NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
55
A. R. Hospital, where he succumbed the next day. When in the ambulance, it was
most pitiful to see how the man begged to be inoculated and he firmly believed it
was the only means of saving his life. This was enough for the moehies : from that
day they were advocates for inoculation. The Mhars and other low caste Hindus
followed in their steps. With great difficulty a few Mahomedans were inoculated.
Previous to December it was difficult to get a woman or child to be inoculated.
Since then it has been the reverse, and 'if a comparative list be taken the women and
children will be found to predominate since that month.
In Kharatalao and Bhuleshwar successful meetings were held at the
residences of Khan Sahib Hassan Ali Mulla Hakimji, Mr. Abdul AH
Karimbhoy, Mr. Nurbhai Budhabhai, and Mr. Govindji Ramji, and an
unsuccessful meeting at the house of Mr. Badrudin Abdulla Kur. At
these meetings the District Officer and his assistant, with the Sectional
Medical Officer, Doctor Munshi, endeavoured to convince the audiences
of the value of the prophylactic, and various private individuals assisted
both by precept and example,
In concluding this account of the work done in the Central District,
a copy of the Resolutions passed at a meeting of the Anjuman-i-Islam
is attached :—
RESOLUTION No. 1.
Proposed by Dr. Ismail Jan Mahomed, seconded by Khan Bahadur Hakim
Mahomed Dyem, and supported by Khan Saheb Dr. Fazal Ahmed—
That in the opinion of this meeting the beneficial results of inoculation have
been proved by science and confirmed by experience, and that it is the duty of all
people possessing influence to exercise their influence for the purpose of encouraging
inoculation amongst the masses of the inhabitants of Bombay.
RESOLUTION No. II.
Proposed by Mr. Ibrahim Rahimtula, seconded by Mr. Maulvi Abdulla
Ahmed, and supported by Mr. Maulvi Hidayatula—
That with a view to encourage inoculation it is recommended that a special
request be made by the Anjuman-i-Islam of Bombay to the religious heads of the
various Mussalman Communities, to the Mutawallis of the various-mosques, to the
teachers of the various schools, to the Mussalman landlords, and to the employers oí'
labour, to induce their followers, devotees, pupils, tenants, and workmen and ser-
vants, to resort to inoculation as the best means of escaping from plague.
RESOLUTION No. III.
Proposed by Khan Bahadur Mahomed Hussein Hakim, and seconded by
Mr. Haji Yusuf Haji Ismail—
That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that every person effectively
inoculated should be furnished with a certificate, on the back of which should be
endorsed the exemptions and privileges to which he is entitled under the Resolution
of Government, such as freedom from detention, segregation, and quarantine, &c.,
&c.
(Sd.) B. TYABJI.
59
inoculated. In no part of the district was success more assured than in the big
chawls of Karwar Street and Kochin Street and in some places in Frere Road.
In these parts Mr. N. N. Guzdar was the agent ; he worked indefatigably
and has done so consistently the whole year. His work has been invaluable, and
it is to inoculation that I attribute the few cases of plague that have occurred
in these chawls this year.
Of those who have given me assistance in inoculation the following are most
noticeable :—
*Mr. N. .N. Guzdar.
Mr. Damodhar Gordhandas, J.P.
Mr. Mody.
*Khan Sahib Faridudin.
*Khan Bahadur Patel.
*AIr. Mahomed Ebrahim.
Mr. Crawford.
Mr. Harischander.
*Mr. Merwanjee.
*Mr. K. B. Cama.
*The Manager, Watson's Hotel.
Major Stanley Smith.
*Mr. Volkart.
*The Manager, Treacher & Co.
*The Head Master, Elphinstone High School.
O. C. Colaba Depot.
*P. M. O. Colaba.
O. C. Arsenal.
I mark with an asterisk the names of those who met with the greatest success.
