NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
101
Statement No. IV,—Showing the number of Peojyle more or less
permanently Accommodated in Camps and Hutments
in the North of the Island.
No.
1
2
3
4
r
G
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Name of Cauip.
Vincent Road (West Side)
Do.
(East Side)
Do,
Bhoiwada and Naigaum ...
Sion—Agriwada, Koliwada and Bhandarwada ...
Eawli Hill, Wadalla, Gowaii
-j
Do. Cross Road and Agriwada
Do. New Road
...
Parel Tank Road
Chota Sewri ...
...
...
...
...
...J
Elphinstone Road
Dadar Road
Do, Kumbharwada ...
Matoonga
Mahim ...
Do. Hospital Camp ...
...
Worli Koliwada
...
...
Do, Pacady Fields
Parbhadevi Road
Pumping Station
Fergusson Road
Curry Road
Total
Number of occupants.
2,278
1,328
1,075
1,113
1,721
1,155
203
2,905
1,414
1,805
305
297
395
1,303
1,203
195
200
204
101
19,000
The tables show that approximately 41,409 people passed through
the various camps during the year under report. The corresponding
figure last year was about 1,10,000 people. These figures illustrate the
action of the new measures very clearly. Owing to the abolition of
compulsory removal to hospitals the numbers of contacts and evicts
sent to hospital camps, either public or private have markedly fallen oft\
26
102
In the same way the people unless they are made to evacuate by compul-
sion do not care to go to camp as a temporary measure, as the figures
conclusively show.
Public
Camps.
There is a general feeling however, that the people would go to
camp if they were provided with free quarter and permitted to remain
for the epidemic period, say about four or five months. It is well known
that once they are lodged under such circumstance they endeavour to
remain in these huts as long as they possibly can, and are only turned
out after considerable difficulty.
With regard to Municipal camps the following camps in different
parts of the city were either repaired or strengthened during the year.
1. Camps at Victoria Bunder.
2. Vithal Sayana Camp.
3. Arthur Crawford Market Camp.
4. Goculdas Hospital Camp.
5. Elphinstone Bridge Camp.
6. Wari Bunder Camp.
7. Northbrook Garden Camp.
8. Babula Tank Camp.
9. Mahim-Hospital Camps.
The following camps were maintained during the rains, but pulled
down before 31st May 1901 :—
1. Vital Sayana Camp.
2. Piru Lane Camp.
3. Grant Road Camp.
4. Narielwadi Health Camp.
5. Gilder Street Camp.
Some of these were pulled down, as they stood on low-lying ground
likely to be under water during the rains and others being old and in-
capable of being strengthened. It was not thought necessary to maintain
these camps, in future. Some of the materials of the camps so pulled
down were utilized in repairing and strengthening other camps and in
erecting sheds for beggars at Goculdas Health Camp and at the Arthur
Road Hospital.
About 89,372 sq. yards of ground at Vincent Road was placed at
the disposal of the Municipality by the City Improvement Trust for the
erection of sheds by the public during the plague. One hundred and
thirteen temporary sheds were erected on this ground including the
Parsi Punchayet and the Times of India sheds. One hundred and ninety-
one sheds were also erected on private ground at Matunga. Thirteen
stand-pipes were put up on Municipal and private grounds and seven
blocks (5 seated) of public latrines were put up on Municipal and
private grounds with the necessary drainage arrangements (open channels
carried into cesspools). All these sheds have been removed, except
those belonging to the Parsi Punchayet and the Times of India,
107
year there was almost a water famine. Some people in despair, went to their highly-infected
houses in the City, whilst others went on the other side of the Queen's Road and somehow
opened the plugs of the tanks near the Night-soil Depôt and public latrines at Sonapur,
and obtained water from there. The authorities subsequently put a separate tap to the tanks
referred to to permit our people taking water from there. The consequences of a short supply
of water are serious, as the residents are compelled to go to their houses in the infected
areas for bathing, washing, clothing and even for preparing food. Indeed, some plague
cases discovered in the Camps were attributable to this action.
