mentioned. The
population of Karinja is 14,353.
The dispensary at this place is one of the earliest established in
the Presidency, and dates as far back as 18 , when a sum of Rs. 11,000
was funded by Mr. Manoel De Souza, formerly a Mamlutdar of Tanna,
he also provided the house for the dispensary. The interest of this
sum was to provide for all expenditure, except salaries which, and a
contingent monthly allowance of Rs 17, are defrayed by Govern-
ment. The house occupied as a dispensary is situated in the centre
of the town ; its unfitness in its present state for dispensary pur-
poses has, I understand, been frequently reported, and been the sub-
ject of much correspondence, which I have not seen. I can add my
testimony to its state, and would suggest that attention should be
early attracted to it, and to the need for some improvement being
set on foot, if the funds of the institution will permit, or local or
other aid can be afforded.
The Civil Surgeon states : "in March 1866 the buildings generally
were reported to be in a dilapidated condition, and since then, till the
present time, a voluminous correspondence between the several
authorities regarding its repairs has taken place. "
The average daily attendance has risen from 15 in 1865 to 30 in
1871, the increase dates from 1869. The number treated was 2,750,
of which 2,715 were fresh admissions, 35 remained from the previous
year; of these, 2,402 were cured or relieved, 291 absented, 11
deaths were returned, and 46 remained; out of the total, 857
were cases of malarial fever (ague), being 31 . 16 per cent. In
the previous year the total treated was 1,165, from which it has
risen to 2,750. There were no in-patients admitted, there being no
place set apart for their accommodation. Besides the defective
character of the building itself, there is a want which should be
undoubtedly supplied either by Government, or the Municipality,
or Local Funds, and that is, the building of a dead-house. At
present post-mortem examinations are conducted in the cattle-pound.
I need hardly comment on the incorrectness of a medical man
being thus exposed when performing a duty requiring great attention,
and which should be, for obvious reasons, a strictly private operation.
There were 15 p ost-mortem examinations of a medico legal charac-
ter performed at Uran during the year under report. The patients
applying at the dispensary appeared to be well attended to; during
the period of my stay I saw the full average number. Mr. Gonsalves,
Sub-Assistant Surgeon in medical charge, is an intelligent officer,
and has done much for the sanitary improvement of the place; the
large, handsome tank which was used for every purpose, both for
man and animal, and was the fertile source of guinea-worm, is now
99
not allowed to be entered. The streets are taken care of, and the
small market-place kept clean.
In a former report the tank alluded to is thus spoken of: "another
very prevalent disease here is guinea-worm. This need not be won-
dered at, considering the unlimited outrages against every principle
of cleanliness and sanitation that are permitted in the large tank at
Uran."
The temperature at Uran was at maximum in May, when at 2 P.M.
the thermometer stood at 91°. The minimum was registered in De-
cember, when at 6 A.M. it was 63°. 54 inches 53 cents of rain fell
during the season; prevailing wind N.W. Accompanying the Me-
dical Officer's report are six cases, illustrating the practice of a care-
ful and intelligent officer. My predecessor suggested that the Uran
dispensary only required a Hospital Assistant. In this estimate of
not Uran's requirements, but those of the Island of Karinja, I do not
agree, and should be very sorry to see what should always be so
useful an institution placed in the hands of a Hospital Assistant,
unless he were a man of superior attainments.
No operations have been performed.
Bandora.
A town with a population of 4,282, situated at the southern point of
the Island of Salsette, opposite to Mahim, in the Island of Bombay,
connected with each other now by the Lady Jamsetjee causeway.
There is a large railway station at Bandora, and many people employ-
ed in Bombay have their residences there, as it is considered almost
in the light of a sanitarium. The hill of Bandora, jutting out into the
sea, is dotted with the houses of the better classes.
In 1851 the inhabitants of this part of Salsette petitioned Govern-
ment to be allowed to establish a dispensary for their relief, as
much suffering was occasioned by the want of medical aid in
times of sickness.
