NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
291
The Medical Officer, Dr. Klie'r, worked from January to April 1900. He was suc-
ceeded by H. A. Girdliarlal D. Vyas, who was in March last appointed as Kedident
Medical Officer and has been working as auoh till now. Two roir.pounders were-
engaged from January to April ] POO, after which time one was discharged on ac-
count of the abatement of plague. The other compouncler was discharged by thĈ
ommitttee at the instance of Dr. E. L. Hunt in May last, after which time H. A.
Girdharlal D. Vyas discharged the duties of the compounder in addition to his own.
The hospital is situated in a thickly populated locality—Kamatipura \ it con-
sists of a one storied building built of stone. It was formerly used as a Dharamsata
for the Telungus whose marriages were celebrated there. It is 46 feet by 35 feet,
It has 8 plague wards, 1 observation ward, 4 convalescent wards, 1 contact shed, 1
cook-room and store-room, and 1 dead-room outside the hospital. Four of the tf
plague wards are on the ground floor and the other four are- on the- 1st floor.
Patients i'n dangerous state of health were kept in tho wards on the- ground floor. The
tipper floor has also- a verandah on which ai*rangements for the dispensary were made.
Two beds are generally placed in a ward.
To the east of tire hospital are a contact shed and 4 convalescent wards erected
on the municipal ground. The contact shed was used only for the goods and chat-
tels of the contacts who were taken to the Balaram Camp. Close by the hospital
' there is a Government Girls' School in which, accommodation was found for tin?
Resident Medical Officer..
Behind the' girls'" school there are two latrines which are cleaned by the
sweepers. Each has one-seat. The sewage and waste water are carried away by
the underground drain. Phenyle water is used for clean ing the latrines.
The clothes of the patients- are saturated in carbolic lot-ion before they are sent
with the bhungis to the steam disinfecting station at Northbrook Gardens. After
the clothes are received from the disinfecting station they are given to dhobies for
washing.
The-water-supply is derived from the pipe which supplies-the city of Bombay.
The hospital wards and the building are disinfected twice a day with a
solution of phenyle after whieh they are limewashed. The clothes were sent to the
disinfecting station many a time and were kept for about an hour or an hour and a-
half each time.
The funeral of pauper patieu-'s was performed by the Committee who defrayed
the necessary charges.
The staff, of the hospital did not suffer from any illness,
TABLE I.:—Total Admissions during the. yeai 1 .
Months.
Juno
1899
,luly
August
September ,
October
November
December
January 1! JO
February
March
April
M >iy
Plague..
3
G
12
10
o
->
15-
10
o5
40
42
12
i
Eclapsing.
Fever.
• ••• ..
1
1
1
•
Observation 1
cases, including
all general
diseases.
3
1
2
u
7
6
1
1
Total.
3
G
ir>
10
4
2
18
17
39
47
48
13
292
Largest number of admissions during the week 10th March to 17th March 1000
was 17.
Largest number of admissions was on the following days :—
28th February 1900
5
llth March 1900
6
Total number of deaths
during the year.
174
•Total number of deaths
from Plague.
158
Percentage of deaths to
admissions.
76-31
Largest number of deaths took place on the following days;—19th December
1?99, and 14th April 1900, and 26th April 1900.
TABLE II.
—
Plague
...
Relapsing Fever
Observation and other diseases.
Total...
Admissions.
202
2
24
228
Deaths.
154
2
18
174
Recoveries.
48
V
G
54
Percentage
of mortality.
76-2
100
33'3
TABLE III.
Months.
.lime 1899
'"Inly
„
August „
September ,,
October ,.
November,,
December ,,
January 1900
February ,,
March
,,
April
„
'...
May
„
Total
admissions.
3
G
15
16
*
2
1G
17
39
47
48
15
Died
within
2i bxrars.
1
5
7
1
6
6
5
10
is
2
Died
within
48 hoars.
2
4
G
7
2
1
G
7
23
24
28
8
Total
Deaths.
2
5
11
14
2
2
12
13
28
34
41
10
Total
Recoveries.
1
1
4
2
2
...
4
4
11
18
7
5
Percentage
of Deaths.
66-6
83-3
73'3
87-5
50
100
75'
7G-4
71-7
82'9
85-4
GG-G
TABLE IV.
—
Males
Females
Children
..
Total
admissions.
Ill
72
45
Deaths.
93
52
29
Recoveries.
18
20
1G
Percentage
of Deaths.
83-78
72-08
G2-22
293
TABLE V.— Table showing the Mortality for the Year among Sexes and Children.
•Total mortality
for the year.
174
Mortality amongst
men.