Medical Inspection.—The undermentioned Medical gentlemen on the Committee under-
took this year the daily Medical inspection of the residents of the Camps:—
Dr. G. B. Prabhakar.
Dr. A. V. Velkar.
Dr. V. S. Trilokekar.
Dr. A. P. Kothare.
The result of the inspection was recorded in a book which was kept open in the Camp Office
room for the Officials and others to see at any time the daily state of the Camps. Any
case found suspicious was at once separated and kept under observation and eventually
transferred to our Fever Hospital if it became a confirmed plague case.
In my last year's report the honorary services of the Medical gentlemen named above
were strongly recommended for recognition. It was also suggested that Dr. A. V. Velkar,
Dr. V. S. Trilokekar and Dr. A. P. Kothare be appointed Justices of the Peace. I trust
this recommendation will not be lost sight of at the ensuing opportunity. It is needless for
me to mention that it would have been impossible to keep the camps in the healthy condition
they were in, without the able and willing assistance of these Doctors who also worked at
our Fever Hospital at great personal sacrifice.
Control and Management.—The general control, as before, was exercised by a Com-
mittee consisting of—
Chairman.
Mr. Nanu Narayen Kothare, J. P.
Members.
Rao Bahadur Dhakji Kashinathji, J. P. (Honorary Secretary).
Mr. Anandrao Harishankar (Honorary Treasurer).
Dr. Govindrao Bhau Prabhakar.
,, Atmaram Vasudev Velkar.
,, Vinayek Sokarji Trilokekar.
,, Anandrao Putoba Kothare.
Mr. Vinayekrao Meghasham Navalkar.
The Honorary Secretary, Rao Bahadur Dhakji Kashinathji, J. P., had the general charge
and management of the Camps and he was very ably supported by—
Honorary Members.
Mr. Jaganath Anandrao Desai.
Mr. Luxuman Vinayekrao Jayakar.
Rao Bahadur Dhakjee Kashinathjee in his interesting report on this
camp gives the following information about those who were attacked
with plague. It accentuates the necessity for early evacuation of
infected quarters and removal to camp and shows the danger of return-
ing to infected dwellings so long as the epidemic has not declined. He
states :—
It was thought that there would be no plague this year, and if any, it would be of
a very mild type, but it did come and with increased virulence. Those who shifted early
were provided for in Camp No. 1 and those who came late, in Camp No, 2. The fact that
108
only one case of plague was found in Camp No. 1 and that too under the circumstances
stated furtheron, and three in camp No. 2 proves that those who came to Gamp No. 2 did so
after their houses had been highly charged with infection.
The plague case removed from Camp No. 1 was that of Gajanan Gunputrao. He came
to the Camp on 26th December 1900 and against our remonstrances removed on 20th
February 1901 to a house, on Borebhat Naka, which was vacated by the owner owing to the
rat mortality. He went there to perform the marriage of his niece and returned to the
Camp on 24th February. On the 26th idem, he became ill and was removed to the Hospital
having been declared to be a plague case. Thus, it is evident that but for this indiscreet
action there would have been no plague case in Camp No. 1.
The three cases removed from Camp No. 2 were as under :—
1 Ahiliabai } Members of one family.
2. Esabai
Arrived at the Camp on 9th January 1901 and removed to the Hospital on the 13th idem.
There had been plague cases in their houses in New Line Street prior to their shifting to
the Camp.
3. Moreshwar Vasantrao.
Arrived at the Camp on 17th February from Pallow Road and was sent to the Hospital
on 27th March 1901. It is difficult to say where he caught the infection, but it was found
that this boy, besides going to his house, often went to play to the adjacent Sonar Camp
where a plague case was discovered.
There was no death from plague in our camps.
Parsi Private Health Camps.
The accompanying extract from the printed Statement of Plague
Operations in the Parsee Community is given :—
The following table gives the names of the Health Camps, of the
owners who generously placed their lands free of rent at the disposal of
the Parsee Punchayet, and of the Medical gentlemen who kindly looked
after the health and the sanitary arrangements of the different Camps.
