NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
300
Measures to prevent the
[ CHAP. X,
disinfecting bath put on clean clothes and threw those he
was wearing over the fence, whence they were carried
away and disinfected. He remained ten days under obser-
vation and then, if found healthy, was allowed to depart.
The Commissioner on paying a surprise visit to the camp
found the inmates cheerful and healthy. He states that
there was ample accommodation for all who desired to
pass through the camp. The amount of accommodation
was gradually increased until it was sufficient for one
hundred persons. The number of occupants varied con-
siderably ; during the height of the epidemic it appears to
have been generally between fifty and a hundred.
Passage of goods
into Daman,
(3) On the passage of goods there was no embargo. Passes were
granted to twelve agents selected by Mr. Judge and the
Governor of Daman, who were allowed to take delivery of
parcels at the railway stations and to bring them into
Daman. The only limitation on the transport of goods into
Daman was that carts and cartmen had to be changed at one
of the two frontier stations of Chola and Patharpunja. The
Commissioner states that the arrangements were simple
and effective, and the fact that traffic was confined to two
routes occasioned no inconvenience, since under the Land
Customs Act only these two routes are open to goods traffic
in ordinary times.
Guarding of the
cordon line,
The arrangements made by Mr. Judge for guarding the cordon
line were careful and elaborate. Along the whole 38 miles to be
guarded a path was demarcated and made practicable for patrolling
by night and day. There was a guard-house about every mile along
the line, and special precaution was taken at the places where roads
intersected the cordon. The whole of the line was patrolled by sen-
tries, who were constantly visited by their officers.
" You will thus see," said Mr. Judge, "that the line being strongly
guarded by sentries about I to ¼ of a mile, constantly patrolled by
Amaldars,* and regularly visited by the supervising staff, it was abso-
lutely impossible for persons to get across during the day unperceived
and next to impossible for them to do so at night.
" Now as all the roads were guarded, and as ordinary passengers
would not be able to find their way over the fields at night and when in
addition to finding their way, they would have had to evade a strongly
guarded cordon, it will be seen that the task of crossing the cordon
was, for ordinary persons, rendered impossible at night also, even for
healthy persons.
* Officers.
CHAP. X. ]
spread of infection by land.
301
" About 40 persons who attempted to evade the cordon at various
times were detained and prosecuted and convicted.
" No persons have been arrested as having evaded the cordon by
villagers, but the patels, etc., were put on the watch for them and
would have done so had the necessity arisen, as they and their
villagers, after they realised the danger from contagion or infection,
became extremely keen on keeping their villages free from strangers.
" The best proof of the efficiency of the cordon and the co-ope-
ration of the villagers is the immunity of the Pardi taluka, and
especially the frontier British villages when compared with the 3,000
cases of plague that have occurred within the Daman territory."
Additional
precautions.
In addition to these precautions on the frontier passengers were
inspected at the neighbouring railway stations of Pardi, Daman Road,
Udvada, and Bhilad. At Pardi suspicious persons were detained
under observation for ten days, and segregation hospitals were also
established at Daman Road and Udvada. The surrounding inhabi-
tants were informed that they might prevent suspicious persons from
entering their villages, and the Commissioner reports that they
availed themselves largely of this means of protection. It is stated by
the Commissioner that the measures adopted succeeded in protecting
the Pardi taluka from the great danger to which it was exposed, and
that during the period of the epidemic only one endemic case was
discovered in the taluka.
Further history of
the stoppage of
third class
railway traffic.
Punjab.
Rajputana.
The following is the further history of the proposal to stop third
class railway traffic from infected districts.
To protect the Punjab the inspecting officer at Khanpur station
was directed to exercise a wide discretion in stopping suspicious per-
sons travelling from the direction of Sind. To protect Rajputana the
Government of Bombay were requested to prevent all suspicious per-
sons from leaving Palanpur by rail or road until they had been sub-
jected to a period of observation, and the Agent to the Governor
General was directed to detain and keep under observation all suspi-
cious persons arriving from Palanpur.
Sukkur.
On the 3rd April, plague having become virulent in Sukkur, the
Government of Bombay informed the Government of India that the
Commissioner in Sind had stopped second, intermediate and third
class railway traffic to stations in the Punjab and Baluchistan from
Sukkur and the neighbouring stations of Bagarji, Rohri, and Sangi,
except under written permission of the Sukkur-Rohri Plague Com-
mittee. The Government of India replied that they considered it
would be sufficient to examine all passengers booking at Sukkur, the
inspecting officer being given wide discretion to retain under
302
Measures to prevent the
[CHAP. X.
observation all suspicious persons. Railway communication was
accordingly re-opened.
Rohri.