The proprietors of land were ready to subscribe liberally—how
much was received I am unable now to state, but Government sanc-
tioned the dispensary in 1851, granting the services of a Sub-Assistant
Surgeon, and a contingent allowance of Rs. 17. Subscriptions were set
on foot, and at the end of 1852 the balance, after all payments, was
Rs. 652-5-3, subscriptions Rs. 644. In 1853 the balance was
Rs. 106-10-3, the subscriptions and donations Rs. 7,961. In 1854
the balance was a handsome one, being Rs. 7,797-10-3, in 1855
December, the balance was still larger, amounting to Rs. 8,910-8-4.
In 1856 it had increased to Rs. 9,160-8-3, and gradually, by yearly
additions of subscriptions and donations, a fund amounting to
Rs. 11,587-12-10 was in hand, belonging to the dispensary at the
end of 1859.
The next report of this dispensary was published in 1861. There
was a balance of Rs. 15,840-11-6 invested in Government 4 and 5
per cents. The following report to this embraces a period of three
100
years up to December 1864, and during this period 10,136 indigent
sick were treated; the balance was Rs. 19,207 invested money, and
at the end of 1866 the balance was Rs. 19,655.
The house rent was up to this time (1868) at Rs. 45 per mensem ;
the Dispensary Committee now resolved to purchase a house, and the
sum of Rs. 7;000 was paid for one, the balance was consequently
reduced to Rs. 12,655. From 1868 up to present time the build
-ing then purchased has continued to be occupied, and it appears to be
tolerably well adapted for the purpose. The upper part is occupied
by the Sub-Assistant Surgeon who has been in medical charge for
a long time, the lower portion is the dispensary, where the space is
by no means ample ; for in-patients there is little or no accommoda
-tion arranged, but for this purpose an out-building seems well
situated, and on my next visit to it, the alterations necessary will be
recommended to the managers, who will, if funds are forthcoming,
probably arrange for them.
I have noticed the progress of the funds of this dispensary, as it is
the only one with which I am acquainted, under Government medi-
cal superintendence, which has advanced to its present state by a sys-
tem of donations and general subscriptions, in sums varying from
1 rupee to Rs. 1,000.
The mass of subscribers and donors have been Parsees of Bombay
and the neighbourhood—had it not been for them, the dispensary
building could never have been purchased. In doing this, however, the
Committee have so reduced their capital that the interest is insuffi-
cient to meet the demands. Subscriptions have languished, and the
Committee have been obliged to sell out stock by which their interest
account is still further reduced, and quite unable to meet the expen-
ses; the subscriptions are now next to nothing, and, unless charitably-
disposed persons come forward, the annual withdrawal of stock to
meet bills for medicines, &c., must end in the closing of the dispen-
sary, commenced under such good auspices, unless the Administra-
tors of the Tanna Local Funds come forward to aid this very
deserving charity.
After the house was purchased in 1868, the stock held amounted
to Rs. 12,028-5-0, at the present date, 31st December 1871, it has
Rs. 11,309-9-0.
The expenditure for 1871 was Rs. 1,221-7-0.
The economic arrangements of this dispensary have been entirely
managed by a committee selected from the subscribers, in this re-
spect approaching somewhat the character of English charitable in-
stitutions.
This committee has a secretary, a graduate of the Grant Medical
College, a practitioner in Bombay, by whom a periodical report is
prepared, and the Medical Department on the part of Government
have never done more than sanction the Medicine Indents, receive
the medical returns and reports, and annually inspect the dispensary.
Complete satisfaction is not, it is suggested, felt with the Medical
101
Officer at present in charge, and I am inclined to think that, like
some other dispensaries located near Bombay, a change in the medi-
cal charge would probably be advantageous.
During the year there were 5,977 patients treated, of which 5,929
were new admissions, and 48 remaining from the previous year ; of
these, 5,361 were discharged, cured or relieved, 577 absented, 7 died,
and 32 remained. The daily attendance was highest in the months
of September and October, when it reached 102 and 108. There were
1,425 cases of ague, giving a proportion of 24 per cent. to total
treated.
