NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
35
(i) No train was allowed to leave an inspection station until the
Guard in charge had received a certificate in the following form :—
"To the Guard in charge of Train No.
from
Date
1898.
Time
In accordance with Rule I of the Rules framed under the
Dangerous Epidemic Diseases Act No. III of 1897, I certify that to the
best of my knowledge and belief all persons proceeding by the No.
train from
, whether railway servants or passengers, are
free from Bubonic Plague.
Medical Officer."
(k) A daily return was sent to the Superintendent of Medical Daily returns.
Inspection of Railway Passengers and to the Secretary of the
Plague Committee in the following form :—
No of casos previ-
onsly detained
No of "actual" cases
detained in the
24 hours
No. of "suspected 111
cises detuned in.
the 24 horns.
Total
of 24
houis,
S O
How disposed of.
(l) From Palghar, as there was a hospital there, a daily return
in the following form was sent to the Superintendent, the Secretary
of the Plague Committee, and the Secretary to Government, General
Department :—
STATEMENT showing result of inspection by Medical Staff at
Station from 12 a.m. of
to 12 noon of
ë ?
'S
1
•3
a
o
ta
c
Ö
1
1 Passengers
by
Ul
Trains fiom
2. Passengers
by Down
'] u ms
îi oui
3 Non-fa s -
BODgeiS
¿ i
3 i
1 Nmnbei of íitsh c ises ti
1 etl (lining 24 horns _
2
Bal meo of c ibes left
| fiom picuoub 24 lion:
3
SusrrciED CASES
'S
A
Of those enteied m tolumi 4
the Iso who duim n tlic 24
•3
S
w
0
hoius ivndei ltpoit—
H wo bten found fice 1
fiom 1>1 iguo ¿ml (lib
C
£ °¿
o
> &
7
uve Dctn otueiwibe
disposed of
!
8
3 rg
- HO
aj
^)
uro
•33(Cri
cq
9
S °o
S ""
J S 2
£ o* 3
¿i "
10
W H
-j
S5 • »
Sí 2
§ §3 §°
Z bijc
O) ^3 ^3
11
PLÍGDE
a
o l
**-t
o
to o
12
O
H
13
CASES.
Of thOaet-nteibdin column
13, the lío. WÜO duinig tht
¿4 liouisniidei íepoit—
•a
u
•5
s
14
Have íecoveicd inri
been disobliged
15
Have been otheuMí>e
disposed of
16
" S
S-S °?
^5
aa
17
îemaiks
18
36
Arrangements
for inspection,
July 1897.
Arrangements existed on the 1st of July 1897 for the medical
examination of all passengers arriving at Bombay by local, mail, and
other trains, from beyond the limit of local traffic, and of all passengers
leaving Bombay by mail trains, and trains bound for stations beyond
the limit of local traffic. There were also barrier inspection staffs for the
examination of local passengers at Thana and Kalyan on the G. I. P.
line, and at Bandora on the B. B. C. I. line.
Kalyan.
On the G. I. P. Railway at Kalyan Station, all passengers leaving
Bombay for Kalyan or stations beyond were examined, as well as all
passengers from stations beyond Kalyan. arriving at Kalyan or
bound for stations south of Kalyan. Passengers alighting at Kalyan
wore examined at the ticket barrier by a special staff, and those
going north or south of Kalyan upon the platform by another staff.
All cases and suspicious cases of Plague were sent at once to the
temporary hospital, consisting of fitted up railway ambulance carriages
in a goods shed, from whence actual cases were sent as soon as possible
by trains to Chinchpokli Station (where they were met by ambulances
and conveyed to Arthur Road Hospital). Suspicious cases were detained
in the Kalyan carriages for observation, and were either allowed to pro-
ceed to their destinations, or dealt with as Plague cases, according to cir-
cumstances. An ambulance cooly was constantly on duty at Chinch-
pokli Station, who on receiving a telegraphic message through the
Station Master there from the Station Master at Kalyan, intimating the
number of cases sent, and by what trains, provided the necessary
ambulance for their removal on arrival. All compartments in which
Plague patients were sent were Labelled " To be disinfected."
