NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
193
F (1).
Hules for Passes to Travellers leaving Bombay,
With the following exceptions, no passes will, from this date, be issued by the
Plague Committee unless the applicants have stayed in a Detention Camp appointed
by the Committee for a period not exceeding ten days immediately preceding the
date of the pass :—
Exception (1).—Those persons who reside in parts of the city believed to b
Exception (2).—Those persons with regard to whom the District Medical
Officer certifies—
(a) that they have been under his supervision for a period not exceed-
ing ten days immediately preceding the date of the application.
(b) that, to the best of his belief, there has been no plague in the
dwelling occupied by the applicants or in its immediate vicinity for a
period of not less than one month immediately preceding the date of
application.
Exception (3).—Persons leaving Bombay on business and returning within
a week, if living in uninfected localities and on producing certificates of good
health from the Medical Officers in charge of the Committee's Camp at AVari
Bunder or Modikhana, will, with the approval of the Committee, be granted
passes for return to Bombay within seven days.
NOTE.—All persons travelling from Bombay without passes are certain to be
detained.
BOMBAY, 21s£ January 1898.
F(2).
Resolutions re Sion and Mahim Causeways.
December 1897.
At a meeting of the Plague Committee held on the 4th instant, the following
Resolutions were agreed to in regard to the Sion and Mahim Causeways :—
A census of the daily passengers passing through to be completed for a week.
2. On the completion of the census monthly passes to be given by the Chief
Medical Officer of the Inspection Staff at certain hours.
3. After the 15th December, all persons not possessing passes to be quarantined
or not allowed to pass through.
4. Persons leaving Bombay and intending to return to be given a token at the
Causeway on payment of 2 annas which will be returned when the token is given itp.
F(3).
Rules for Detention of Passengers from Infected Areas?.
1 Third class passengers from infected villages, towns, groups of villages,
sections of districts, districts, collectorates, or states shall be detained on arrival
in Bombay for a period not exceeding seven days.
195
F(4).
Notice to the Public re Surveillance Passes.
CIRCULAR.
BOMBAY, 20th October 1897.
The Committee are desirous of meeting, as far as possible consistent with
safety, the wishes of the different communities in regard to the issuing of the sur-
veillance tickets, but it has been noticed that several heads of castes and leaders are
in the habit of standing surety for large numbers of these caste-people daily. When
the Committee introduced the concession of surveillance certificates, it was with the
object of liberating well-to-do merchants and their families, to whom quarantine was
especially irksome, and persons whose presence was urgently necessary in the city.
Oo far people have answered to their surveillance fairly well, but there is an inclina-
tion to avoid it, and the Committee desire to draw the attention of the heads of com-
munities and others who are standing surety to this notification, that, should persons
not return as instructed on the surveillance ticket by the Chief Medical Officer, the
permanent pass to the camp and to the gentleman standing surety will be withdrawn,
his name will be posted in the camp as a defaulter, and further he will not be allowed
to again stand surety for his caste-fellows. It is hoped that leaders of communities
will give this matter their careful attention.
F(6).
Notice prohibiting Passage of Suspicious Persons to
Malabar Hill and neighbourhood.
Notice is hereby given that by virtue of the powers conferred by Government
upon the Bombay Plague Committee, and in particular by notification of Govern-
ment in the General Department, No.5276/3434 P., dated 29th September 1897, published
in the Bombay Government Gazette, Part I, dated September 30th, 1897, at page
1687, Rule 29 of the General Plague Kules is specially applied to the following
local area, viz., those portions of the Island of Bombay known as Walkeshwar,
Malabar Hill, Cumballa Hill and Mahalakshmi, which local area is bounded as
follows : on the north and north-west by the Sea, on the south and south-east by
Back Bay, on the·east by the Gamdevi Road, Tardeo Road and Mahalakshmi Road.
By virtue of the said Rule 29, Plague Authorities specially appointed by the
Bombay Plague Committee for the purpose are authorised to prevent the passage- of
suspicious persons and their clothing, baggage, &c., into the local area above defined,
2nd January 1898.
F(6).
Notice prohibiting Passage of Suspicious Persons
to North of the Island.