The temperature was highest in May and June, when the ther-
mometer reached 89º, lowest in January, when it was 68º. The
rainfall was guaged to 41 inches 31 cents.
Six cases of dispensary practice are forwarded with the annual
report.
There is no dead-house at Bandora, and bodies to be examined fo r
medico-legal purposes are taken to the seashore—this practice is
much to be deprecated, and I can only say that, where care and
attention, together with privacy, are so very necessary, such opera-
tions should not be carried on coram publico. Here there were 23
* This does not appear to
be exactly the case. Out
of 21 post-mortems it is
stated that decomposition
had too far advanced in 7
to allow of cause of death
being determined.
bodies which underwent examination by Sub-
Assistant Surgeon De Souza, G.G.M.C.,
during the year, but I am informed that this
officer reports invariably that the bodies
are received in such a state of decomposi-
tion that nothing could be done as regards
stating cause of death.* Circular No. 4133,
dated 4th December 1867, of Inspector General, Indian Medical
Department, is rarely attended to by any. Major operation per-
formed 1, minor 108.
Balsar.
A town in the Surat Collectorate, lying at a short distance from
the sea, on the River " Owrungo," which rises on the western side of
the Syadree Range. The population is 11,765, and the town is
municipal.
The dispensary was originally started in the year 1863, at the joint
expense of Government and Mr. Cowasjee Jehangier Readymoney,
and continued to be so mantained until the 3rd September 1870,
when the Sub-Assistant Surgeon in charge received the following
characteristic letter from Mr. Cowasjee :—
" It is now seven years since the dispensary has been opened at
Balsar. Its expenses about to this date, amounting to Rs.
10,500, have been paid by me. When it was first opened the
people were unacquainted with the use of English medicines
and the art of curing by educated doctors. The Local Funds
in different places were not in existence as they are now. It
is widely known that a great deal of good is done by properly
13 M D
N A T I O N A L L I B R A R Y O F S C O T L A N D
102
educated persons like yourself—persons who have obtained
diplomas.
"I have now considered that the expenses defrayed by me should
cease from the 30th November next.
"In this three months' notice if the people like to have the insti-
tution continued they can raise a subscription list and send it
to Bombay. From the subscription the expenses should be
paid, and if there be any surplus it should be collected.
"A committee of management should be formed to make the
necessary arrangements as I do not wish to manage myself.
"If the inhabitants of Balsar think of receiving aid from the Local
Funds they can apply, but I will not subscribe more money. It
is widely known that one only person has defrayed all the ex-
penses (myself) up to this time.—(Signed) C. JEH ANGIER."
Mr. Cowasjee Jehangier forgot that a very considerable item of the
"expenses," namely the salaries, was defrayed by Government!
The dispensary was, however, maintained by Government and Mr.
Cowasjee Jehangier until May 1871, when the municipality under-
took the charge.
In this year Mr. Dinshaw Manockjee Petit presented the sum of
Rs. 10,000 for the purpose of building a dispensary, the present one
being held in a rented house. Mr. Petit's name is to be given to the
dispensary, and a Sub-Assistant Surgeon to be retained. The building
is nearly completed. The site for the new building was not selected
by the Deputy Inspector General, but by Mr. Hope, Collector of
Surat; it is in the centre of the town, and appears to me to be favour-
ably situated; some low land lies in front, but a deep drain carries
off superfluous water to the River "Owrunga."
The building faces west, its description, as it is not yet finished,
will be left for future report.
It is necessary to mention the want of a dead-house which is left
out in the plan, but which is a positive need.
There were 5,182 sick treated (including in-patients 17) during the
year under report; of these 68 remained from previous year, and
5,114 were fresh admissions; 4,360 were cured or relieved, 734
absented, and 81 remained, 7 deaths occurred. The average number of
sick daily attending is put down at 95, and at my inspection visit
I was satisfied as to the fair correctness of this statement.
