SEA INSPECTION.]
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May 1897, June 1897 to May 1898, and Jane 1898 to May 1891 ; and well demonstrates the
magnitude of the inspection work carrid out in Bombay :—
Period.
February to May 1897
June 1897 to May 1898
June 1898 to May 1890 ...
Total
...
··
...
Number of vessels
inspected.
Square-
rigged.
1,038
2,488
2,708
6,234
Native
Craft.
16,154
48,730
57,480
122,364
Number of persons
examined.
Passengers.
182,386
355,409
546,881
1,084,676
Crew.
143,906
458,462
515,136
1,117,504
Number of persons
rejected.
Passengers.
678
10,635
15,380
26,693
Crew,
153
687
1,314
2,154
At first, those that were rejected were simply turned back en masse into the City.
Later on some were sent to hospital, others were detained at the Modikhana or Port
Health Observation Camp, while a large number were only prevented from sailing; as they
presented no declared symptoms or such as may have been due merely to temporary con-
ditions and to plague. Of those whose movements could be traced or who were placed under
observation, 42 were found to have developed plague up to 31st May 1897, 92 between June
1897 and May 1898, and 128 from June 1898 to May 1899.
During the period covered by this review, over 2½ years, and during which time Bombay
City suffered from three virulent epidemics of plague and has not once been free since the com-
mencement, seven ocean-going steamers were reported to have had a case of plague on board
of each. The first case was that of a pilgrim, and occurred on board a pilgrim-ship in Decem-
ber 1896. The second was discoverd on board a Military Transport in March 1897, the
passengers of which were examined by and in accordance with arrangements made by the
Military Authorities. Two cases were found on board P. and 0. Liners in March 1898 on
voyages between Bombay and Aden. They were Sea Post Office officials, and both recovered.
The remaining three vessels were also P. and 0. Liners. One had a fatal case—native
fire-man—at Aden in July 1898, the second vessel had a fatal case—lascar—at Colombo in
August 1898, and the third vessel a fatal case—native passenger—at Colombo in 1898. It
has not been possible to ascertain accurately if many cases occurred among the millions of
crew and passengers who left for coast ports near Bombay, but very few have been detected.
The following statement shows the name of vessel, date of case, and the Port Health Officer
at the time :—
Between December 1896 and
December 1897.
(Port Health
Officer—Lieut.
Colonel F. F. MacCartie·)
Between December 1897 and
May 1898 ; and again be-
tween November 1898 and
June 1899.
(Port Health Officer—Major
J. Crimmin, V.C.)
Between May 1898 and Nov-
ember 1898.
(Port Health Officer— Capt.
W. E. Jennings.)
1. S. S. "Pekin."— Left on 28th December 1896 ; two cases
occurred between Bombay and Aden.
2. S. S. " Dilwara."— Left on the 10th March 1897 ; two
cases (one case occurred in the family of a man in whose
compound plague had been prevalent before they left
Bombay).
3. S.S. " Shannon."— Left on 5th March 1898; one case-
European Postal official—recovered on voyage from
Bombay to Aden and back.
4. S. S. "Clyde."— Left on 30th April 1898; one case-
Native Postal official—recovered.
5. S. S. " Carthage."— Left on 2nd July 1898 for Aden
and Europe ; two cases, crew, one died, one recovered.
6. S. S. "Ballarrat."— Left on 16th August 1898 for
Colombo and China ; one case, crew, died.
7. S. S. "Bengal."— Left on 11th October 1898— Colombo
and China ; one case of passenger, died at Galle.
35