The staff consisted of—1 Chief Medical Officer, 2 Assistant Surgeons,
and 9 Hospital Assistants.
Thana.
At Thana Station a staff was posted at the ticket barrier to prevent
local cases of Plague from entering the trains. The medical staff con-
sisted of three Assistant Surgeons who divided the hours from 2 a.m. to
10 p.m. ; the menial staff consisted of one bhisti and one sweeper.
Sion,
At Sion Station all passengers in local trains bound for stations in
the Island of Bombay were examined, and all cases and suspects were sent
by trains to Chinchpokli Station for removal to Arthur Road Hospital
under the same precautions as were observed in cases sent from Kalyan.
The staff consisted of—1 Chief Medical Officer, 3 Assistant Medical
Officers, 3 Assistant Surgeons, 4 Hospital Assistants, 1 Medical Student,
1 Muccadum, 6 Coolies, 1 Bhisti, and 1 Sweeper.
37
Palghar.
On the B. B. C. I. Railway, at Palghar Station, all passengers
from Bombay bound for stations beyond Palghar were examined, and all
cases and suspects sent to a hospital adjoining the station, where the
cases were kept for treatment. Suspects, if found (after observation)
to be free from Plague, were allowed to proceed to their destinations.
The staff consisted of 1 Chief Medical Officer, 2 Assistant Surgeons,
and 7 Hospital Assistants.
Bandora,
At Bandora Station, all passengers in local trains bound for stations
in the Island of Bombay were examined, and all cases and suspects were
sent by trains to Mahalakshmi Station, where they were met by ambu-
lances from Arthur Road Hospital. An ambulance cooly was always on
duty at Mahalakhsmi Station, who, on receiving telegraphic intimation
through the Station Master there from the Station Master at Bandora
Station of the number of cases sent and the time of trains, arranged for
sufficient ambulance accommodation to meet such trains. At Bandora
Station a barrier staff was posted to prevent local Plague cases entering
trains, and to prevent cases from trains entering Bandora. The staff
at this station consisted of 1 Chief Medical Officer, 1 Assistant Medical
Officer, 5 Assistant Surgeons, 1 Medical Student, 5 Hospital Assistants,
1 Muccadam, 1 Bhisti, 2 Sweepers, and 3 Coolies.
Transitional
arrangements
in October and
November.
Towards the end of October, in view of the increased influx
of passengers into Bombay from infected districts, it was considered
advisable to strengthen the inspection staffs, pending the adoption of
a system of detention of passengers from infected areas which was
then in contemplation. The following changes were made in the
beginning of November : 2 Medical Practitioners and 2 Nurses were
added to the Bandora Staff, 1 Commissioned Medical Officer was
appointed to supervise the Sion and Thana Staffs, and the Kalyan Staff
was augmented by the addition of 1 European Medical Officer, 3 Medical
Practitioners, 1 Lady Doctor, and 3 Nurses.
On the 19th of November detention of passengers from infected
areas was commenced, and the following arrangements were made,
pending the more permanent scheme which was being organized.
On the G. I. P. Railway all third class ticket-holders were sorted
at Kalyan, and those possessing tickets for Kurla or any station in
the Island of Bombay from all stations between Ahmednagar and
Dhond inclusive, between Dudni and Poona inclusive, between Miraj
and Poona inclusive, and between Poona and Kalyan, including Poona,
38
were locked into separate carriages and run into Byculla Station, where
they were met by the Plague and Police authorities.
On the B. B. C. I. Railway all third class ticket-holders were
sorted at Palghar, and those found with tickets for Bandora or any
station within the Island of Bombay from all stations between Anand
and Palghar were locked into separate carriages and run into Grant
Road Station, where they were met by the Plague and Police authorities.
Arrangements,
1st December
1897.
On the 1st December 1897 the more permanent scheme came
into force, and this necessitated some modification of the general
organization above described.
