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held on leases from, the Municipality, terminable at one month's notice.
Among these people, numbering at the census over 22,000, but estimated now
at over 30,000, or one quarter of the present estimated population of Karachi
(124,000), plague did not show itself till the 10th January, when two cases
occurred, and up to the end of January cases were· few and isolated. But, with
the beginning of Februay cases multiplied rapidly, and on the 6th February
there were 22 cases and 17 deaths. With the first indication of coming trouble,
resort was at once made to the contemplated employment of Muhammadan
agency. Sardar Khan Bahadur Muhammad Yakub, Deputy Collector of the
Nara Valley, who had done distinguished service in the suppression of the
dacoities in the Thar and Párkar District a year ago, was sent for and placed
in charge of the quarter, as though it were a sub-division. To assist him,
Mr. Giles recommended Khan Sáheb Rasul Baksh, a very happy selection, who
was brought from his Mukhtyárkarate of Kambar in the Lárkhána Sub-division.
A few Muhanmmadan Supervisors were added. The Sardar at once set to work
to get hold of the tribal headmen and to provide segregation huts, with
Mr. Strachan's ready aid, for each tribe.
On the 3rd February, also, a telegram was despatched to Government,
asking for a loan of a lakh of rupees for the Karachi Municipality and for the
deputation of two gazetted Medical officers. The Assistant Collectors and
other officers working in the town were becoming pretty well known, and it
was hoped that access to the sick might now be obtained if a Medical officer
moved about in their company. In writing to Government on the same day
(February 3rd) it was stated that the compulsory removal of the sick would
probably be the most effectual of all remedies, and was the one advocated by
the Medical officers ; but it was hopeless to work counter to the popular
feeling, and the Muhammadans were so far particularly obstinate. A rule had
been promulgated by the Municipality that an infected house was to be
compulsorily vacated by the surviving inmates. These, it was found, cling to
their house till as many as 6 or 7 deaths practically annihilate the family.
Government responded immediately, and Surgeon-Lieutenants Niblock and
Cornwall reported themselves on the 12th February. The Acting Commissioner
told them that two duties of the utmost importance lay before them. They were
to induce people to come to hospital, and they were by their acts to give the
lie to the stories in circulation that the aim of Government was to stamp
out plague by poisoning the sick. Right nobly they discharged the trust.
Next morning the Acting Commissioner missed Surgeon-Lieutenants Niblock
from his side. The young doctor had discovered a house full of sick, and was
already at work arranging the helpless. Presently, he was to be seen with an
attendant carrying a small box, rigged up as a little portable medicine chest,
going his rounds, welcomed by nearly all, and the effect of the treatment was
electric. Dr. Cornwall was doing the same splendid service across the Lyari.
Without hospitals, without appliances, asking for no help, and ignorant of the
language, these young doctors in a few days had won free entrance everywhere.
First the sympathy and fearlessness of the officers, moving among the people
with gentle firmness, and then the healing treatment and the all-day long
devotion and skill of these two young Medical officers convinced the poor
there was nothing to dread.
With doctors in the city and doctors at the Railway stations, patients began
to be taken to the Civil Hospital. Mr. Giles visited the hospital and, finding
plague patients in the same compound with the ordinary civil sick, he arranged
with the assistance of Mr. E. Giles, the Educational Inspector, for making the
Government High School, next door to the Civil Hospital, available for ordinary
patients, while the Civil Hospital became the Plague Hospital. Throughout
the plague and wherever it broke out, the schools were the only large suitable
airy buildings available. Many a head of a department might have hesitated.
To Mr. E. Giles the most hearty thanks of the Province are due for placing
freely at disposal Colleges and Schools, thus enabling the best possible accommo-
dation to be given to the sick in the approaching heat of Sind, and saving
Government and the Municipalities a heavy expense. Government approved
the arrangement by wire, and Surgeon-Lieut-Colonel Henderson, with Surgeon.
F 1440— 4