Later on the plague having spread to Rohri and other stations in
the Shikarpur district, the Government of Bombay informed the Gov-
ernment of India that the District Magistrate had prohibited all
booking, except with the permission of the Plague Committee, from
Sukkur and Rohri, from stations between Sukkur and Shikarpur on
the branch of the North-Western Railway leading to Baluchistan,
from stations between Rohri and Reti on the branch leading to the
Punjab, and from stations between Rohri and Setharja, inclusive, on
the chord line to Kotri. The Government of India objected to these
arrangements, and suggested that passengers leaving Rohri should
be examined in the manner prescribed for Sukkur; persons travelling
from Rohri towards Baluchistan being inspected at the Indus cross-
ing. After some further correspondence these instructions were
carried cut, and the closed portion of the line was re-opened, except
at stations between Rohri and Tando-Mastikhan on the Rohri-Kotri
chord and between Rohri and Pano Akil on the line leading to the
Punjab. The stations on these portions of the line were kept closed
for some time longer to prevent persons booking from stations in the
immediate neighbourhood of Rohri in order to avoid examination at
that place.
Baluchistan.
Another proposal to impose quarantine against railway travellers
was made by the Agent to the Governor General in Baluchistan
towards the end of March. He stated that there was serious sickness
of plague extending to Quetta from the infected districts of Sind,
and strongly recommended that quarantine should be imposed at
Jacobabad on all native third class and intermediate passengers for
Baluchistan from Sind. He pointed out that, with quarantine on
railway passengers at Jacobabad, it would be almost impossible for
plague to reach Baluchistan owing to the intervening desert. In reply
the Government of India explained their objections to the imposition of
land quarantine, and stated they had refused to allow it in other places
in India. They remarked, however, that the fact that the desert has
to be crossed would render effective quarantine easier for Baluchistan
than elsewhere, and they stated that in view of the possibility of
plague advancing by Baluchistan to Afghanistan political considera-
tions might outweigh the general consideration against land quaran-
tine The Agent to the Governor General was further informed that
if quarantine were imposed at all, it should be within the Baluchistan
border and not in Sind, that it must apply to all passengers by what-
ever class they travel and whatever their race, and that separate camps
for each day's arrivals as well as segregation hospitals must be provided
CHAP. X. ]
spread of infection by land.
303
As an alternative it was suggested that a commissioned medical officer
should be appointed to an inspection station in Baluchistan with wide
discretion to detain the suspicious. The Agent to the Governor Gen-
eral replied that quarantine in the manner described by the Govern-
ment of India appeared to be hardly practicable, and that he was tak-
ing steps to give effect to the alternative suggestion.
Arrangements
at the Sibi
inspection
station.
An inspection station under the charge of a commissioned
medical officer deputed by the Government of India was accord-
ingly established at Sibi, the junction of the Sind-Pishin and
the Mushkaf-Bolan lines. On the 13th April the Agent to the
Governor General reported that the arrangements were work-
ing well. A rigorous medical inspection had been instituted at Sibi
under the supervision of the Commissioned Medical Officer and the
Assistant Political Agent. In exercise of his discretion, and with
the approval of the Agent to the Governor General, the medical offi-
cer detained as suspects all native passengers from infected places
in Sind unless they produced a certificate from the Plague Committee
of the place of departure, or other proof that they had come from a
non-infected quarter. Other passengers travelling in the same car-
riages as suspects were merely detained for a few hours for disinfection.
As numerous refugees from Sukkur were found alighting at the desert
stations between Sibi and the Punjab border and fleeing into Kalat
territory, orders were issued prohibiting them from alighting and
requiring them to proceed, in the first place, to Sibi for examination.
The Agent to the Governor General reported that these arrangements
were cordially approved by all classes of the community, even by
those whose families were detained. On the 12th April, the obser-
vation camp having then been working for a fortnight, the number of
persons in the camp was 304. This was the maximum, as the exodus
from Sind had already began to decrease, and the plague soon after-
wards abated.
Proposals made
during the
recrudescence.
At the time of the recrudescence at Palanpur the Agent to the
Governor General in Rajputana again proposed (September 1897)
the stoppage of booking from Palanpur and neighbouring stations, and
the proposal was again negatived. A similar proposal was made at
about the same time with regard to booking from Poona and Sholapur
to stations on the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway in the direction
of Hyderabad, and was also negatived.
Inspection of Railway Passengers.
Early arrange-
meats.
The importance of inspecting persons travelling by rail from the
seat of the plague was recognised from the outset, and arrangements
304-
Measures to prevent the
[CHAP. X.
were made to inspect passengers and segregate the sick as soon as it
became clear that plague had taken a hold on Bombay and showed
a tendency to spread to other places.