There were 17 in-patients treated during the year, no deaths: these
are included in the above. 1,345 were cases of ague, giving a pro-
portion of 26 per cent. to the total treated. Besides ague, 251 cases
of remittent fever are returned.
Three cases are submitted exhibiting the practice of Sub-Assistant
Surgeon Pestonjee Bomanjee, G.G.M.C., the officer in medical
charge.
103
The temperature at Balsar was highest in the month of April and
June, when the thermometer registered 93º, and lowest in January,
when it was 60º.
The rainfall was 39 inches 37 cents, and most rain fell in the
month of June, when 12 inches were registered.
At my inspection of this dispensary, I was satisfied with the
care then displayed by the Sub-Assistant Surgeon in medical charge;
though the number daily attending is large, there should, I think,
be a much larger number treated, for the district is populous and at
times malarious.
In Mr. Pestonjee's work there appeared to me room for improve-
ment, in the points of zeal and activity so very necessary in dispen-
sary work, and so desirable if the people are to be encouraged to
seek medical aid from charitable dispensaries.
No major operations were performed, 126 minor of no interest; 3
post-mortem examinations were made.
Randir.
A large town situated on the western side of the River Taptee,
about 3 miles above Surat, in the Taluka of Choorasee, has a popula-
tion of about 8,725. Randir is a municipal town and appears to have
much benefited, judging from former reports, by the carrying out of
the rules and regulations laid down by the Commissioners. The
sanitary state of the place was very satisfactory, compared with
Gujrát towns in general. The present dispensary was established
in the year 1862, agreeably to Government Resolution No. 1806 of that
year, and under the rules of 1861, Government defraying salaries
and Mr. Cowasjee Jehangier the usual expenses of maintenance (for
three years). In 1865 Mr. Cowasjee offered the sum of Rs. 24,000
for the permanent maintenance of the dispensary; this was accepted
in Resolution of Government, No. 1300, of 14th December 1865, but
owing, I believe, to conditions required on the part of Mr. Cowasjee
Jehangier not being desirable, the offer was eventually declined.
I am not acquainted with the subsequent history of this dispensary
to the present time, but had hoped to have obtained it for insertion
here. The house originally occupied as a dispensary belonged to
Mr. Cowasjee Jehangier Readymoney, C.S.I.; this was withheld
when that gentleman withdrew his support„ and the place now used
was rented. This house being found unsuitable it was resolved by
the Municipality and Local Funds that a dispensary should be built
at their expense.
The present dispensary occupies the lower floor of a native
house—it is, as all these places are, ill-adapted for the purpose—so
much was this understood to be the case that the erection of a suit-
able building was considered necessary, as mentioned in the preced-
ing para., and a site was selected by my predecessor. This site
has since then been found not available; it was favourably situated
directly on the banks of the Taptee. In company with the Assist-
104
ant Collector another site was selected in a tolerably central locality,
and in a spot in other ways satisfactory, and I trust soon to hear
of progress being made in the building. Much dissatisfaction had
been felt with the Hospital Assistant in charge for taking somewhat
too active a part in the municipal politics of the place. I thought
it necessary to recommend his removal in consequence; his place is
now taken by 3rd Class Hospital Assistant Bhaskur Sitaram, General
No. 549, relieved from Chikli on account of ill health, who, I hope,
will do well.
The number of patients treated here during the year was 4,698. Of
the total treated 4,581 were new admissions, and 117 remained
from the previous year, 4,003 were cured or relieved, 580 absented,
and 115 remained, no deaths were reported. There were no in-door
patients, there being no room for their occupation. The number of
ague cases was 775, giving a proportion of 16.49 to all, remittent
fever gave 41 cases, simple fever and febricula.66.
The temperature in May and June was as high as 99º.
The rainfall is stated to have been 22 inches 76 cents.