Contributions—As time went on it was found that 4 annas was not sufficient com-
pensation to the working classes, that the subsequent action of inoculation was to cause
at least 3 days' fever and local pain, which quite incapacitated workmen.
From October 1899 appeals were made to charity to add to the Government
grant by an issue of rice. This has been met with great success. The first attempt
on a large scale was made in this district by Lieut. C. H. B. Adams-Wylie, I.M.S.,
and his wife, who generously came forward and started a station on the Esplanade
for beggars and destitute people.
Their scheme was to give one seer of rice to
each person inoculated by Lieut. Adams-Wylie. They met with the greatest success
and fed and inoculated no less than 100 persons a day. At first they fed the people
for 3 days on a daily ration, but, as the numbers increased so rapidly, reduced the
ration to a single day. I cannot speak too highly of the conscientious way in which
Mrs. Adams-Wylie took her share of the work. The expense incurred by them musí,
have reached Rs. 1,000 in all. Unfortunately Lieut. Adams-Wylie was ordered to
South Africa and has since died of enteric fever in that country. In all 7,577
people were inoculated by him, aided by Dr. Tuke and Dr. Haddock. On the
departure of Lieut. Adams-Wylie the station was continued till 1st April on
the same scale, kept up by charity supplies of rice, and a ration was issued
on the same scale, Dr. Tuke and Dr. Twigg lending their services on the Munici-
pal remuneration scale of Re. 1 for 10 persons inoculated. I obtained funds to pay
for this rice issue in every direction. Amongst the chief subscribers were Sir Dinshaw
Petit, an anonymous subscription, Mr. N. N. Guzdar's mother, Mr. Damodhar
Gordhandas, and some of the leading grain-sellers of the Fort. In a similar manner.
I obtained supplies for the other inoculation stations of this district, Frere Boad, and
Colaba Section.
60
B. Ward,
South.
Elsewhere similar efforts were made. IQ B. Ward, South, the first
attempts were not encouraging. On 2nd October 1899, Lt. Brackenbury
wrote :—
" I have tried inoculating contacts, but with very little success ; the feeling at
" present is very strong against inoculation. In Koliwada I inoculated one of my
" coolies in the presence of some Koli fisher people, and then asked them to be inocu-
" lated. One man came forward and was quite willing, but his womenfolk rushed up
" and tried to take him away. But he persisted, when the women became so frantic
" that I did not think it wise to detain him. Two or three days later I was speaking
" to the heads of these very same kolis and they said they had been thinking about
" it, but had now quite given up the idea."
Strange as it may seem, these illiterate people were influenced in
their decision, as they said themselves, by the publication of anti-in-
oculation articles in the Native Press. Lt. Brackenbury was very hope-
ful that the production of a wheat serum, and the extension of the pri-
vilege of exemption from detention to Cutch—the home of so many of
the high-caste Hindus in Mandvi—would enable him to induce the
leaders of the various castes, and then gradually the whole population,
to accept inoculation. A wheat serum was produced, but the religious
objections to the ordinary serum had by that time died a natural death ;
the privilege of exemption was also extended to Cutch : but neither of
these factors produced any real effect.
A large meeting of Lohanas, Banias, &c., was held in Mandvi
about October 15th, under the presidency of Rao Bahadur Vassanji
Khimji. It was eloquently addressed by Dr. Ismail Jan Mohamed and
Rao Bahadur Vassanji Khimji; and at the conclusion of it some 132
persons were inoculated, including Rao Bahadur Vassanji Khimji, Rao
Bahadur Karamsi Damji, Rao Bahadur Keshawji Nathu Saelor, Dr.
Dosabhai Sethna ; but the meeting bore but little fruit and among the
Bania, Bhatia, and Lohana castes of Mandvi only about 20 operations
were performed during the year.