Arrangements having been made with the Railway Companies to-
run all passengers from north of Virar and Kalyan with tickets for
Bandora, Kurla, or any stations in the Island of Bombay in locked car-
riages from Virar and Kalyan to Grant Road and Victoria Terminus
Stations, respectively, and to hand them over to the Plague and Police
authorities at those stations for sorting, it was decided to have such pas-
sengers also medically examined at Grant Road and Victoria Terminus,
respectively, instead of at Palghar and Kalyan, and in order to effect
this a re-distribution was made of the total establishment. The result
of this re-arrangement is given in the following table :—
Victoria Ter-
minus.
1 Chief Medi-
cal Officer.
2 M e d i c a l
Practitioners.
2 Native Prac-
titioners.
6 Hospital As-
sistunts and
2 Nurses.
Sion.
1 Chief Medi-
cal Officer.
4 M e d i c a l
Practitioners
and 6 Assis-
tants.
Kalyan.
1 Chief Medi-
cal Officer.
2 Assistants.
3 Medical Stu-
dents a n d
2 Nurses.
Grant Road.
1 Chief Medi-
cal Officer.
1 M e d i c a 1
Practitioner.
2 Assi s t a n t s
and 1 Nurse.
Bandora.
I Chief Medi-
cal Officer.
4 M e d i c a l
Practitioners.
4 Assistants.
Palghar.
1 Chief Me-
dical Offi-
cer.
2 Hos p i t a 1
Assista n ts
and 1 Me-
dical Stu-
dent.
So many possible contingencies presented themselves whereby
passengers from infected areas could evade detention by working them-
selves from the through into the local traffic that special arrangements
had to be made with the Companies to obviate such difficulties, and the
following statement, compiled by Surgeon-Captain Jennings, I.M.S., who
was in charge of Land Inspection, gives in a tabular form the possible
contingencies and the measures arranged to obviate them :—
39
G. I. P.
line.
Infected area.
Kalyan.
Demauli.
Diva.
Mumbra.
Thana.
Bha
Ghatkuper
Kurla
ndup.
Mahim River.
Sion.
Matunga
Parel
Curry Rd.
Chinchpokli
Bycylla
Musjid
Victoria Terminus
B.B.
C. I. line.
Infected area.
Virar.
NallaSo para.
Bassein.
Bhynder.
Borivli.
Malad.
Gor
Andheri.
Bandra
Mahim
Dadar
El. Road
egaon.
Mahim River
Parel.
Mahalakshmi
GrantRoad.
Possible contingencies.
G. I. P.
([) Passengers from beyond Kalyan
could book to Kalyan and re-book
to Bombay in a local train.
B. B. C. I.
(I) Passengers from beyond Virar
could book to Virar and re-book
to Bombay by a local train.
G. I. P.
(II) Passengers could alight at Kalyan
and walk to Mum bra, Diva, or
Demauli and book by a local
train to Bombay.
B. B. C. I.
(II) Passengers could alight at Virar
and walk to some station south
thereof and book to Bombay in
local trains.
G. I. P.
(Ill) Passengers could book to Thana
and re-book from there to Bom-
bay by locals.
B. B. C. I.
(III) Passengers could book to any
stations between Virar and
Bombay and then re-book to
Bombay in locals, as some
through trains stop at all sta-
tions.
G. I. P.
(IV) Passengers could alight at Thana
and walk to Bhandup, Ghat-
kuper or Kurla, and book to
Bombay.
B. B. C. I.
(IV) There is no station on the B. B.
C. I. Railway corresponding
to Thana.
G. I. P.
(V) Passengers could book from the
G. I. P. to B. B. C. I. lines
and slip into Bombay at Da dar.
B. B. C. I.
(V) Passengers could book from the
B. B. C. I. to the G. I. P. lines
and slip into Bombay at Dadar.
G. I. P.
(VI) Passengers could book from sta-
tions north of Kalyan to stations
between Kalyan and Thana or
between Thana and Sion and
change into local trains at
Kalyan or Thana and thus slip
into Bombay.
B. B. G. I.
(VI) Passengers could book from
stations north of Virar to stations
south and change into a local
train at Virar and thus slip into
Bombay.
G. I. P.
(VII) Passengers could alight at Thana
and walk to Sion Causeway.
B.B. C. I.
(VII) Passengers could alight at Virar
and walk to Bandra Causeway.
Measures adopted.
