NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
SECT. XVI.]
SPECIAL HOSPITALS.
67
ESTABLISHMENT.—The following is the establishment of the Lying-in
Hospital as sanctioned in Proceedings of Government, Public Department,
No. 1016, dated 28th September 1865 and subsequent orders.
No.
ES.
A. P.
1 Matron ...
..
...
. . . . 100
0
0
*1 Writer and Steward
...
...
...
35
0
0
1 Head Native Nurse
. . .
. . .
. . .
8
0
0
4 Native Nurses
.
.
. . . .
. . .
. . .
24
0
0
1 Cook
...
.
. . .
. . .
. . .
8
0
0
1 Peon
...
..
...
...
..
7
0
0
3 Pikotamen
...
...
..
...
18
0
0
2 Male Toties
...
...
. . .
. . .
12
0
0
2 Washermen
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
16 I 0
0
1 Puckally
...
..
...
...
8
12
0
4 Female Toties
.
. . . .
. . .
. . .
16
0
0
t 1 Tailor
..
. . .
. . .
. . .
8
0
0
Total Rs. 260
12
0
* P. G. P. D. No. 772, dated 24th June 1868.
P. G. P. D. No. 656, dated 12th June 1867.
IV.—Fort Surgeon.
6 7 .
D u t i e s
. — A m e d i c a l o f f i c e r i s a p p o i n t e d t o a f f o r d a i d t o t h e C o m
- m i s s i o n e d , W a r r a n t , a n d N o n - c o m m i s s i o n e d O f f i c e r s , a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s , o f t h e
Garrison of Fort Saint George. The duties of the Fort Surgeon include also,
medical attendance on the Garrison Band, the Warrant and Non-Commissioned
Officers of the Ordnance and Commissariat Department, and military clerks
of the Adjutant General's Department residing in the Ordnance lines or in
Black Town.
6 8 . H e i s a l s o r e q u i r e d t o e x a m i n e l a s c a r s p r i o r t o e n l i s t m e n t f o r f o r e i g n
service, and invaliding, and is superintendent of the Fort Dispensary, in
which are prepared supplies of medicines for small detachments, and working
parties, of various Government Departments. The Fort Surgeon is ex -officio
Professor of Anatomy in the Madras Medical College, and is also the Port and
Marine Surgeon.
6 9 . T h e F o r t S u r g e o n i s . e x p e c t e d t o a t t e n d C o r o n e r s ' I n q u e s t s w h e n
held within the Fort, except when connected with casualties among British
Troops, and also to perform the duties of Sanitary Officer within the Fort.
7 0 . W h e n t h e F o r t S u r g e o n s h a l l b e s a t i s f i e d t h a t W a r r a n t a n d
Non-commissioned Officers and families require the comforts of a hospital, to
expedite their recovery, or when they may be attacked with epidemic or con-
tagious disease, he is to transfer them to the General Hospital, (or in the
case of women and children, to the temporary Female Hospital, Vepery.)
68
SPECIAL HOSPITALS.
[SECT. XVI.
71.
Port Duties.—Port and Marine duties include:
—
1st.—The inspection of transports for native troops under the established
rules.
2nd,—The inspection of ships when any particular sickness may appear
to demand investigation.
3rd.—Rendering aid in cases of urgent necessity, to sea-faring people
suffering from accidents, whether on shore, or on board.
4th.—Visiting vessels with native troops on board, when the Master
Attendant reports the presence of epidemic or contagious disease,
and making an immediate report of such visit to the Deputy
Inspector General of Hospitals Indian Medical Department, Presi-
dency Circle, and to the Quarter Master General of the Army.
5th.—To grant " bills of health" to such ships as require them.
7 2 . S H I P W R E C K S , A N D A C C I D E N T S . — W i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e a s s i s t a n c e w h i c h
the Port Surgeon is expected to render to the Marine Department, and dis-
tressed objects on the beach, it is to be understood that it is to be limited to
accidents, and to those particular cases when natives resort spontaneously to
a European practitioner. The regulations already provide for the reception
into hospital of seamen requiring hospital treatment; and in cases where
severe accidents or sickness among the boat people and Marine Department
may render such treatment necessary, the patients will be received into the
Native Infirmary attached to the Monegar Choultry or General Hospital.