Rather more success was attained among the coolies working in the
godowns and docks ; these men earn from as. 12 to Re. 1 per diem ;
their work is heavy manual labour, and, as the local reaction and stiff-
ness of the arm after inoculation was likely to incapacitate them for
one or two days, it was expected that no large number would come
forward : the oifer of 4 as. by way of compensation being obviously
inadequate. Various gentlemen, however, contributed grain as an
additional inducement. Among them may be mentioned Rao Bahadur
K. N. Saelor, Rao Bahadur Karamsi Damji, Rao Bahadur Vassanji
Khimji, Rao Sahib Vassanji Trikamji, Rao Sahib Gopaldas Khushaldas,
and Messrs. Keshavji Kooverji, Morarji Nensi, Ranchordas Vandravandas,
Purshotam Rutiansi, and Dharsi Khetsi. The District Officer, with
Dr. Mathai, used to visit the docks three times a week and al-
together over 5,000 labourers were inoculated. The offer of grain
collected beggars from all parts of the city and was eventually dis-
continued.
61
The Mahomedans of this district, as elsewhere, maintained that
inoculation was against their religion and would have none of it.
Khan Saheb David Solomon had a most successful meeting among
the Beni-Israel community, of which 100 people were inoculated. On
this occasion the Khan Saheb gave to every person who came forward
one rupee.
B. Ward,
North.
Captain Brownrigg interested himself in B. Ward, North and at a
successful public meeting in Dongri on 1st October, where a crowded
audience was addressed by Dr. Sir Bhalchandra Krishna, Dr. Ismail Jan
Mohamed and others, 28 people, including Rao Sahib Balkrishna Bbivaji,
Messrs. G. Moses, Jacob Moses, Shivram Vithal, and Morarji Krishnaji,
were inoculated, and the proceedings were only terminated by darkness.
A similar meeting was held shortly afterwards in Umarkhari. Rao Baha-
dur Y, C. Vandekar exerted his influence in the matter and was most
helpful; whi]e Rao Bahadur K. N. Saelor, Sirdar Casim Haji Mitha,
Khan Saheb Saleh Mohamed Ibrahim, and Rao Sahib Balkrishnaji Bhi-
vaji greatly assisted the movement by contributions of grain and cloth
to tempt the backward. A few lotteries with small prizes of grain and
cloth were also held with fairly successful results. The volunteers
generally did their best in the matter, and on Nowroji Hill, North and
South, Rao Saheb Balkrishnaji Bhivaji, Messrs. Shivram Yithal
Kandalkar and Gaupat Vithoji, managed to persuade a large number
of the residents to get themselves inoculated. Altogether about 10,000
people were inoculated in this district and about half of these were
people from infected houses.
D. Ward.
D. Ward, where are to be found a large number of educated Hin-
dus, was the most backward of all. No public meetings were held here
and few of the volunteers exerted themselves in the matter ; but Mr.
P. B. Joshi, K. S. G. H. Rogay, Dr. Framji Shapurji, Dr. Ghaswala, and
the two Drs. Naik and Vaid Laxmidas worked hard, visiting various
chawls and mills and endeavouring to persuade the poorer classes of the
value of the protection. Handbills were freely distributed, and Mr. P.
B. Joshi rendered special assistance in writing and translating them
into the vernacular. Among others, Mr. Nanabhai, Manager of the
Petit Mills, and Mr. Muncherji Framji, Managing Trustee of the Irani
Dharmsala, got a number of the people under their control inoculated,
while Mr. Amirudin Tyabji and Mr. Haji Mohamed are bright examples
of landlords who insisted upon the tenants of their chawls protecting
themselves by the prophylactic treatment. In all between 3,000 and
4,000 operations were performed in D. Ward.
B y cull a.
In E. Ward, Byculla, between 8,000 and 9,000 people were
inoculated, the greater part being people from infected houses who
preferred inoculation to going to camp. Mr. James MacDonald,
Rao Bahadur D. H. Barde, and others encouraged waverers by gifts
of grain, and Mr. MacDonald exerted his influence with conspicuous
success in Gujri Bazaar, where he induced 1,291 people to get them·*
62
selves inoculated. Special mention must also be made of the efforts
of Mr. N. Wadia, Manager of the Bomanji Petit Mill in Clerk Road.