(I) Booking to Bombay from Kalyau
and Virar was stopped, except
for season ticket-holders or those
possessing certificates from
Plague authorities allowing
them to travel.
(II) The Company stopped booking
at these 3 stations, except for
season ticket-holders.
(II) The Company promised to
report if the booking from
stations south of Virar in-
creased.
(III) Booking was stopped there,
except for season ticket-hold-
ers or those who possessed
certificates from
Plague
authorities allowing them to
travel.
(III) The Company consented to run
all trains from beyond Virar
through to Grant Road, and
to stop all booking from
north of Virar to any station
south of Virar and north of
Grant Road.
(IV) The Company would not stop
booking from these stations,
but promised to report if the
booking became heavier, so
that later steps could be taken.
(IV) No steps necessary.
(V) The Company stopped this.
(V) The Company stopped this.
(VI) The Company stopped booking
from stations north of Kalyan
to Diva, Demauli, Mumbia,
Bhandup, and Ghat-kuper.
(VI) The Company stopped such
booking.
This was obviated by institu-
ting a system of causeway
detention.
40
At Victoria Terminus the Gr. I. P. Railway Company set apart and
fenced in a portion of the station known as the Arcade for the sorting
and examination of passengers, and at Grant Road Station the B. B. C. I.
Company fenced in the northern end of the Up Platform for that
purpose.
Altered ar-
rangements,
January 1898,
A recrudescence of the Plague epidemic having become established
in Bombay, a meeting was held on the 2nd of January 1898, at which
were present the Plague Commissioner, the President and Members of the
Bombay Plague Committee, the Superintendent of Medical Inspection of
Railway Passengers, and the Collector of Thana. In order to protect the
Thana District, it was decided to inspect all down local as well as
up local trains at Bandora and Sion Stations, to discontinue inspections
of through and mail trains at Palghar Station, and to hand that
duty over to the Bandora Station staff. In consequence of this the
Palghar Staff was disbanded, and the Sion and Bandra Staffs considerably
strengthened, and on the 3rd of February the control of the Kalyan Staff
was handed over by orders of Government to the Collector of Thana.
On the 24th of January 1898 it was decided to suspend the detention
of passengers from infected areas outside the city until such time as the
epidemic should subside. This led to some further alterations in the
different staffs, resulting in an establishment which is set out in the
following tabular statement :—
G. I. P. Railway.
Victoria Terminus.
Dr. R. H. Castellote.
Dr. N. R. Arjani.
Dr. S. D. Nadersha.
Mr. Y. C. Mhaskar.
Mr. F. D. Moos.
Mr. Vinayak R. Joga.
Miss Maine.
Mr. Gangaram Vithal.
Mr. Francis Borges.
Examination of pas-
sengers in all up
through and mail
trains.
Sion.
Dr. K. M. Dubash.
Dr. D. Burjorjee.
Dr. F. P. Master.
Dr. D. D. Bode.
Dr. A. A. Gairi.
Dr. B. R. Wadia.
Mr. N. A. Misquita.
Mr. M. P. D. Conceicao.
Mr. B. M. Jaykar.
Mr. J. J. Gilder.
Mr. M. R. Vaidya.
Mr. Simon Pereira.
Mr. L. G. Fernandez.
Mr. D. A. Vaz.
Mr. P. F. Rana.
E. A. D'Souza.
Mr. Prabhakar Balwant.
Mr. J. J. D'Mello.
Mr.Dhiraj Lal Maganlal
Gopaljee Ghulabhai.
Examination of passen-
gers in all up and
down local trains.
B. B. C. I. Railway.
Grant Road.
Dr. N. B. Lam.
Mr. L. A. Fernandez.
Mr. J. A. Gonsalves.
Mrs. H. A. Smith.
Examination of pas-
sengers in all up
through and mail
trains.
Bandora.
Dr. N. R. Satpute.
Dr. B. N. Horsedealer.
Dr. H. N. Contractor.
Dr. D. Dadarkar.
Dr. S. E. Dubash.
Dr. A. P. Dias.
Mr. J. S. Mody.
Mr. E. M. Pereira.
Mr. S. D. Rebello.
Mr. De Abreo.