It also gives the accommodation provided, and the largest number of
people that at one time lived in the Camps :—
Names of the Health
Camps.
Modikhana
Marine Lines
Churney Road (near
Ry. Station).
Churney Road (near
Ry. Level-crossing).
Chowpatty
Baliwala's Wadi ...
Dadar.
DeLisle Road
Owners or Trustees
of the Premises.
Municipality
Do.
Do.
Hormusjee
Sha-
poorjee Chotia,
Esq.
Parsee Punchayet.
Pallonjee Peston-
jee Baliwala, Esq
Municipality
Ruttonjee Boman-
jee Dubash, Esq
Medical Officers who looked
after their sanitation.
Dr. Ruttonshaw Teh-
muljee Nariman.
Dr. Kaikushroo Mun-
cherjee Gimi.
Dr. Hirji
Jehangir
Dadysett.
Dr. Rustum N. R.
Ranina.
Do.
Dr. Framji Shapoorji..
Dr. Bapooji Rustumji
Wadia.
No. of tents,
huts or rooms
in each Camp.
14
54
52
14
40
12
24
16
Largest No.
that at one
time lived in
the Camps.
79
368
299
162
J85
59
79
109
The Camp at DeLisle Road was kept in readiness for use, but it
was not availed of. Materials for the erection of a Camp at Matunga
also were ready, but it was not found necessary to erect the Camp.
The Trustees offer their cordial thanks to the Municipal Commissioner
and to the owners and Trustees of the several plots of ground for their
kindness in placing their land and the "Wadi" at the disposal of the com-
munity, and to the medical gentlemen for their kindness in volunteering
to look after the health of the different camps.
All the Camps were managed by camp-masters, assisted by a staff
of ramosees and other servants. The accommodation in the Camps at
the Marine Lines and at Churney Road was most under requisition, owing
to the proximity of these Camps to the business quarters of the town.
Permission to occupy the Camps was at first given for one month only,
but that period was extended when the localities, from which the
inmates originally came, continued to be affected.
The following table gives the districts from which the occupants of
the Camps were drawn, and the number of families and of persons that
had removed to them.
Colaba
Fort
Dhobi Talao
Churney Road
Girgaum
Baharkote
Khetwady
Grant Road
Mazagaon
Pavel
Mahim
Bandra
Total
No. of
families.
2
73
G8
10
19
5
44
9
...
5
2
1
288
No. of
persons.
11
494
439
77
182
40
293
49
...
33
5
10
1,633
The Portuguese Health Camps,
About 26,000 square feet of ground on the Kennedy Sea Face was
provided for 370 people belonging to the Portuguese community, mostly
of the class of Government and mercantile clerks. Mr. Godinho was the
Secretary and General Manager of the Camp.
28
110
The people commenced to move into Camp in the month of January.
Bamboo sheds were "built with mat Avails and palmyra palm roofs at
an average cost of Rs. 70 each. Dr. J. Lobo attended volun-
tarily to the health of the people, who enjoyed very good health. No
fatal case occurred either from plague or any other cause whilst they
were encamped. Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Northcote visited
the Camp, an honour which was deeply appreciated by the people. Mr.
Godinho on behalf of the community gave expression to their gratitude
for the kindly interest taken in their welfare by Their Excellencies.
Mr. Godinho reports that the occupants of the Camp felt quite con-
fident of their safety and freedom from the plague and that they enjoyed
a very peaceful and happy time accordingly.
The Pathare Prabhu Bhagvantrao Health Camp.
Mr. R. V. Kothare submits the following interesting report of the
Pathare Prabhu Bhagvantrao Health Camp.
Season.—13th December 1900 to 3rd June 1901.
Indications of the recrudescence of the plague having manifested themselves once more
the Secretary, by direction of the Managing Committee of this Camp, applied to the
Municipal authorities on the 9th October 1900 for the plot of ground allotted last year for
the purposes of the Camp. Sanction having been accorded on the 29th November 1900,
the work of erecting the sheds was completed on the 27th December 1900.
2. The Camp was occupied by 198 souls.
3. The cost of construction was distributed equally between the Residents according
to the number of rooms occupied by them.
