10δ
This became especially necessary as the persons, who had fled from Karachi in large
numbers on the first appearance of plague, were commencing to return in large numbers,
many coming from badly-infected towns.
The arrangements for protecting Karachi against the re-introdaction of the disease
naturally grouped themselves under two heads—
(a) Protective measures against infected arrivals by sea.
(b)
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by land.
(a) Owing to the incidence of the disease in Catch and Bombay —port's within one and
two clays' sail from Karachi —special measures were taken to prevent the introduction of
fresh cases from these areas.
A special Port Health Officer, Surgeon-Captain Jenney, I. M. S., with an efficient staff
was appointed for the purpose of examining in-coming vessels and disposing of suspected
passengers and baggage. Arrangements were made by which the entry of vessels into the
harbour by night was forbidden.
A hospital and segregation camp existed at Manora for the accommodation of plague
cases or suspects arriving at or leaving the port. Large pendais at Manora accommodated
350 persons, while the Quarantine Hulk held 150 or more This accommodation, however,
proved insufficient for the largo numbers of persons returning by native craft (special steam-
ers had been run for the convenience oí the largely increased passenger traffic) ; so the Muchi-
Meani Health Camp, accommodating 300, was taken into use for the detention of i ward
passengers. Still this accommodation proved insufficient, and a request to Government
asking it to control the exodus from Cutch being answered in the negative, il became
necessary to make further arrangements. Three of the large export sheds at Keamari
were lent to the Committee by the Karachi Port Trust; each shed having ample accommo-
dation for 500 persons. Hence, the accommodation for passengers returning by sea pro-
vided for a total of no less than 2,300 souls. Up to June 25th, 1897, no less than 9,699
persons were detained and disinfected in these camps. Each camp was complete in itself, and
under the charge of qualified Medical officers and efficient subordinate staffs. Shops, bathing
ghauts, permanent latrines, &c., &c., were arranged for. The camps were under military
guards. The disinfecting arrangements, to which the minutest attention was paid, were
carried out by European subordinates under the immediate supervision of the Medical officer
in charge. Twice daily each person was medically inspected, and cases of plague were at
once removed to the respective hospitals attached to the Camps, the suspected being placed
in the segregation camps. Suspicious febrile cases were kept under observation in special
observation wards.
(b) By land, Karachi had to protect itself against the infected areas, of which Suk-
kur, Rohri and Hyderabad were the centres. For this purpose a large came was erected
at Malir—a spot eight miles from Karachi on the Railway line ; special arrangements were
made with the Railway authorities to detain the trains here. pending the careful examina-
tion of all passengers. Two Commissioned Medical Officers, Surgeon-Captain Bray, A.M.S.,
and Surgeon-Lieutenant Rainier, I. M. S., were in charge of the camp and train-inspection
duties, with an efficient subordinate staff under them. Provision was also made for the
examination of ' Ρurda-nishin ' ladies by a lady doctor.
The Malir camp was opened on the 12th April 1897, with accommodation for 209
persons, provision being made for the separate housing of families and single men, the various
castes, ' pinda-nishin " families, &c. Due regard was also given to caste and sex in the
drirking-water, bathing, latrine and cooking arrangements. The accommodation of this camp
soon became insufficient and, pending the addition of extra huts, the excess people were brought
into Karachi and sheltered at the Muchi-Miani camp. Eventually the Malir camp accommoda-
tion was increased to 1,089. In addition to the arrangements noted above, it should be observed
that hospital, dispensary, observation sheds, &c., were attached to the camp ; shops for the
sale of cooked and uncooked provisions, &c., &c. The whole camp was placed under a police
guard. The mounted police cordon watching arrivals by road brought suspected persons to
the Malir camp for detention. The detention period was ten days, and disinfection was
most carefully carried out, both of persons and their personal effects.
From the date of opening up to June 25th, 5,843 persons were detained in this camp
and 9,394 persons and their belongings disinfected.
The Medical officer in charge was given wide discretion with regard to detention of
persons. Primarily, he was ordered to detain all coming from known infected areas and
villages in their vicinity. Persons travelling from places without the province, or from.
uninfected areas within the province, were allowed to pass on, as were also persons provided
with passes from the Collectors, Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Collectors.
IV.—HEALTH CAMPS.
A certain difference of opinion appears to exist as to the exact meaning of the words ' health
camp.' In the early stage of the Karachi plague ep dem'c, several camps were opened, in and
around the town, to which persons from badly infected areas were induced to migrate, partly
with the hope that in cleanly and more salubrious surroundings the d sease might disappear
amono them, and partly to facilitate the wholesale cleaning of the crowded portions of the native
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