7 3 . I n c a s e s o f s h i p w r e c k i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f M a d r a s , o r w h e n t h e r e i s
reason to apprehend such an occurrence, the Master Attendant will give
immediate intimation to the Port and Marine Surgeon, who will consider it
his duty to proceed immediately to the beach with his establishment, for the
purpose of affording such professional aid to individuals rescued from the
wreck as they may stand in need of.
7 4 . T h e P o r t a n d M a r i n e S u r g e o n w i l l a l s o , o n r e c e i p t o f t h e M a s t e r
Attendant's intimation, call upon such other medical officers as may be most
readily available, to meet him with a portion of their establishments at the
scene of the disaster, and all medical officers at the Presidency, without
exception, are hereby ordered forthwith to obey such requisition.
75. Measures will be taken by the Administrative Medical Officer, Pre-
sidency in communication with the proper authorities, to ensure the presence
of a sufficient number of dhoolies to be placed at the disposal of the medical
officers on these occasions, for the conveyance of rescued persons to the
nearest hospital or dispensary.
SECT. XVI.]
SPECIAL HOSPITALS.
69
76. The Fort Surgeon, and the medical officers in charge or attached
to the General Hospital with their establishments, being from their vicinity
the most easily or readily available, will in such cases invariably hold
themselves in readiness to attend.
77. APOTHECARY.—An apothecary is attached to the Port and Marine
Surgeon, for the purpose of affording immediate aid, in such cases of acci
- d e n t s a s m a y o c c u r a m o n g t h e b o a t m e n , a n d o t h e r p e r s o n s f r o m t h e b e a c h
department, requiring professional assistance. Medicines, &c. will be supplied
annually for the Port and Marine Department to the extent which may be
required.
78. EPIDEMIC DISEASE.—Should cholera, or any other serious epidemic
disease, be prevalent at Madras, it is the duty of the Port Surgeon to commu
- n i c a t e o n t h e s u b j e c t , t h r o u g h t h e M a s t e r A t t e n d a n t , w i t h t h e c o m m a n d e r s o f
all vessels arriving at the port, and to suggest such measures for the preser-
vation of the health of those on board as may be necessary.
79. TRANSPORTS FOR NATIVE TROOPS.—When a ship is tendered for the
conveyance of Native troops, and a military survey of it ordered, the Quarter
Master General of the Army will notify the time appointed for such survey
to the Port and Marine Surgeon who will proceed on board with the military
surveying officer, to whom he will report his opinion in regard to the means
of ventilation, &c.
80. BOAT FOR PORT SURGEON.—A boat will be furnished at the public
expense, to convey the Port and Marine Surgeon when proceeding on duty on
board of any ship.
S SECTION XVII
LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
SUB-SECTION I.
1 .
O f f i c i a l V i s i t o r s , & c .
— A s y l u m s h a v e b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d a t t h e
following stations for the reception and treatment of lunatics : —
Central—Madras.
District—Trichinopoly.
, , V i z a g a p a t a m .
2 . T h e r e s h a l l b e f o r e v e r y a s y l u m t h r e e o f f i c i a l v i s i t o r s , o n e o f w h o m a t
least shall be a medical officer. The Inspector General of Jails shall also be
an ex-officio visitor of asylums.
3 . T h e o f f i c i a l v i s i t o r s f o r t h e P r e s i d e n c y A s y l u m s h a l l b e t h e I n s p e c t o r
General Indian Medical Department, the Deputy Inspector General Presi
- d e n c y D i v i s i o n , a n d t h e S a n i t a r y C o m m i s s i o n e r , t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r o f P o l i c e ,
and the Surgeon of the 2nd District.
The official visitors for a Provincial Asylum shall be the Deputy Inspector
General, Indian Medical Department of the Division, in which it is situated,
a Magistrate, and the Civil and Session Judge of the Zillah.