4. The Managing Committee continued the same as last year viz.: —
President.
Mr. Bhagvantrao Dwarkanath.
Members.
Mr. Narayan L. Manker. B.A.
Mr. Harischandra S. Trilokekar (since died).
Mr. Laxuman R. Agaskar.
Mr. Ramrao A. Kirtikar,
Mr. Mothabhai M. Jayakar.
Mr. Ballaram V. Sanjit, U.A.
Secretary.
Mr. R. V. Kothare.
Superintendent.
Mr, M. V. Kothare.
Medical Supervisions.
Dr, A. V. Velkar, L.M.&S.
Dr. V. S. Trilokekar, L.M.&S.
Dr. A. P. Kothare, L.M.&S.
Dr. N. L. Mankar, L.R.C.P.&S. (Edin.)
5. The Managing Committee, on behalf of themselves and the residents of the Camp,
beg to express their sincere gratitude to the Medical gentlemen of their community above-
noted, who volunteered their services and visited the Camp regularly by turns, during the
period under report. Like last year a Diary was kept in which the Medical gentlemen noted
all cases of illness in the Camp.
29
Statement showing the number of Private Camps visited by Dr. P. J. De Souza at Kennedy Sea Face and total number of Occupants passed
through; also Attach and Deaths from Plague and Deaths from other Causes from 1st January to 31st May 1901.
Camps.
Secretariat Offices Health Camp.
Gas Company
do.
Maratha
do.
Daivadnya No. 1
do.
Do. No. 2
do.
Khatri
do.
Chandrasenya Kayasta Prabhu
Health Camp...
No.
1
2
4
5
6
7
When opened.
About 6 years ago. ..
25th February 1901 ..
7th
do.
29th December 1900..
10th January 1901 ...
20th
do.
20th
do.
No.
of
huts.
56
2 Blocks.
16
19
14
5 Blocks.
1 Block.
Available
accommo-
dation.
50
100
200
200
100
200
Total
No. of
occupants.
318
35
85
164
196
51
69
918
Plague.
Attacks.
1
1
1
3
Deaths.
1
1
2
Deaths
from other
causes.
5
2
3
3
1
8
17
Percentage
of
Plague.
•54
Percentage
from other
causes.
......
1.8
Remarks.
113
118
Lighting:—Night lamps were supplied by the Municipality in all the lanes between
the huts and between Camps, at a cost of Rs. 2-8-0 per lamp per month. The total number
of lamps supplied was 87 ; the Parsi and Bhatia Camps supplying their own which are not
included in this total.
Precaution against fire:—Precautions against fire were taken by each community
storing -water in tubs which, were placed in some conspicuous places, and laying in a supply
of buckets and fire hooks which were kept ready at hand. The Pathare Prabhu and Dakshini
Brahmin Camps were the best supplied in this respect. No fires of any importance occurred
in the Camps.
Medical Inspection.—A system of Medical inspection was carried out, the Secretary or
Manager of each Camp being requested to report all cases of illness to the Inspecting Medical
Officer at his daily visit, and to the Superintendent of the Camps who took steps to have
the patient removed to hospital and the necessary disinfection carried out in all cases of
plague where the patient was not too ill to be removed. If too ill, the disinfection was
carried out after recovery or death of the patient. In Pathare ,Prabhu and Dakshini
Brahmin Camps no persuasion was necessary as they very sensibly gave every help in this
respect.
Drainage.—The Camps situated near the Marine Lines Station were provided with an
open masonry drain near the water taps to carry off the waste water from the washing places.
This was not the case in those camps situated near the Charni Road Station, they being pro-
vided with pipe-drains which frequently became choked and caused some inconvenience and
extra labour on the Drainage Department. For the waste water from the kitchens
and private nahanis tubs and drums were supplied which were emptied by the coolies sup-
plied by the Municipality, and phenyle solution put into them ; except in the Dakshini
Brahmin camps where open masonry drains leading into the main were constructed
at the expense of the community. The latter system was more eñ'ective, sanitary and
economical than the system of tubs and drums.