Co-operation
with railway
administrations.
The first arrangements were made by the co-operation of the civil
with the railway authorities, who were directed to take action under
sections 47 and 71 of the Railways Act, IX of 1890. The following is
a brief history of the early measures.
Arrangement in
Bengal, the
North-Western
and Central
Provinces.
Orders issued by
the East Indian
Railway Admi-
nistration.
On the 1st of October the Government of Bengal addressed the
Government of the North-Western Provinces and the Chief Commis-
sioner of the Central Provinces asking them to make arrangements for
the examination of passengers and the removal of plague patients
from the train should the disease increase in Bombay sufficiently to
render this course necessary. It was suggested that the North-
Western Provinces Government should arrange for inspection at
Allahabad, and the Central Provinces administration for inspection at
Nagpur and Jubbulpur. The Lieutenant-Governor stated that, on
receiving intimation that these inspections were started, he would also
arrange for inspection at Bankipur and Burdwan. The Government of
the North-Western Provinces replied that inspection at Itarsi would
be more useful than inspection at Allahabad, and that it was
prepared to support an application for inspection at this latter place.
The Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces agreed to the
proposals of the Bengal Government with regard to Nagpur and
Jubbulpur, and, on the 5th October, enquired of the East Indian
and Bengal-Nagpur Railway Administrations whether they would
co-operate for establishing the inspection posts should circum-
stances render their institution necessary. The Bengal-Nagpur
Railway Administration agreed to the proposal. The East Indian
Railway Administration replied that passengers were already being
examined at Allahabad, Tundla, and Assansol, and that inspection at
Assansol was preferable to inspection at Jubbulpore since trains from
Bombay passed this latter station during the night. The orders
instituting inspection at Allahabad, Tundla, and Assansol were issued
by the East Indian Railway Administration on the 1st October. The
orders stated that native doctors should accompany ticket-collectors
on their rounds, that their attention should be drawn to passengers
with tickets from Bombay, and that if plague cases were discovered
the staff should take action under the orders of the Medical Depart-
ment. At the same time that he addressed the railway administra-
tions, the Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces issued instruc-
tions to his Administrative Medical Officer. He directed that arrange-
ments should be made to provide an Assistant Surgeon and a well
qualified hospital assistant at both Itarsi and Jubbulpur, that
CHAP. X.]
spread of infection by land.
305
medical and ambulance arrangements should be got in readiness, and
that temporary hospital accommodation should be provided.
Order issued by
the Bombay,
Baroda and
Central India
Railway
Administration.
On the 6th October the Government of Bengal informed the Chief
Commissioner of the Central Provinces that the Government of the
North-Western Provinces suggested Itarsi as an inspection station, and
asked whether the Chief Commissioner would arrange to establish an
Inspection station at that place. The Chief Commissioner enquired of
the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Administration whether it would
co-operate for this purpose. The administration replied in the
affirmative on the 13th October, but stated that the abatement of the
plague in Bombay rendered inspection unnecessary at that time.
About the same time the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway
Administration issued orders for assistance to be given to the civil
authorities for the establishment of inspection stations at Ahmedabad,
Anand, Wadhwan, and Ajmere. The Government of India informed
the Governments of the North-Western Provinces and Bengal and the
Chief Commissioners of the Central Provinces and Ajmerc-Merwara
of these arrangements, and directed the Ajmere Administration to
render the necessary assistance.
Instructions
issued by the
Government of
India to the
Government of
Bombay.
On the 3rd October the Government of India telegraphed to
Bombay urging immediate co-operation with railway administrations
under sections 47 and 71 of the Railways Act for the detection of
cases of plague by instituting a careful inspection of passengers at all
junctions and large stations where trains halt. It was stated that the
assistance of officers of the subordinate medical establishment should
be given for the examination of passengers and the treatment of the
sick. The Government of Bombay replied on the 21st October that
the orders of the Government of India had been communicated to the
railway and medical authorities concerned. They also stated that
the Municipal Commissioner of Bombay, who had arranged for inspec-
tion at stations in the. city of Bombay, considered that the abatement
of plague rendered it unnecessary to examine passengers at Bombay.
On the 23rd of October the Government of India telegraphed that
they did not consider that the statistics showed an abatement of
plague sufficient to render it unnecessary to examine railway pas-
sengers. They desired that immediate arrangements should be
made in communication with the Great Indian Peninsula and the
Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway Companies for medical
inspection at large stations and junctions where such inspections could
be made without inconvenience to traffic. It was stated that the
inspection should be carried out at Bombay itself, at Itarsi, at Ajmere,
and at other places where the precaution was considered necessary.
The Government of Bombay stated in reply that arrangements for the
39
3o6
Measures to prevent the
[ CHAP, X.