The annual report of the Hospital Assistant in charge is, for a
person of his evident intelligence, meagre in the extreme, and would
have been returned to him, but that he was on the eve of leaving
his medical charge.
68 minor operations were performed during the year.
Karwar.
A rapidly increasing town and port of North Kanara, situated
on the south side of the tidal River "Kalla Nuddee," a wide and
deep inlet of the sea. Karwar was formerly a place of much import-
ance, where the East India Company had a "factory"; "history
repeats itself," and two centuries after its decay, we again see fac-
tories, cotton presses, springing up the produce of the cotton trade,
which will apparently converge here from the Dharwar and surround-
ing districts. The gradual increase of Karwar in the year 1865 was,
I presume, the cause of the establishment of a charitable dispensary
under Government Resolution No. 532, of 29th March 1865. To-
wards its expenses the community made a donation of Rs. 2,950
besides subscriptions of Rs. 640-8-0. The Municipality also made an
annual grant of Rs. 600.
The dispensary, a neat, well-built institution, was erected at a cost
of Rs. 6,042, of which Rs. 2,500 were the result of private sub-
scriptions, and Rs. 3,542 the donations of the Municipality and Local
Funds.
The pay of the Hospital Assistant is borne by the Government.
There are annual subscriptions, but for three years these appear to
have altogether failed; in 1871-72 Rs. 376 were subscribed; previous
to this the Municipality had to bear the total cost, which in 1870-71
amounted to Rs. 1,082 for medicines, contingencies, and repairs,
105
The dispensary is fairly situated and, as the buildings continue to
spring up, and the town to spread, it will hold a very central
position.
The number of patients treated in the year was 4,230,* of which
*Including 2 in-patients.
4,185 were new admissions, and 45 remain-
ed from the previous year ; 3,818 were
cured or relieved, 378 absented, no deaths are recorded, and 34 re-
mained under treatment ; 1,617 were cases of ague, giving a percent-
age of 38.22 on the total treated.
There were 2 in-patients included in the above.
The rainfall was not more than half the usual average, 69 inches
31 cents were registered, the greatest fall of rain occurred in July,
when 25 inches 88 cents were registered.
The maximum temperature registered by the Hospital Assistant
was 89° in the months of April and May 1871. The minimum was
66° in the month of February 1872.
The Hospital Assistant 3rd Class, named Babajee Rowjee Caddum,
Gl. No. 467, in medical charge of the dispensary, appears deserving,
and very desirous of doing well, but is not very intelligent, and
extremely backward in English. The Civil Surgeon speaks well of
his character and attainments. The attainments might be much in-
creased. 3 operations were performed during the year.
Bhewndy.
A large town situated in the taluka of that name, in the Col-
lectorate of Tanna, with the old high road to Agra on the
east, and the Bassein Creek on the north-west, has decreased
in importance since the opening of the Great Indian Peninsula
Railway, which passes through the neighbouring town of Kalian,
and carries the greater part of the traffic, which used to pass
Bhewndy on its way to Bombay viâ Salsette Bunder, on the high
road above-mentioned. Bhewndy is about 10 miles distant from
Tanna, and six from Kalián ; it is still a place of importance, with a
population of about 12,000, and is the centre of a number of small
villages, for which the establishment of a dispensary must be invalu-
able. The want of a dispensary here was brought to notice by Mr.
Pritchard in 1866, and the proposal for its establishment, as a 2nd
Class Dispensary of the A. Division, was sanctioned by Government
in their Resolution No. 2384, General Department. It was opened in
December of the same year, Government paying for salaries and
the Municipality bearing the remaining expenditure by a grant of
Rs. 864 per annum.
During the year under report 4,222 persons were treated ; of these
4,129 were new admissions, and 93 remained from previous year ; of
these 3,632 were cured or relieved, 521 absented, 2 died, and 67
remained under treatment.
The number of ague cases treated in the year amounted to 728,
giving a proportion of 17.24; there were, besides ague, 36 cases of