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instance, Major Bannerman had spoken of the plague bacilli excreting poisons into
the broth on which they fed. Those who were against inoculation at once took up
the words, and explained them to the natives in their vernaculars so as to still further
poison their minds against inoculation by insinuating that these excretions would
destroy their caste, and inoculation, therefore, be subversive of their religious princi-
ples. In fact, the utmost caution had to be used in dealing with these stories, for there
was in them a mixture of the truth and the lie, a compound that sinks deepest into
the hearts of most people and is the most difficult to eradicate therefore, more
especially amongst the ignorant and less intelligent classes. Again, on the 28th
August 1899, His Excellency Lord Sandhurst presided at another meeting at the
Imperial Laboratory, and hero Major Bannerman explained the process of producing
the prophylactic before a large and very representative audience, gathered together
by the District Officers, from the communities and classes of the people of Bombay.
There were men there reputed millionaires, and there were men there who lived
on eight annas a day, from a Judge of the High Court to a headman of grass-
cutters. The entire company were then taken over the Laboratory for a tour of
inspection, and they were induced by every means to become interested in all they
saw and heard. This demonstration, indeed, formed the foundation of our future
labours, as they could lay to heart all they saw and heard in explanation of the
preparation of the prophylactic and the process of inoculation.
Now that interest had been aroused, it was seen that not a moment was to be
lost in communicating it to the masses of the people in the city. It was necessary
to put all one's heart, soul, and ability into the work. In fact one had to work day
and night; had to be desperately serious about it. It is impossible really to conceive
the difficulties that presented themselves at every turn. It is necessary to know
the people and the state of society of the people to realize them, for in Bombay
we have a greater number and mixture of communities amongst the native
population than, perhaps, any other city in India, Moreover, time was all
important, and since a good opportunity presented itself it was necessary to
take it there and then.
On the 3rd September 1899, therefore, a meeting was held at Muzaffarabad
Hall, under the Presidency of Mr. Justice Budrudin Tyabji, at which almost
every community was represented. The speakers* were laymen, as well as
priests and religious teachers of the people, and well-known native medical
practitioners. As a result ten persons were inoculated in presence of the gathering,
which was the largest and most influential of all the many meetings that followed
afterwards. But the main result was this—that it stirred up the entire native
population of Bombay. In fact, for days and weeks afterwards, inoculation was
the chief topic of conversation. People took up sides on the question : even the
native newspapers joined, adding of course more fuel to the fire than anything
else could have done. In fact the opposition were welcomed and thanked for their
efforts. This meeting was, nevertheless, considered as being a Mahomedan one,
.and Captain Cuppage immediately took the cue, and, straining every nerve and
sinew, promptly gathered together all the Hindus at a meeting, which fairly set
" the ball going ;" with what measure of success may be judged from the fact that,
m about six months afterwards, there had been over a hundred thousand people
inoculated in Bombay.
Following on the heels of these meetings innumerable smaller ones were hold
in all parts of the city. Volunteers came forward and gave the greatest assistance
possible, and nobly aided the District Officers in their efforts. The latter wore,
* Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk Bahadur was the moat important speaker.