93
Mortality amongst
women.
52
Mortality amongst
Children under 12 years.
29
TABLE VI.—Sliowing the Situation of Buboes.
Situation.
Oervical
Parotid
Eight axillary
Left axillary
Eight femoral
Left femoral
Right inguinal ...
Left inguinal
•Other situations ...
No buboes
Multiple buboes ...
Total No.
of cases.
2
5
17
21
28
30
31
32
2
28
6
Males.
1
2
8
11
18
22
•21
20
1
15
2
Females.
1
3
9
10
10
8
10
32
1
13
4
Mortality.
2
3
14
21
19
24
23
25
1
18
4
RecoverieB.
...
2
3
0
•9
6
8
7
1
10
2
Percentage of
Mortality.
100
60
82-35
100
67*85
80
74*19
78-12
50
64'2 S
66'6C
TABLE VIL
Nil.
TABLE VIII.
Nil.
No routine line of treatment was adopted and every case was treated aocordiut
o the symptoms present.
Patients in a collapsed condition were treated with stimulants, vis., aether
digitalis, strychnine, brandy, ammonia, and strophantus, some hypodermically and
sometimes by the mouth. Nutritive enemas were given.
Buboes were generally femoral and axillary, and appeared on the 2nd. 3rd,
und 4th day of the outset. Very few glands subsided, most suppurated between 8
and 12 days.
Convalescence lasts from 4 to 6 weeks.
In conclusion allow me to say that it will be improper and unjustifiable to
forget the pains and interest taken and assistance rendered by Lieut. French
and Capt. Chichester, District Officers, in the promotion of the hospital affairs,
-and for their kindness towards the Committee Members and the hospital staff who
worked very satisfactorily.
GIRDHAELAL D. VYAS,
Resident Medical Officer,
Telungu Fever Hospital.
294
No,, 30.
S. S. Colaba Plague Hospital.
Opened 20th December 1899 (dosed 30tfA April 1900);
With reference to the S. S. Colaba Plague Hospital, has the honour to re-
port that, the charts of the cases have been counted and carefully scrutinised. The
following data is considered accurate :—
Admissions
Plague
Observation.
240
203
87
died
„
,,
139
]3fi
3
recovered
,
..
101
(57
:i4
2. Medicines, hospital clothing and furniture were supplied by the Munici-
pal authorities.
3. The payment of staff and servants, the payment of all foods and clothing,
for discharged patients, were paid out of charity funds collected for this purpose.
4. The hospital was completely built and paid for out of charity funds.
5.. The information given in this office No.. 3173, dated 19th September 1900,
was given to this office during June of this year. His figures,, 276 admissions mid
186 deaths, do not appear correct,-but tally with the figures of the year 1898-1809.
G, The above figures in para. 1 have been taken from the charts of the patients,,
and unless some are missing are absolutely correct, as they are all brought up to-
date and signed. It is regretted by tho Committee that the register is not avail-
able, but the doctor has left Bombay and the Secretary has gone to Simla. The-
records were sent to the latter by the Acting Secretary nearly two months ago,,
but no reply has oeen received..
B. LOCH, Capt,,
District Officer, A W'ard.
THE EXPERIMENTS
WITH
LUSTIGKS SERUM
During the year under Report.
297
The experiments with Lustig's Serum during the yea?
under report.
In continuation of my Report last year on Lustig's Serum, it will be seen that
I had determined to carry on the alternative system with this serum. Nearly 5CO
cases have been treated on either side now, and the results fully justify the favourable
opinion formed concerning the value of this method of treatment compared with any
other form at present kilo\vn. I think we may infer that the' experimental stage is
paat.
The experiments on the alternative method of treatment were began in May
1899, and the reports from the Arthur Road Hospital for each month are given as
follows :—•
No, 614 OF Slu. JUNE 1899.
To
THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER,
SIR,—I have the honour to forward herewith a report and return of the cases
treated with Professor Lustig's Serum in May 1899.
2. The total number of cases treated was 17, of whom 9 died and 8 recovered,
giving a mortality rate of 52*94 per cent., as against 69*23 per cent, amongst those
not similarly treated. The results show a difference of 10*29 per cent, in favour of
the cases treated with the serum.
3. The cases were divided in the following series :—
Series.
XI*
xnt
Horse No.
1
4
Bleeding,
Second
No.
15
2
17
Died.
8
1
9
Recovered.
7
1
8
I have, &o.,
N. H, CHOKSY,
Medical Officer in charge, Arthur Eoad Hospital.