4. The Inspector General, and the Deputy Inspectors General, British
Medical Service, shall also, at all times, have access to patients of Her
Majesty's British Service who may be under treatment in an asylum, and may
communicate their wishes regarding such, through the usual official channel.
5. Two or more of the official visitors, one of whom shall be a medical
officer, shall, once at least, in every month together inspect every part of
the asylum of which they are visitors; make such inquiries as they may deem
necessary regarding the comfort and welfare of the patients; see the order
and certificate for each admission since the date of last inspection, and make
any remarks which they may think necessary, regarding the condition and
management of the institution, in a book to be kept for that purpose. A copy
of the remarks in the visitor's book, shall be forwarded quarterly to the
Inspector General, Indian Medical Department for submission to Government.
SECT. XVII.]
LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
71
6. The ordinary control and superintendence of each Lunatic Asylum;
as in the case of other hospitals, are vested in the Deputy Inspector General
of the Division, who shall, at least once every month, inspect the asylum.
SUB-SECTION II.
7 .
A d m i s s i o n a n d D i s c h a r g e o f P a t i e n t s , M i l i t a r y a n d C i v i l
. —
MILITARY PATIENTS.—Officers (Commissioned and Non-commissioned), Soldiers,
or Sepoys, shall, on becoming manifestly insane, if stationed in Madras, or
any station communicating with it by rail, be at once transferred to the
Presidency Lunatic Asylum for treatment.
Officers, soldiers, or sepoys, on becoming insane at a station, or
within a moderate distance of a station, in which there is a District Lunatic
Asylum with suitable accommodation, shall in the same manner be removed
to it as early as possible for treatment.
8. Officers, soldiers, or sepoys becoming insane in other stations than
those specified in paragraph 7, shall remain under the immediate charge of
the medical officer, whose duty it is to attend on them, for a period of three
months, unless some pressing circumstances connected with the patient's
general health, or the movements of corps, should demand their immediate
removal.
9. If, at the expiry of the three months, an officer suffering from
insanity shall show no signs of recovery, the medical officer in attendance
shall then, through the Deputy Inspector General of the Division, adopt
measures for his removal to the Presidency for disposal. In all such instances
a minute medical history, in duplicate, of the case, according to Form C., and
certificate according to Form A ., must accompany the patient.
10. If, after the expiry of the three months, an insane Non-commis-
sioned officer, soldier, or sepoy should show no signs of recovery, he shall
then be sent to the Lunatic Asylum at the Presidency. In the case of those
belonging to Her Majesty's British Army, the order of the Commander-in
-Chief, and sanction of the Inspector General, British Medical Department,
are required for the transfer, and a full medical history of the case in the
regulated form, and certificate in Form A , must be sent with the patient.
In the case of persons belonging to Her Majesty's Indian Army, the order
of the Commanding Officer of the corps or station to which the party belongs,
and the sanction of the Deputy Inspector General of the Division are required,
and a full medical history of the case, according to Form C., and certificate in
Form A ., must accompany the patient.
11. With regard to insane sepoys belonging to regiments serving in
Saugor Division, Burmah, and other distant stations, they shall be detained,
72 LUNATIC ASYLUMS. [SECT. XVII.
if necessary, under treatment in the Regimental Hospital for a period of four
months; and should no sign of recovery be then apparent, they are to be
brought before an Invaliding Medical Committee for final disposal.
12. The authorities in whom is vested the power of granting an order
for the admission of military patients into a Lunatic Asylum are
The Governor in Council.
The Commander-in-Chief.
Officers Commanding Divisions
or Brigades
Subject to confirmation of Commander-
in-Chief.
Inspector General, Indian Medi-
cal Department.
Prior to the transmission of a military
or civil patient, it should be ascer-
Inspector General, British Me-
aicdl Service.
tained from the superintendent, or
officer in charge of the asylum to which
Officers Commanding Stations
or Corps.
it is intended to send the patient,
whether accommodation is available
or not.
13.