Arrangements
made by the
Government of
Bombay.
The Central
Provinces and
Ajmere.
medical inspection of passengers had already been made at most
important stations in the Presidency, and that arrangements at other
stations were also being made, The Chief Commissioner of the
Central Provinces informed the Government of India 011 the 27th
October that on receipt of information from the Government of Bom-
bay instructions had issued for the examination of passengers at
Itarsi. On the 30th of the same month the Chief Commissioner of
Ajmere-Merwara was informed by the Government of India that
inspection should be enforced at Ajmere.
Extension of the
arrangements.
The arrangements existing at the end of October were gradually
extended and made more stringent, as the increased virulence of the
epidemic in the Bombay Presidency rendered the danger of the
spread of the disease more imminent.
Arrangements
on the East
Indian Railway.
Writing on the 24th of November the Chief Medical Officer of
the East Indian Railway Administration gave the following descrip-
tion of the precautions taken on that railway :—
" (1) On each district one native doctor inspects all trains from
Bombay. At Allahabad and Assansol special men have
been appointed for this duty.
(2) In the event of any suspicious case being found, the patient
is removed at once to the Contagious Diseases Hospital,
and the carriage in which the person was travelling is cut
off and disinfected.
(3) The carriage also is cut off and disinfected at the first station
where there is a medical officer or native doctor after the
last passenger has left it.
(4) The address of all passengers travelling in the carriage is
taken and telegraphed to the Station Master at their des-
tination for information of the local authorities.
(5) While in hospital every precaution is taken to isolate the
patient completely, and for this the assistance of the
police is obtained, if necessary.
(5) On leaving hospital the patient's clothes are burned, also all
bedding, etc., and the hospital disinfected.
(7) The medical staff take the same precautions regarding the
disinfection of themselves as they do when attending a
case of small-pox.
(8) All cases are immediately reported to the Chief Medical Officer.
(9) The medical staff pay increased attention to the sanitation of
their stations."
Later arrange-
ment of the Gov-
ernment of Bom-
bay.
The Government of Bombay informed the Government of India
on the 26th January that hospital assistants had been deputed at the
principal railway stations in the Presidency to inspect, with the
CHAP. X.]
spread of infection by land.
307
Ahmedabad.
The Punjab.
The North-
Western
Provinces.
The Central
Provinces.
Madras.
Rajputana.
co-operations of the railway authorities, passengers from Bombay, and
that arrangements had been made to segregate in isolated sheds and
hospitals provided by municipalities any cases of plague that were
detected. Many cases which might otherwise have spread infection
were detected and detained in this manner. Plague having attacked
Ahmedabad and several cases having been imported by rail to places
beyond that city, the Government of India deputed a military hospital
assistant at the end of January to conduct the inspections at the
Ahmedabad station. On the 5th January the Government of the
Punjab sanctioned the establishment of inspection stations at Bha-
tinda and Rewari for the inspection of passengers from Bombay and
the infected districts. For some time before this date a special hos-
pital assistant had been present at Delhi for the examination of rail-
way passengers, and instructions had also issued for the establishment
of isolation hospitals at Lahore and Multan. The Government of
the North-Western Provinces issued instructions to its Inspector-
General of Civil Hospitals on the 28th January to take steps to make
the inspections more stringent. Several cases having eluded observa-
tion, it was feared that the arrangements were, to some extent,
defective. At this time arrangements had been made for inspection at
Allahabad, Moghul Sarai, Ghaziabad, Saharanpur, and Cawnpore. At
most of these places suitable hospital accommodation existed, and
orders were given to provide such accommodation where it had not
already been provided. Instructions were issued for the removal of
persons suspected to be suffering from plague, and for their detention
in an observation shed or temporary hospital. The friends and attend-
ants of the sick were to be segregated, and all sick persons arriving from
infected districts were to be considered as suspicious and detained.
On the 2nd of February the Chief Commissioner of the Central Prov-
inces reported that inspection by medical officers of the provincial
cadre was carried out at Jubbulpore, Itarsi, and Nagpore. Temporary
hospitals had been provided and special establishments entertained.
The Government of Madras reported on the same date that passengers
from Bombay were inspected at the suburban station of Perambur,
and that their addresses having been taken they were subjected to a
ten days' surveillance. Infected persons were to be taken to isolated
sheds for treatment. Inspection was also carried out and special
hospitals were provided at the stations of Adoni, Bezvada, Gunta-
kal, and Raichur. Circular orders had been issued requiring District
Surgeons to arrange for the examination and observation at all rail-
way stations in the Presidency which are junctions or which are situated
in municipal towns. In reply to an enquiry made by the Govern-
ment of India the Agent to the Governor-General in Rajputana