14
that a considerable portion, if not all, of the initial cost of the disinfecting
stove was probably repaid by the saving which resulted from a capable disin-
fection by steam under pressure of sodden and filthy heavy articles, such as
rugs, rezais and bedding, which would otherwise have had to be destroyed and
replaced at the expense of Government. The pilgrims, who were kept isolated
during these proceedings and fed by the Plague Committee, were afterwards sent
to their various destinations without having had any direct communication with
the city.
32. An examination of Table III will show that although 106,272 arrivals
by sea were examined in April, only 447 persons were sent to observation camps.
The smallness of this number is explained by the fact that there were no powers
under which suspicious arrivals could be sent for segregation until the rules
given in paragraph 22 were published on 12th April. It may also be noticed
that there is no entry in the table of any cases of crews having been sent to
camps on suspicion. The explanation is of course that the crews of inward
vessels had not been within the focus of infection at the ports from which they
arrived ; and that when any number of crew was found on arrival, as rarely
happened, to be suffering from fever, he was generally kept under observation
on his vessel until it became clear that he was not suffering from Plague.
33. It remains to add that the examinations were of the same searching-
nature as has already been described in connection with, the outward inspection,
and that the number of duly authenticated Plague cases detected on arrival was,
up to the 31st July, 57. Of these the largest number occurred amongst pas-
sengers from Cutch Mandvi and Karáchi respectively, the remainder having
been chiefly from various southern ports in the Presidency.
34. The remarks made in paragraph 18 as to the insufficiency of the staff
for outward inspection are applicable also to the inward system. The experi-
ences of April and May prove clearly that, when several steamers heavily
laden with passengers arrive at the same hour, or within a short time of each
other, vessels and passengers must either be detained for considerable periods,
or the medical staff, unless sufficiently strong for all contingencies, has to work
at a pressure which cannot last for long. The two rival companies concerned
in the coasting traffic exhibited an igenuity in timing the arrivals of their ships
at practically the same hour that was truly marvellous, and was sometimes
described in stronger terms by overworked and exhausted medical officers.
The staff, therefore, detailed in paragraph 24 ought, for any similar future
occasions, to be increased by two Commissioned Medical Officers ; and it should
be laid down as an axiom, and for obvious reasons, that both for outward and
inward inspections the examining officers should be of irreproachable character
and antecedents.
As already mentioned, native craft were examined at three anchorages.
Experience has now shown that a fourth should be added to those mentioned in
paragraph 23, and should be fixed at moorings north of the Free Anchorage
and between it and Mázgaon Bandar.
35. An Appendix II is attached to this report, from which can be judged
the approximate cost of the Sea Inward Inspection organization for the four
months April to July 1897.
36. It can be readily understood that an organization sufficient for the
thorough examination of over 677,000 persons dealt with by the outward and
inward staffs required something more than a sufficient number of medicai
officers. The assistance of the Preventive Service and of the Police was neces-
sary. Without their aid—cheerfully and loyally rendered—the work could not
have been carried on, and any attempts to do so could only have spelt failure. It
is impossible to describe in this report the many details of additional wrok
thrown on these Services, and the loyal spirit in which their officers bore the
strain imposed by extra and unpleasant duties ; but it can and should be freely
admitted that if any success has been achieved, any real good clone by the
organization planned, then the officers of the Preventive Service and of the Police
have largely contributed to the result. To Mr. Walsh, Superintendent, and to
Messrs. Bailie and Thomas of the Prentive Service, are due the heartiest