28
7. Vessels leaving the Port of Bombay were divided into three classes :
(A) Steamers and square-rigged vessels proceeding to Karachi via
coast ports, vessels proceeding direct to any port not in the Continent of
India, and to any Indian port north of Mànclvi or south of Bhatkal.
(B) Other steamers and square-rigged vessels.
(C) Native craft bound for Màndvi or for Bhatkal or for any port
between those limits.
Class (A) was to be inspected by the Health Officer of the Port and his
Assistants,
Class (B) by qualified Medical officers approved by the Collector of Customs,
Bombay, for this purpose, and
Class (0) by officers deputed by the Collector of Customs for the purpose.
No port clearance was to be granted to any vessel which had not received
a certificate of having passed the inspection, and vessels leaving the Port of
Bombay without complying with the rules for inspection were to be liable to
prosecution under Section 271, I. P. C.
8. The Epidemic Diseases Act (ill of 1897), was communicated to the
Government of Bombay by telegram on the 4th February.
Accordingly on the 6th the following notification was issued in a Gazette
Extraordinary, No, 656—165-P. :
"The following rules have been prescribed by His Excellency the Governor in Council
in accordance with the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 :
(1) No vessel shall leave the Port of Bombay until she has been inspected by the
Health Officer of the Port and the Master or person in charge of such vessel has obtain-
ed a Bill of Health or certificate from such officer that the Master or person in charge,
officers, crew and passengers (if any) of such vessel are free from any dangerous epide-
mic disease.
(2) Should the Health Officer of the Port be of opinion that any person on board
of any vessel so inspected is suffering from a dangerous epidemic disease, he shall refuse
to give a Bill of Health or certificate as aforesaid unless and until such person is remov-
ed from the vessel.
(3) After the Master or person in charge of the vessel has obtained any Bill of
Health or certificate under the provisions of these rules no person or cargo shall be
admitted or taken on board such vessel before she leaves the Port of Bombay unless
such vessel is again inspected by the Health Officer of the Port, and another Bill of
Health or certificate obtained from such officer by the Master or person in charge of
such vessel.
(4) No port clearance shall be delivered to any vessel unless and until the Master
or person in charge thereof shall produce the Bill of Health or certificate so to be obtain-
ed as aforesaid, and it shall be the duty of Citstoms officers to refuse delivery of the
port clearance without the production of such Bill of Health or certificate.
(5) The Government of Bombay may appoint any person or persons by name or
by virtue of office Health Officer or Health Officers of the Port for the purpose of these
rules as regards any class or classes of vessels and may cancel any such appointment.
(6) Disobedience to any of the above rules Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 will subject the offender
and all persons aiding and abetting him to a prosecution under Section 271 of the Indian
Penal Code.
9. Subsequently, the Government Solicitor pointed out that the words
" Section 271 of" should be omitted, as there was a difference of opinion among
Doctors as to whether the plague was infectious or not ; and moreover, as the
rules were issued under the new Act III of 1897, a breach thereof would render
the offender liable to a prosecution under Section 1SS, Indian Penal Code. This
amendment was accordingly made on February 8th.
10. E or the inspection, of vessels of Class A., three Commissioned
Officers, two Assistant Surgeons, and one Hospital Assistant were placed at the
disposal of the Port Health Officer Surgeon-Major MacCartie by the Surgeon-
General ; and a Lady Doctor was engaged by the Port Health Officer to assist
in the inspection.