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CHAPTER I.
Part V.—The Discretional Relief Fund.
One of the greatest difficulties experienced by Government in dealing with plague was
the abhorrence and distrust with which the people regarded plague hospitals. Every
means was tried to overcome this prejudice and this unpopularity ; private hospitals were
permitted, where native practitioners administered native medicines, and patients were
absolved from all compulsion in the matter of taking medicines. Their friends and relatives
were allowed to visit them, and no effort was spared to clearly prove the humane intentions
of Government in the enforcement of this measure. But of all the means devised to render
hospitals less unpopular and more attractive, none has been so effective as that introduced
in October 1898.
The far-reaching effect of the system then introduced, and the generous grant then
bestowed, are of sufficient importance to justify a detailed history of its institution.
The Discretional Relief Fund for Plague was instituted on the 17th of November 1898,
by Government Resolution No. 6406/6294-P of the 17th November 1898: and detailed instructions
as to its disbursement throughout the Presidency are given in Government Resolution No. 6230/6323-P
of the 14th November 1898, both of which documents are quoted in full below :—-
General Department (Plague). No.
6230/6328-P
Bombay Castle, 14th November 1898.
RESOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT.
With a view to encourage the prompt reporting of cases of plague and to facilitate and
popularise as far as possible the measures undertaken with the object of reducing mortality
during the epidemic, Government are desirous of—
(1) making the hospitals attractive,
(2) removing the minor discomforts and losses attendant upon measures of disin-
fection, etc., and
(3) removing the objections to temporary removal from an infected house or
locality.
If there is any dislike or distrust of hospitals, cases will be concealed and opposition
to removal will revive. Large numbers of hospitals have been opened, both by local authorities
and by caste committees, and most of them have been well maintained ; but at present
some lack those attractions which would cause patients and their friends to regard them with
gratitude. As the severity of the epidemic increases, the strain on the benevolence of some
of the poorer communities intensifies. It is unnecessary here to enumerate the ways in which
the sufferings of the poor may be mitigated, but some may be mentioned, as, for example,
the provision of extra rations before discharge, the gift of clothing or small sums of money
on discharge, the payment of funeral expenses, the support of the family, where necessary,
during illness or interruption of ordinary avocations, assistance to survivors or convalescents
to return to their homes, and so forth. The popularity of hospitals will be enhanced by
fairly generous treatment of the sick and their relations. Occasionally it may be useful to
engage or subsidise popular hakims or native practitioners to attend the hospitals. No person
who objects should be compelled to take medicines. It will be found sufficient to publish
the results in the case of persons who have accepted and persons who have refused treatment.
Concealment of cases is also practised in order to avoid the inconveniences and petty
expenses of disinfection, destruction of clothing, etc. Here also much can be done to remove
the objections of the poor and to gain at least their acquiescence. Government fear that too
little attention has been given to the payment of prompt compensation and to the grant of a