Notice is hereby given that by virtue of the powers conferred by Government
upon the Bombay Plague Committee, and in particular by notification of Govern-
ment in the General Department, No. 5279/3434 P., dated 29th September 1897, published
196
in the Bombay Government Gazette, Part I, dated September 30, 1897, at page
1637, Rule 29 of the General Plague Rules is specially applied to the following
local area, viz., those portions of the Island of Bombay known as Parel, Sewri, Sion,
Mahim and Worli, which local area is bounded on the north, east and west by the
Sea and on the south by Clerk Road West, Jacob's Circle, Arthur Road East and
Kala Ghowki Road and Sewri Road to the Sea.
By virtue of the said Rule 29, Plague Authorities specially appointed by the
Bombay Plague Committee for the purpose, are authorized to prevent the passage of
suspicious persons and their clothing, baggage, etc., into the local area above defined,
unless the persons in question are holders of a pass from the Plague Committee.
F (7).
Special Plague Authority for F (6) & (7) preceding.
BOMBAY PLAGUE COMMITTEE OFFICE,
189
By order of the Bombay Plague Committee, in exercise of the powers vested
in them by Government Notification No.5279/3434 P. of the 29th September 1897, it
is hereby notified that—·
Name.—_
Address
Description
is appointed by the Committee, until further orders, a Plague Authority within
the district specified below, for the purposes of Rule 29 of the General Rules under
Act III of 1897, printed on the back hereof.
By order of the Bombay Plague Committee,
Chairman.
District__
.....
Rule 29 under Act ITT of 1897.
Plague Authorities, specially appointed by a Commissioner for this purpose, are
authorized to prevent the passage of suspicious persons from any town, village or
local area, or into any town, village or local area to which this rule may be applied
by the Commissioner, unless such persons have been detained in a place of observa-
tion for a period prescribed by the Commissioner, and unless, if arrangements for
disinfection of their clothing, baggage, &c., have been made under the Commis-
sioner's orders, such disinfection has been effected. Such Plague Authorities shall
have the widest discretionary power, subject to the general or special orders of the
Commissioner, to decide what persons shall be considered ' suspicious ' for the
purposes of this rule. So long as he remains in a place of observation under this
rule no person shall be allowed to communicate, except with the permission of the
Plague Authority, with persons outside the limits of the place. He shall obey such
orders as may be issued by the Plague Authority for the cleanliness or protection
from infection of the persons, property or quarters of the persons detained.
NOTE.—This rule was applied to the City and Island of Bombay by Government Notification No. —[- P.
ου the 20tl·. September 1897, and the words " the Committee " should be read for the words "a Commis-
sioner " or " the Commissioner '' where such words occur in the rule,
APPENDIX No. 4.
Notes on Disinfectants.
In September some correspondence took place on the several
disinfectants in use, as respects their relative cost, efficacy and ease of
application. On the last point the Committee were of opinion that the
directions for use by them on April 2nd, and published in their Report
for 1896-97, fulfilled all purposes. However, as it seemed evident
that the solution of perchloride of mercury in disinfecting work
was often very incomplete, a circular was issued, requesting all District
Medical Officers to, as far as possible, endeavour to make a saturated
solution according to the accompanying formula :—
Perchloride of mercury, 480 grains,
Chloride of ammonia,
480 grains,
Glycerine,
12 fluid oz.,
Rectified spirit,
8 fluid oz.,
"Water,
5 pints,
making a solution of about 1-100.
An improved method of making this solution, which saved both
the rectified spirit and the glycerine, was proposed by Dr. Maifcland
Gibson a few days later and circulated to Medical Officers. Dr. Gibson's
formula is subjoined ·.—
Perchloride of mercury, 10 1/4 oz.
1 Gallon
Chloride ammonia,
7 1/2 oz.
Dissolve in 5 1/2 pints of water.
Add 48 oz. of strong commercial hydrochloric acid.
These quantities are sufficient to make 64 gallons of 1-1000.
Wooden buckets only must be used.
A memorandum on disinfectants was communicated to the Com-
mittee by Dr. Collis Barry, the Chemical Analyser to Government, who
had made a series of experiments, especially on the proper use of
perchloride of mereury.
Memoranda of Solutions.
The following are standard solutions :—·
(1) Solution of hydrochloric, 1-1000.
Hg. C1 2 , 1/2 oz.,
Hcl., 1 oz.,
distributed with three gallons of water (1 bucket). The Hg, C1 2 will
dissolve the hydrochloric acid in the above proportions, if pure. If impure,
there will be a sediment. It should be coloured with methylene blue, and
stacked for daily use, labelled " Poison,"
198
(2) Solution of carbolic acid, 5 per cent.