Statistics :—The health of the residents of the Camps was exceptionally good, the total
number of deaths from ordinary causes being only 30, plague attacks 26, and plague deaths
in Camps 10. The majority of the plague cases were imported and developed after a few
days residence in camp, sometimes on the day of arrival ; or occurred in persons who
were residents of the camps, but were in the habit of frequenting highly infected quarters
of the town. The maximum number of residents in the Camps for each month was as
follows :—
December 1900
•January 1001
February „
March
,,
April
„
May
,,
Total
Average number of residents
.,
ordinary deaths
,.
plague cases
405
... 1,720
3,531
... 4,055
... 3,830
... 2,457
... 15,998
2G,GG-33
1·87 per thousand.
1·62
The following Statement shows the number of Plague Cases that occurred among the contacts and evicts in the Camps mentioned—classified
according to the interval between arrival in Camp and attack.
How many days after
Admission.
Same day
2
days
3
„
5
7
„
8 "
9
„
10
11 to 20,,
Over 20,,
Total
Elphinstone
Bridge.
C. |
1
9
2
2
...
1
1
1
...
G
26
E.
5
3
3
]
1
1
2
1
1
5
23
Goculdas
Tejpal.
C.
E.
1
...
1
1
1
...
i
...
1
1
...
...
2
Grant
Road.
C.
2
...
...
...
2
E.
2
...
3
Wari Bunder.
C.
5
2
...
7
E.
....
Northbrook
Gardens.
C.
1
...
1
2
E.
Babula Tank.
C.
E.
1
1
Peru Lane.
C.
...
...
E.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Victoria
Bunder.
C.
...
2
2
E.
...
...
...
Lohana.
C.
...
...
E.
1
1
2
Total.
C.
1
15
3
3
4
1
1
3
...
8
43
E.
...
5
3
3
1
4
3
2
1
2
6
1
31
119
120
Expendt
The following is the account of the fu
RECEIPTS and EXPENDITURE on Plague Camps during the year ending 31st May, 1901.
Month and Date.
October 18th, 1900...
Receipts
Opening balance
|
Credit on account of the value of Water-
fittings, &c, issued from the Water Works
Store for erecting Stand-pipes at Sion
Causeway Police, Chowkey, which were
subsequently removed and taken back into
those stores
November 10th, 1900. Credit on account of the value of articles
January 25th, 1901...
May 23rd, 1901
...
issued from the Water Works Store, for the
erection of Stand-pipes, &c, at the different
Health Camps and which were subsequently
removed and taken back into those Stores.
Do.
do.
do.
do. ...
Do.
do,
do.
do. ...
Carried forward
...
Amount.
Rs.
48,631
21
3,814
4
5,024
51,09G
a.
11
H
4
1
15
15
P.
1
11
9
1
5
Expenditure.
Erecting sheds at Dadar ...
Do.
do. at Naigaum Road ...
Do.
do. at Churney Road
Do. 28 rooms on Tardeo Flats
Do, huts at Elphinstone Bridge Camp.
Extending Nurses quarters at Modikhana Hospital
Renewing Camps at Narielwady
Erecting Segregation Camps at Mahim ...
Do.
do.
do. at Dadar
Do. additional huts at the Goculdas Tejpal Camp ...
Re-erecting health camps at Chowpaty
Do.
Dhobis camps at Arthur Road
Erecting hundred huts at Byculla for Julahis
Converting a portion of the Verandah into two bath rooms
at Government House, Parel
Making certain alterations and repairs to the Bungalow at
Government House, Parel
Re-erecting camps at Cruikshank Road
Erecting camps at Moreland Road...
...
Constructing additional huts at Vital Sayana Camp
Erecting sheds at Vincent Road ...
Renewing matting of the Nurses quarters at Arthur Road..
Repairing the foot-paths leading to the Nurses quarters at
the Modikhana Hospital...
Erecting chawls for Hindus at Byculla, and erecting huts at
Renewing the Northbrook Garden Camps
Carried forward
Amount.
Rs.