CONSIDERED—Letter from the Commissioner, No. P.—4560, dated the 22nd
July 1899—Forwarding, for the information of the Corporation, the following state-
ment of plague cases treated with Professor Lustig's serum by Khan Bahadur
Dr. N. H. Choksy, at the Arthur Road Hospital during the month of June 181)9.
Four cases were treated with the serum, out of these 3 died and 1 recovered,
13 oases were not so treated, and out of these 11 died and 2 recovered.
No. 837 OF 1899.
ARTHUR ROAD HOSPITAL,
BOMBAY,
August 1899.
FROM THE MEDICAL OFFICER,
IN CHARGE, ARTHUR ROAD HOSPITAL,
To THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER.
SIR,—I have tho honour to submit the following report on cases of plague
treated with Professor Lustig's serum at the Arthur Road Hospital during July
1899:—
1. There were 48 admissions during the month, but as in 6 of these, the
diagnosis could not be determined during life, observations were made on 42 patients
only. Twenty-one cases were treated with the serum, and 21 by ordinary methods.
The patients were taken alternately in the order of admission.
• Completed,
f To be continued.
298
2. The cases treated with the serum were divided into 2 sets : the first com-
prised C cases, and the second 15. The serum used in the former was from the
second bleeding of horse No. 4, whereas that used in the latter, was a portion of that
prepared by Dr. Galleotti in February last for the Indian Plague Commission, and
which had been left unutilized. It was found to have become considerably dete-
riorated and the results given by it have not been so satisfactory as by the former.
fj. In the first set of 6 cases treated with the serum, 2 died and 4 recovered
whereas amongst thoso not so treated, there were 5 deaths and 1 recovery only.
In the second set of 15 cases the serum cases had 11 deaths and 4 recoveries,
as against 9 deaths and 6 recoveries in the non-serum cases. Besides the fact that
the serum used was old and deteriorated, the non-serum cases had the advantage of
'2 patients that had Haffkine prophylactic inoculation less than 5 months ago, and
both of thorn recovered, as against one such case only amongst the serum cases. On
the other hand there were amongst the latter three imported cases from Poona, of a
malignant type, all of whom died.
4. The observation may be summarised as follows :—
Serum Cases — Horse No. 4.
(2nd bleeding) ...
Old Serum
Non-serum Cases...
No.
6
15
—
21
No.
21
Died.
2
11
— 13
Died.
14
Recovered.
4
4
, —
8
Recovered.
7
I have, &c.,
K. H. CHOKSY,
Medical Officer in charge, Arthur Boad Hospital.
No. 942 OF 19TH SEPTEMBER 1899.
To THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER.
SIR,—I have the honour to submit the following report on cases of plague
treated with Professor Lustig's serum, at the Authur Road Hospital, during August
1399.
1. As there were only 30 admissions from plague, 15 cases were treated with
the serum, and 15 by ordinary methods, every alternate case having been injected
with the serum.
2. The serum cases were divided into three series; these comprised 1, 6 and
8 cases, respectively, in each. In the former two the old serum referred to in the
report for July, was used ; in the last, fresh serum, prepared from the 3rd bleeding
of horse No. 5, was used. The results were as follows :—
Series XITI j Old serum, Horse No. 5 "1
Series XIV \ (3rd bleeding.)
J
Series XV
...
.,.
Total ...
No.
1
6
8
15
Died.
1
5
6
12
Recovered.
1
2
3
3. Of the 15 cases not treated with the serum, 9 died and 6 recovered. Two
of the recoveries were in cases that were rather doubtful; and, although they were
299
included as plague from some clinical features, no confirmatory evidence could b0
obtained as to their nature.
4. Among the serum cases there were 7 moribund patients (including one of
pneumonic plague), and all of whom died as against only two such, which also
ended fatally, in those not so treated. Thus it appears that even in a small series
of 15 cases, the results have become considerably vitiated by the inclusion of 5 mori-
bund cases in those treated with the serum.
I have, &c.,
N. H. CHOKSY,
Medical Officer in charge, Arthur Road Hospital.
No. 1046 OF 17TP OCTOBER 1899.
To
THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER
for the City of Bombay.
SIB,—I have the honour to submit the following report on cases of plague
treated with Professor Lustig^s serum, at the Arthur Road Hospital during September
1899 :—
1. The total admissions during the month numbered 38 ; 17 cases were treat-
ed with the serum and 17 by ordinary methods. Every alternate case being taken
for serum. Of the rest, 1 case died before he could be seen by the Medical Officer;
and the three cases belonged to tbat peculiar type of plague which is characterised
by the absence of apparent buboes, or any affections of the internal organs, and in
which diagnosis is not possible unless the patient dies or recovers. Bacteriological
examination and cultures have repeatedly failed to reveal the nature of the cases, and
it is only by the temperature of the curves, which are typical of plague, and other
symptoms that the cases are ultimately recognised as such. Two of these cases
died, and one recovered under ordinary treatment.