Crude carbolic acid, 24 Ibs. Water, 96 gallons.
(3) Solution of pot. permanganatis, 1-60.
Pot, permanganatis, 16 Ibs. Water, 96 gallons.
Adding 6 1/2 Ibs. Hol. to increase efficacy.
(4) Plienyle emulsion, 1-20.
Phenyle, 24 Ibs. Water, 96 gallons.
(5) Solution of fornalin (commercial), 1-400.
Dr. Oollis Barry strongly advocated the use of the last solution as
cheaper than Hg. C1 2 , and non-poisonous.
A solution, 1-1000 of
formic aldehyde, being as powerful as 1-1000 of Hg. C1 2 , 1-400 of
fornalin would answer the same purpose, in his opinion, as well or
even better, being free from danger. However, its action was considered
uncertain so far as yet ascertained, and it has the disadvantage of
being unstable. The efficacy of chloride of lime and sulphur as disin-
fectants are very slight.
In the months of October and November 1897, the Committee re-
ceived intimation that some of the disinfectants were of inferior quality,
and analysis of samples by Surgeon-Major Bannerman and the Che-
mical Analyser to Government were at once obtained. Frequent pre-
cautions were taken to prevent fraud in this way.
In some of the camps masonry tanks were erected for the dis-
infection of clothes, &c., by means of strong solution of the stronger
disinfectants, but the method is cumbersome and unsatisfactory, and was
supplanted as soon as possible by the steam sterilising apparatus.
The following notes on the preparation of solutions of Perchloride of
Mercury were specially -written for this report by Dr. Haydon,
M.D., D.P.H.
It is now generally accepted that, for practical purposes, perchloride
of merotiry is the most powerful disinfectant known and that its efficacy
is markedly increased by the addition of an acid, preferably hydrochlo-
ric acid.
The acid prevents the precipitation of the mercury, in the form of
insoluble and practically innocuous albuminates from albuminous material
so constantly present in polluted soils of dwellings and filthy rooms.
Owing to the somewhat difficult solubility of the mercury
perchloride, it is desirable to issue this disinfectant ready dissolved, so
that only the addition of a predetermined quantity of water is necessary.
199
For convenience of transport, therefore the preparation of highly
concentrated solutions becomes of some importance.
In order to obtain these concentrated solations, the addition of
certain salts is necessary to increase the solubility of the mercury
perchloride. The salts most commonly used for this purpose are common
salt and ammonia chloride.
Hydrochloric acid also increases the solubility of the perchloride to
a slight extent, but the primary use of the acid is to enhance the
efficacy and not the solubility of the perchloride.
Common salt has the advantage of cheapness and of being
generally obtainable, but, if possible, I prefer to use ammonium chloride
as concentrated mercuric solutions prepared with common salt are
precipitated on the addition of hydrochloric acid. This precipitate,
however, is readily soluble in water, and if the precaution be taken of
shaking up the contents and thoroughly rinsing out the bottles in which
the strong solution is supplied, there is no objection to the use of
common salt.
After numerous experiments I found the best results were obtained
by adding one part in four of ammonium chloride or common salt to the
mercuric perchloride.
The salts are to be ground up finely and thoroughly incorporated
in a porcelain mortar, as this greatly lessens the time required for
solution.
A measured volume of water equal in weight (3 for 3) to the weight
of mercury salt is now added, and the whole gently warmed. Boiling is
not necessary, the whole of the salts passing into solution at a tempera-
ture of 103° F.
The result is a cent per cent solution of mercury perchloride, which
does not crystallize out on standing, at ordinary Indian temperatures
at least.
It is important to remember that in the process of solution a consi-
derable expansion takes place in the bulk of the fluid.
Thus though 21/4 pounds weight of the resulting fluid contains one
pound weight of mercuric perchloride, it measures 22 fluid ounces if
freshly prepared and warm, or 20 fluid ounces if the solution has been
allowed to cool before measuring.
200
In practice I have been in the habit of measuring 5 1/2 oz. (5 1/4 cool)
into an ordinary wine bottle and filling up the bottle with concentrated
commercial hydrochloric acid. The bottle then contains 4 oz. by weight
of mercury perchloride, and 20 fluid oz. of hydrochloric acid, and its
contents are sufficient to prepare 25 gallons of disinfecting fluid
containing—
Mercuric perchloride, 1—1000.
