KARACHI DISTRICT.]
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The construction of Healtli Camps was now taken in hand, and Mr. J. Strachan, Engineer
and Secretary to the Municipality, rapidly erected huts on a site across the river, into which
the Collector endeavoured to get the Hindus of the old town to move. Eventually, with
some concessions to the people, this was done, and proved a useful example.
The increasing daily mortality at length induced the Acting Commissioner to relin-
quish the rest of his tour, and on the 23rd of January 1897 he returned to Karachi to find
this first Health Camp just occupied by some 2,000 Nasurpuris. It was laid out, with water-
pipes, bathing platforms, &c., nor had the Municipality spared expense to mate it attractive.
On the 26th January Surgeon-General J. Cleghorn, Sanitary Commissioner to the Govern-
ment of India, arrived to examine the measures taken. Mr. P. R. Cadell, I.C.S., was
summoned to Karáchi, in order that the work might be in the charge of responsible Officers ;
and on the 30th January the infected portions of the town were divided between.
Messrs. Cadell and H. S. Lawrence and Inspector Brown, each with a separate Sanitary
establishment and Subordinate Staff. The Judges, Messrs. T. Hart-Davies and J. C.
Gloster, also joined in executive work and produced an excellent effect.
February opened with an increase ; the numbers on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd being 59, 49,
and 56, respectively, the highest daily totals recorded. These high figures were largely
due to the Trans-Lyari quarter (population, 30,000) which had become infected on the
10th January, and up to this had not suffered severely, but which now called for special
action. Sardár Khán Bahádur Mahomed Yakub was accordingly placed in charge of it,
with Khán Sáheb Rasul Bakhsh as Assistant, and a few Muhammadan supervisors ; but
it was not until the 19th of March that the Trans-Lyari Muhammadans consented to move
their sick. On that date they moved them all out together, and from that time the
difficulties in isolating the sick there ceased.
The Civil Hospital became a Plague Hospital, and the Government High School was
a Civil Hospital, of which Lieutenant W. J. Niblock, I. M. S., ultimately assumed charge.
The Convent Sisters, under Sister Heriberta, also came forward, taking up, with the consent,
of the Reverend H. Jürgens, their abode in the Plague Hospital for several months, tending
the sick day and night. Later on they were assisted by the Misses Carey of the Zenana
Mission and some nurses who were paid from the Charitable Fund. The origin of this
fund deserves notice.
The Pleaders and other native gentlemen were desirous of giving a farewell entertain-
ment to Mr. Hart-Davies on his retirement. Bat Mr. Davies begged that the money might
be devoted to some public object. A meeting was called at Government House, and it was
decided to raise a charitable fund of which this money should be the nucleus. It was
augmented by a Concert given by the ladies of the Station, and by private subscription,
and ultimately amounted to Rs. 20,000. This fund was given piece-meal to Superin-
tendents, and was used for furniture for Hospitals, food, stimulants, &c.
The Jail had one case in spite of every precaution. It was that of a prisoner of 5 months'
standing ; the infection may have come from a Warder. No other case occurred. As it is in
the heart of the town, and was for long encircled by plague, the Jail may be considered a
striking instance of segregation.
On the 20th March His Excellency the Governor visited Karachi, and, after inspecting
all that had been done, appointed a Plague Committee there. It consisted of—
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