2. The serum cases were divided into 2 series ; in the first series 8 cases were
treated and of these 5 died and 3 recovered ; in the second series there were 9
cases and of these 4 died and 5 recovered : —
Series XV
Series XVI
No.
... 8
... 9
17
Died.
5
4
9
Recovered.
3
5
8
3. Of the 17 casea not treated \vith the serum, 16 died and 1 recovered.
4. On analysing the nature of the cases, it is seen that, amongst the serum
cases, there were 4 moribund and 1 convalescent patients, as against 6 moribund in
the non-serum cases ; so that the former had an advantage over the latter of 2 less
moribund and 1 convalescent.
5. The results may be summed up as follows :—
Serum Cases
Non-serum Cases
No.
... 17
... 17
Died.
9
16
Recovered.
8
1
300
6. The figures of the report for August require correction, as one GAse amongst
those not treated with the serum that was taken as cured died subsequently, so that
the revised figure would he :—
Serum Cases
Non-serum Cases
No.
... 15
.,. 15
Died.
12
10
Recovered,
3
5
I have, &c,,
N. H. CHOKSY,
Medical Officei; in charge, Arthur Road Hospital,
Considered the following :—
No. 9240 OF 1899-1900,
MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE,
BOMBAY, 23nZ JVovemler 1899.
To
THB MUNICIPAL SECRETARY.
SIR,—I have the honour to forward herewith a copy of the report from
Khan Bahadur Dr. N. H. Choksy ahout the cases of plague treated by him at the
Arthur Road Hospital during the month of Octoher 1899 with Professor Lustig's
serum as prepared in Bombay.
I have, &c.,
W. L. HARVEY,
Municipal Commissioner,
No. 1114 OF 1899.
ARTHUR ROAD HOSPITAL,
BOMBAY, 16th November 1899.
FROM THB MEDICAL OFFICER,
Arthur Road Hospital,
To THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER
for the City of Bombay,
SIR,—I have the honour to submit the following report on cases of plagoe
treated with Professor Lustig's serum at the Arthur Road Hospital during October
1899.
1. The total admissions during the month numbered 58 ; of these, 26 cases
were treated with the serum and 25 by ordinary methods, every alternate case being
injected. Of the rest, there was one doubtful case which recovered, and six others
were cases of the same nature as described in the report for last month, viz.—
Without apparent buboes or pneumonia, and from these five died and one
recovered.
2. The serum cases were divided into two series : in the first, 15 cases were
treated and of these 12 died and 3 recovered ; in the second, there were 11 cases
and of these 9 died and 2 recovered,
Series XVI
Series XVII
No.
... 15
... 11
26
Died.
12
9
21
Recovered.
3
2
5
3. Of the 25 cases not treated with the serum*, 21 died and 4 recovered.
301
4. The serum cases included 11 moribund and one convalescent case, as
•against 8 moribund and 1 convalescent in the non-serum cases.
3. The result may be stated as follows :—
No,
Serum Cases
... 26
Non-serum Cases... 25
Died.
21
21
Recovered,
5
•i
I have, &c.,
N. H. CHOKSY,
Medical Officer in charge, Arthur Road Hospital.
No. 1259 OF 1899.
ARTHUR ROAD, 20«7i December 1899.
To
THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER
for the City of Bombay,
SIB,—I have the honour to submit the following report on cases of plagne
treated with Professor Lustig's serum, at the Arthur Road Hospital during November
1899.
There were 31 admissions from plague during the month, and of these 15 were
treated with the serum and 16 by ordinary methods. Every alternate case was
injected with the serum.
Of the former 10 died and 5 recovered, whereas the non-serum cases had 12
deaths and 4 recoveries.
The serum cases included 7 moribund and 1 convalescent patients, as against 5
moribund and 3 convalescents, in the non-serum,
The result for the month may be stated as follows:—
No.
Serum Cases
Non-serum Cases ....
15
16
Died.
10
12
Recovered.
5
4
As one of the non-serum cases included amongst those recovered in the October
-report died during the month, the results for that month would stand thus:—
No.
Serum Cases
... 26
Non-serum Cases... 25
Died.
21
22
Recovered.
5
3
A table giving the particulars of the patients treated in November is herewith
attached as usual,
I have, &c.,
N. H. CHOKSY,
Chief Medical Officer in charge, Arthur Road Hospital.