Hydrochloric acid,
5—1000.
This proportion of acid has been found to give the best results.
If it is desired to prepare smaller quantities of disinfecting fluid, the
contents of the bottle are thoroughly shaken up, and 1 oz. added for every
gallon of disinfecting solution required.
For the preparation of the concentrated mercuric solution, any glazed
porcelain or earthenware vessel may be used ; and this may be conveni-
ently covered outside with clay and built into an ordinary clay fireplace.
The contents may then be ladled out with a porcelain or wooden
dipper. It cannot be too strongly or too frequently reiterated that no
metal vessels, &c., are to be used in the preparation or application of
this mercuric solution. Even enamelled iron vessels are rapidly
corroded by mercuric solution of slight concentration.
APPENDIX No. 5.
Steam Disinfectors.
The ancient methods of disinfecting such articles as clothing and
bedding by exposure to the sun or immersion in a solution of perchloride
are somewhat crude and haphazard, and when large crowds are daily
entering a camp, such methods require a large staff of attendants, and
lead often to much confusion and loss.
Steps towards a thorough system of scientific disinfection by
sterilisation by means of steam under pressure were, therefore, taken by
the Committee, and for a commencement the equifex disinfector be-
longing to the Port Health Department was obtained and installed at
Wari Bunder Camp.
Another and a somewhat larger equifex disinfector was then
purchased from the P. & 0. Company at a cost of £300, and was
erected on the open ground to the west of the Modikhana Camp under
a suitable permanent iron-framed building, 19ft. X 45ft., covered with
corrugated iron sheets. It is described as " an equifex steam disinfector
under the Genishe and Heischer Patent, manufactured by Messrs.
J. Deffris & Sons, London, size 7 ft, χ 4 ft., complete, with an 8 H. P.
vertical boiler and all necessary fittings."
The land on which it was erected is held on a monthly tenancy,
and the shed has accordingly been constructed so as to allow of its re-
moval elsewhere, if required, at a small cost.
In regular work the following establishment would be necessary :—
Es. a.
1 Inspector on Rs, 75 per mensem ...
...
... 75 0
1 Third Class Certificated Engineer on Rs. 25 per month 25 0
1 Coalman and 2 coolies on Rs. 12 each per month ... 36 0
1 Ramosee on Rs, 11 per month ...
...
... 11 0
Rs. 147 0
Coal, 5 cwts. per day, at Rs. 20 per ton
... 350 0
Water, 1,000 gallons per day, at annas 10 per 1,000 gls, 18 12
Stores and repairs, at Re. 1 per diem
...
... 30 0
Rs. 198 12
202
The machine at Wari Bunder required the same establishment and
stores, being of the same type and construction in all respects, except
that it was mounted on wheels. A third disinfector was constructed to
the orders of the Committee by a local firm, Messrs. Richardson &
Cruddas, at a cost of Rs. 2,200, and was installed at the Nairelwadi
Camp.
A fourth, viz., an equifex horizontal disinfectin g stove, of the
Genishe and Heischer Patent, was placed at the disposal of the
Committee by the Surgeon-General with the Government of Bombay,
and was erected at the Byculla Camp, but was soon again removed to
Karachi on the reappearance of Plague at that port.
As it was not possible to provide each of the remaining camps with a
steam disinfector, the following arrangements were made for dealing with
the kit of persons sent to camps in which no steriliser was at work :—
The kit of each person was overhauled, an'd such articles of wearing
apparel as would not take harm by being steamed in the steriliser, and all
bedding, was packed into a numbered bag and securely tied and sealed
with a small lead seal in the presence of the owner ; a token stamped with
the same number as that on the bag was then given to the owner of the
kit, and the bag was sent to the nearest disinfecting yard, disinfected
and returned to the owner without being opened. This arrangement was
viewed with great favour by the people who were satisfied that they
would get their belongings returned to them intact. At the same time the
.ordinary camp establishments found the packing, lacing, and sealing
somewhat elaborate, and the system was regularly carried out only in
the Kennedy Seaface and Goculdas Camps under Major Ross.
Disinfector's
action.
The first condition of a good steriliser is that it should withdraw
the air from the innermost recesses of bulky articles under treatment.
The mere admission of compressed steam forces the air into these with-
out withdrawing it, in consequence of which the steam is prevented
from entering to any depth.