He started inoculation on his own initiative among the mill hands,
and no fewer than 1,579 were operated on. No public meetings were
held in Byculla.
Wari Bandar.
In E. Ward, Wari Bandar, between 10,000 and 11,000, mostly
Marathas, were inoculated ; Mr. George Lund, Khan Saheb B. E.
Ashburner, and Sirdars Casim Haji Mitha, and Umar Jumal, materially
contributed to this result by gifts of grain and clothing ; several Mill
Managers did their best to get their mill hands inoculated, and notably
the managers of the Alexander Sassoon and the E. D. Sassoon Mills
offered 3 days' full pay to those of their employes who might be
temporarily incapacitated from work. There is a considerable Goanese
population in this district, but a meeting summoned by the Vicar and
presided over by Dr. Rozario, proved ineffectual to overcome their
reluctance to undergo inoculation. On the other hand, there was
no difficulty in persuading the members of a Chinese Club in
Mazagon.
E. Ward, West
In E. Ward, West, Lieutenant Haworth interested himself greatly
in this matter and was ably assisted by 3 of his volunteers, Messrs.
Desai, Moos, and Daruwala. Constant visits were paid to various chawls
throughout the district, and every endeavour was made to bring the
people round to see the advantages of the prophylactic treatment.
Leaflets were published and employers of labour were approached,
with a view to securing their co-operation. A public meeting was held
under the presidency of Rao Bahadur Ellapa Balaram ; and both the
President and Mr. Narsingrao Saybu, a leading Telagu citizen
addressed those present, strongly advocating the treatment. At the
conclusion of the proceedings Mr. Narsingrao Saybu, Dr. Kapadia, and
some 30 others were inoculated. Lieutenant Haworth was himself
publicly inoculated in the presence of a number of Wagris, Mhars
and Wanjaris in Foras Road, and in this way succeeded in overcoming
their fears and a considerable number of these classes afterwards
underwent the operation. Among those who in this district gave
grain to distribute among the poorer classes, as an inducement to
inoculation, must be mentioned Sirdar Casim Haji Mitha, Rao Bahadur
Ellapa Balaram, Rao Saheb Manuji Ragooji, Rao Bahadur K. N. Saelor
and Messrs. Narsingrao Saybu, Bomanji Shivaji, Appaji Sadarsi,
Mulloo Jilkar, Ragu Babaji, Lowji Meghji, and Vaid Erapa Pattaya.
Sardar Casim Haji Mitha and Rao Saheb Manuji Ragooji also made
gifts of clothing.
F. &-G. Wards.
As regards the remaining District, F. and G. Wards, Captain
Boileau writes as follows :—
The total number of people inoculated in this district from 3rd September to
26th May is 17,733, and I believe I am right in stating this district to be 3rd
highest on the list in numbers inoculated.
63
This success has chiefly been brought about by the following methods :—
1. Public meetings.
2. Individual efforts of Plague Volunteers.
3.
„
„ ,, Staff.
4. Pecuniary and other aid.
5. Touts.
(1). Public meetings were held at Naigaou and Mahim and Parel, and had
excellent results and materially aided the starting of the whole scheme.
(2). Amongst those who are prominent as having used their influence in
getting people inoculated in this Ward are :—
Rao Bahadur V. Khimjee.
Sir Bhalchandra Krishna.
Dr. Jan Mahomed.
Rao Saheb N. Dalvi.
Mr. J. F. Madan.
„ W. R. Jayaker.
„ Purshotam Naranji.
„ Goculdas Naranji.
„ K. N. Mahale.
„ Pragji Dharmaji.
„ N. Moroba.
Munshi Ebrahim Dadoo.