No. 102 OF 1900.
To
THB MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER
for the City of Bombay.
SIR,—I have the honour to submit the following report on cases of plague
treated with Professor Lustig's serum at the Arthur Road Hospital during the
month of December 1899.
302
1. The total number of plague patients admitted during December 189$
was 56. Of tliese 25 were treated with the serum and 25 by ordinary methods,
every alternate case having been injected with the serum. Of the rest 4 patients
suffered from plague without buboes or pneumonia and in whom diagnosis could
not be verified till after death. One was a case of pneumonic plagTie that died
before the disease could be diagnosed, and there was one doubtful case that
recovered.
2. Of the 25 serum treated cases 13 died and 12 recovered, whereas the
non-serum cases had 23 deaths and 2 recoveries only.
3. The former included 4 moribund and 1 convalescent cases, as against 6
moribund and I convalescent in the latter.
4. The results for the month IT ay be stated as follows ;—
No.
Serum cases
4 Non-serum cases...
25
25
Died.
13
23
Recovered.
12
2
Percentage of
mortality.
52-00
92-00
5. The observations with the alternate system now total 284 cases—142 serum
cases, and 142 treated by ordinary methods. Of the former, 93 have died and 49
recovered, whereas the latter shows 112 deaths and 30 recoveries.
Serum cases
Non-serum cases
No.
... 142
... 142
Died.
93
112
Recovered.
49
SO
Percentage of
mortality.
65-49
78-87
6. If, however, the 45 moribund cases that died and 6 convalescent that re-
covered in the serum cases be excluded from comparison, and so also the 39 moribund
that died and H convalescent that recovered in the non-serum cases, the results
would be as follows :—
Serum cases
Non-serum cases
No.
... 91
... 92
Died;
48
73
Recovered.
43
19
Percentage of
mortality.
52-74
79-34
The usual tables showing the details of the cases treated with the serum during
December are herewith appended.
I have, &o.,
N. H. OHOKSY,
Medical Officer In charge, Arthur Road Hospital.
No. 348 OF 19iH FEBRUARY 1900.
To
THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER
for the City of Bombay.
SIR,— I have the honour to submit the following report on cases of plagna
treated with Professor Lustig's serum at the Arthur Road Hospital, during January
1900 :—
The admissions from plague numbered 120 during the month. Every alternate
case was treated with the serum, except two cases of pneumonic plague in whom
diagnosis could not be verified till after death.
303
Of the 59 cases treated with the serum, 38 died and 21 recovered, giving a
mortality rate of 64'40 per cent.
Of the 59 cases not so treated, 44 died and 15 recovered, giving a mortality
rate of 74*57 per cent.
The serum cases included 17 moribund and 6 convalescent cases, and the non-
serum 18 moribund and 6 convalescent; the moribunds and convalescents were thus
pretty nearly equal in both series.
If these be excluded from comparison, the results show a mortality rate of
58*33 per cent, for the serum cases, as against 74'20 per cent, for the non-serum.
The tables showing the details of the cases treated with the serum have been
appended with the report as usual.
I have, &c.,
N. H. CHOKSY,
Medical Officerun charge, Arthur Road Hospital,
No. 526 OF 16-m MARCH 1900.
To
THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER
for the City of Bombay.
SIR,—I have the honour to submit the following report on cases of plague
treated with Professor Lustig's serum at the Arthur Road Hospital, during February
1900;—
1. The total number of admissions from plague was 177 cages—86 of these
were treated with the serum alternately with 85 by ordinary method, leaving 6 extra
cases only. Of these, one was transferred to another hospital soon after admission,
at the request of the patient's friends ; 3 were cases of plague without bnboes or
pneumonia that could not be diagnosed till after death ; and 2 died before they
could be put under proper treatment.
2. The serum cases were divided into four series, and their results 3 as well
as those of the controls of each series, were as follows:—
XXI (completed)
XXII
„
XXIII
XXIY (bo be completed)
Hofse No
1
5 (4th bleeding)
l(4th
„ )
...
3(4fch
„ )
...
8 (1st
„ )
...
Serum cases.
No.
5
35
25
21
86
Died.
4
25
17
17
63
Recov-
ered.
1
10
8
4
23
Control Cases.
No. 1 Died.
5
35
25
20
85
4
33
19
12
68
Recov-
ered.
1
2
6
8
' 17
3. The mortality of serum cases was, therefore, 73'25 per cent, as against 80*00
in those not so treated.
4. The serum cases included 6 convalescent patients, and 26 moribund, whei'fl-
as the non-serum cases had 5 convalescents and 31 moribund.