13. Every admission into a Lunatic Asylum of a military patient belong-
ing to the Indian Army, except when effected by direct order of the Inspector
General, Indian Medical Department must be immediately reported by the
Superintendent to the Deputy Inspector General of the Division, and the
order of admission, medical history, and certificate be at the same time
forwarded for the information of the Inspector General, Indian Medical
Department.
The admission into an asylum of an officer or soldier of the British Army
must be immediately reported to the Inspector General, British. Medical
Service, with whom the Superintendent will communicate directly on all
matters connected with the admission, discharge, or removal to England of
military insanes belonging to the British Service.
14. Regimental clothing, money, or other valuables sent along with a
Non-commissioned officer or soldier of Her Majesty's British Army to a
Lunatic Asylum, shall be returned immediately to the Adjutant of the corps
to which he belongs, and his receipt obtained for the same. In the case of
Native soldiers, sums of money should be sent to the Brigade Major ; but
clothing, cooking utensils, &c., may be kept in the asylum while the patients
remain there.
15. As removal from a tropical climate generally proves beneficial to
Europeans afflicted with insanity, all such persons shall, if they show no signs
of amendment at the expiration of six months from date of admission, be sent
to England at the public expense. If, however, the medical officer in charge
of an asylum should deem it necessary that any such should be sent there at
SECT. XVII.]
LUNATIC ASYLUM.
73
an earlier period, he shall forward a recommendation to that effect, supported
by the approval of the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals of the Division.
16. Whenever it is thought necessary to send a patient to England, the
Superintendent of the Asylum shall forward, through the usual channel, for
transmission to the Inspector General, Indian Medical Department, a letter on.
the subject, enclosing a statement, in quadruplicate, of the medical history of
the case, together with all available information concerning the name, address,
and occupation of the next of kin of the patient. In the case of officers and
soldiers of the British Service, these documents will be forwarded to the
Inspector General, British Medical Service, for disposal.
17. On the receipt of the order for the despatch of the patient to Europe,
the superintendent shall forward an indent for such out-fit and necessaries-as
may be required for the use of the patient during the voyage.
18. On the receipt of an intimation from the Quarter Master General
of the Army of the time fixed for embarkation, the Superintendent of the
asylum shall apply to the Brigade Major of Fort Saint George for an European
guard to attend at the embarkation of the patient; an European keeper of the
Asylum shall also be in attendance, and he shall procure the signature of the
Officer Commanding Troops on board, or of the Commander of the ship, for
the receipt of the person of the patient and his baggage. The date of embark
ation of soldiers of the British Army is to be reported to the Officer Command-
ing the Regiment to which the soldier belongs, and to the Commandant of
the Depôt at Poonamallee.
19. When a patient is considered sufficiently recovered to be restored
to liberty, the superintendent shall forward, through the usual channel,
a discharge certificate to the Inspector General, Indian Medical Department ;
and on the certificate being returned confirmed by him, the patient is to be
sent to the Brigade Major's Office for orders. In the case of officers or
soldiers of the British Service, the discharge certificate will be forwarded to the
Inspector General, British Medical Department, for disposal. All such
discharge certificates are to be kept as records in the office of the Superin
-tendent of the Asylum, and a notice of the discharge is to be immediately co
m-municated to the officer under whose order the patient was sent to the asylum.
20. In case of the escape of a patient, notices of the same are to be
instantly forwarded to the Deputy Inspector General, Indian Medical Depart
-ment, and to the officer in charge of Police, in order that measures may be
taken for his recapture. Deaths are to be reported to the Deputy Inspector
General, Indian Medical Department, and Brigade Major.
21. CIvIL, PATIENTS.—A Covenanted Civil Officer who may become
insane shall be forwarded to the Presidency to be disposed of by Government,
VOL. II.
K
74
LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
[SECT. XVII.
and the medical officer, who has been in charge of the case, shall send along
with the patient a complete medical history, according to Form C., in duplicate,
and certificate according to Form A .