Dr. Dordi.
„ D. A. D'Monte.
„ S. S. Batliwalla.
Mr. Vishwanath Parburam.
Mr. Dossabhoy Maneckjee Wadia, Manager of Century and Textile Mills.
„ Nasarwanji Nowroji Wadia and Staff, Manager of Dinshaw Petit Mills.
Mr. Ratilal Popatlal, Manager, Lord Reay Mills.
,, Thakersi Narayen
„
National Mills.
,, John Ramsden
„
Saraswati Mills.
„ E. H. Barnes
„
Kohinoor Mills.
„ Reid
„
Bombay Dyeing Mills.
(3). The Staff were equally energetic in holding forth on every occasion, when
they could got a few people together, on the beneficial effects of the prophylactic,
and by this means did a great many inoculations. The usual method employed was
—the S. M. O. went to a mill or chawl and asked the manager or bhaya if he could
say a few words to the people. In every case assent has been given, and with
2 or 3 exceptions this method has always been most successful.
Those mills below mentioned have shewn the utmost aversion to allow the
introduction of inoculation into their midst, and this has chiefly been brought about
by the managers and agents.
1. Morarji Goculdas Mill, Suparibag Road.—I visited this mill several times
and endeavoured to bring the people round. I was always greeted with groans on
arrival and departure. The manager was willing, but the agent was very much
against the measure and I could do nothing.
64
2. Jacob Sassoon Mill, opposite to Morarji Goculdas.—Manager was inclined
to be favourable, but the muccadums were against it and I only did one inoculation.
3. Lukhmidas and Queen Mills, Star of India Mills, Gold Mohur Mills, and
many others.—All refused to allow inoculation chiefly on account of the attitude of the
managers.
4. The B. B. & C. I. "Workshops were most marked in their refusal to have
anything to do with the serum. However it is a fact that many people in these
mills were afterwards done in chawls and at sub-divisional offices, and I do not think
that next season we shall have half so much trouble with the mills.
(4) Under the head " Pecuniary and other aids," may be mentioned the four
anuas given by Government and the help received from the Volunteers. Amongst
those prominent in this Ward as having given rice, etc., to aid inoculation are the
names of the following gentlemen, whose assistance in this direction has been of
the greatest value :—
Rao Bahadur V. Khimji.
Rao Saheb N. Dalvi.
Bai Bhikaijee Jehangir Hormusjee.
Mr. Sorabjee Daclabhoy Hormusji.
Khan Saheb Shaik Adam TSsoofTbhoy.
Mr. Jeejibhoy B. D. Jeejibhoy.
„ Nowrojee H. Cooper.
,, Ardesir H. Kaka.
Dr. S. S. Battliwalla.
Mr. R. B. Bhosla.
„ Jetta Maharaj.
Touts have been used to a certain extent in ibis section, and Dr. Tavaria made
good use of one or two men who gathered in many to his inoculation office. In
Naigaon I found one Gopal, a Registration Ramosee, most useful and he brought
many to be inoculated. Elsewhere the practice was not much resorted to, but I
think it is good and shall make more use of it next year,
Inoculation was started in this Ward in the beginning of September 1899, when
Rao Bahadur V. Khimji interested himself in the subject and with the assistance of
his Committee began to preach inoculation to the people of Dadar and Naigaon.
Messrs. Procter, Gawthorn and Barnes, of the Kohinoor Mill, and Messrs.