Mr. S. M. Pereira
Mr. P. G. D'Silva.'
Mr. A. R. Satpute.
Mr. J. A. Gonsalves
Mr. F. X. Pereira. '
Mr. L. M. D'Penha
Mr. L. B. Nunes.
Examination of passen-
gers in all up and
down local trains and
all down through and
mail trains.
41
The folio wins; table gives the result of the inspections for the period Table of
results.
under report :—
Stations.
Victoria Terminus
Thana
Bandora ...
Grant Road
Total ...
Passengers detained.
Ml
228
40
19
700
974
25
2,327
Passengers sent to Hospital.
112
228
40
19
230
222
25
876
The members of all the staffs worked conscientiously and well,
and the general smoothness and regularity which characterized
the conduct of duties which, from their nature, are often attended with
unpleasantness, reflect the greatest credit on the tact and patience of
the Chief Medical Officers of staffs.
The Committee desire to take this opportunity of bringing
prominently to notice the great courtesy and invariable cordiality
received from all the officers, administrative and executive, of both
the G. I. P. and the B. B. C. I. Railway Companies. Their willing
co-operation and ready assent to measures which, though necessary,
were often against the interests of the companies, made the task of
organization a simple one, and it is with pleasure that the Committee are
able to say the same of the relationship which invariably existed on the
part of the Subordinate Railway staffs towards the Medical Inspection
staffs. All members of medical inspection staffs who were unable to
reside near the stations at which they were on duty, were granted
complimentary passes by the Agents of the Companies.
Causeways Inspection.
Causeways.
The following are the means of ingress by foot into Bombay :—
(1) The Mahim-Bandora Causeway; (2) the Sion-Kurla Causeway ;
(3) the G. I. P. Railway Causeway; (4) the B. B. C. I. Railway
Causeway ; (5) a tract of land generally fordable between Kurla in
42
Salsette and Sion village at the north-east corner of the Island of
Bombay; and (6) a small line of railway running on a bund supporting
the Tansa main pipe from Chimbur (a place east of Kurla) to the north-
east corner of the Island of Bombay.
The above ingresses run mainly north and south between Mahim
on the west and Trombay on the east, a distance of about five miles,
and in order to examine all inward and outward passengers (other than
Railway passengers) it was necessary to prohibit the use of all the above
ingresses except the first two. This was done in the case of (3) and
(4) by posting Police guards to keep foot-passengers from crossing, of
(5) by posting a Police sentry in such a position as to cause all people
crossing the tract to proceed by No. 2 route, and of (6) by keeping a
swinging bridge in the course of the line always closed so as to render
that route impassable.
In the beginning of July 1897, the Sion-Kurla Causeway was
kept open for traffic from 12 midnight to 2 a.m., and from 5 a.m. to
8 p.m., foot and vehicular traffic being prohibited at all other hours by
a Police guard, except for pass-holders. The staff consisted of 1 Chief
Medical Officer, 4 Assistant Medical Officers, 3 Sub-Inspectors,
3 peons, 1 bhisti, 1 clerk and 4 watchmen.
On the 7th of September 1897, for the convenience of market
gardeners and others, this causeway was kept open from 1 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
instead of at the hours abovementioned, and this arrangement is still in
force. During the whole of the period under report the inspections were
conducted in a chawl at the Sion end of the causeway.
In the beginning of July 1897, the Mahin-Bandora Causeway
was kept open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., but soon after from 12 midnight to
2 a.m. and from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. (the arrangement still in force),
traffic being prohibited except for pass-holders at all other hours by a
Police guard. The staff consisted of 1 Chief Medical Officer, 2
Assistant Medical Officers, 6 Police sepoys, and 1 clerk. During the
whole of the period under report the inspections were conducted in a
shed at the Bandora end of the causeway.
On the 16th of December 1897 detention of passengers from infected
areas was commenced on both causeways, which necessitated the following
increase of staff: Two clerks and eight Police watchmen for Mahim-Bandora
Causeway, and two clerks and six Police watchmen for Sion-Kurla Cause-
way. To exempt regular passengers from detention, a, census was taken
43
on both causeways, and they were furnished with permits in the
following form :—
BOMBAY PLAGUE COMMITTEE.