22. An Uncovenanted Civil Servant, when insane, may be sent to a
Lunatic Asylum under the order of a Magistrate, or the Commissioner of
Police, in Form A ., from a medical officer. A complete medical history,
according to Form C., must also be furnished, if the patient has been under
regular treatment. Such a patient may be handed over to the care and
custody of a relative or friend by order of the Magistrate, or Commissioner of
Police, who sent him to the asylum, (see paragraph 27, Section II. of these
Rules). When he is considered fit to be discharged, the superintendent shall
forward a discharge certificate, and on obtaining the sanction of three of the
official visitors, shall discharge him, and send a notice of the order of discharge
to the public officer under whose order the patient was detained (see
paragraph 28, of Section II. of these Rules).
23. PERSONS NOT BELONGING TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE.—A lunatic, or any
person supposed to be dangerous by reason of a lunacy, not belonging to the
Public Service, may be received into a Lunatic Asylum under an order from
a Civil Court, Magistrate, or the Commissioner of Police, as specified in the
Lunacy Act , No. XXXVI . of 1858; and ever y such or der must be accompani ed
with the certificate of a medical officer in the Form A. In the case of
patients so admitted, the Superintendent of the Asylum is to request the
Court, or authority furnishing the order of admission, to ascertain whether
there is property belonging to the lunatic available for the expenses of his
maintenance, &c., or any relatives able and legally bound to support him ; and
should such property or persons exist, then measures must be taken to relieve
the Government of all expenses connected with the treatment and maintenance
of the patient.
24. It is competent also for the relative or friend of a person who is a
lunatic, to require his admission into a Lunatic Asylum, provided he gives an
order and statement of particulars according to Form B., and furnishes the
medical certificate in Form A ., of two persons, each of whom must be a
Physician or Surgeon, and one a Surgeon in the employment of Government.
When, however, such an order is presented to the Superintendent of the
Asylum, he may, before admitting the patient, require the person who has
made the order to engage to pay all expenses connected with the maintenance,
&c., of the lunatic.
25. A medical officer granting a certificate of lunacy shall, in all cases
when the patient has been under his treatment, furnish a complete medical
history of the case in Form C., and neglect of this important duty will be
SECT. XVII.]
LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
75
immediately brought to the notice of the Inspector General, Indian Medical
Department. If the lunatic has not been under the care of the certifying
medical officer, he shall then collect from the lunatic's friends all information
likely to throw any light on the nature and cause of the disease, and forward
this along with the medical certificate.
26. On the admission of a lunatic into any asylum, the superintendent
shall immediately forward a report of the occurrence to the Deputy Inspector
General, Indian Medical Department, of the Division, for the information of
the Inspector General, Indian Medical Department.
27. When any relative or friend of a lunatic is desirous to remove such
from an asylum, he must make an application to the Magistrate, or Commis
-sioner of Police, under whose order the lunatic was sent there; and the
Magistrate or Commissioner of Police, if he think fit, after communicating
with one of the official visitors, being a medical officer, and upon receiving
from the relative or friend a satisfactory bond in writing that the lunatic will
be properly cared for and prevented from doing injury to himself or others,
shall grant an order for the discharge of such lunatic. On the receipt of this
order, the superintendent shall thereupon discharge the patient.
28. When a patient is considered fit to be discharged, the superintendent
shall send a discharge certificate through the Deputy Inspector General,
Indian Medical Department, for the sanction of three of the official visitors,
and on receiving this, will release the patient ; the sanctioned certificate
being kept as a record in the asylum, and an intimation of the patient's
discharge sent to the public officer under whose order he was received. Before
discharging a patient, it will generally be advisable to request his friends to
come and take charge of him.
When a patient about to be discharged has a long distance to proceed
to his place of residence, and no money or friends to assist him, a small sum,
sufficient to cover travelling expenses, will be given to him when he leaves
the asylum.
29. Clothing and other property brought with patients to the asylum
will be deposited in the store-room, to be restored on discharge. Accounts
of property received in this way must be carefully kept.
30. In case of death, the funeral expenses of poor patients will be met
by Government; but those of paying patients must be defrayed by the party
responsible for the payment of bills of maintenance.
31. All patients who do not bear satisfactory marks of previoas vacci
-nation, or of small-pox, shall be vaccinated on admission into a Lunatic
Asylum, or as soon after as practicable.