Purshotam and Goculdas Naranji, of the Union Mill, aided all they could in inducing
their Mill hands to listen, and on the 23rd September a large meeting was held at tho
Union Mill. Bao Bahadur V. Khimji, in the chair, addressed the meeting at great
length and ended his harangue by getting his son inoculated before all, stating he
himself would get inoculated in Mandvi. The effect was so good that about 200
people were done on the spot, including Messrs. Purshotam and Goculdas Naranji,
Mr. Narsi Kesavji and family, Mr. Khetsi Khajasi, Mr. Meghji Khetsi, Mr. Dewji
Khetsi, Mr. Jethabai Narsi, Mr. Screwalla and family, Mr. Jayekar, Mr. Madan,
Mr. M. Vassanjee, Dr. Dadarker, Dr. Bhatt, Mr. B. D. Wacha, Mr. M. D. Wacha
and Mr. Manek Pate!, and other important leaders of the people were inoculated
next day at Rao Bahadur Vassonji Khimji's bungalow.
The next meeting was held at the Kohinoor Mill, when, thanks to the good
example set by Messrs. Procter, Gawthorn and Barnes, agents and manager, about
66
preparation and to satisfy themselves regarding the various objections
raised. This seems a proper place to refer to the immense services
rendered by Dr. Sir Bhalchandra Krishna to the cause of inoculation.
The letters, pamphlets, and lectures published by him constituted a
valuable addition to the literature on the subject. They were translated
into various languages and widely distributed, and they afforded an
armoury of weapons to those who had to meet the arguments of
opponents. His advice \vaa always at the disposal of the Municipal Com-
missioner and the whole weight of his influence was thrown on the side
of the prophylactic treatment. Mention must also be made of Dr. Ismail
Jan Mahomed. He was a constant speaker at the various meetings, and
his wide practice and well-known presence gave additional weight to his
utterances. The services rendered by the numerous other helpers have
already been described. Those of Rao Bahadur Vasanji Khimji,
Dr. C. IT. B. and Mr,. Adams-Wyli?, Mr. N. N. Gazdar, Rao Saheb
Purshotatn Udhowji, Mr. Vassanji Purshotam, Mr. Parbhurani Yaidya
and his son Dr. Poput Parbhuram, Dr. Purshotam Harichand, Dr. P. J.
De Souza, Dr. A. G. Viegas, Messrs. Vasantrao and Wamanrao Nana
Moroba, and Khan Saheb Bhikaji Rattonji Rana, Mr. Sitaram Yeshwant
Dabholkar, Rao Bahadur Dhakhji Kashinath, Dr. Bezonji Kapadia,
Rao Bahadur G. H. Nadkarni, Messrs. Yeshwant Thanaji and Gajanan
Eamchandra, Mr. Lilaunrwala, Mr. Rustomji Merwanji Master, Rao
Saheb Mallooji Narsooji, Rao Saheb Kashinath Moorkar, Rao Saheb Mulji
Narayen, Mr. Yithaldas Jivandas, Rao Saheb D. K. Desai, Khan Saheb
A. F. Moos, Khan Saheb P. C. Daruwalla, Mr. Gopinath Atmaram,
Khan Saheb David Solomon and Sirdar Casim Haji Mitha, Khan Bahadur
Samuel Isaji, Dr. Fazal Ahmed and Mr. C. J. Clark, Khan Bahadur
Hakim Mahomed Dyem, Mr. Abdul Rahirnan, Mr. Mahomed Hussein,
und Khan Bahadur Abdul Razzak bin Curtas, referred to in the preceding
pages, merit bpecial mention.
Inducements
offered,
Apart from the appeal to reason, the inducements offered to the
people were as follows :—
(1) Freedom from eviction.
(2) Four annas, if poor, as compensation for discomfort and inability-
to work.
(3) In cases where pain or fever were abnormal, further assistance was
rendered from the discretional relief funds.
(4) When available, rice and sometimes clothing provided by charity,.
was distributed to the poor at the time of inoculation.
In addition half an anna per head was for the greater part of time
allowed to touts who succeeded in inducing people to come up for
inoculation ; and Government sanctioned the printing of the following
concessions on the back of inoculation passes:—
1. This certificate is effective for six months from date of inoculation,
2. The proper holder is exempted from detention at plague observation camps
except for such period as may be required to disinfect his baggage and clothes if
these are considered suspicious.