346
218
2,262
177
2,131
1,923
61
2
247
432
252
21
31
8
374
7
2
23
746
40
11
333
81
9,740
a.
10
13
14
7
13
7
12
10
10
6
4
2
8
5
2
14
4
4
11
13
14
4
6
6
P.
0
0
9
4
8
4
6
0
6
10
1
0
6
0
3
0
0
0
0
5
0
'0 5
7
121
RECEIPTS and EXPENDITURE
on Plague Camps during the year ending 31st May 1901.
Month and Date.
Receipts.
Brought over
Total
Amount.
Rs, a, p,
51,990 15 3
5!,090 15 3
Expenditure.
Brought over
Do.
do. at Kennedy Sea Face, and Cruickshank Road
Do, 8 rooms for the accommodation for coolies, &c, employed on
different health camps at Marine Lines ..
Constructing a store sited and an office room at the Pathare Prabhn
Whitewashing Lady Nurses quarters at the Modikhana Hospital
Repairing the do.
do.
do
do.
Railway passes to time-keepers employed on different health camps
Drainage connections to different health camps in the Island of Bombay
Water connections to different health camps in the Island of Bombay ...
Unexpended balance refunded to Government as per the Accountant
General's letter No. T A P-1892 / 29-3-1901
Total payment up to 31st May, 1901
Balance in hand on 31st May, 1901
Total
Amount.
Rs. a. p.
9,740 6 7
150 8 0
817 0 0
24 1 8
10 15 5
20 12 11
780 5 0
54 2 0
4,977 10 1
8,903 12 3
25,485 10 5
23,000 0 0
48,485 10 5
3,511 4 10
51,990 15 3
NOTE :—In addition to this sum Rs. 3,09G-9-7 have been paid from 1st June 1901 to 27th June 1901 and bills for Rs. 100 arc under audit.
Total receipts per account made up to 31st May 1899. Rs. 60,000 0 0
1900. „
Add :—Credit per account made up to 31st May 1901 as above ...
Total expenditure per account made up to 31st May 1899
1900
1901
90,000 0 0
-Es.
.,
,,
... .,
1,50,000
8,365
59,258
47.109
48,485
0
4
11
9
10
0
2
11
0
5
Es.
-Rs.
Balance Rs.
1,58,365
1,54,853
3,511
1 2
15 4
4 10
31
122
CHAPTER VI.
DISCRETIONAL RELIEF.
The origin o£ the Discretional Relief Fund, its purposes and the
methods o£ its distribution have been very fully described in previous
annual reports.
The decrease in the total amount of expenditure on Discretional Re-
lief this year can only be accounted for by the abolition of compulsory
measures.
Mr. Lund's
Report.
Mr. Lund most kindly continued to look after the distribution of the
fund in the three principal hospitals—the Arthur Road, Mahratta and
Modikhana—and his report is given below :—
Total for Three Hospitals.
Convalescents...
Contacts
Clothing, Biscuits, Fruits, etc
Rs. 1,682
4
„
49 10
„ 1, 985
8
Rs. 3,617 G
0
:3
0
3
I have dispensed the Fund upon the same lines as in previous years by which much
distress has been relieved and the lot of the unfortunate sufferers greatly alleviated.
Typical cases of severe distress have again come under notice which it is not necessary
to recapitulate in detail.
Contacts have not been sent to the hospital camps since February last, and removal
to hospital no longer being compulsory there has been much less demand upon the Fund
this year.
Voluntary admissions still continue numerous.
The supply of clothing, biscuits, fruits, etc., and the money given on leaving, to
provide the means of obtaining immediate food and shelter are very greatly appreciated.
Having been a constant visitor to the hospitals for more than 2 years, I may be per-
mitted perhaps to bear testimony to the devotion and zeal in the discharge of their duties
and great kindness which the nurses show to the patients.
This also in a great measure no doubt contributes to removing the prejudice against
hospitals, which is to a great extent dying out.
GEORGE LUND,
Official Plague Hospital Visitor.
Below is a statement showing the amounts expended by the various
officers to whom advances were entrusted :—