In the equifex, perfect steam permeation is effected by cutting off
the steam supply to the inner chamber after the requisite pressure has
been exercised for a short time, and then causing a certain reduction in
pressure by the quick discharge of a portion of the contained steam.
Hence, a sudden expansion and withdrawal of the compressed air
in the inner folds of the articles, and its discharge into the atmosphere
with the steam. After three or four repetitions, it is found that
203
the steam has penetrated everywhere. In the Lyon's machines the
air is withdrawn prior to the admission of steam by the production
of a vacuum.
Drying is effected by allowing the exhaust valve to remain open
and turning steam into a ring between the inner and outer casings.
This forms a steam jacket which evaporates all moisture contained
in the treated articles—a process assisted by the admission of air from a
valve at the bottom of the chamber, while a small ejector in the exhaust-
pipe keeps up circulation.
The action of the machine constructed by Messrs. Richardson &
Cruddas is somewhat different. Its working was tested by Mr. Hewett,
the Assistant Executive Engineer, Municipal Workshops, who reported
that the means taken to get rid of the contained air in the chamber and
to secure a thorough penetration are as follows :—" On the admission of
steam from the outer to the inner casing, or, in other words, from the
boiler to the disinfecting chamber, the pressure in the latter rises to 61bs.,
corresponding to a temperature 230° F. When this pressure is attained,
a safety valve in communication with the chamber and loaded to 6ibs.
comes into action, and allows all surplus steam to blow off into the
atmosphere. As the boiler continues to generate steam, a current of
steam at the above pressure is continuously passing through the chamber.
This action appears to secure thorough penetration of all articles, for on
wrapping my handkerchief tightly up inside a blanket, and afterwards
withdrawing it from the chamber before the drying operation was
commenced, it was found to be quite clamp and hot. In regard to the
drying of the articles after treatment, I find that the apparatus is
as quick, if not quicker, in action than the equifex disinfector. This is
attributed to the fact that, although the steam pressure used is very much
less than in the equifex apparatus, the heating surface is much greater,
and the few clothes treated in my presence were found to be practically
dry after five minutes treatment."
The cost of working this disinfector is somewhat smaller than that
for the equifex, and is estimated to be Rs, 200 per mensem. Its prime
cost is about Rs. 2,000, something less than one-third the cost of an
equifex.
APPENDIX No. 6.
Bats,
Whether rats bring Plague from infected into uninfected localities, or
whether local rats are the first victims to existing local infection, has
not been determined. It seems almost certain that, in some instances,
rats suffering from Plague have moved in numbers to a fresh locality, and
have brought Plague among the people there.
In other instan-
ces the evidence seems to show that local rats sickened in consequence of
the introduction of infection by human agency. In either case the certain
and close connection between sick rats and Plague is beyond question ;
and the sequence is almost invariable that, unless disinfectants are freely
used, Plague among rats is followed by Plague among men. It was the
hope of the Committee to devise some organization by which rats could be
killed in large numbers. High rewards, as much as one anna a rat, were
offered, and the necessity of inducing people to kill rats was impressed on
all Plague officials. The idea of bringing Wadars or other Deccan
rat-catchers to work in Bombay was suggested, but had to be aban-
doned. The Wadars and other upcountry rat-catchers work in open fields
driving the rats into the centre of the rat warrens, and there securing
them in large numbers. The stone pavements in Bombay made the tools
and the methods of the upcountry rat-catcher useless. Again it wa.s
thought that among British soldiers a certain number of skilled rai>
catchers might be found. This attempt also failed. Finally, Bombay
native rat-catchers were engaged, but with no satisfactory result, The
only course that remained was to continue the existing practice of
special care in obtaining news of sick rats, and in opening the drains,
closing and disinfecting the rat-holes, and disinfecting the rooms
and the surroundings of any house in which sick or dead rats were
found,
Dr. Lewis Godinho, the District Medical Officer, gives the following
details of his experience in C Ward, both during the first and during the
recent epidemic :—" Sick rats are generally found in a locality from eight
to twelve days before the first case of Plague occurs among men. Plague-
stricken rats give out a musky odour and rapidly develop buboes. They
move about listlessly in back gullies, sinks, and bathing-places. After two
days they cease to be able to move. Local rats may sometimes be infected
by imported Plague. As a rule, the rats seem to carry the Plague
moving from south to north, and, less regularly, from east to west. In