Not transferable.
Please permit No
name
to make
use of the
Causeway without detention (if free from plague or other
infectious disease dangerous to life) for the month ending
189 .
M.B., C.M.,
Supdt., Causeway Inspections.
Bombay,
189 .
Passengers leaving Bombay meaning to return were furnished with
metallic tokens on payment of a deposit of two annas each, which
deposit was refunded to them on their returning the tokens. Passen-
gers detained were given a meal and sent in batches under Police
guards, by trains, to Victoria Terminus on the G. I. P. and Grant
Road Station on the B. B. C. I. line, at which stations they were
handed to Plague and Police authorities. Many people coming from
infected areas refused to undergo detention. These were permitted to
go back, but not allowed to enter the Island.
Results.
In all 190 persons from infected areas were detained on the Sion-
Kurla Causeway, and 136 on the Mahim-Bandora Causeway, and sent
into detention camps. During the autumn months arrangements were
made on both causeways for detaining and sending famine-stricken
persons into relief camps : 202 persons were thus sent from the Sion-Kurla
Causeway, and 225 from the Mahim-Bandora Causeway. During the
period under report 62 persons were sent to hospital from the Sion-Kurla
Causeway, and 164 from the Mahim-Bandora Causeway.
On the 31st of March 1898, the staff stood as is shown in the
following table:—
Sion-Kurla Causeway.
Dr. K. M. Hiramaneck.
Dr. Shamrao Narayen.
Mr. D. B. Painter.
Mr. B. B. Rele.
Mr. P. A. D'Mello.
Mr. A. B. Sonalkar, Clerk.
Mr. V. B. Phatak,
Mr. A. M. D'Mello, „
Mr, Bomanjee Shapurjee, Sub-Insp.
Mr. Jacob Solomon,
„
Mr. Govind Shankar,
„
Pancham Nunda, Peon.
Surjee Laloo,
„
Natha Khan, Bhisti.
8 Watchmen and 2 Policemen.
Mahim-Bandora Causeway.
Dr. Dallas.
Dr. Dordi.
Dr. Horsedealer.
Mr. Sanjana.
Mrs. Saunders (for women).
Mr. R. B. Dabolkar, Clerk.
Mr. P. 1. Rodrigues, „
Mr. F. D'Souza,
„
4 Police sepoys.
10 Watchmen.
44
A weekly return of the work on each causeway was submitted
to the Plague Committee in the following form :—
Causeway.
NUMBER of foot-passengers entering and leaving Bombay in the
week ending Saturday, the
189
Dates
Days
Total ...
No of persons
stopped as
patients.
No of foot-passen-
gers entering
Bombay.
No. of foot-passengers
leaving Bombay.
C. M. O.,
.
Causeway.
Bunders.
The arrangements for the inspection of passengers and crews
arriving by boat at Mahim and Worli devolved upon the District
Officer of G Ward, and the duties were deputed to Dr. Dadi Burjor, the
Sub-divisional Medical Officer, who discharged them most satisfactorily.
During the period under report 250 boats arrived at Mahim Bunder,
containing 1,560 souls constituting crews. During the same period
237 boats left this bunder, containing 1,489 souls, of whom 14 were
passengers, out of which number 2 were prevented from sailing. Eight
hundred and eighty-three boats arrived at Cleveland Bunder, containing
5,900 souls forming crews. Eight hundred and sixty-four boats left this
bunder, containing 5,684 souls, 30 of whom were passengers, out of
which number 9 were prevented from sailing.
Inward Sea Inspection.
The system of inspecting inward crew and passengers from coast
ports which was introduced in April 1897 was continued from the end
of June 1897, but on a much reduced scale, owing to the great falling off
in the coasting passenger traffic on the setting in of the monsoon.
On the 1st July the Plague Committee's Harbour staff consisted of—
1 Commissioned Officer, 2 local qualified Medical Practitioners, 4 Assist-
ant Surgeons, 1 Lady Doctor.
Passengers by the Dharamtar and Ulwa Ferry lines, as well as
those by native craft, were examined at Mody Bunder, while those from